As a Reno local, I know first-hand that there’s a lot to love about this northern Nevada City an hour from Lake Tahoe. The city outgrew its gambling-and-quickie-divorces identity decades ago and is now fully in its artsy-outdoorsy era. Whenever I have friends in from out of town, I love…

California and the beach go together like milk and cookies. Sand and sunshine epitomize the state’s outdoorsy lifestyle, and one of the best ways to soak in the majesty of the Pacific Ocean is to book a hotel on the beach in California—a place where you’ll get to wake up…

Around the entrance of the Noyo Harbor Inn in Fort Bragg stands a grid of formally pruned, candelabra-like trees. When I ask general manager Scott Schneider what they are, he informs me that they’re ornamental cherries, and I just missed them in bloom: “A month ago it was like every…

Road trips are a classic vacation idea for families, and hitting the road in an RV or mobile home is a great way to take the quintessential road trip experience to the next level. With an RV road trip, you’re literally bringing your hotel room along for the ride, so…

Planning a Disney World vacation can be stressful even for the most seasoned pros. So imagine the feeling of overwhelm when you’re visiting Disney World for the very first time! If 2026 is your year to take the long-awaited family trip to Disney World, this guide is for you. (Photo:…

I’ve cruised with my kids in Alaska and Costa Rica, and while those were definitely memorable experiences, cruising kid-free with Holland America offered more opportunities to relax and explore the cruise ports differently. I booked a seven-day cruise with stops in Norway and the Shetland Islands, both places I’ve had…

My kids get two full weeks off school during spring break, so we almost always take advantage of the extended time off to travel somewhere new. This year, we settled on a road trip to Oklahoma City to check out a hotel I’ve been eyeing since it opened in 2025:…

Nothing says summer vacation like cooling off at one of the best outdoor water parks in the U.S. Whether you’re lazing around the pool, dropping down high-speed slides, or bobbing on the waves, the best water parks in the U.S. are loaded with enough splash pads, dump buckets, and waterslides…

It’s hard to believe that it’s already May, and there’s no time like the present to talk all things summer at Walt Disney World. Disney World’s summer season kicks off around Memorial Day Weekend with the return of seasonal offerings like Cool KIDS’ SUMMER and a lineup of exciting ride…

Summer might be around the corner, but Disney World is already thinking about fall and Halloween — and you should, too, if your vacation falls between August and November. The timeline of planning a Disney World vacation is unlike any other destination, with dining reservations, separate-ticketed events, and strategic itineraries…