Family Travel Tips & Stories

50 states 50 vacations Welcome to Salem, Massachusetts. Washington St, Salem, Massachusetts What if there were one place where Halloween wasn't just one night—but an entire month? Salem Halloween 2026 may be a particularly special time to visit. The city is celebrating its 400th anniversary in the middle of one of the biggest Halloween celebrations in the country. For most of us, the name Salem immediately brings one thing to mind: witches. But there is a lot more to this Mas

What if your next dream vacation could feel like an international escape without actually leaving the United States? Welcome to Puerto Rico — an island where turquoise water meets colorful streets, centuries of history meet vibrant culture, and there’s something for almost every kind of traveler. Whether you’re dreaming of a romantic getaway, planning a family adventure, looking for beautiful beaches, or simply craving somewhere new to explore, Puerto Rico has a way of making

Well, Welcome to Tennessee. 50 States, 50 Vacations Stop #6: Tennessee She not only left us with songs. Dolly Parton left us with stories, dreams—and a place where generations of families can laugh, explore and make memories together. As the world remembers Dolly and everything she gave us, it feels fitting to visit the Tennessee mountains that shaped her life. This Dollywood family vacation stop in my 50 States, 50 Vacations series is more than a visit to a theme park, it is

State 4 of 50: Michigan When I started this 50 States, 50 Vacations series, I thought finding an unexpected vacation idea in each state would be the hard part. Turns out, the hard part is choosing just one. I've had that problem with every state I've researched so far, but Michigan finally got me. Every time I thought I had found this week's adventure, I found something completely different that made me stop and think, wait...Michigan has that too? So this week, instead of ch

State 3 of 50: Wisconsin Workers gathering floating cranberries during a wet harvest When you think about a Wisconsin vacation, Wisconsin Dells is probably one of the first places that comes to mind—I know it is for my family. But did you know Wisconsin has another surprising vacation destination: Wisconsin Cranberry Country? As summer begins to wind down and families start thinking about fall getaways, parts of central and northern Wisconsin prepare for one of the most color

Walk part of the Appalachian Trail and discover the wild ponies that make Virginia’s Grayson Highlands feel like a magical land.

State 1 of 50: Arizona Grand Canyon Railway traveling through Grand Canyon National Park. NPS photo. Did you know there is a train you can ride into the Grand Canyon—with Western musicians, cowboy characters and restored vintage railcars? Let me take you to the charming Route 66 town of Williams, Arizona. This historic town is home to one of the most unique Grand Canyon experiences, in my opinion: the Grand Canyon Railway and Hotel. Your adventure begins before the train even