Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, was the last Disney property in the world to shut its doors way back in late March of 2020. After over 7 months of closure, Aulani is back! The hotel, located on the island of O’ahu in Hawaii, just reopened to the public on November 1, 2020. Like Walt […]
How to Ride Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance Without the Wait
The most anticipated Disney attraction of the decade opened nearly a year ago. Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance debuted at Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios on December 5, 2019 and in Disneyland on January 17, 2020. Headliner ride openings at Disney parks mean long lines, some times for years to follow. What we didn’t […]
First Timer’s Guide to Lake Tahoe
Located on the California-Nevada border in the Sierra Mountains, Lake Tahoe is a popular vacation getaway. Day trippers and weekend warriors from Northern California visit often, but Tahoe is a bucket list destination for travelers from all over the country and even the world as well. With skiing and winter sports in colder months and […]
Disneyland Won’t Be Reopening for Quite a Long Time – Everything We Know Now
Over six months ago, the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California closed its gates. What we all hoped would be a temporary closure of a few weeks was extended into an indefinite shuttering. In June, Disneyland announced a planned reopening date for the parks of July 17, 2020 – the resort’s 65th anniversary and just 6 […]
Everything You Need to Know about the 2020-2021 Ski Season
When the world shut down last March, ski resorts closed abruptly in the middle of the busy spring break ski season. Ski destinations and resorts struggled mightily in those first few weeks – should they give refunds, discounts on the next season, and might there be a hope for reopening in April before the snow […]
12 Fun Fall Activities for Kids Near San Francisco
Summer is over and fall is finally in the air! Or, if you live in the San Francisco Bay Area like I do, you know that fall is in the air somewhere. We don’t exactly have seasons in our part of Northern California. But even though the Bay Area can’t match the breathtaking autumn leaves […]
Grocery Shopping List for Vacation Rentals + Essential Grocery Travel Tips
Vacation rentals have grown increasingly popular for so many travelers in recent years, with services like VRBO and Airbnb booming. Many family travelers have long known how a vacation rental affords them much more space and convenience. Having amenities like a washer and dryer or a full kitchen when traveling with young kids is valuable […]
What It’s Like to Fly Internationally with Kids During COVID-19
Now is definitely not the time to be taking a casual international getaway. Borders are closed around the world, and quarantine restrictions are often in place for the few destinations that are still open to Americans. But some Americans nevertheless have to travel – even abroad – out of necessity. My sister is one of […]
No Change Fees: Which Airline Has the Most Generous Policy?
Late yesterday, United Airlines made some serious waves in the brave new world of 2020 air travel. The airline announced that it was eliminating change fees. United previously charged non-elite passengers who wanted to change their flights to another date or time a whopping $200 per ticket over and above any difference in fare. Just […]
What Partially Reopened Yosemite National Park is Like During COVID-19 in 2020
Yosemite National Park reopened to the public on June 11, 2020, after a three month closure due to COVID-19. My family made reservations for a mid-July trip nearly a year ago, so we were thrilled that the timing worked out to be able to visit this year. Yosemite holds a very special place in our […]
