Travel
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Sailing to Sitka, Alaska- How to Spend an Afternoon in Port
Will you be taking an Alaskan cruise this year? Odds are you will make a stop in the city of Sitka. While you can certainly book an excursion through your ship, my family found our own adventures walking through this port. Getting to Sitka from a Cruise Ship Nestled on Baranof Island, on the Alaskan coast between Ketchikan and Juneau, Sitka is a very popular cruise port. The port itself is about six miles outside of the main downtown area. Most cruise ships will provide a shuttle (we had one for the NCL Bliss) from the dock to downtown. The shuttle will bring you to Harrigan Centennial Hall. The Hall…
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The Complete Guide to Outdoor Fun in Schaumburg, Illinois
About an hour outside of the bustling metropolis of Chicago, lies the suburban city of Schaumburg. Home to a huge convention center, but lower hotel prices than in the city, this is an area that sees a lot of travelers for both business and pleasure. Our family had a week long stay during our daughter’s dance competition (read here for our other dance travel to Nashville). We found plenty to do outdoors in Schaumburg during our off time- check out all the city has to offer below! Where is Schaumburg? Schaumburg, Illinois is about 30 miles Northwest from Chicago. The commute into or out of the city will take about…
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The BEST Place to take Kids in Holland, Michigan
The west coast of Michigan is full of wineries, breweries and gardens-not exactly a wonderland for children. Enter Nelis’ Dutch Village in Holland, Michigan! This is part carnival, part playground and partially educational and perfect for the 12 and under set. Holland, Michigan Located on the west coast of the state, between Chicago and Detroit, Holland makes for a beautiful weekend getaway. Famous for its tulip gardens, it also offers several places to learn about the rich Dutch heritage of the city. For more details about the city, the annual Tulip Time festival and more read my post: Tulip Time in Holland, Michigan-A can’t miss Festival. Some links may be…
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Tulip Time in Holland, Michigan- A Can’t Miss Festival!
Did you know an entire Dutch town exists on the west side of Michigan? The town of Holland is home to the Tulip Time Festival, excellent restaurants and surrounded by wineries. Holland, Michigan is a great place for a spring time weekend getaway! Where is Holland, Michigan? Tulip Time in Michigan Where to Eat in Holland, MichiganMore to do in Holland Where is Holland, Michigan? Holland is located about 150 miles east of Chicago or 180 miles west of Detroit near the west coast of Michigan. A gorgeous little town, it is perfect for a romantic getaway or a weekend with the entire family. Some links may be affiliate links.…
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The Music Man Square in Mason City, Iowa
When traveling through the cornfields of the midwest, it can be difficult to find fun places to stop and stretch your legs. Luckily for us, we stumbled upon Mason City, Iowa and found an entire little town ready to be explored! This post may contain affiliate links. By clicking on them and/or making a purchase, I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Mason City…or River City? If you’re familiar at all with the Meredith Wilson masterpiece The Music Man, then Mason City might sound familiar! Mr. Wilson loosely based his musical on his hometown, Mason City, Iowa. Sitting about 120 miles North of Des Moines,…
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Mother-Daughter Bonding at American Girl Cafe in Chicago
Moms of a certain age (ahem) can certainly remember drooling over the American Girl catalog. Now it’s our turn to share this timeless line of books and toys with our own daughters! Join me as I tour the American Girl store and cafe in Chicago, Illinois. Some links may be affiliate links. By clicking on them and/or making a purchase, I may make a small commission at NO extra cost to you! The American Girl Place The store and cafe are located in the same space in the Water Tower Place mall at 835 Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611. There is a parking garage around the corner from the mall…
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A FREE Place to Visit in Philadelphia-The Fireman’s Hall Museum
Traveling in big cities can be expensive. That’s why it’s always great when you stumble upon something FREE! The Philadelphia Fireman’s Hall Museum is a great place to explore and it won’t lighten your wallet. Fireman’s Hall Museum- Philadelphia is home to the very first firehouse (thanks Ben Franklin!), so it is only fitting that it would host such a great fire museum. The building has been refinished from the original 1898 firehouse to hold relics from fire history. Some links may be affiliate links. By clicking on them and/or making a small purchase, I may make a commission at no extra cost to you. Where is Fireman’s Hall Museum…
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A Crazy McDonald’s Restaurant in the Heart of Chicago
Did you know that McDonald’s restaurants around the world often have different menu items than what we have in the United States? You can try international items at the Chicago McDonalds called Hamburger University! Some links may be affiliate links. By clicking on them and/or making a purchase, I may make a small profit at NO extra cost to you! A Chicago McDonalds Experience Searching for places to eat with kids in Chicago, I stumbled upon a snippet about a special McDonalds location. Considering one of my kids is still in the phase where McDonalds is Haute Cuisine, we had to try it out! Looking for another place to take…
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Specialty Dining Choices on The NCL Bliss
While the NCL Bliss has close to 20 different dining options on board, only half of them are complimentary. The rest are referred to as “Specialty Dining”. Is it worth it to pay an additional fee to eat a meal on the ship? I’ve got the info you need, so keep reading! Some links may be affiliate links. By clicking on them and/or making a purchase, I may make a small profit at no extra cost to you. What is specialty dining? Gone are the days of cruising being an all-inclusive vacation. While you can technically pay your cruise fare and not pay another dime, other than gratuities, you will…
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The Biggest Children’s Museum in the World!
The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis stands as the world’s largest! This amazing place boasts both indoor and outdoor displays that kids of all ages will enjoy. Some links may be affiliate links. By clicking on them and/or making a purchase, I may make a small profit at no extra cost to you. The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis My family visits a lot of museums. In fact, just last year, we had the “year of museums” and wound up visiting over 20 in several different states! The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis was one of the highlights, so much so that we found a reason to visit it twice in less than…
