Day 1: Arrive in San Jose Depending on the time of day, stay the night or get your rental car or shuttle and drive to your first destination! We got there at night and chose to rent a car since we were going to stay in 4 different locations. Days 2-4: La Fortuna/Arenal Area If…
The white building is our hotel! For our trip to Switzerland, we were based in Zurich for 4 nights. Many people just spend a day or two in Zurich and move on to other towns. Our hotel was a bit outside of downtown Zurich and it was right on the lake, so it was the…
On our Italy and Switzerland trip we stopped in Milan for 2 nights and one full day on our way from Florence to Zurich. Milan was a very comfortable, modern, international city. In August, it provided a great break from the heat of Rome and Florence! If you’re thinking of going to Rome or Florence…
My family and I spent four days and four nights in Florence during our recent trip to Europe. We started our trip in Rome before going to Florence. Read about our time in Rome here. We enjoyed our time there but would also love to return to rural Tuscany during a different season! Here’s our…
My recent family trip to Europe started with two days and two nights in Rome. I anticipated this quick part of our trip to be more about taking advantage of some of the cultural and historical significance in Italy and expected it to feel a bit rushed. But despite the heat, it ended up being…
Sailing on Lake Michigan Option 1: Charter a boat and captain Everyone should experience seeing the Chicago Skyline from the water! A sailboat is a relaxing way to do this. If you don’t know someone that sails, you can easily find experiences online where you charter a captain and invite a certain number of people…
Getting There Great Sand Dunes National Park is in the middle of nowhere. If you’re going here, it can be a 2-day trip or weekend that you’ll have to dedicate to it. When I visited we came from Buena Vista and when we left Great Sand Dunes we headed to Colorado Springs. You can see…
Banff, Canada had been on my travel bucket list for a while. If it’s not on yours, definitely add it! I was anticipating traveling in summer or fall. If you’ve seen pictures of this area or been there when it’s warm, you know what I’m talking about. The lakes are blue and the activities are…
Whether this is your first trip to Arches National Park or your 20th, there are important things to consider as the National Parks continue to be crowded! I visited Arches National Park over Memorial Day week in 2016 and decided to go back during this same week in 2021. Arches NP was extremely busy last…
The Upper Peninsula (known by Michiganders as the U.P.) is a hidden gem. The landscape is incredible and it is a haven for those that like to immerse themselves in nature. If I had to recommend one place in the Midwest U.S.A for outdoor lovers, I would recommend the U.P. I’ve rounded up my favorite…