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6 tips for a successful trip to Disneyland with a big group
Are you headed to Disneyland and California Adventure with the whole family? The grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins? Including babies? Maybe you are excited to have fun with such a big group, and maybe you are totally dreading it. Either way, here are 6 tips for making your trip the best ever! Note: I don’t earn commission from any links in this post, but I hope they will be helpful to my readers. Tip #1 Plan, plan, plan! (but be flexible) In most cases, it is best to have one person in charge of the itinerary. Face it, when everybody is in charge, essentially nobody is in charge. When nobody…
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10 amazing things to do in San Francisco
I absolutely LOVE San Francisco. I love the sea air. I love the bustle. I love the cable cars. I love the wharf. I love all of the touristy places. I could visit San Francisco every single year and not get tired of it. So next time you are there, pick a couple of things that you’ve never tried before, and try them! Note: I don’t earn commission from any links in this post, but I hope they will be helpful to my readers. Cable Cars My absolute favorite thing to do in San Francisco is ride the Cable Cars. There is something so nostalgic and thrilling about them! I…
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Zoo Boise
I was lucky enough to get 3 new grandchildren in the summer of 2018! One of them was born in Boise, where my son lives with his family. I zipped up there at the first sign of labor, and made it in time for this baby! (The last baby came really fast, and I was still an hour out.) Anyway, while I was there, I wanted to do something with the 3 older kids, and the zoo seemed like the perfect trip! The new mama left the hospital after a couple of days, and wanted to come with us. Brave Mama! So we packed up the family and had a…
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National Parks
Since 1872, when Congress established Yellowstone National Park as the first in the nation, Americans have been in love with their National Parks. The National Park service was created on August 25, 1916 to protect the 35 National Parks and Monuments then in existence. Today, there are over 400 areas within the National Park system, including Parks, Monuments, Trails, Heritage areas, and Recreation areas. I grew up in Utah, a state that is home to five beautiful National Parks. I can’t remember a time in my life when my family didn’t visit National Parks during the summer. The National Parks in Utah are all made of gorgeous red rock, but…
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Getting the most from FastPass at Disneyland and California Adventure
Remember in Disney’s The Sword in the Stone, how Wart needed a sword and didn’t have one? He was running to get one and noticed a random sword sticking out of a stone, so he just pulled it out. It ended up being his ticket to the Kingdom, and gave him more than he could ever have imagined! That, my friends, is Disney’s FastPass service in a nutshell. Utilize it, and you will have a magic ticket to Disneyland and California Adventure! Note: I don’t earn commission from any links in this post, but I hope they will be helpful to my readers. If you aren’t familiar with Disney’s Kiosk…
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Quiz Your Group for Disney
“What should we do first?” You could stand inside the front gate at Disneyland and debate the topic, or you could plan in advance and get more done! No matter what size of group you have, there will be more than one opinion on the matter. So give this quiz to your friends and family members who are joining you at Disneyland and California Adventure to help you plan what everyone wants to do! Note: I don’t earn commission from any links in this post, but I hope they will be helpful to my readers. Quiz for Disney How tall are you? Do you like fast rides? Scary rides? Spinning…
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“Know your peeps” when planning your itinerary at Disneyland and California Adventure
I love Disneyland! My first visit was when I was 5 years old, and I have been back many times since, with lots of different sizes of groups, and all ages of people. I have to admit, some of those visits have gone smoother than others. But by now I can say that I’ve practiced Disney enough to be pretty good at it. So I hope I can help you have a great Disney vacation as well! Note: I don’t earn commission from any links in this post, but I hope they will be helpful to my readers. First off, I always look at my groups dynamics. Here are some…
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10 tips for planning a great Disneyland and California Adventure itinerary
So – you’ve scoured the internet and come up with some itineraries that look great. You can’t wait to try the “Disneyland in a day” travel plan. Cool! But wait – you may be disappointed if you believe there is a “one size fits all” itinerary. Basic online itineraries are great as a guide, but beware of unexpected surprises that could totally derail your plan. These tips will help you stay on track! Note: I don’t earn commission from any links in this post, but I hope they will be helpful to my readers. Tip #1 Know your Peeps! Who will be joining you on your Disney Adventure? A group…
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City View Trolley Tour and Harbor Cruise – Boston
We chose a beautiful sunny day for our City View Trolley tour and Harbor Cruise in Boston. Parking was quick and easy at the lot under Boston Common. If you don’t have access to a car, public transportation is a great option. Note: I don’t earn commission from any links in this post, but I hope they will be helpful to my readers. We took a leisurely walk along the edge of the park, stopping at the monument to the founding of Boston. The kids enjoyed running along the walkways as we strolled to our first Trolley stop. There are many places to catch the Trolley in Boston. It is…
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The Freedom Trail – South End
Boston Common is a lovely park, and a great place to either start or end a walk on the Freedom Trail. If you are traveling by car, there is a parking garage under the park. Or public transportation is a great way to get around. The park is large, and has two areas – don’t miss either one! Note: I don’t earn commission from any links in this post, but I hope they will be helpful to my readers. The Freedom Trail is 2.5 miles long, and because we had children with us we decided to see it in two parts. You can read about the North End of the…
