Easy Camping Desserts That Kids Go Crazy For
No camping trip is complete without s’mores. They’re easy, delicious, and not too messy (unless you buy the giant marshmallows–we’ve learned that lesson the hard way). But when you’re camping multiple nights, or you really want to pull out all the stops to wow your camping crew, these are some easy camping desserts to add to the rotation. My goal for this upcoming year of camping is to take better pictures of these amazing camping desserts. While we have tried (and loved) each of these, my pictures don’t do them justice. I have found better images online until I can replace all of them with my own. And, if you’re…
Your Guide to Manuel Antonio Beach & National Park
When I started planning our trip to Costa Rica, I quickly learned that Manuel Antonio National Park was a must for our Costa Rica itinerary. The city of Manuel Antonio is one of the most popular destinations in the country, but no visit would be complete without visiting the national park–especially for first-time visitors. Visiting Manuel Antonio beach and park is truly one of the best things to do in Costa Rica. Nestled on Costa Rica’s Central Pacific Coast, Manuel Antonio National Park is one of the country’s most beloved natural treasures. Despite being one of the smallest national parks in Costa Rica, it’s arguably the most popular — thanks…
Things to Do on Catalina Island: A Family-Friendly Guide
A Look at the Best Things to do in the Catalina Islands Some of my favorite childhood memories are tied to Catalina Island. It always felt like we were off on some great adventure–having to drive to the ferry, bring all our luggage on board and then sail to this special island. I still remember stepping off the boat and feeling like I had landed somewhere far away—even though it was just off the Southern California coast. The colorful buildings, the boats bobbing in the harbor, the sense that everything moved a little slower there. It felt special, and honestly, it still does. Now that I’m thinking about taking my…
Best Hotels in Manuel Antonio
The Best Hotels in Manuel Antonio: Where to Stay in Paradise We just returned from an amazing trip in Costa Rica, where we split our time between La Fortuna and Manuel Antonio. You can see our entire 8-day itinerary for that trip here (it was pretty amazing!). We ended up renting a house in on the second leg of our trip. But if you prefer to stay in a hotel versus a house in Manuel Antonio, I have you covered. I’ve listed out the best hotels in Manuel Antonio, no matter what type of getaway you’re seeking. Staying in Manuel Antonio puts you within walking distance to many shops, restaurants…
Best Family Campgrounds in Riverside County, California
I’m not sure what time of year you’re reading this, but at the time I am writing this, it’s January–just starting the new year. And while some people might think I’m crazy, this is the time of year that I start planning all of our summer camping trips. That’s because the best campgrounds in California tend to book up months in advance. I’ve done previous posts about my favorite beach campgrounds and lake campgrounds, but now I want to share all of my favorite Riverside campgrounds because these are truly hidden gems–and yet, they are somehow much easier to book than many of the state parks. Riverside County has some…
Agua Caliente County Park Campground
We just got back from a fun weekend of camping at Agua Caliente County Park. For the past two years, I have heard great things about this campground. I was so excited to try it out for myself. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I can definitely say–we weren’t disappointed in the least. There is so much to do there–we all had a great time exploring and playing in the hot spring pools. Because this campground is located in the desert, it’s great to visit in the cooler months. In fact, it is only open from Labor Day through Memorial Day, and it definitely makes my list of best…
Outdoor Movie Theater in Pinecrest: Fun For All Ages
Watching a movie under the stars is always a novel experience, and it should be on every family’s summer bucket list. When you add in a lake-front setting and some concessions, it’s even harder to top. That’s what the Pinecrest Outdoor Movie Theater has to offer in Stanislaus County, California. Pinecrest Movie Theater in a Campground We discovered the Pinecrest movie theater when we were camping at Pinecrest Lake. This outdoor movie theater plays the latest box office hits several nights a week from Memorial Day through Labor Day, and on select weekends through September. Although the outdoor theater is in the campground, it is open to the public. In…
La Jolla Beaches: Your Go-To Guide for Sun, Surf, Seals & Tide Pools
La Jolla is one of San Diego’s crown jewels — and its beaches are a big reason why. Like Coronado, La Jolla is home to some of the most upscale shops and restaurants in San Diego, and the beaches seem more pristine as well. Whether you’re into surfing, tide-pool exploring, seal watching, or just soaking up the California sun, there’s a beach here with your name on it. If you’re visiting in the summer, La Jolla can be a bit tricky to navigate. It’s a super popular tourist destination, and there isn’t a ton of parking around. If you visit San Diego in the winter, parking will be easier, and…
Discover the Best Beaches in Los Angeles
I lived in Redondo Beach for a few years right after college, and I still remember how surprised I was by the Los Angeles beaches. I grew up going to the beaches in San Diego, which I love dearly, but LA beaches felt different. They were wider. Longer. Endless. Instead of cozy coves, these beaches just stretched on forever, backed by bike paths, volleyball courts, and rows of pastel lifeguard towers. Some of my favorite weekends were spent with my boyfriend (now husband) on our beach cruisers, riding the strand from Redondo Beach up through Hermosa and Manhattan Beach. We’d stop for coffee, grab fish tacos, people-watch, and somehow make…
Best River Floats in Texas
There are so many fun things to do in Austin with kids. And when we visited over spring break, one of the things I was adamant about doing was river tubing, so I wanted to know where the best river floats in Texas were. My research showed me that there are many excellent floating rivers in Texas, each for their own reasons. While we were in Texas, we checked out some of these tubing rivers in Texas. Most of these we did for free on our own, but we also paid to do a Texas Tubes river float down the Comal River so we could do the famous Tube Chute…
