Large and diverse are the two words that best describe Big Bend National Park. With over 1,200 square miles, Big Bend is the fourteenth largest park in the national park system. The diversity of activities make it a fascinating park, yet it is one of the least visited. Our visit to the park included hiking…
Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum
On a recent trip to Big Bend National Park in southern Texas, we planned to make a pit stop in Oklahoma City. Originally, I thought of this stop as a travel break. Simply a chance to stretch our legs and pop into the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum. It turned out to be so…
Candy Explosion Gift Box
As my boys get older, it gets harder to buy them gifts. Either they can’t think of anything they want, they only want money or they ask for something super expensive or something I’m unwilling to buy. Enter the candy explosion gift box. It’s quickly becoming my go-to gift and it’s also a great way…
Andes Tower Hills
The weather was perfect for skiing the day we hit the slopes at Andes Tower Hills near Alexandria, MN. Our trip was the second hill we skied while using the Minnesota 4th Grade Ski Passport. Our fourth grader loved this hill and commented that it’s been one of his favorites. In all fairness, he’s only…
Peach of My Heart
My family has captured each peach of my heart. So the idea of crafting a peachy Valentine party was a natural fit and super fun to create. I stumbled upon a few peach themed decorations at a local craft store. It was then that I decided they would be perfect for a sweet and tasty…
Spirit Mountain
This winter we are fortunate enough to have a fourth grader in our house which means we get to take advantage of the Minnesota 4th Grade Ski Passport. With the passport, 4th graders typically get a free lift ticket to each of Minnesota’s 18 ski resorts. We decided to use this opportunity to try out…
Festive Ice Cream Floats
During the pandemic, we started planning special home based events and activities as a way to lessen our boredom. On Monday mornings we’d make muffins, on Tuesday’s we’d have tacos for dinner (obviously) and on Friday nights we’d make ice cream floats. These activities gave us something to look forward to and relieved lock down…
Oliver Kelley Farm
Credited with bringing United States farmers together, Oliver Kelley played an important role in Minnesota and national agriculture. A visit to his family’s historic 1860’s farm was the last summer visit on our 6th Grade Minnesota History Pass Tour. The Oliver Kelley Farm is located just outside Elk River, MN. and gives a glimpse into…
Split
Packed with stunning Roman ruins and a beautiful waterfront, Split was the final stop on our Western Balkan adventure. We spent our time meandering the marble streets while licking ice cream cones and souvenir shopping. Split is also a great location to use as a jumping off point for excursions to nearby Blue Cave and…
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik deserves its nickname, “Pearl of the Adriatic.” It’s gorgeous and dripping in Croatian culture and history. The delightful, traffic-free Old Town is jam packed with cafes and winding streets. We spent our two days in Dubrovnik walking the city’s walls, kayaking the waters near the city and riding the cable car to the top…