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Santa HQ – A Family Experience

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Santa HQ is a fun and exciting immersive experience for the whole family to visit Santa Claus. Located at 15 malls throughout the US. Learn more by reading our experience.

Disclosure:  This Santa HQ post is sponsored by HGTV. Thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

A few years ago, I didn’t even know if we were going to do Santa. Each year, I still question it in the back of my mind. I feel wrong to lie to them. However, the moments and memories that we’ve created around Santa have been completely worth it. 

Both girls eyes light up, their little voices glee with happiness, and their laughter brings everyone so much joy. I know in those moments that it’s so worth it.

For the last 4 years, we have been going to Santa HQ over at our local mall. The mall, located in Deptford, NJ, teamed up with HGTV to bring locals “Santa HQ“.

It’s a super fun and exciting holiday experience that the whole family will enjoy in addition to the traditional visit with Santa Claus. *Bonus: Santa in Deptford has a real beard 😉

What is Santa HQ?

As soon as you walk into Santa HQ you are immersed in all things Christmas holidays. Santa HQ works by guiding visitors through an immersive, interactive holiday experience with the use of state-of-the-art digital technology.

You have to absorb everything and be careful not to miss anything, but HGTV has worked really hard to pack in as much of the holiday spirit as they can in this experience. The first thing that happens is you get checked in (it’s better to have reservations).

Then you have four stations:

  • Naughty or Nice Meter
  • Santa’s Workshop
  • Santa’s Observatory
  • Finally, Santa’s Sleigh (this is where the big guy is sitting)

Honestly, it’s just such a fun and unique way to enjoy Santa.  I know growing up as a kid, I loved going to see Santa. However, I never wanted to stand in the mall lines.  The Santa HQ experience not only is a fun way to get into the holiday spirit, but it’s also great for breaking up the line so parents aren’t waiting for an exorbitant amount of time. The elves (staff) and Santa are amazing with the kids and it’s truly just so great.

Plus, you have to see the innovative way that mobile apps, social-media-ready opportunities and augmented reality are woven into the Santa HQ experience. 

See a few sneak peaks: 

How much does it cost to do Santa HQ? 

The Santa HQ experience is completely free of charge to go through the set-up and even speak with Santa.  The only thing that you potentially have to pay for is photos and that is completely optional.  (They are super cute to look back on every year). 

Can I just walk in to Santa HQ or are reservations a must?

You can absolutely just walk in to Santa HQ. However, reservations to Santa HQ are preferred. Trust me, you want a reservation. Especially if the only time you can go is on a weekend, it can get quite crowded. 

After all, Santa HQ is completely free.  You only pay if you want to purchase pictures.  So, it can fill up pretty quickly. Reservations are easily made at Santa HQ.

Also, you can even pre-pay for your photo package. Santa HQ is currently at 15 shopping locations in California, New Jersey, Chicago, NYC, DC, and more. See if there’s a location near here by visiting the Santa HQ site.

The Santa HQ Experience 

After you check in with the concierge, you’ll head to meet your first elf. You’ll stand on the Naughty or Nice O’Meter and see if you’ve been naughty or nice (hint: it’s always nice!). The kids name will pop up onto the top of the list that shows they’ve been nice!

Next, they are invited to sit down at a holiday photo set-up at “The North Pole”. The elf taking the pictures stages your family to take some pretty adorably amazing photos at the North Pole before they head off to their next adventure.

Next, families are invited to visit Santa’s workshop where they will find Santa’s Elf Academy.

This year, each kid gets to make their own Elf ID card. 

They put their face inside a little oval and then you have the option to mail yourself the ID Card right from Santa’s workshop.  It’s fun to do this because of the end of the experience they get a set of Elf ID cards in the activity workbook from Santa HQ. Our girls loved having their own to go along with the “real ones” as they called them. 

There’s also a Magic Mirror that they can play with that allows for them to look like an elf and change outfits. 

Then it’s time for Santa’s Observatory.

Families head for a fun adventure to the Elf-Ray Vision Station where children use tablets to project elves working, Santa’s sleigh and more.

The tablets come alive and kids will be super intrigued at how it looks like nothing is on the wall but when you hold up the tablet, things are there.  It’s pretty nifty actually. 

Finally, it’s time to see the big jolly guy and families end the experience with the traditional Santa Claus photo-op.

Just like the shopping mall Santa experience when you were little, this is the best part.  You get to see and speak with Santa and afterwards you get a little activity book. 

Ready? If you want to spend less time in line, then you will want to purchase a Fast Pass today! Visit Deptford, NJ’s Santa HQ, to make reservations, grab your fast pass and pre-purchase a photo package. 

Book your Santa HQ Reservations Now!

Santa HQ in Deptford, NJ is open 9am-9pm and Christmas Eve 9am-6pm.

Don’t worry, if you didn’t snag a fast pass, there are still kiosks available for you to purchase photos that day too!

Here’s some photos from the last two years.  We love that it’s the same Santa Claus, so they can have a similar memory!

Holiday Giving with Santa HQ 

Also, when heading over to Santa HQ consider bringing a toy to donate.  Visitors at Santa HQ, in conjunction with HGTV’s Help Through Holiday Giving Drive, are encouraged to donate a new, unwrapped toy. Toys go to benefit local organizations like Toys for Tots, Salvation Army Angel Tree, Forgotten Angel Tree and more. However, this is not required.

Check Out Even More By Watching the Video Below:

Book your Santa HQ Reservations Now!

