Growing up, the annual trip to Valleyfair in Shakopee, Minnesota was a day we all looked forward to. Every year there is always something new at Valleyfair. We'd usually go once with family and once with school. I have many fond memories of those trips. Now, that I am a mom, I take Peyton to Valleyfair every year. And every year there is always something new to see and experience. Valleyfair does … [Read more...]
A Day of Play with Great Wolf Lodge Minnesota
When I first heard Great Wolf Lodge was coming to Minnesota I'll admit, I was super excited! Great Wolf Lodge is known to have some of the best family fun activities. Did you see I mentioned activities? As in plural. Great Wolf Lodge is much much more than a water park. They have something for everyone in the family and the one they opened in Minnesota, Great Wolf Lodge Minnesota has some features … [Read more...]
Finding Comfort at the Country Inn & Suites Bowling Green Kentucky
We arrived! It's our third day in Kentucky and for the next two nights, we are staying at the Country Inn & Suites in Bowling Green. The Country Inn & Suites is a great option for families, with pools, complimentary breakfasts and spacious rooms paired with friendly staff you'll never want to leave. Peyton and I arrived in the early afternoon. We were taking a break in between … [Read more...]
Minnesota to Kentucky in One Day
Can it be done? Can one person drive straight through from Minnesota to Bowling Green, Kentucky in one day? It's nearly a 12-hour drive without any hiccups. That's a long drive. But I did it! That's exactly what I did when I took Peyton to Bowling Green, Kentucky over MEA break. We drove the whole way in one day. There were several stops along the way but we managed to do it in about 14 … [Read more...]
Escape to the Windy City for the Weekend
The Chicago area is one of our favorite destinations. It's only 5 hours from home and full of museums, zoos, attractions and more. It's the perfect change of scenery for the weekend. On our most recent trip, we stayed in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. It's just a short drive outside of Chicago, however, it's centrally located to the attractions and tollway making it the perfect choice for this … [Read more...]
Find Comfort at the Country Inn and Suites
On our recent trip to the Chicago area, we chose to stay at the Country Inn in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. We frequently visit the Chicago area and have discovered staying in a suburb is a nice option for our family. It's only a short drive to go into the city but the benefits of staying outside the city far outweigh the drive. First, you don't have to pay for parking in the suburbs! Did … [Read more...]
Toll Roads No Problem with the FastToll App
Peyton and I are in the Chicago area at least every other month. But I don't want to invest in an I-Pass because I don't need it in Minnesota. And Illinois is really the only place that we travel that has toll roads. But stopping at all those toll roads adds on travel time. That's more time being cramped up in a car. Plus you have to have exact change at some of the tolls because they are … [Read more...]
A Night at Medieval Times
I am always looking for new and unique experiences to take Peyton to. And when I saw Medieval Times, I knew I wanted to take her! How cool would it be to sit in a castle, watch knights jousting and have dinner? It sounded so cool. The only problem is, there is no castle in Minnesota. But there's one in Schaumberg, Illinois! So when I was planning our next weekend adventure in Chicago I made sure … [Read more...]
Explore the Lincoln Park Zoo
Another place I had never been on all my travel to Illinois was the Lincoln Park Zoo. It's a free zoo so I'm not sure why we've never visited but I decided we were going to check it out this time. Spending the day at the zoo is one of Peyton's and my favorite things to do. We could just sit and watch the animals all day long. Peyton was pretty excited when I told her we were going to visit the … [Read more...]
Make Yourself at Home with Hilton Garden Inn
When I started to plan our trip to Rapid City, South Dakota I knew we were going to need a place to stay. Traveling with two kids, I had some specific amenities and qualities I was looking for in a hotel. Here are a few things I was looking for - It had to be family friendly. There needed to be a pool. Wireless internet was a must. Restaurant on site. Easy access to … [Read more...]
