Our Trip To Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains

August 23, 2016 By Heather Little

*This post was written by Blog Contributor Heather Little

Don’t get me wrong…as a Florida resident, I love living near the beach, but sometimes you just need a change of scenery. This summer, my kids asked to take a trip to the mountains, so we decided to visit Gatlinburg, Tennessee and the Great Smoky Mountains. The great thing about Gatlinburg is that there is something for everyone – from quaint, romantic cabins for couples to fun, family resorts and everything in between. The list of activities is just as wide-ranging. For nature lovers, there are hiking trails of all levels that take you to beautiful sights like waterfalls, mountain overlooks, meandering streams, and wildlife encounters. For the more adventurous, there are mountain coasters, the famous Ober Gatlinburg Alpine Slide and gondola ride, moonshine distilleries, a space needle, and even a few haunted houses! Downtown you will find local art and crafts stores, restaurants, homemade candy, donut, and popcorn shops, as well as other fun attractions like mountain miniature golf and the Ripley’s Aquarium.

Photo Credit: TripAdvisor.com

If you take the main road through the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, be sure to stop at the visitor’s centers on both ends. Oconaluftee at the south entrance offers a historic perspective of the area and Sugarlands on the north side is a great place to stop and talk to a park ranger and discover some of the wonderful plant and animal life in the area.

Summer in the mountains is a great time visit. The trees and vegetation are lush and green and on warm days, you can enjoy a dip in one of the creeks that runs through the Smoky Mountain National Park and downtown Gatlinburg. Fall in the Smokies is famous for its beautiful colors as the leaves change, making it one of the more popular times to visit. During winter and the holiday seasons, the streets are lined with holiday lights and the entire town has a festive mood. There’s nothing quite like bundling up with a cup of hot apple cider and a warm donut on a chilly, mountain night. But no matter what time of year you decide to visit, with beautiful scenery and activities for the whole family, it’s sure to be a fun-filled trip!

Have you ever visited Gatlinburg?

Heather Little

My name is Heather Little and my husband and I have two sweet girls and one crazy dog. We moved to Florida 6 years ago and have loved every minute of it! I enjoy crafting, good food, shopping, and of course travel!

Common Errors Families Make When They Go On A Long Journey In The Car

August 17, 2016 By Anne

Going on a long journey in the car can cause headaches for families. You need to keep the kids occupied while ensuring you do the journey in the quickest time possible. You need to make sure you get the car ready so that it’s a smooth trip for everyone. Here are some common errors families make when they go on a journey in the car.

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They forget to fill up before they go

One common error families make when they go on a long journey in the car is they don’t fill up before they get on their way. They think that they should be fine for a few miles, and they will stop at a gas station on the way. However, if you have never done the route before, you won’t know where the gas stations are. You might not find one for miles when your car needs some petrol or diesel, and you may end up breaking down on the road. Therefore, fill up before you go at your local gas station so that the journey goes smoothly for your family!

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They forget to take a traditional map

Another common error families make when they go on a long journey in the car is that they rely on the sat nav. They hope that it will get them to their destination. But you can’t rely on just the sat nav to get you there. They often can go wrong, and if your battery fails, you won’t be able to use it to find your way to the destination. Therefore, you need to take a traditional map with you. You can follow that, as well as looking at the sat nav, to ensure you are going the right way. Map out your route before you go, so you have a good idea of roads you need to take on the journey.

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They don’t have the car manual with them

An additional common error families make when they go on a long journey in the car is they don’t take the car manual with them. They may break down on the journey and are not sure what’s wrong with the car. If they had the manual with them, they could check what the issue may be and know how to resolve it. You should always keep the repair manual in the car. If you do get stuck without one, you could download one from sites such as tradebit manuals. That way, you can fix the car easily and get back on the road again.

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They don’t take enough to keep the kids busy

Another common error families make when they go on a long journey in the car is they don’t take enough items with them to keep the kids busy. You don’t want them moaning during the journey that they are bored. You need to make sure they have a book and a toy to keep them occupied. Here are some other travel activities to keep the kids busy on the way. Take a blanket with you for the kids, just in case they get cold on the long journey. It could double up as a picnic blanket when you stop for a rest break!

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Remember to bring some water with you in the car. It will quench your family’s thirst while you are stuck in traffic.

