• lake_of_the_ozarks_from_above
    Travel

    Fishing, Flying, Golfing and Food – Fun Things to Do at Lake of the Ozarks

    July 30, 2019 - By 

    We were guests of Central Missouri while visiting the area. Post contains affiliate links as a service to readers. We are perched on a fishing boat in Lake of the Ozarks, sun beating down relentlessly, when I feel the tug on my line. The first time I reel it in, the worm has disappeared. Deflating slightly, we all chatter about this one, as if it is THE ONE that got away and maybe five minutes pass before I feel that familiar tug again. Stay Where We Did – > Old Kinderhook Fishing Impossible, I think, and yet something is pulling…

  • Travel

    A Smugglers’ Notch Summer – Open Your Eyes to Something New

    July 23, 2019 - By 

    We were hosted media guests at Smugglers’ Notch this summer. My opinion is all my own and also truthful. Have you ever seen a Luna moth? They have an impressive wingspan, a lime green colour that makes them look almost bioluminescent and streamers trailing behind as they fly. If I’d never seen this moth, I’d still believe all moths drab and grey. Looking Through a Different Lens If I’d never experienced a Smugglers’ Notch summer I might have missed seeing all the fun ways you can play at a ski resort when the snow has long since melted. Sometimes, a…

  • Travel

    Fifty New Things From the Year I Turned Fifty

    July 16, 2019 - By 

    Last year was the year I turned fifty. Just saying that is both liberating and a bit scary. I come from a long line of women who didn’t EVER discuss their age. So, neither did I for most of my adult life. There was a time when I was so incredibly ill with Crohn’s Disease, an inflammatory bowel disease that is incurable, that I was very certain I wouldn’t live past 40. And then 40 came and went and 41, 42, 43 and so on and I was still here. Huh. Imagine that. A Bit of History The Internet didn’t…

  • Travel

    What are the Best Cities to Visit on the Fourth of July?

    July 4, 2019 - By 

    It is not really the Fourth of July without a display of fireworks at night to make a spectacular end to the celebration. Fireworks shows take place throughout the country during the Fourth of July. Most cities make a huge deal of Independence Day and rightfully so. However, there are a few cities across the United States that outdo the other cities when it comes to spectacular fireworks displays. Take Note for Independence Day So take note of these for this year or next and make a plan to be there during July 4th celebrations! Where is the Best City…

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    Travel

    24 Hours in Fulton Missouri – Taking the Mystery out of History

    June 25, 2019 - By 

    What do Margaret Thatcher, great lattes, Winston Churchill and the Berlin Wall all have in common? If you answered Fulton Missouri then you are clearly an exceptionally clever human. What is So Special About Fulton? Fulton Missouri is such a curious and compelling spot. This tiny town has roughly 13,000 people, unless the two local universities are in session then the population might swell a bit higher, but it’s definitely got the small town Americana vibe all year round. So how did this central Missouri town secure its place in history? History and Where to Start When you only have…

  • family - Travel

    Cruise Etiquette No-No’s to Avoid

    June 18, 2019 - By 

    Cruise etiquette is crucial to an enjoyable cruising experience. When everyone on the ship is on their best behaviour, all of the cruise guests have the best time. However, there are always a few cruisers who either disregard some major cruise etiquette infractions, or just don’t know them. Don’t be that girl, or that guy. There are some things on a cruise that you just shouldn’t ever do. I’ve seen many of these play out and honestly you are not making any friends by hogging all the loungers on the deck and then disappearing for the day to eat or…

  • puerto-rico
    Travel

    Puerto Rico’s Family-Approved Destinations For Under $200

    June 16, 2019 - By 

    Guest post by Andrea Barnhill of Weekend Wander Club It’s a perfect dream to spend bright and lazy summer days just lying in hammocks under palm trees or walking barefoot in the sand while the water splashes softly against your skin. Not too far away, you can hear children’s squeals of delight, giving you peace of mind that they’re safe and enjoying nature at its best. Puerto Rico’s Family-Approved Destinations at Under $200 You can have all these experiences and more in Puerto Rico, the largest territory in the Caribbean Sea that’s still part of the US. For US citizens,…

  • child_celebrating_valcartier_raft_ride_in_snow
    Travel

    Valcartier – The Largest Winter Playground in North America

    June 4, 2019 - By 

    Setting – the largest winter playground in North America. We are flying down Everest, a human chain of inner tubes, each of us squealing deliciously, eyes squeezed shut, hearts drumming loudly in our ears. The vertical plummet straight down, as soon as the gate lifts, has me clutching even harder to handles on either side of my tube while simultaneously also wrapping my triceps around my younger daughter’s boots and grounding us both. All that planking at the gym literally paying off right now in this moment as we scream all the way down. At the bottom, when the ground…

  • Travel

    Where in Canada Can You Stay in a Hotel Made of Ice?

    May 23, 2019 - By 

    I wake on a bed of ice, intricate carvings of a basilisk surrounding me, light subtly creeping through a snow ceiling and polished bricks of ice. Outside this crystal ice palace, the world is still and silent. The kids, in the bed beside ours, just a few feet away are still snugly bundled, not yet stirring. Beside me, wrapped in a burrito sleeping bag, is my husband. I hear the familiar rise, fall and slight catch of his breath. What Can I Expect Overnight at Hôtel de Glace Quebec? I squeeze my eyes shut a moment longer, listening with my…

  • Wyoming mountain range with a bit of snow on the ground
    Travel

    What is There to Do in Wyoming?

    May 7, 2019 - By 

    Seems like I am forever travelling east or south, skiing with family, staying in ice hotels or seeking sun-drenched squeaky sandy beaches. It’s rare that I have the chance to go west. Last fall I took a five day tour of Wyoming with a group of travel writers, sampling local food, exploring museums, learning about a dramatic renovation of the State’s Capitol Building and staying overnight at a working ranch. Topaz Skies and Rocky Trails That 5-day trip through Wyoming reminded me there are many reasons to head west. Picture herds of antelope running across the sheer expanse of wide…