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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Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center {Alaska}
Right off the Seward Highway, near Girdwood Alaska, is the Wildlife Conservation Center. This non-profit organization is dedicated to the care of orphaned or injured animals and then helping to get them back to their natural habitat. Visiting the center is an incredible experience. To get to see such beautiful animals up close such as…
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Yellowstone Bear World {Idaho}
If you drive north a short way from Idaho Falls, you will find one of the state’s greatest treasures. The Yellowstone Bear World is absolutely amazing and well worth the stop. Walking in you are first greeted by a large enclosure of bear cubs happily playing and eating together with no mind for the visitors.…