Anne

I'm a mother of 2 who likes to get involved in too much! Besides writing here I started a non-profit, I'm on the PTO board, very active in my community and volunteer in the school. I enjoy music, reading, cooking, traveling and spending time with my family. We just adopted our 3rd cat and love them all!

4 Must-Try Adrenaline-Pumping Family Activities in Queenstown

August 9, 2016 By Anne

An ideal place to spend your time off is at the beautiful city of Queenstown. This all-round tourist destination is packed with fun-filled and thrilling activities perfect for your whole family. You can certainly enjoy your family holiday at this city, for there are a lot of activities that you can try out while here.

Queenstown has spectacular natural views that you will truly appreciate once you have witnessed them. Since there are numerous thrilling activities you can do here, all your family members will be enthralled. Situated on the shores of Lake Wakatipu and overlooked by The Remarkables Range, this city is a prime lake resort and four season alpine.

Apparently, a car hire in Queenstown is available for you to discover more places around the city. You and your family will be able to visit any attractions easier and more comfortable.

Here are the best family activities to try when you are in Queenstown.

Hiking

With Queenstown’s breathtaking environment, it is a paradise for those who love to hike as well as walk. In fact, the town is best discovered by foot, so it is nice to go on hiking with your family. Probably, one of the ideal family-friendly walk near the city is at Moke Lake. It takes approximately two to three hours to walk around with a magnificent view and well-made path.

Jet Boating

One great family adventure to do in Queenstown is jet boating. Absolutely, this will be a fun, exciting, and unforgettable activity to try with your entire family. There are numerous companies that offer this kind of adventure which you can choose from. Thus, select one with the best deal, since jet boating comes with a price. Nonetheless, it will be worth it and the fun you experience will be priceless.

White Water Rafting

For extra thrill and adrenaline-fueled adventure, experience the famous white water rafting in Queenstown. If your family is looking for an ultimate adventure, then try the half-day rafting trips on Kawarau Rivers or Shotover through Challenge Rafting. While in action, you will witness the superb scenery of the rivers and it is surely an adventure to remember a lifetime.

Bungee Jumping

Queenstown is known to be the adventure capital of the world and the most popular bungee jumping spot, Kawarau Bridge Bungee, is the world’s home of bungee jumping. You can visit this site if you are ready for a one-of-a-kind adventure that you will never forget. In case bungee jumping is in your bucket list, then Queenstown is the perfect place to experience it.

With all these action-packed family activities mentioned above, you will definitely enjoy your stay in Queenstown. Whether you are up for a fabulous adventure with the whole family or simply in search of fun and entertainment, this gorgeous city is the place to be. People from all ages and walks of life will be delighted to experience these ultimate Queenstown activities and have best time of their lives. So what are you waiting for? Plan your trip here ahead and make the most out of your family vacation.

Anne

Why Many People Would Love To Take Their Kids To The UK (And You Should, Too!)

July 28, 2016 By Anne

Taking the kids abroad is a great idea for the summer holidays. It gives them something to look forward to and breaks the monotony of the endless weeks at home. But where should you go? Why not try a trip to the UK? Read on to find out the reasons why.

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History

One of the best reasons to visit the UK is because of the rich sense of history and culture there. There are castles and manor houses, and Roman remains dotted all over the UK, and they make an excellent choice for an educational and fun visit. If you choose a castle to visit, you can teach your little ones about life in the olden days by taking the guided or audio tours. These can help the history of the place come to life. The Northumberland coast line is a particularly good place to take in some castle culture. See Bamburgh Castle, Alnwick Castle, or Dunstanburgh Castle. You can even take a trip on a boat to Lindisfarne or the holy isle. That is where the monks use to live in splendid isolation and contemplation for the pursuit of higher spiritual goals.

If you are looking for a slightly more modern take on history, then why not check out Althorp Estate. This is the family seat of Princess Diana, ‘the people’s princess’. She was married to and then divorced from Prince Charles, the next in line to the British Throne. She died tragically in Paris in 1997. Althorp Estate has become a memorial to her. Manor houses like this are great as they often show the way that the rooms would have to be decorated when they were first built. This means you can get a sense of what it would be like to live in such a huge and luxurious setting.