ScienceSeeds | Princeton, NJ

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ScienceSeeds in Princeton, NJ is the ultimate hands-on science enrichment program that gets children 4-70+ years old interested and excited about learning!       

**Scroll to the bottom to see our fun video experience after reading the post!**

The best way for kids to learn is by experiencing things hands on.  Whether they are learning a new language, how to create they next art project, or all things science, kids thrive by hand on learning. Studies have shown that the physical act of doing helps them gain a better understanding of the material they are learning about, regardless of subject matter. ScienceSeeds in Princeton, NJ is thriving at this learning style. 

We were invited to come out and learn about ScienceSeeds, a New Jersey based science enrichment program. They focus on children from 4-17 years old; however, there are even options for adults and the owners are even open to other ideas you may have no matter the age.  When I was initially invited, I wasn’t sure about going.  There wasn’t a ton of information about the place I found on-line and even walking into the space, I wasn’t sure how much our girls and their friend would enjoy it. 

Crazy enough, we were blown away.  I’m not just saying this because we were invited. I legit mean that we were blown away by the creativity, fun, and learning that we had in just two hours.  It’s been about 2 weeks since visiting and our girls are still talking about it.  The adults are too.  At every single corner we turned, there was something new and exciting to engage in and we didn’t even complete a fraction of what was offered. 

What is ScienceSeeds in Princeton, NJ?

Obviously, you want to know what ScienceSeeds even is.  ScienceSeeds has been in business since 2008 in the same space in Princeton, NJ. Just minutes away from world renowned Princeton University.  It’s the result of two parents who couldn’t find family-friendly hands-on science and engineering programs. 

Currently, ScienceSeeds offers camps, birthday parties, weekend maker sessions, workshops, after-school classes, and more.  They have done homeschool programing in the past and even adult parties and open to do either with enough interest. 

What are some things kids can do or learn at ScienceSeeds?

When I say the possibilities are endless at ScienceSeeds, I truly mean that.  Some of the things kids can learn about are: 

  • cars 
  • balancing 
  • chemistry experiements
  • color and light
  • robotics 
  • electricity (spinners, vibrating bugs, and more)
  • hydraulics 
  • lego engineering 
  • game programming
  • 3D printing
  • and so much more

When we attended a tour of the facility, we loved that the team was super involved.  They took their time, really explained things to our kids and were very hands on in the entire process. They learned about gears and got to make one, saw how the 3D printer works and the laser cutting machine.  The girls loved picked their own laser cutting projects and putting them together from the pieces the machine made.  

I loved that it really taught them all about how things are made and what really goes into creating anything. How detailed and intricate everything around us is all the time.  

I can’t make it to or don’t live near Princeton, NJ – how can I get my kids involved?

Can’t make it to the physical location or don’t live close, there’s still ways that you can get your kid(s) involved in wanting to learn more about science and being hands on.  ScienceSeeds offers DIY kits that can be shipped directly to your home. They cost as little as $8, up to $25.  All well within reasonable for a summer or school year of fun.  Perfect weekend family activities to get everyone involved in as well.  Especially, creating something like a large catapult. 

It was truly a fun, but really educational way for kids to learn.  They have tailored age specific programs, so even if you have a high schooler, there’s something they can learn and do that is more involved than what we were shown!  Definitely check out scienceseeds.com and see how they can fit into your schedule for the summer and beyond! 

See all the fun at ScienceSeeds in Princeton, NJ: 

 

Woodloch Pines Resort – Poconos Family Resorts

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Our family stayed at the Woodloch Pines Resort! Learn more about our family fun time at one of the best all-inclusive Poconos Family Resorts.

Disclosure: This post is in partnership with Woodloch Resort and the Poconos Tourism Board. 

We first got a taste of all-inclusive resorts when we took a Disney Cruise last year.  It was wonderful.  We didn’t have to worry about anything and that in and of itself was amazing. We personally believe it’s our preferred way of travel.  So when we were invited to check out the Poconos Resorts all-inclusive Woodloch Pines Resort, we couldn’t wait. We were so excited a great family-friendly resort was essentially right in our backyard.

We arrived at Woodloch Resort and immediately noticed how large it is. We learned that the entire property over 1,000 acres. We found the entrance to Woodloch Pines resort, the part that we would be staying at and checked in and got our room information.  They handed us a large paper with all the days activities and let us know a new sheet would be available every morning. There were endless activities to do, but first we wanted to check into our room.

Inside Our Room at Woodloch Pines Resort

We were graciously staying in a one-bedroom Edgewater Suites room in their Mount Laurel building. Each room has a kitchenette, a bathroom with double sinks, a living room with pullout sofa bed, and a bedroom with 2 queen beds.  Each suite also has a private balcony and washer and dryer in the unit.

The kitchen contained silverware and dishes, as well as a microwave, stove, pots and pans, a large refrigerator, dish washer, and coffeemaker. There is also a table and chairs, as well as bar stools.  This particular building also connects to the indoor pool area, so there’s no having to walk outdoors to get to the pool (which is awesome in winter).

Check out our Woodloch Pines Suite room tour video!

Food at Woodloch Resort

Okay, I’ll fully admit one of our favorite things about all inclusive resorts is the food.  You can (within limitations) get almost anything and the Woodloch resort did not disappoint.  The kids thought it was amazing they could get hot chocolate at every breakfast and the options for all three meals didn’t disappoint.

