The Traveler's Guide

The reality of kids heading back to school indicates the inevitable truth: summer is coming to an end. Hopefully many of you were able to enjoy a much-needed vacation this summer and feel rejuvenated. It's a special feeling of perspective that only travel can provide. As a travel planner I don't dread the end of vacation season; I get excited for one big reason: It's the perfect opportunity to begin planning next summer's vacation. Think about it. Most people are focused o

In the fall of 2019 we ventured to western Washington to see one of the most unique collection of ecosystems in the country. The Olympic Peninsula and surrounding areas of western Washington receive wildly different climates, all influenced by the arrival of storms from the Pacific Ocean and their interaction with the Olympic Mountains. We experienced this fascinating display firsthand as we hopped around Washington, making stops in Seattle, Poulsbo, and Olympic National Pa

We polled our followers for their ultimate bucket list destinations within the United States and chose the eight most popular results to put in the spotlight. They ranged from tropical to arctic, east coast to west coast, but they were all visually spectacular places. With international travel bans a more common theme than ever before, we thought it fitting to share more about the incredible places travelers can experience within our 50 states and territories. We hoped it wou

We all hoped the summer would bring a return to travel normalcy, but no. Sadly it has been a challenge to pull off any kind of leisure trip lately, and it's not looking any easier in the months ahead. This feeling of resentment toward the virus created a psychological barrier between you and your vacation plans, making them feel hopelessly far off. But these final 8 weeks of summer can provide one of two things: A much-needed but very unorthodox vacation, OR A valuable oppo

Those dreary winter months tend to get depressing. The cold, rainy, snowy, and windy weather (depending on your location) could always use a little sunshine and a warm beach! This year, we were talked into visiting some of our 'snow-birding' grandparents who were staying on Anna Maria Island from February to April. (They really had to twist our arms...) Excited by the opportunity to sneak away for a long getaway weekend, we made some arrangements for the kids and ventured dow

Last summer our extended family embarked on the largest group vacation we’d ever taken. 30 people visited the location of our grandparent’s honeymoon 60 years earlier, in Beulah, Michigan. The quaint town sits on the eastern shore of Crystal Lake, an impossibly clear 23-square mile lake that probably deserves to be more popular than it is. It has almost become a sacred place to this family, as each generation has visited many times since the first voyage in 1958. After enjoyi

With Thanksgiving upon us, we thought it fitting to assemble an A-list of the best destinations in the US for food-lovers. Bon Appétit!

Labor day marks the 'unofficial' last day of summer. But summer weather is still very much upon us. As kids are heading back to school, it’s hard to think past the schedule changes and increased traffic in our day to day. But everyone knows what happens mid-way through winter... you begin to think "I'm sick of winter, will it ever end?" So place yourself there now...it's a cold, dreary winter night around 5pm and the sun is already down…you are wishing you could be anywhere

Things can quickly go south for your road trip if you haven't done the right things to prepare in advance. Read for tips and time savers!

I’d always wanted to visit Yosemite ever since I learned about it on a National Geographic special when I was a kid. When my mother and father-in-law mentioned wanting to take a family trip to California, I wasn’t surprised that Yosemite National Park made their list of “must see” places. As someone who appreciates nature and loves detailed vacation planning, Yosemite posed an exciting challenge! Like any trip worth going on, a visit to Yosemite NP requires preparation. Prope

Being wine lovers, a bucket list item for our group has been a visit to California wine country to experience and taste the best of the best

In need of a week-long vacation with just the four of us, my wife and I brainstormed new and exciting destinations for a family vacation. We settled on Seattle after learning about all the kid-friendly attractions and proximity to such beautiful natural areas. There is a plentiful variety of what I would call “vacation environments” which caters to those of us who want options. Instead of having just the ocean or just a cute town or just the great outdoors, why not give you

A group of tight-knit cousins, myself included, recently vacationed to Asheville, North Carolina for four days and had such a great time that we vowed on replicating those adventures every other year. There were seven of us, all right around 30 years old and we knew little about Asheville when we decided to go there. But as we started researching the city our excitement grew more and more. Asheville is located in western North Carolina, easily drivable from the metro areas of