Mar 8, 2012

Inverness, Scotland

10 Day Itinerary

Guest Post by Dr. Jessie Voigts

If you’re in the Highlands of Scotland – the land of romance, storied history, kilts and bagpipes, Glens and Bens – consider Inverness as your home base for 10 days of exploring Scottish culture, arts, nature, food, and great people. Continue reading

Oct 6, 2011

Devil’s Head Peak Trail

Douglas County, Colorado

By Lisa T. Bergren  

Looking for a fabulous family hike along the Front Range? If you’ve ever driven along Hwy. 85 through Sedalia, you’ve likely seen the unique ridge of Devil’s Peak, rising like a craggy-backed dinosaur in the sea…and after winding your way through an almost-surreal maze of ATV and motorcycle trails and campsites, there’s a terrific hiking trail to be discovered. Continue reading

Sep 29, 2011

Great Reno Balloon Race

Reno, Nevada: Up, Up and Away!

Guest Post and Photos by Sophie Riggsby

I am one of those people who cannot resist a small town festival. And our little city has its fair share. Since we moved here, we have not missed the Great Reno Balloon Race which celebrated its 30th anniversary, September 9-11, 2011. Continue reading

Aug 6, 2011

Big Cedar Lodge

Luxury Lodge Outside Branson

By Lisa T. Bergren

Branson is great, but I always love getting out of town for lodging. Twenty minutes away, turn off the highway and onto the winding, wooded lane that leads you to Big Cedar Lodge, and you already feel like you’ve entered another world. And when the view opens up to the undulating shore of Table Rock Lake, glistening below, you take a deep breath of relief, feeling like you’ve entered a different world. Continue reading

Jul 14, 2011

Family-Friendly Shows

Branson, Missouri

By Lisa T. Bergren

When we were getting ready to head to Branson, people laughed. “You’re too young to go to Branson!” one woman said. It made me a little nervous, thinking we’d be a young family in a sea of gray-hairs. Not that there’s anything wrong with the gray-haired crowd…I was just trying to engage two teenagers (16 and 13) on the trip. But what I discovered is that all of Branson seems to be a great family destination, and it would be a perfect place for a multi-generational getaway or family reunion.

One of Branson’s specialties is putting on a good show, whether you’re looking for old-time music or a stage play or a newer form of entertainment. We saw several shows, and were wishing we had a few more evenings to check out others. Here’s the rundown… Continue reading

Jul 11, 2011

The Titanic Museum

Branson, Missouri

By Lisa T. Bergren

I don’t know what you think of when you think of Branson, but if you’re anything like me, you’d expect a museum for country music more than a world-class museum for the Titanic. But that’s exactly what’s there…and it was my favorite stop on our trip to Branson. Continue reading

Jun 20, 2011

The Curtis of Denver

Bringing Fun and Fun to Hotels

By Lisa T. Bergren

In Denver, The Curtis, a Doubletree hotel, is a kick in the pants. The door hangars say “Dream On!” (vs. the JW Marriott Cherry Creek’s spa-like “Serenity”). Décor is vaguely retro, but in a classic, palatable sort of way. Think of it as smart and tailored on a budget, like the younger brother who can dress up decently well and attend The Family’s high-brow functions, but then goes out and parties afterward, loosening the tie. Continue reading

Jan 15, 2011

The Luxury of Time

The Ultimate Form of Travel

By Lisa T. Bergren

I’m one of Those Travelers who tries to get a feel for a new place on a taster menu—in a lot of succulent bites. But we’ve returned to a few spots that have captured us the most and not spent time lost in maps or itineraries, but rather feasted on genuinely abiding in that unique intersection of longitude and latitude. Such experiences leave us pleasantly full. Continue reading

Nov 9, 2010

Castlewood Canyon Hike

Black Forest, Colorado

By Lisa T. Bergren

Five miles south of Franktown on Hwy 83, is a gem of a state park, Castlewood Canyon. Castlewood offers several trails perfect for families out for an afternoon of hiking and exploring in 2300 acres of protected Black Forest land. Continue reading

Oct 4, 2010

Maroon Bells Creek Hike

Aspen, Colorado

By Lisa T. Bergren

In late September, we took this fabulous fall family hike from Maroon Bells Lake down the Maroon Bells Creek trail with our children (ages 15, 12 and 7). It’s definitely one of the best hikes I’ve ever taken. Continue reading