For lunch and dinner, a small menu was available on the tables that listen the options and then the sides were automatic. Everything was delicious. From fish to prime rib, nachos to a full buffet on Sunday lunch, there was something for everyone. They did have traditional options for kid’s like chicken tenders, but we opted to get them regular meals to split like we do at a normal restaurant. Dinners started with soup or salad and a bread plate also.

And we can’t forget dessert!  The girls loved ordering from about a dozen ice cream options every evening of our stay and Andrew and I enjoyed brownies, pies, and more.

As far as breakfast, there was a variety of options every morning. They started you off with an insanely delicious crumb cake (which you can order to take home!) and fresh fruit. Next, they have a special of the day – one day was scandinavian pancakes and yum! You also could order any variety of eggs and meats like bacon and sausage. They truly had something for everyone.

Family-friendly Activities at Woodloch Resort

If you’re coming to have a getaway, you can certainly do that at Woodloch, as they have a top notch spa; however, we were here as a family. Often, we are nervous about places that claim family friendly, because our youngest is in a stage where she’s too little for some things, but she’s realizing that her big sister is doing more and she wants involved too. Luckily, Woodloch Resort DID NOT disappoint. The shear amount of activities there are for families is bananas. There is something there for the smallest of small to well into teenage years and beyond. They really have taken the all-inclusive thing very seriously.

Some of our favorite things for our family were:

  • Indoor Pool and Slides
  • Indoor Playground
  • Snowtubing

  • Arts and Crafts Room
  • Nature Trail
  • Magician Show (there are a variety of nightly shows)

  • Go Carts
  • Petting Zoo
  • Character encounters (before every meal)
  • and so much more!

There are literally dozens of activities for everyone and there’s so many that we didn’t even get to do half of the things that we circled that we wanted to do while there.  That just means we have to come back! 

Woodloch Resort, and specifically Woodloch Pines Resort, friendlessness and welcoming atmosphere had completely in love at first visit.  There are a variety of rooms and meal plans available to fit into everyone’s budget and even homes to rent out if you want to bring the extended family for a reunion. We definitely thinks it’s a top notch all-inclusive resort that everyone would feel right at home when visiting!

When Adventure Takes a Wrong Turn

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 When Adventure Takes a Wrong Turn is a piece about how even if something goes wrong on your family travel adventure, good can still come from it if you have an open mind. 

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.

“Let’s go on an adventure!”

This is what I’ve started to say to my kids on days that we get out of the house. Over the last few weeks, I have made a conscious effort to start exploring the world around us more. Whether it’s spending extra time exploring trails after nature class has ended (we homeschool and attend nature class once a week), finding a new trail to explore when we have a few extra hours and dad is home from work, or driving to Philadelphia to explore a new part of the city we’ve never been too, Andrew and I have been making more attempts at spending more time out of the house.

The adventure begins

We started calling our day trips adventures because the girls would tell us they don’t want to go walk a trail or walk around a city. Rightly so, they are 2.5 and 5 and they want to go play at Chuck E Cheese or the local park. By calling it an adventure we get them to open their minds to what they may find on our trip may be something really fun (and it always is).

Last weekend, Andrew had the day off and we decided that we would drive to Philadelphia and explore the Fairmount Park area between the Philadelphia Zoo and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Since we are members of the Philadelphia Zoo, we parked at their parking garage and then planned to walk the 1.5 miles to the Museum of Art.

Within the first half-hour, we had found butterfly statues, a moving train to watch go by, and a fun park. As we continued, we found a trail to walk through and a fun tree house that appeared to happen naturally. We walked across the street to the Lloyd House near Boathouse Row and from there we found water fountains, saw two brides taking pictures, and explored the Water Works section of Philadelphia. Finally, we reached the Philadelphia Museum of Art outside the famous steps that Rocky climbed. By now, it was after 5pm and we were hungry.

Eating on an Adventure

As we discovered on our plans-free vacation to Colorado, sometimes the best food experiences are found just by looking on an app and going to the first place that sounds fun. We found an awesome pizzeria called Luigi’s Pizza Fresca on 24th St and Fairmount Ave a few blocks away. After we filled our bellies, we decided it was time to make the trek back to our car at the zoo garage.

On our journey back, we went through the Mantua section of Philadelphia and found beautiful murals along much of the city. As we were coming down 34th street, I noticed there weren’t many people out.

The adventure throws you for a loop

I looked at Andrew and said, there’s not many people out. He said there weren’t many people ever on 34th street. As we started walking past the backside of the zoo, I noticed that I didn’t see anyone inside the zoo, no matter where we were. I began to question if the zoo garage closes. Andrew assured me he had went to a haunted house and parked there late before, so we were good.

We were not good. 

We arrived to the garage and the side ramp and doors were locked and/or gated. Andrew said, they probably lock that and let’s walk around to the entrance. Again, it was gated. The zoo garage was closed. Our car was inside. We were more than 30 minutes from our home. It was 7pm. We had walked more than 7 miles by the end of that day. We were exhausted. I immediately burst into tears.

When an adventure takes a wrong turn, you get to experience a new fun

Andrew reminded me it wasn’t the end of the world. We would just get to have a new adventure the rest of the evening. We grabbed an Uber and had it take us to the Patco station (a train that runs between New Jersey and Philadelphia). Then, we got on the train and took it back to New Jersey. From there, we took another Uber to our house. It was 9pm when we got home.

My five year looks at me, with a smile upon her face and says, “Well, that sure was an adventure. But, I don’t like that our car is trapped.”

