As states have reopened and summer marches on, many Americans have begun to travel again. With the SARS-CoV2 coronavirus still circulating widely within the United States, travelers need to take a lot of additional precautions before they leave home. Whether you are flying, road tripping, or just just leaving the house for a short staycation […]
Deciding Whether to Travel Right Now is Confusing and Agonizing
Is it responsible to travel at all right now? Do I have a responsibility to travel to help support the millions of people who depend on travel for their livelihood? Does traveling too much and too soon actually hurt the travel industry in the long term by extending the pandemic’s timeline? Does travel put my […]
Special Events at Disneyland: The Complete Guide for Every Season
While a Disneyland vacation is special any time, the resort is known for multiple special events, festivals, and holiday celebrations that happen at different times every year. These celebrations often feature unique decorations, special foods, and one-time only entertainment. Naturally, many Disneyland guests want to time their vacation for when one of these special offerings […]
First Timer’s Guide to Alabama Beaches: Gulf Shores & Orange Beach
Although I’m a California girl now, I was born and raised in Alabama. When it was time for a spring break trip or summer beach vacation, my family did what many all over the Southeast did: load up the station wagon or minivan and drive south towards the Gulf Coast. The destination? Gulf Shores and […]
Universal Orlando Resort: 7 Things Every Disney Fan Needs to Know
You know every nook and cranny of the Magic Kingdom. Epcot is your home-away-from-home. But this trip… you are ready to cheat on Disney. As a die-hard Disney fan, going to another theme park may give you pause. But a day at Universal Studios Florida, Universal’s Islands of Adventure, or Universal’s Volcano Bay is a […]
Travel in California: What’s Open Now, What’s Coming, & What’s Not
The country’s most populous state has reopened more slowly than most, but travel is finally making a comeback in California. Like many Californians stuck in my house for nearly three straight months, my family is ready to go somewhere. Safely, of course. But with each California county following its own timeline for reopening, it’s really […]
9 Things that Will be Totally Different at Walt Disney World for the Rest of 2020
Earlier this week, Walt Disney World announced its plans to re-open its Orlando theme parks this summer. The resort closed its gates in mid-March. Disney has now petitioned for state approval to open the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom on July 11, followed by Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios on July 15, 2020. As much […]
Complete Guide to Airline Change Policies During Coronavirus Travel Disruptions
The novel coronavirus that emerged at the end of 2019 in Wuhan, China has now spread around the world. When I first published this post on March 2, 2012, most of us weren’t taking COVID-19 that seriously. When I updated it again less than two weeks later, America had radically shifted to shelter-in-place. Air travel […]
Tips for Traveling Safely & Responsibly as America Reopens
Parts of America are slowly starting to reopen. Many people are starting to incorporate travel of some sort back into their lives. While we all feel differently about the risks of this development and not all of us can personally take this risk, it is the reality. Some percentage of the country is traveling now. […]
What to Pack for a Day at the Lake With Kids (Free Printable!)
Some of my happiest childhood memories were spent on the lake. When the Alabama summer heat was too unbearable, everyone jumped in their cars (or more accurately, their pickup trucks) and headed just 45 minutes away to spend weekends and holidays at Lake Martin. My family owned a Sea-Doo and we would often retreat to […]