Nine Ways to Explore Dallas, Texas in the Spring
There are SO many places to explore in Dallas- my family could have stayed for a year and still not have seen everything! Unfortunately, we couldn’t stay that long, but we vow to return soon! I did most of my research on VisitDallas.com, which has great lists and suggestions. Click here to request a print copy of the Visitor’s Guide. If you’re planning on exploring multiple spots on my list, consider purchasing a CityPass, which will give you discounts and allow you to skip many lines. More info here. While many locations having parking lots and there are several metered options on main roads, consider riding with DART, Dallas’ public transportation system. Learn more about it here. Like I mentioned, there was too much to do while we were in town to cover the entire city, but I wanted to share some spots we enjoyed:
20 Family Friendly Places to Explore in Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania’s largest city, is known for many things: being the “City of Brotherly Love”; the home of the cheesesteak, the first bank, and the Liberty Bell; and the place where “eagles fly.” Home to over one million people and less than a two hour drive from both New York City and Baltimore, it’s probably most know for being the first capitol of America and the location of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. There certainly is a lot of history “preserved” in Philadelphia, but there’s also a ton of other ways to explore the city with kids. Before you head to Philadelphia, check out VisitPhilly.com for tons of recommendations, itineraries, and calendars. The website is well organized and has suggestions organized by neighborhood, season, or family friendly activities. If you’re planning on visiting for a few days, consider purchasing a CityPass or Philadelphia Pass, both of which offer substantial savings if you visit multiple locations (most of which are on my top 20 list).
Six Things to Do with Kids in Providence, Rhode Island this Winter
Rhode Island make take some heat for being the smallest state in America, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in family-friendly fun. Providence, the state capital, is located one hour south of Boston and three hours north of New York City. My family has driven through the Ocean State several time on the way to visit family (check out my posts on nearby Newport, Bristol, and The Farmer’s Daughter) but we’ve never stayed in town for more than a day.
On our way home from celebrating Christmas in Boston, we decided to spend some time exploring Providence. Even though the weather was chilly (mid 20s-30s), we enjoyed lots of indoor and outdoor fun. Here are some of our favorite activities for family fun in Providence:
Dutchess County, New York
Dutchess County, located in southeastern New York, spans from Fishkill and Beacon to Rhinebeck and Red Hook covering (in total) thirty cities, towns, and villages. There are literally hundreds of ways to explore the area, but I thought I would share twelve ways families can enjoy all that Dutchess County has to offer together. The county borders western Connecticut and is about 90 minutes from Manhattan. Driving from the north end of Red Hook south to Beacon takes less than an hour, so you won’t spend days in the car exploring the area.
Start your planning by checking out DutchessTourism.com, which is a well organized, well informed network of suggestions for eating, staying, and exploring the county. They have a section dedicated to family fun and even have itineraries broken up in one, three, and five day stays (in additional to organizing suggestions for shopping, craft beer, spa, LGBT and other themed trips).
New Bedford, Massachusetts
New Bedford, a small city located in the southeastern part of Massachusetts (about an hour from Boston), is known as the whaling capital of the world, due to the protected deep water harbor of Buzzard’s Bay and ideal transportation routes. Indeed, New Bedford has a rich history in whaling, fishing, and commerce. At its peak in the mid 1850s, New Bedford employed over 300 ships and 10,000 fisherman.
My family recently took a weekend trip to visit the New Bedford area and were pleasantly surprised by the variety of family friendly activities, even in the “off” winter season. I started my research at DestinationNewBedford.org and found lots of helpful advice. I printed copies of the Kids Scavenger Hunt for my kids to complete while we were in town, although you can find copies at many local attractions.
Holiday Gift Guide 2017
This might seem odd: a family travel blogger posting a holiday gift guide? Absolutely! I have been offering advice and my personal experiences to so many people recently, I thought I would share with everyone.
I am a huge proponent of giving experiences for the holidays instead of material possessions.