In that moment, I realized it wasn’t about my feelings or thoughts.  It’s that despite everything, our kids still felt like we had an adventure. A fun adventure that my daughter said she would love to do again. It was that in this moment, my daughter reminded me that we could focus on this one (very small in comparison to the day) bad moment, or we could focus on how amazing of a day we had exploring, learning, and seeing new thrills in our world around us.

I’m forever grateful for the life lessons that I receive from my kids in these moments.

Have your adventures ever taken a wrong turn? Leave a comment and let me know what happened!

PS – Always double check if the parking garage you park in closes and at what time!

PPS – We got the car back! It was still in the garage the next day. 

>> Use this code for a FREE Uber ride up to $20 << * New Users Only

 

Focus on the Staycation {15 Staycation Ideas}

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Focus on the Staycation describes our desire to focus on the area that we are currently in as much as possible. Day trips and exploring more of the world around us in our local area with 15 staycation ideas. 

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Toyota through DriveShop.  Thoughts and opinions are 100% our own. Affiliate links may be contained in this post. 

Andrew lived in multiple states and countries growing up. I, on the other hand, had never been on a plane or past the Mississippi River until I was 17 years old. We traveled every summer though. My mom had a stipulation that we could travel, but couldn’t fly and it had to be drivable in 8 hours or less. Living in West Virginia growing up, we went to places like North Carolina, Tennessee, Pennsylvania. I always felt so happy and blessed that I was able to travel every summer on vacation. However, as I grew older I realized that there was so much of the world I hadn’t explored. Even just the world around me. We had a tendency to go to the same places over and over again instead of trying new places.

Focus on the Staycation

Andrew and I barely traveled before having kids, but every time we did, we loved it. We made a vow when our second kid was born that we would start traveling more. We decided on Our Quest to 50 to visit all 50 states before our youngest turns 18. But beyond getting to all the states, we needed to get out and see more of the world directly around us and that comes from staycations. One – two – three hour trips on the road to see places in our direct vicinity that we’ve never seen before.

We both agree that we are being called away from New Jersey and we don’t know if that’s going to happen this year or five years from now, but we do know that we aren’t going to be here forever. So while we have the chance, we want to explore the world in our area more. To not take for granted the vast amount of history and sites within driving distance to us. We know our girls are little, but they enjoy traveling just as much as we do and we are determined to explore more.

Things to Do on a Staycation

  1. Take a hike at a local trail
  2. Drive to the closest source of water (whether it’s the beach, river, a creek) and play. Teach your kids to skip rocks, take a kayak out, learn to paddleboard, etc.
  3. Pull up a map on your phone and type in a type of restaurant and go to the first spot that stand out.
  4. Visit a local museum or landmark
  5. Take a bike ride around a walkable town.
  6. Visit an open market
  7. Find a local drive thru movie theatre
  8. Go see a play/show at a local theatre
  9. Play football/soccer at your local park
  10. Go thrifting
  11. Find a sporting event. Whether it’s minor or major league or even a high school team, find a game to watch! Make it even more fun and try to find something you’ve never watched before
  12. Ask a friend (or even the gas station attendant) for a recommendation for something fun and just go do it.
  13. Find a splash pad or ice skating rink depending on the season.
  14. Go bowling
  15. Look up the closest festival happening in the week (checking out Facebook events is an easy way to do this.

We are so excited to see where we go this summer with our new found love of staycations.

We recently traveled to the Pocono Mountains in a 2017 Toyota Highlander Hybrid LE. We fell in love with this vehicle pretty easily! It was insanely comfortable for all four of us and it had great room for our family outing. The Toyota Highlander Hybrid got almost 30 MPG and has all wheel drive which is perfect for road trips! Get more information at Toyota.com

Tips for Making Better Food Choices When Traveling

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Eating healthy while traveling doesn’t have to be hard. Check out our tips for making better food choices when traveling and be prepared for your next trip!

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #OceanSprayOrganic #CollectiveBias

tips for eating healthier while traveling

We have finally found a sweet spot in our family travel.  Up until this point, the little one was a bit too unpredictable for us to plan a lot of travel. When we went to Disney last year, it was a bit difficult and we knew that within a few months it would be smooth sailing.  Well, at least as smooth as it can be when traveling with kids. 

We took some smaller trips last year and then towards the end of the year, Larisha said she was going to take a solo trip to Cleveland with both our girls. I thought she was nuts.  I was determined she was going to turn around halfway and head home. When she finally got to Cleveland, she said how great the girls did. We knew then, that the tides had turned. We committed to our goal of getting to Colorado this year and that happened too. The plane ride was a wee bit tricky, but nothing crazy. We were so excited.

Now, that means we are pretty golden for traveling with the kids.  It took us awhile to get here, but sign us up for all the day trips, staycations, vacations, week long excursions, you name it. We’re ready!

One thing, though, is that it’s not always easy to eat healthy while traveling. Fast food always seems to be the convenient option, but we all know it’s not the best. For the last few years, I’ve been trying to eat healthier, make smarter choices, and live my best life.

5 Tips for Making Better Food Choices When Traveling

1– Pack Your Food Ahead of Time

eating healthier lunch while traveling

  • This may seem simple, but so many people don’t utilize this method, including my past self.  I remember the first time I took Larisha to the Jersey shore, she started packing a cooler. This is how she grew up, but I didn’t have a clue what she was doing. Ever since that moment, I’d been a fan of packing lunches.
  • If you are using a cooler or lunch bag with ice packs, you can pack deli sandwiches and light refrigerated things like cheese sticks, yogurts, and grapes.
  • If no ice packs, stick to shelf-stable. PB&J sandwiches are a great option, alongside granola bars, nuts, jerky, or dried fruit/fruit chips.

