• Travel

    Cruise Booking Tips – What to Look For Before You Set Sail

    Cruise booking is a big deal. You’ll be saying yes to a full week out on the sea, or on the ocean, where you’ll be at the mercy – good or bad – of the cruise line you booked with. It’s important to do your homework before you put the money down on your cruise vacation. You want to have a blast, not get blasted, with a disappointing vacation. There are a few smart cruise booking tips I have collected from the numerous family cruises we have booked and taken. So, I thought I’d share them with readers in hopes that they…

  • family - parenting - Travel

    Launching My Cruise Series #travel

    Oh Baby, it’s October. Around here that means one thing..or maybe two things, Halloween and time to start planning fall and winter travel. Most years since we started cruising that means I am thinking about cruising and evaluating costs and ports of call and where we want to go. This year I am unveiling my Cruise Series. That’s right all of October I am running cruise stories – one a week until the month is done, because I know you have questions and you want to know if cruising is right for you. I happen to think it is pretty…

  • active family travel - family - parenting - Travel

    Vow Renewal – A Few Memorable Destinations #travel

    Vow renewal is a beautiful and romantic thing. It’s a way for couples to reaffirm their commitment to one another in a way that’s more than just the everyday “I love you” and the occasional flower bouquet. I’ve been thinking about this lately and contemplating whether this is something we should do for our 25th wedding anniversary. I like the idea of building a memorable romantic trip together as a couple. Renewing our vows could add a touch of magic to our marriage. It might remind us how we felt that day when we first slipped those rings on our fingers in…

  • active family travel - family - parenting - Travel

    Flying Alone – How Will You Know When Your Child Is Ready? #travel

    Flying alone is a big step for any child. It’s a big step for a child’s parents, too! It can be a terrifying proposition. After all, the operative word in flying alone is ALONE. Your child will be out in the world, flying and checking in/being picked up on their own far, far away from you. Terrifying. So how do you know when your child is ready to take that step? Flying Alone – A Litmus Test to See if Your Child is Ready Sending a child out into the world is more about their ability to interact safely in…

  • active family travel - family

    Family Memories – Preserve Them in a Unique Way

    Family memories are something we usually preserve with tons of photos. Whether they’re action or candid shots at a party or family portraits, we document our lives with photos. But very often they stay on our phones, our Facebook or Instagram feeds. But what if we could take our photographed family memories and do something really unique with them? Actually, with Canvas N Decor you can. Family Memories in a Memorable Way My family loves to travel. For us travel is one of the greatest ways to make and build shared memories. We take a lot of pictures when we…

  • active family travel - parenting - Travel

    Ramada Plaza Le Manoir Du Casino in Gatineau #travel

    In the summer we visited the Outaouais Region of Quebec and stayed in Gatineau. Our first two nights we spent at Ramada Plaza Le Manoir Du Casino. The suite we were given for the two night stay was exceptional and the location was ideal for many different types of travellers. Here’s what to expect when you stay at Ramada Plaza Le Manoir Du Casino. We drove several hours and left early in the morning to be sure we made it to Gatineau in good time to start our day. Of course I had scoped out the Ramada Plaza a bit…

  • Travel

    What Next? My New Travel Goals #travel

    It hit me on the flight back from Martin County, Florida this summer. As accomplished as I feel when I travel, and meet a new challenge and tick something off my list, I sometimes feel a bit directionless afterwards. Do you know the feeling I mean? Kayaking, paddle boarding, surfing, turtle nesting tours…On this one particular trip I did so many awesome activities that I had to stop and ask myself what next? What haven’t I done on a trip? Where haven’t I been? What are my new travel goals? Sitting there on the plane, exhausted from surfing lessons earlier that day,…

  • active family travel - family - Travel

    How To Find a Pet Friendly Hotel #travel

    If you plan to travel with your pet, one of the most important things you can do is research a pet friendly hotel from the start. Don’t get stuck. The last thing you want is to set out on a road trip and  find yourself unable to locate a place to stay that allows pets. The bad news is extra fees for pets can be high. The good news is there are many resorts, airlines and hotel chains that now have pet friendly accommodations. You will want to research and find the best hotel for your situation and then book your room…

  • active family travel - Travel

    3 Awesome Theme Parks in The U.S. #travel

    The United States is home to many gorgeous states and beaches. And so many wonderful theme parks for families  too. In fact, there are so many great theme parks, it can be difficult to pick the top few. But there are a select group that simply are outstanding entertainment value. These are some of the most popular theme parks in the U.S. If you have not had the chance to check them out for yourself yet, you should definitely add these U.S theme parks to your bucket list. 3 Amazing US Theme Parks: Cedar Point – They are known as…

  • Travel

    Staying in the World’s Largest Log Castle – Chateau Le Fairmont Montebello

    A chance to stay in the World’s Largest Log Castle? Yes, please. This summer my family traveled to Quebec’s Outaouais Region. We stayed in Gatineau and explored the beautiful parks and had a big adventure zip lining at Arbraska Lafleche Caves and Aerial Park. Then, after a visit to the incredible Parc Omega we drove an hour down the road towards Montebello. This rustic log castle has so much history and style. Add it to your list of incredible accommodations in the region now. Make it the setting for your yearly family vacation destination. If you have not heard of…