Tag: USA
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A Kid’s Guide to the National Park Junior Ranger Program
This week, the country celebrates National Park Week, with special events, programs, and fee-free days at parks across the United States. As a family, we love visiting national park sites, and at every single one, our daughter asks to complete the Junior Ranger program. In honor of National Park week, she wanted to share her…
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Visiting Craters of the Moon National Monument {Idaho}
On our way from Utah into Idaho, we decided to make a detour to Craters of the Moon National Monument—a place I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from. It’s strange to me that I had never visited this site before for all the many times that I had been in the area over the…
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Going Home: Family, Memories, & Meaningful Moments {Utah & Idaho}
We made our annual visit home to Utah for Spring Break. The days were filled with a mix of memories of growing up here and experiencing it now with my own family. It was returning to the place that quietly shaped most of my life. The people, the food, the culture, and especially the mountains…
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An Ode to the Mother Road: Driving Route 66 One Stretch at a Time
This year the road of all roads — the Mother Road — celebrates an incredible milestone: 100 years of U.S. Route 66. What I love about Route 66 is that it began as something fairly simple — a highway created to help travelers move between Chicago and Santa Monica. But over the decades it has…
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Exploring Rivers & Oceans at the Tennessee Aquarium {Tennessee}
On a cold and blustery day when we didn’t want to stay home but also didn’t want to brave the weather for long, we decided on a visit to the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga. It’s the perfect kind of outing for in-between days — warm, engaging, and easy to explore at your own pace. Before…
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Five Favorites : Lesser Known U.S. National Parks
As a family, we love visiting national parks across the country. We carry our annual park pass everywhere, tuck our national park book into backpacks, and never miss a chance to collect stamps and stickers. You could say we’re committed. Over the years, we’ve explored quite a few parks, and each one leaves us in…
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Unexpected Christmas Delights in Cullman {Alabama}
On our weekend trip to Alabama, we made our way to the small town of Cullman to experience their charming Christmas market. With the area’s deep German heritage, it seems only natural that Cullman would create its own festive Christkindlmarkt for locals and visitors to enjoy. Over the past few years we’ve fallen in love…
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Space Race & the Moon Landing- Visiting the U.S. Space & Rocket Center {Alabama}
We spent a weekend down in Alabama, and our first stop was the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville. While many people immediately think of Cape Canaveral when they hear “NASA,” Huntsville played an equally vital role in the space program—this is where the rockets were designed, built, and tested. It’s also home to…
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Experiencing the Magic of Zoolumination- Nashville Zoo {Tennessee}
One of our favorite annual traditions is visiting the Nashville Zoo when it’s transformed into a world of color and wonder for Zoolumination. Thousands of lanterns glow along the pathways, turning every corner into a moment of surprise and admiration. Each year brings an entirely new experience. The first time we visited, the displays centered…
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Fall Leaves & Natural Bridges- Exploring Head of the Crow State Park
Tennessee seems to be running a little late with the fall colors this year. All through October we kept watching the trees, waiting for any sign of autumn to peek through. And then, almost overnight, the colors arrived — the brilliant golds and fiery reds painting the hillsides in that unmistakable fall glow. But with…