2– Looking for a place to stay with a kitchen so you can cook for yourself -and more

how to eat better while traveling

  • Before worrying about eating healthier when traveling, we used to just look for somewhere with free breakfast.  The problem with that is it’s not always healthier. Most of the time, it’s high carbs, sugar, and sodium foods that don’t provide a lot of nutritional value.
  • Instead, look for places that actually have a kitchen. This way you can head to a local grocery store (or now have Amazon deliver most places) and you can cook meals yourself.  You’ll be saving time, money, and be able to control the healthy choices you make.

3– Going into a grocery store instead of stopping for fast food

better food choices when traveling

  • We all know fast food isn’t the healthiest option.  But we also don’t always have time to stop and sit down in a restaurant.  The next best option is to run into a grocery store.  It’s still a fast option and most grocery stores now have prepared options or bars where you can choose your own food.
  • You still want to make sure you are looking at ingredients and nutritional labels to make sure you are making the best choices.
  • Instead of grabbing a juice out of the cooler container or fountain, head down to the juice aisle and grab NEW! Ocean Spray® Organic 100% Juices.  It’s a natural, healthier option, fresh from the farm,  and more cost saving since you get more for your money. (Tip: if you must have cold beverages, you can get a glass of ice almost anywhere for free).

better food choices on your next trip

4– Stay hydrated

eating healthier on a trip

  • Staying hydrating will help keep you moving, alert, and full between meals.
  • Water is always the best option. But sometimes you just want more flavor or you simply want juice. Ocean Spray’s New Organic Juice is a delicious option.

5– If you have to stop at fast food or a restaurant…

  • I get it. There’s going to be times when this is the only option. Focus on the healthy choices. Use a nutritional calculator and focus on low sodium, carbs, and fat with high protein. These will help you keep going and not feel tired, bloated, or weighed down. If you are smart with your decisions, you will find an option at every fast food place you could imagine.

We hope these tips help you on your next adventure!  Stay tuned to see where we’re going next by following us on social media on Facebook and Instagram!

Ocean Spray® 100% Juice comes in Organic Cranberry, Cranberry Apple and Cranberry Blueberry. Grab a $2.00 off ONE (1) bottle coupon Ocean Spray® Organic 100% Juices and try yourself today! We grabbed ours from our local ACME, but check out the store locator to see the closest place to grab yours today. Ocean Spray® 100% Juice Organic Cranberry contains no added sugar, preservatives, or artificial flavors, just goodness in every sip. Each juice is non-GMO and is USDA Organic certified!

ocean spray organic juice

 

 

Plans Free Vacation Was The Best Thing Ever

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Plans Free Vacation was the best thing ever that we have done while traveling. We recommend that anyone traveling soon try a no plans vacation for themselves. 

plans free vacation

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Hyundai.  Thoughts and opinions are 100% our own. 

Almost a year ago, Andrew said that he wanted to take a trip to Colorado during the next snow season. He picked up snowboarding 3 years ago and it’s become one of his favorite hobbies. He asked that we start putting money aside for the trip as we could. In September, the trip looked like it could become a reality. Not only was he going, but we were going to take the entire family.

Early last year, we had decided on Our Quest for 50. A family bucket list to visit all 50 states in the United States before our girls turn 18. We were so excited to add this trip West, because it wasn’t even a consideration a few months prior. Andrew, I, and our oldest have been to California once and we loved flying over the Rockies. We were thrilled we were going to be able to experience it up close.

Blink—Blink—Blink.

Bam. It was January. After booking flights in September, the holiday season came in roaring and ate away all my time. Before I knew it, we were traveling in less than 4 weeks and I hadn’t planned one thing. If you know me, this is a big deal. I typically have multiple notes in my phone, dozens of travel-related tabs open in my phone and laptop browser, and at least one, if not multiple, spreadsheets set up. NOTHING was planned.

Then, 3 weeks.
Then, 2 weeks.
Next thing I knew, we were 3 days out from our trip and literally the only thing planned was the hotel we were staying at, the flights and rental car, and that Andrew would be snowboarding 4 of the days we were out there and we would all be joining him for one day. Truth be told, I even switched the hotel within 9 days of us traveling. It was a mess.  My anxiety was creeping in and I was getting nervous.

I took a deep breathe and told myself to go in with no expectations.

Could I really do that?  We don’t take a lot of trips yet, so when we go I always try to pack as much in as we can. Would I be able to enjoy our trip if I have nothing planned and went by the seat of my pants. I told myself that I owed it myself to at least try. And you know what?

