Find the Wonder in Every Day
We’ve been hearing a lot about Japan over the past few years, and for good reason. The exchange rate has been favorable, flights from the West Coast are easy (and sometimes surprisingly affordable!), the food is incredible, and for tweens and teens, Japan (being the home of anime and Pokémon) is a dream destination. Our […]
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My bucket list of travel destinations is largely nature-inspired. Some of our favorite trips have included visiting U.S. national parks, backpacking to Havasupai Falls, witnessing the magic of synchronous fireflies in Smoky Mountain National Park and roadtripping around Iceland. For as long as I can remember, I’ve dreamt of seeing the aurora borealis, aka “Northern […]
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Every year, my friends and I try to carve out a long weekend to get away together. For a few days, we trade our roles of caring for others as moms, wives, daughters, and doctors to focus on self-care, laughter, and joy. Over the years, our girls’ trips have taken us everywhere from Palm Springs, Sedona, Oregon […]
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In early September, I took my tween boys on a quick mother-sons trip to the Bay Area. Jason sat out this trip, as he was covering call for the weekend for general surgery. The last time we visited San Francisco was in 2019 ! I wasn’t sure what to expect, and imagined there had been […]
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While most of our time in French Polynesia was spent on a week-long catamaran adventure with our friends, Designed to Explore, we couldn’t resist squeezing in a little time on the island of Moorea before heading home. We only had about 30 hours on Moorea. But even in that short window, it wowed us with […]
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French Polynesia offers stunning turquoise lagoons, beautiful beaches and vibrant coral reefs making it a perfect family vacation destination. A week-long catamaran trip with Designed to Explore offers unforgettable memories through activities like snorkeling, sailing, and harvesting coconuts. The trip is family-friendly and can be customized, with a special discount available for readers.
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Want to visit China but unsure how to plan, or how to get around without speaking Chinese? For spring break, our multigenerational family booked two multi-day itineraries with Lost Plate Food Tours. From Chengdu to Xi’an, we ate our way through hidden street food stalls and family-run restaurants, and explored cultural and historical sites. No planning was needed beyond booking our flights from Los […]
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Skiing is our family’s favorite winter activity! We’ve come a long way since our boys, now 9 and 12, started out at 3-4 years old. I’ve also gradually overcome many of my ski anxieties as a mom and adult learner! If you are curious about skiing as a family – here’s a post to help […]
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Last summer, we had an unforgettable family adventure in southeast Wyoming — full of wild landscapes, friendly competition, and plenty of new experiences! Splitting into two teams, we took on some of the best outdoor activities Wyoming has to offer, from archery and rock climbing to fly fishing and horseback riding. Over the course of three days, we traveled west from Cheyenne to Saratoga, making incredible memories along the way. Follow along for an overview of our epic itinerary and for inspiration to help plan your own trip to Wyoming!
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Our family enjoyed a memorable multi-generational trip to Puerto Vallarta. We stayed at the all-inclusive Velas Vallarta Resort. During our week in Puerto Vallarta, we explored local attractions, participated in adventures like ziplining, and experienced the local cuisine, all while creating cherished family memories
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This blog post shares a Spring Break family adventure in Paris, detailing travels from London via Eurostar, lodging at Hotel Louvre Piemont, and several cultural and culinary experiences. Highlights include a private Louvre tour, a food tour in Le Marais, visiting the Eiffel Tour, and capturing memories through a photoshoot. Several iconic Parisian landmarks were visited.
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I have so much to share from this bucket list backpacking / hiking trip to the beautiful and spiritual lands of the Havasupai tribe in Arizona. But first, since I have been asked these questions many times since we returned home and first shared our experience on instagram stories, I wanted post this first to […]
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Families visiting Blackwater Creek Ranch are treated to a rugged escape in Cody, Wyoming, complete with historical charm and Western hospitality. The ranch offers a variety of activities such as trail rides, archery, shooting, and white-water rafting. Guests can enjoy all-inclusive meals and activities, and accommodations are cozy and comfortable. A visit to the nearby town of Cody offers opportunities for exploring local attractions like the Buffalo Bill Center of the West and enjoying a night at the Cody Rodeo.
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Every summer, we try to visit a national park or few. So far this summer, we’ve been to the Great Smoky Mountains to see the synchronous fireflies, and we did a road trip with the grandparents through Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. I’ve been sharing more of our adventures on our Instagram account, so […]
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This guide is for individuals, couples, or families who are interested in trying car camping. The following recommendations are not for backcountry camping, and are comfort-oriented for a “DIY glamping” type of experience. I fully recognize that many of the following items are not necessary, but my experience has been that comfortable campers are happy […]
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Our kids have a week off every spring, typically the first week of April. We jumped on the opportunity to go to Europe this year for spring break after finding a great airfare deal – the roundtrip fare (around $600 pp) was even less than most of the domestic destinations we considered! We divided the […]
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We chose Sedona for our girls trip for its incredible natural beauty, focus on wellness, great weather in late September, and dining options. Details and itinerary are shared in this post!
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If you are looking for a bucket list luxury guest ranch vacation, look no further. For four nights last March 2022, we went on a multigenerational trip to Vista Verde Ranch (VVR) – an all-inclusive Colorado luxury dude ranch in the Rocky Mountains, just north of Steamboat Springs. Everyone (ages 7 through 74 at the time) said this was one of our most unique and best vacations ever!
