Wyoming: Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area

There’s nothing quite like a remarkable feat of nature to bring out the “oohs” and “aahs” from the family, and Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, straddling the border of Wyoming and Montana, is fantastically remarkable. Considering the other well-known parks in the area (yes, Yellowstone, I’m looking at you), Bighorn is often spoken of as a treasure waiting to be discovered. Covering...

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Montana: Have a Dinosaur Adventure in Makoshika State Park in Glendive

The largest state park in Montana, Makoshika sits on 11,538 acres located just east of Glendive, Montana, in the eastern part of the state on Interstate 94. Follow the signs through Glendive to get there – it is well marked, but does involve a couple of turns in residential areas. Pronounced Mah-koh’-shi-kah, the park draws its name from a Lakota phrase meaning “land of bad spirits” or “badlands.” The rock formations of this beautiful landscape are well worth the stop. Visit in summer for Shakespeare...

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Texas: Kemah Boardwalk – A Relaxing Getaway

We had an evening free during a quick business trip to Houston, and decided to check out the Kemah Boardwalk. Twenty miles from downtown Houston, the boardwalk is loaded with charm – a refreshing getaway from the city that somehow manages to be busy and activity-filled and simultaneously immensely relaxing. If you love a good roller coaster like I do, check out the Boardwalk Bullet, a good old...

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CARES helps children fly safely

Flying with a little one brings with it concerns over safety that parents struggle to find easy answers for. Bria is small for her age — about 30 pounds at age four — and we really feel most comfortable if she is buckled into a car seat, especially for take-off and landing. But if you’ve ever tried lugging a car seat through the airport (especially on an international trip), you know it is...

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North Dakota: Theodore Roosevelt National Park’s North Unit

Sharp, unforgiving badlands. Rolling rivers. Oceans of prairie. Breathtaking wildlife. There’s something genuinely special about Theodore Roosevelt National Park in western North Dakota. The park is separated into three units – the North Unit, just south of Watford City, is nearest our home, so we popped down to do the Junior Ranger program and have a picnic. (The other units are the South Unit,...

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Costa Rica: Logistics and the Unexpected – 7 Travel Lessons

1. Laundry was harder to come by than we expected. All of the places we stayed had the option of sending it out with a service that charged by the piece. As every family knows, laundry multiplies when left alone, so this is no small endeavor. We planned to do laundry twice, but ended up doing it once, at a cost of $76. 2. My cell phone was a bit insistent that I unplug this trip, even though I was...

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Montana: Family Fun at Billings Brew & BBQ

We checked out the Billings Brews & BBQ festival at the Metra today – what a great family event. Yes, I said family event. There were families hanging out on the grass enjoying delicious treats and live music, plus there was a great variety of local beers. Learn more about the annual event here. Held annually, the festival brings together brewers from all over the region to share their brews....

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Costa Rica: Our Little Swimmer’s Big Life Lesson

It is one of the most amazing things to witness as a parent. It is that moment when something just “clicks” for your child. We have exposed Bria to water since she was a small baby. She did a Water Babies program at six months old, and has spent time in pools every chance she gets. About a year ago we got her a swim float (similar to a life jacket), which allowed her a level of independence....

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Costa Rica: Mom and Dad Need a Massage

Let’s face it – vacation can be exhausting. With all of the hiking came a few aches and pains, and every once in a while, Mom and Dad need a break. We decided Los Lagos was just one of those times (especially after the bike riding adventure), so we picked up a spa brochure. While everything sounded lovely and relaxing, we were on the fence about whether or not to pay the prices. So we decided to keep an eye out as we went into town for dinner. Several options were available in La Fortuna, but...

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Costa Rica: Horseback ride to La Fortuna Waterfall

The famous La Fortuna waterfall is breathtaking and well worth the effort to get to it – but after a solid few days of strenuous activity, this expedition was a bit too much for our little family. Pick up was set for early – we received a note at our hotel the night before moving it back to 7:30 am. We arrived at the stables and signed the usual waivers, then got a little instruction on what...

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Costa Rica: The community of La Fortuna

While visiting the Arenal (aw-ray-nawl) region, we fell in love with the little community of La Fortuna. La Fortuna means “the fortunate,” and it is a well-earned name. There are a few versions to the story of how the name came about, but my favorite goes like this: When the nearby volcano erupted in 1968, death and destruction was the result to the west. Two villages were completely destroyed....

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Costa Rica: It Rained

Our last night at Samasati Nature Retreat, it rained. It started once we were all safely tucked inside the shelter of the Tempest Pearl House, and continued through the night. We retreated to our beds, and it rained. Thunder filled the air from time to time, and it rained. The little one sought the safety of Mom and Dad’s bed, and it rained. Morning came slower than it had other days, no...

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Costa Rica: Sometimes Plan B Means Taking A Leap

After a long day of snorkeling, bike riding, and exploring, Cameron wanted to ride a motorcycle, so while Justin and I relaxed at Johnny’s Place, he went off to find a place that rented them. He asked a few people on the street and was directed to two places – the first was closed, and the second he couldn’t find. So as the sun went down, he returned, and he and Justin made a pact. While the girls...

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Costa Rica: A Visit to Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean Coast

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca (just Puerto Viejo to locals) is a funky little town, nestled into south of the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, about 30 km from the border with Panama. The community has a real international flavor, with Jamaicans, Australians, Italians, and more adding their spice to the local culture. The main road is lined with small boutique hotels, shops, cafes, and assorted vendors...

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Costa Rica: Cahuita Snorkel and National Park Hike

Picturesque and sleepy, the town of Cahuita was a pretty little community 17 km north of Puerto Viejo. We arrived early in the morning to see residents in matching shirts worked together to clean the streets in the wake of a World Cup game the night before, and drove through the burg to a shed at the edge of a long row of boats wedged into the trees. There we were joined by our boat captain...

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Costa Rica: A Rustic Getaway at Samasati Nature Resort

It was the beginning of our two weeks in Costa Rica, and what we really needed was to set the scene. We needed to unplug, shed the constant activity and communication of our everyday lives, and dive in. We couldn’t have chosen a more perfect place to do just that. Set on 270 acres atop a hill between in the Limon province, Samasati Nature Resort is a beautiful lodging space set back from the...

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Costa Rica: Six Easy Steps to Arrival

Arrival in a new country can be a crazy moment with a family in tow. Here is what the process will look like when you arrive in Costa Rica… Paperwork There is no need to apply for a Visa ahead of time when heading to Costa Rica (from the U.S.). Some simple paperwork is all that is required, and the flight attendant will pass the forms out on the plane. Have handy a pen and the address where you will be staying in Costa Rica (if you will be staying multiple places, the first works), along with...

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Costa Rica: One Size Fits All – Our Costa Rican Itinerary

With two adults, two teenagers, and a pre-schooler along for the ride, it is no small feat to find an itinerary to fit everyone’s needs. Two weeks in Costa Rica took that challenge and went above and beyond. When you have your 16-year-old talking about how great his trip was while your 4-year-old goes on and on about all the amazing things she saw – game over. You win! Below is the itinerary we laid out with our fantastic agent, Christian, at Costa Rica Online Travel. (Learn more about our experience...

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