A Plans Free Vacation Was The Best Thing Ever 

packing for a plans free vacation

It was one of the best, least stressful trips we’ve ever been on, especially since having kids. Our epic no plans vacation started almost immediately. We loaded up the Hyundai Santa Fe and took off! As we were driving from Denver to Avon we saw a sign for a scenic overlook. We decided to take the exit and go see it.  What we originally thought was going to be a quick detour ended up leading us over 30 minutes down the road in the opposite direction of our hotel.

no plans vacation

no plans vacation trip

The end result was worth every minute. The views were amazing. The experience was incredible and we were only just beginning. We winded up at Buffalo Bill’s grave, so it turned into an educational experience at the same time. Then, we headed on our way towards the hotel again.  I knew after that moment, that this plans free vacation was going to the best.

hyundai santa fe

All four of us were equally amazed at the wonders of the world around us.  The snow covered mountains on one side. The rocky terrain on the other. It was a marvel to look at and excited was around each and every corner.  Every turn seemingly becoming more magnificent to wander at than the last.

how to take a plans free vacation

The sunsets equally as stunning at the daytime. And at night, the world around us lit up like Christmastime.

beaver creek sunset

One of the coolest things we did was hop in the car with no expectations and allow the Hyundai Santa Fe to explore this new area for us.  The navigation has a built in Google search feature that allows you to type in pretty much anything and find matches locally for you. On one particular night, we decided to hop in the car and find dessert.  We literally typed “dessert” in the navigation and suggestions were given to us.

hyundai santa fe gps

We randomly picked a place a few miles away called Sundae in Edwards, Colorado and it was incredible.

sundae edwards co

Other things found on our no plans trip:

The cutest towns.  We stayed in Avon, Colorado. We traveled to Vail, Edwards, Frisco, and Idaho Springs, Colorado also.  Every time we were just smitten with the cutest little towns set up. Especially Idaho Springs, the home of the gold mine rush where some parts you still feel like you are back during that time period.

idaho springs co

A kids imagination play space. Imagination Station in Vail, CO

imagination station vail co

The best hot chocolate we’ve ever had that’s not homemade hot chocolate. Rimini in Avon, CO

remini hot chocolate beaver creek co

The most delicious pizza! It’s a honey crust and they give you honey to drizzle on the crust. Beau Jo’s, Idaho Springs. 

beau jos pizza idaho springs co

Unexpected hiking adventures. White River National Forest, Frisco, Colorado.

hiking in colorado

Delicious ice cream and popsicles! The girls loved this spot so much we went twice.  Kiwi International Delights & Coffee, Avon, CO

kiwi international avon co ice cream

And so, so, so much more.

Of course, we went snowboarding while we were there.  While this was the one thing we did know going into the trip we would do, even this wasn’t fully planned out until the day before. It was such an incredible time. We can’t wait to do this type of trip again!

beaver creek colorado

The entire time, we were powered by the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited AWD. The heated seats and steering wheel definitely came in handy for the cold temperatures.  Even though we are from New Jersey, it was still colder than it has been here. The Santa Fe features 7 passenger seating options. We easily fit all our luggage with the optional third row down.

Other features we loved about the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe include:

  • Rearview Camera with multi-view camera system providing an almost 3D view
  • Smart technology like Blind Spot Detection, Rear Cross-traffic Alert,High Beam Assist, and Lane Change Assist
  • Manual rear side window sunshades
  • 3rd row USB outlets

The Santa Fe features a combined 21mpg city/highway. Learn more about the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe AWD and schedule a driving experience today!

hyundai santa fe

Must-Do Activities with Kids in Cleveland

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We recently visited Cleveland, Ohio and these are our Must-Do Activities with Kids in Cleveland. Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Destination Cleveland. Affiliate links contained in this post earn us a commission that helps to continue to run this site. 

must do activities with kids in cleveland ohio

My sister has lived in Cleveland for years now and since our parents are located at basically a mid-way point, we’ve always met there. We would plan for 2 times a year to get together, typically Easter and the summer. However, this year, I said I was going to drive the girls by myself to visit. Plane tickets out of Philadelphia have always been high (in my opinion) to get to Cleveland.  My sister and I used to joke that we’d meet in the Bahamas since it was so much cheaper for both of us to fly there than to see each other.

Part of me thought I was crazy.  I was going to drive with a 4.5 year old and a 2 year old alone more than 8 hours. Yup, I was definitely crazy.  Both girls typically get antsy when we make the 2.5 hour trip to Hersheypark, so this was wayyyyy out of anyone’s realm of ideas. Except mine. I wanted to get there and see my sister and my nieces.  My sister now has four little girls, so traveling for her is increasingly difficult.

Often, I’ve heard Cleveland doesn’t offer much.  It’s just a manufacturing city that’s cold and gloomy. My sister promised me that she would change my mind. And she did.  So much so, that we already have a list of things we want to do when we go back next.

city of cleveland skyline

7 Must-Do Activities with Kids in Cleveland

We did an insane amount of things while we were in Cleveland and over time we will share those with you, but for today, we wanted to share with you our 7 Must-Do Activities with Kids in Cleveland.

great lakes science center cleveland ohio

1- Great Lakes Science Center 

First off, the Great Lakes Science Center is HUGE! It has a ton of activities for toddlers through adulthood.  Everyone can literally walk away from the science center and say they learned something.  While there dozens of activities packed in, the space wasn’t so overwhelming that you thought you were standing on top of people.