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Of course, the major cities are also great choices for history buffs. Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London are not to be missed. Why not take a trip to York and explore the cobbled streets and cathedral there? Or you can check out Warwick Castle. They have medieval jousting events running regularly. Or why not try Coombe Abbey, where you can take part in an authentic medieval banquet.

Scenery

Another reason kids will love the UK is the huge difference between the scenery there and the landscape of the US. You can see cobbled streets and Dickensian style shops in the older cities like York and Brighton.

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The there is the Lake District, this is a very beautiful part of the North of Britain. The lakes and lush green pastoral scenery are quite beautiful, and there is a lot of things to do like walking tours, taking a boat trip or enjoying a cream tea.

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Activities

While there is no Disneyland in the UK, there are a lot of different smaller theme parks that look like a lot of fun. You can try Alton Towers, which has the first VR roller coaster in the country, or how about Legoland Windsor? Then there is Nickelodeon Land if you are at the seaside in Blackpool. Its great for the younger kids that are into the Last Airbender and other Nic shows. Or you could get them to do something active like Go Ape, which is a chain of treetop adventure courses that runs all over the UK.

Food

Some American kids can be fussy about traditional British food. But to their luckily, American style food is quite popular in the UK at the moment. There is no shortage of places where you can get a good burger or hot dog. In fact, in most cities, there are now Five Guys outlets and other gourmet burger chain such as Byron. There you can get your burger cooked medium or rare.

If you want some more traditionally British food to sample while you’re on your travels, you must go to a local country pub for a Sunday roast dinner. Try to make sure that they are an independent business and not run by a chain. Chain pubs in the UK, often use prepared food, while in a good old traditional English pub they will have cooked your roast from scratch.

Then, of course, there is fish and chips. This one is bound to be popular with the kids. To get an authentic experience buy some while you are at the seaside and eat them out of the paper while walking ago the sea front. Don’t forget to cover them with salt and vinegar and ask for a wally (we’ll let you find out what that it when you get there!)

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Anne

Take A Trip Around Weird Britain

July 10, 2016 By Anne

The thing about getting older, or so I’m told, is that you inevitably give less of a care when people think you’re odd. It must be pretty liberating to not be hung up on what people think of you. And be honest, we all know at least one older person who either literally or metaphorically says “OK, so this is me. Take me or leave me, you’re not going to change me!”. And we think “I hope that’s me at their age”.

If that person were a country, they would be the United Kingdom. In various forms, it has been there for some time and everyone knows about it. It’s played its part in a long and deep history and as a consequence it has plenty of stories. So, when you think about part of Britain’s culture or landscape and think “Well, that’s weird”, Britain looks right back and says “Yes! Does that bother you?”.

So for any traveler looking to give the UK a closer look on a holiday break, by all means you should visit the obvious places. But it makes sense to take a look at some of the more bizarre parts of its history, too.

A Trip To Stonehenge

For the history fan, or indeed the Spinal Tap buff in your touring party, a visit to Stonehenge is indispensable. Countless theories abound as to exactly what Stonehenge is, but because there are no documents from the time, no-one really knows.

What is clear is that it is some sight to behold. Getting up close to the standing stones means you’re next to something constructed up to 5,000 years ago. Which is pretty wild – check StonehengeVisit.co.uk for more information.

Whitby Bay

Credit: Wikipedia

In the 1890s, a young Irish writer by the name of Bram Stoker took up residence in Whitby. During the day, his landlady would kick him out of the house in order to do the housework. Stoker’s walks around Whitby would become the inspiration for the novel he would go on to write. Dracula was quite a hit, and the locations in the novel are still here today; as an aside, Whitby has become a center for the UK’s goth music scene.

Conwy, North Wales

Credit: Flickr

North Wales in general has a relaxed and offbeat feel to it. Conwy, in particular, is home to a castle which straddles the main road through the town and overlooks a majestic sea view. But for fans of the weird, Conwy has one particular attraction which cannot be missed – Quay House. The smallest house in Britain, which stands just ten feet tall, has a floor space of six feet by ten. It was once home to a fisherman who himself was 6′ 3 tall. Once he left, it was declared unfit for human habitation.

If you are a fan of the weird, spooky and wonderful then Britain has a lot for you to see. There are other places besides those listed above, but it helps give a taste for the offbeat nature and history of Britain. There’s a great deal of pride about this oddness, which is fitting for a country of such character