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Many people drive from Southern California or Las Vegas to ski at Brian Head. I hope this summary of our February 2021 road trip provide some ideas for other fun things to do and parks to visit on the way there and back. There will surely be something for each person in your group to enjoy!
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Road trip with many stops and sights from Southern California to Brian Head during “ski week” February break
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Skiing is different this year. But I’m happy to report that it can still be done! As a two physician household with boys 5.5 and 8, we have given a lot of consideration into how to ski safely and recreate responsibly this season as a family, and want to share our experience and tips. We […]
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Travel and recreating this summer may take a little more planning than usual, but I’m happy to report that it can still be done safely and thoughtfully! Our family has enjoyed a few day trips and local camping trips this summer, despite the pandemic. Of note – things could change as there is currently an […]
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I lived in Providence, Rhode Island during my college and medical school years, and I have fond memories of the grilled pizza, made famous by Al Forno’s. Al Forno’s is a legendary restaurant in Providence – it was always busy, didn’t take reservations, and being $$$$ – was a big treat for a student. […]
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My husband Jason is Canadian – he doesn’t mind the cold, loves the mountains (although he grew up in the prairie), and loves skiing. I’m a Bostonian who dreaded winters growing up, loves beaches and warm weather… hence our move to Southern California, where we now live. Since Jason is so accommodating with all the […]
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This is our recommended gear to help you create your own outdoor movie night while camping, at the beach, or backyard!
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If you’ve been following this blog, then you’re aware of my love for adventuring with my family, and that I often plan multi-generational, multi-family, trips. I also love trips with friends, but these tend to be far and few between since coordinating time off can be a challenge with friends who are working professionals or […]
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Our guide to where to stay, hike, kayak and fish in Big Bear Lake, California
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My family recently went on a two-week trip to China in order to celebrate my parents’ 70th birthdays. We had to postpone our trip for a year due to various circumstances, but finally made it happen this past June! While we do try to take extended family/ multigenerational reunions and trips a few times […]
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Growing up in New England, I visited my grandparents in the Bay area every summer, and dreamed about moving to California one day. Well, that dream has come true, and we love living in Southern California. But I will always have a fondness for Northern California where I spent so many childhood summers, and we […]
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I remember the first time Jason and I visited Joshua Tree. It was in 2010, the year we moved to Southern California. As we drove through the park full of Joshua trees and boulders, we marvelled at the unique and otherworldly landscape. We looked at each other and both remarked how this was a place unlike […]
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Our comprehensive trip report to help plan a family trip to Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks. I’ve shared our detail itinerary, lodging info, hikes,and gear recommendations.
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Tips for visiting the Carrizo Plain National Monument and Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve during spring bloom.
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After one of the coldest and wettest winters I’ve experienced since moving to Southern California in 2010, we have been rewarded with magnificent spring wildflower blooms. Some are calling this a “Superbloom” year, and while I’m not sure what technically qualifies as a superbloom versus a very good bloom, I can personally attest that the […]
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I’ve seen these magical mountains – the Alabama Hills – in many pictures and movies, and have always wanted to see them in person. The Alabama Hills are located near the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in the Owens Valley, west of Lone Pine, and the land is managed by the Bureau of […]
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Details about our family road trip from Southern California to Death Valley National Park over 3 days and 2 nights
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We recently went on a family ski trip to Park City, and I’ll be sharing more details and planning tips on that soon. While we were in Utah, since my parents don’t ski anymore, I wanted to take the family somewhere we could all enjoy = Ice Castles. We had visited the Ice Castles […]
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My boys are 5 and 3, and they love helping me in the kitchen. We have been making cookies for Santa together ever for the past 3 years and this is our favorite cookie recipe to make together. The kids can help with almost every step (though I usually make the dough first, but they […]
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I love the ocean and I love the mountains. But when I moved to Southern California in 2010, I developed a love for the desert. Just about 1.5 hours away from Orange County, the Palm Desert is one of our favorite places to visit. Although we like to visit new places, we find ourselves returning […]
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Of all the places we have stayed, I probably get the most questions about the Crystal Cove Beach Cottages. These historic beach front cottages, built in the 1930s and 1940s, are located at Crystal Cove State Park admist 3.2 miles of undeveloped coastline in Newport Beach. A few of these historic cottages were renovated and […]
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UPDATED : Sept 2020, original post from 2018 If you’re familiar with our instagram feed (@everydayadventurefam), then you’re probably aware of my love for farms. If there are fruits and vegetables to pick and/or eat, farm animals to see, opportunities to learn about sustainable farming – we’re there. Lucky for us, there are many farms […]
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The weekend of the autumn equinox, we travelled inland to the mountains for a taste of fall. I was raised in New England, which in my opinion, has the most epic falls with spectacular foliage and bountiful apple orchards. Although I love living in Southern California (sunny and 70’s in January – yes, please!), fall […]
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It can be done, and it can be enjoyable. This is the most popular post request I’ve gotten from our friends and the Instagram community. Disclaimer – I’m writing this post for those who have never camped before, who may not consider themselves “outdoorsy”, and/ or who might be feeling a bit intimated about staying […]
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My husband and I are both full time working physicians. During the week, our lives are very busy – juggling our work demands and everyday parenting responsibilities (school, extracurricular, drop off pick up, meal time, bath time, bed time). Our time off is never taken for granted, and we try to make the most of […]
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