They have a special section blocked off just for younger kids too which made it nice to be able to sit and take a break while the kids ran around and played. Depending on the weather, there’s also an outdoors space where kids can do water activities and more.  One really cool thing was that kids can make their own duck tape hats while they watch a scientist give a fun, educational demo.

fun for kids in cleveland

2- Find a Cleveland Sign

Cleveland has installed three of these huge Cleveland signs throughout the city. We looked up the locations and one morning before we did anything else, we went and found one.  The girls though it was so neat and I admittedly loved the fact that you could see the Cleveland skyline in the background. The sign in this post is at Edgewater Park, an amazing and very large park (with a beach in warmer weather).  Other signs are located at North Coast Harbor and Abby Road.

where to find the cleveland signs

3- Greater Cleveland Aquarium

We have an aquarium close to our home and we’ve been numerous times, so I was a little nervous that the girls would just be over it.  However, there’s some really cool features at the Greater Cleveland Aquarium, like talking to a scuba diver and touching sting rays an tortoises.  Anytime that my girls are able to touch unique animals they are giddy.

cleveland aquarium

4 – Cleveland Metroparks Zoo 

Like the aquarium, I was nervous the girls would have been so often, it wouldn’t be anything special. However, we had so much fun.  Not only did we go at this amazing time where the leaves were changing so it provided an amazing backdrop but there were some awesome animals that we’d never seen, like elephants.

cleveland metroparks zoo

One of the biggest bonus points of the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is that you are able to feed the giraffes.  How many people can say they’ve done that (I guess a lot if you live in Cleveland, but still)!? It was so much fun. The girls squealed with delight as they waited for the giraffe to take the tettuce out of their hand.  Plus, there’s a tiny baby giraffe that looked like a big toy!

where can you feed giraffes

There’s also this really amazing tree house at the back of the zoo. It’s huge, has a slide, and the girls just loved it.

fun family things to do in cleveland

5- Cleveland Botanical Gardens

Some people may not think the botanical gardens are a place for kid excitement, but our girls couldn’t contain their happiness. If you need to get some energy out of your littles, it’s a great place to let them run loose (but still supervised). There’s hidden treehouses, a children’s garden, and check times for the butterfly release daily in the afternoon at the Cleveland Botanical Gardens.

cleveland botanical gardens

One of my biggest goals, is to let my kids outside and to explore nature and the outdoors as much as possible.  They loved looked at all the flowers, see the water features, and the really tall trees.

kids play area cleveland botanical gardens

6 – Ohio City Neighborhood

Once day, I was waiting for my sister and happened upon Ohio City Neighborhood, specifically 25th street.  It’s an absolutely adorable area. We ate at a restaurant called Tabletop Cafe where you can play unlimited board games for a fee the entire day (Note: They charged me for my 2 year old to “play”) and then went across the street for ice cream at Mitchell’s. It’s an awesome ice cream shop where you can see how it’s made throughout certain times of the day. We definitely want to head back and explore more of this neighborhood.

mitchells ice cream cleveland ohio

Where’s your favorite Must-Do Activities with Kids in Cleveland?  Leave us a comment and let us know so that when we return we can visit! There’s so many things that were on our list that we weren’t able to squeeze in that we are excited to return and explore. We definitely think Cleveland is a hidden gem in the United States for families and a must do bucket list city for everyone!

These products may help you on your next road trip with kids:


5 Ways to Keep Young Kids Busy on Long Car Rides

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Ever wonder the easiest way to keep toddlers and pre-schoolers busy on long car rides? See our 5 ways to keep young kids busy on long car rides and never have another bad trip!

Disclosure: 5 Ways to Keep Young Kids Busy on Long Car Rides is sponsored by Mazda through DriveShop.  Thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. Affiliate links are contained in this post which earn us a small income. You shop as normal.

mazda cx-5 2017

I remember when we had our first child. Our lives drastically changed.  And not just because we were learning how to feed, bathe, and keep alive this tiny human. But because she drastically changed how we did everything. Even a simple trip to the store was different. She didn’t like being alone, so I sat in the back with her as often as I could.  She wasn’t even really happy then. You see, she hated the car. Twenty minutes rides to the mall alone with her were almost unbearable. Luckily, she eventually grew out of it. Then, we had her sister and repeat all over. Thankfully, we are at the stage where they both happily enjoy taking a car ride. Okay, so they fight now, but at least there’s no crying. 

Then, I had a brilliant idea to drive with them by myself for 8 hours.

8 hours.
In a car.
With 2 kids under 5.
Alone.

I needed a plan. A good one.  I needed a back-up plan to the plan.

I survived.

Back and forth each way ended up more like 10-11 hours, but we did it. No major breakdowns or screaming kids. WE DID IT!

Today, I wanted to share with you 5 ways to keep young kids busy on long car rides 

These are five things that I did on this long epic trip that we took that actually prevented tons of meltdowns.

1- DVD Player 

I know. No brainer right?  But seriously, grab a portable DVD player and some brand new movies that they either haven’t ever seen or haven’t seen in a long time.  The novelty of something new to watch will keep them occupied. We didn’t have this one the entire trip, but it was nice for some of the trip.  We love a dual mounted DVD player  because both girls watch the same thing and they are mounted so we don’t have to worry about them dropping it while we are driving.

ways to keep preschoolers busy on long car rides

2- Play-doh

Before you guys call me crazy, hear me out. This was actually the best thing that we brought along.  The girls both played for an extended amount of time with the play-doh during the trip. I got a multi-pack of play-doh and took 6 colors with us on the trip.  The girls switched which colors they were using at different times.

3- Magnetic Drawing Board

We had two magnetic drawing boards in the car with us (one for each kid).  Our favorite is this V-tech Write and Learn Creative Center. There’s learning and art related prompts or they can just use it as a drawing board.  It’s great for creative play and I don’t have to worry about a mess from paper and coloring supplies.

ways to keep toddlers busy on long car rides

4- Magic Coloring Books

We adore these magic coloring books.  Essentially, there’s blank coloring sheets and this magic coloring marker.  The marker can only write on the special pages in the book.  If they color their car seat or clothes, nothing happens.  But the color page comes to life magically with different colors as they draw on them.

tips for long car rides with kids

5- Reading Books

I took a collection of some of their favorite reading books.  While we were driving, they baby would just look at the pictures, but with the big girl, I would ask her to tell me what the story was.  She loved “reading” to me.

