Tag: animal encounters
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A Quieter Side of Gatlinburg: Hiking, Bears & Hidden Gems {Tennessee}
Gatlinburg is known for crowds, attractions, and the busy Parkway—but there is another side to this Smoky Mountain town. Join us for a slower day filled with hiking, handmade pottery, river walks, and five unexpected bear sightings.
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Cowboys & Cattle Drives at the Fort Worth Stockyards {Texas}
For the longest time, the two places our daughter has wanted to see are Alaska and Texas. So when we told her that on our way home we would be landing in Texas, her excitement was immediate. As we flew into the Dallas–Fort Worth airport, she pressed her face to the window and asked, “Are…
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Elephant Seals, Moonstones, & Tide Pools on the Central Coast {California}
It had been four years since my last trip to California. Some of my lifelong friends had moved to the Central Coast, settling in the quiet coastal town of Los Osos. Over the years they’ve become more like family, and being so far away from them had been harder than I expected. For months I…
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From Monteverde to Playa Hermosa{Costa Rica}
After saying goodbye to Monteverde, we made a stop at Ponderosa Adventure Park to feed giraffes and zebras before spending our final days relaxing along the Pacific coast at Playa Hermosa. It was the perfect ending to an unforgettable Costa Rica adventure.
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Selvatura Adventure Park: Hanging Bridges, Sloths & Butterflies{Costa Rica}
From walking among the treetops on hanging bridges to meeting rescued sloths and watching butterflies emerge, Selvatura Adventure Park offers one of the best family-friendly ways to experience the Monteverde Cloud Forest.
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Grianan of Aileach: Discovering Ireland’s Ancient Past & An Unexpected Family Adventure
While exploring County Donegal, Ireland, we made an unexpected stop at Grianan of Aileach, an ancient hill fort overlooking the countryside. What started as a quick visit became one of our most memorable stops, filled with history, incredible views, family connections, and a few unexpected surprises.
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Camel Ride at Genesis Land & The Unexpected Singing Camel
I expected riding a camel in Israel to be unforgettable, but I never imagined one camel would refuse to let me on while another would spend the journey humming its way through the Judean Desert. Sometimes the best travel memories are the ones you never see coming.
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A Weekend in Lexington: History, Horses & Bourbon {Kentucky}
Our weekend in Lexington, Kentucky didn’t go according to plan, but the unexpected itinerary introduced us to aviation history, Mary Todd Lincoln, horses, bourbon, Camp Nelson, and some delightful surprises.
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Fall Festival at Lucky Ladd Farm {Tennessee}
Happy First Day of October! I’m always so glad when summer gives way to the cooler, colorful joys of fall. Fall is my favorite season and I love that here in Tennessee it is a much more gradual and longer season than the quick flash of a few weeks that is in Utah. With October…
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Nashville Zoo & Grassmere Historic Home {Tennessee}
We spent a rainy day enjoying the beautiful animals at the Nashville Zoo. We always love going to the zoo on days like this because there are fewer people and the animals are generally more active than other times. As of right now, you must have a timed entry ticket and anyone 13 and over…