These are just a few of the activities that we did while we took our road trip! I hope that they help you on your next trip with littles too!

About our vehicle-

Our epic long first trip was taken in the 2017 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring AWD.  The comfort of this vehicle was amazing.  I’ll admit that I was a bit nervous because my back starts to hurt on trips longer than two hours, so this was a big deal. The seats were so comfortable and added with the heat warming front seats, it was an amazing ride. This compact crossover SUV was perfect for our small family and enough stuff for a week long road trip.

mazda cx-5 grand touring 2017

how many seats is the mazda cx-5

Some Specs –

The Mazda CX-5 starts at $24,045. It has a windshield-projected Active Driving Display that I was jealous isn’t on ever vehicle.  It was amazing to see my speed and the speed limit displayed in a way that didn’t distract me and always let me know when a speed limit had changed. The Mazda CX-5 also has two rear USB ports, along with rear A/C vents which are very handy for little kids.

is the mazda cx-5 good on gas

does the mazda cx-5 has three rows

Three of my other favorite functions were the:

– Lane Departure Warning with Lane Keep Assist
– High Beam Control
– Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross Traffic Alert

Mazda took to shortcuts when it came to family safety.  The lane keep assist will help in assisting that you stay in your lane (it slightly moves back into the lane if you start to cross the line). The high beam control actually detects if cars are coming ahead of you and turns off your high beams for you (this was a life saver night driving on this trip).

great suvs for long car rides

Paired with our 5 Ways to Keep Young Kids Busy on Long Car Rides, the Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring AWD makes for the perfect road trip.

Here’s some Products that we discussed above:


15 Essentials for a Woman’s Everyday Travel Bag

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Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SeventhGenerationFemCare #CollectiveBias

Despite what I believe in my body, I’m actually an adult now. An adult in charge of real life, actual children. Shocking isn’t it? I mean we are about to have a 5 year old and I’m still asking myself who thought it was a good idea that I be left in charge of two little kids. Sometimes I wake up and still think I’m going to have to drag myself to Bio 101 or some other college activity. Point being: I’m truly in charge now and I have to be the responsible adult.

I learned to be a responsible adult the hard way.

I feel like my mom was always on top of things. She always seemed prepared. Maybe it was just by the time I realized it, she had already made her own mistakes, like the ones I’ve learned from at this point in my life. I’ve gone out of the house without extra clothes for the girls and they have an accident. I’ve forgotten my lint roller when going to a friend’s house who has a shedding dog. Worst of all, are the times that you are out and your menstrual cycle starts unexpectedly and you aren’t prepared with products.

Literally, it’s one of the worst feelings. The light gush. You look around you and wonder if anyone saw anything or noticed your discomfort. You’re immediately time-warped back to your high school days where you’d be sitting in class and feel like everyone in the room can see a huge blood stain on your pants and if you get up from your desk, there’s going to be blood all over the chair. It’s nerve wracking! But it doesn’t have to be embarrassing.

15 Essentials for a Woman’s Everyday Travel Bag

We are constantly on the go. As moms, we (typically) have our children covered, but sometimes we forgot about ourselves. We have to stop doing that and put ourselves at the forefront. Whether you are traveling out of town or just down the street for a few hours to an event, you should always carry with you an essential everyday travel bag that prepares you for the everyday. I remember watching The Wedding Planner and was amazed that Jennifer Lopez’s character literally had everything possibly imaginable inside her little bag. She was so prepared. I realized to help with my anxiety, I too need to create an essential woman’s everyday travel bag for myself.

Here’s the essentials I think every women needs:

  • Deodorant
  • Hair Ties
  • Lint Roller
  • Lotion
  • Mini Sewing Kit
  • Small Manicure Set
  • Mini First Aid Kit
  • Soap
  • Wipes
  • Stain Remove Pen
  • Tissues
  • Hand Sanitizer
  • Mini Toothbrush with pre-loaded toothpaste
  • Chocolate or other Small Snack
  • Seventh Generation™ Feminine Care Products

The last one is the most important to me. Listen, even though I track my cycles, it still surprises even me sometimes. Seventh Generation Free & Clear feminine products never contain fragrances.  They even have new comfort applicator tampons! If you know me, you know how important it is to protect your most sensitive body parts and I love having an option that is safe when I’m on the go. In my bag, I keep tampons, pads, and pantyliners with me. Not only does this keep me prepared for myself, but I’m always prepared if a friend is in need as well.

More about the products!

  • Seventh Generation™ Comfort Applicator Tampons have a BPA-free plastic applicator made from 95% plant-based materials. Designed for comfort, these certified organic cotton tampons are both hypoallergenic and contain no added fragrances, natural or artificial. They currently come in regular and super absorbency.
  • Ultra-Thin Pads with Wings give your the perfect protection without exposing yourself to unneeded chemicals. The PureFit™ designs confirms to each body for leak-free, reliable protection. It’s also free of dyes and fragrances and provides a comfortable fit.
  • Pantiliners offers an enhanced fit that traps fluid away from your skin allowing you to be dry and comfortable while also being leak-free. They are processed without chlorine, and free of fragrances, dyes, and deodorants.

Learn more about Seventh Generation feminine products today! Grab yours today at Target! Make sure you check Cartwheel for any deals!

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