The Talking Suitcase

Cruise & Curated Travel Specialist

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Visiting Tooele, Utah with Kids – Salt Flats, Wild Horses, Hiking & Western History

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Are you looking for a unique destination for your next family vacation? Do you want your kids to experience the great outdoors, learn some Western history and take part in unique festivals? I recently heard about Tooele County, Utah and did some digging.  I think it will be the perfect destination for our next trip across the U.S.  Tooele County offers outdoor activities, history, events, and more as well as must-see sights such as the Salt Flats & wild horses!   As part of my research into this diverse area, I’ve put together ideas to help plan your Tooele, Utah travel adventure with kids.

Tooele County is conveniently located along Interstate-80 in the western part of Utah, between Wendover, Nevada and Salt Lake City. Easily accessible from the interstate, Tooele County can be your main destination or a stop for a couple of days as part of a longer family road trip. It’s located less than 30 minutes from Salt Lake City making a day trip possible, if you’re crunched for time.

Tooele, Utah Travel with Kids:

 

Situated on the Bonneville Salt Flats, Tooele County is the venue for the fastest land-speed records on earth. Additionally, the Bonneville Salt Flats and Great Salt Lake are some of the most photographed landscapes in America. And if that’s not cool enough to appeal to even the most disinterested teen, Tooele County is home to the largest herd of free-roaming wild horses in Utah and one of the largest in the country!   It’s said the watering holes in the Cedar Mountains are the greatest places to observe the horses, sometimes from only a few hundred yards away!   Just these 2 activities alone would be enough to impress my kids, but there is so much more to Tooele County than Salt Flats and wild horses.

Some of the other activities in Tooele County include: Deseret Peak Facility, Scuba diving – Salt Water underground diving, Pony Express Trail, Wendover Air Museum, Donner-Reed Trail, ATV & OHV trails, Sailing on the Great Salt Lake, Benson Grist Mill and Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum.

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What’s So Great About Cinque Terre Liguria? Plus, Why We Loved Manarola

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You’ve likely read about this picturesque community along the Italian Riviera. It seems everyone is talking about the string of rugged coastal villages known as Cinque Terre.  With all the hype, you may have been wondering, “what’s so great about Cinque Terre, Liguria?”

The seaside villages on the Italian coast are picture perfect with terraced vineyards and haphazardly stacked pastel colored buildings next to the glittering Mediterranean Sea.  The charming villages, so spectacularly situated, have not gone unnoticed.  Millions of tourists flock here each year to admire Ligurian architecture, take in breathtaking views from the hiking trails and savor Italian cuisine.

Cinque Terre, meaning “Five Lands”, is located in the Liguria region of Italy and is made up of 5 villages: Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, Riomaggiore & Monterosso.  The area has been on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1997. Tucked between sea and mountain, the villages were largely undiscovered until recently, when they were connected to the rest of Italy via train.

An interesting fact – The houses of Cinque Terre were painted different colors so the fishermen could easily identify their house while fishing offshore.

I think the key to making our visit to Cinque Terre so great was actually staying in Cinque Terre.  Many visitors to Cinque Terre are day trippers.  And while the area is fabulous in the afternoon, our favorite time of day was early evening.  Most of the tourists had headed home for the day and it was just the locals and a few other remaining visitors strolling the narrow streets, visiting shops and admiring the sparkling sea and vineyards.  The sunset is sensational and something the average traveler doesn’t get to enjoy.

 

While there aren’t a ton of Cinque Terre hotels, we did find plenty of accomodation choices that suited our needs.  We rented an apartment with a balcony overlooking the sea.  It was the perfect spot to enjoy a glass of local wine after a day of exploring.

If you’re not a fan of touristy places, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t visit!  It just means, you should be a bit smarter about when you visit.  The best times would be April and October in the off season.  Our first trip was in October and it was perfect.  The weather was a bit chilly but it was great for hiking.

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Futuroscope Travel Tips: How to Spend a Day at France’s 2nd Largest Theme Park

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Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link & I may have been compensated for my time writing this article.

Kids are always looking for the next big adventure.  If you’re visiting the west coast of France, stop by Futuroscope, France’s 2nd largest theme park.  Kids can dance with a robot, go on a 4D adventure with Arthur and laugh at the antics of the Raving Rabbids.  We’ve put together some Futuroscope travel tips to help you prepare for a visit.

Just be aware that this is not a traditional theme park with roller coasters and thrill rides. At Futuroscope, you’ll experience multimedia attractions with 3D and 4D shows, watch educational videos on massive domed screens and even learn about water pollution through a laser game in the 8th Continent.

After entering the park and having your tickets scanned, go to the services center to the right of the entrance. You’ll see the British and Spanish flags above the doorway. Trade an ID card for free translator headsets. These will allow you to follow along with the shows in English or Spanish. All films are in French, but 9 shows can be translated. You’ll also want to grab an English map before starting your day.

Once equipped with your translator, head to Danse with les robots and Arthur, the 4D Adventure. They are 2 of the most popular rides in the park, so make these your first or last stops of the day.

 

Kids favorite rides:

  1. Dances with Robots (Danse avec les Robots) – Dance party strapped into 23ft high robots
  2. Raving Rabbids Time Machine (La Machine à Voyager dans le Temps) – Take a trip through time with the Raving Rabbids.
  3. Arthur, the 4D Adventure (Arthur, l’aventura 4D) – 4D adventure through the world of Minimoys.
  4. Ice Age (L’Âge de Glace) –  A 4D experience with the nutty squirrel, Scrat and other Ice Age friends.
  5. La Gyrotour – Get 360º views of the park from 150ft in the air.
  6. The Little Prince in Studio 16 – Embark on a 3D adventure with Le Petit Prince.
  7. The Arena (L’Arena fun Xperiences)- The kids loved the slides so grab a mat and zip along.

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Heidelberg Castle Germany – Surviving Lightening Strikes, Fires, Pillage and Wars Since 1214

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One of the first things we research when deciding what to see during our travels, is whether or not castles and palaces are nearby that we can visit. We love the rich history of these structures and the beauty they present- even when in disrepair.   The hilltop landmark of Heidelberg, Heidelberg Castle or Heidelberger Schloss, is no exception. Heidelberg Castle, Germany is said to be among the most important Renaissance structures north of the Alps. The red sandstone ruins tower over the Neckar valley and standout against a beautiful backdrop of deep green forests.

Plan at least a day to explore Heidelberg and it’s many attractions. When visiting, it’s worthwhile to not only take a guided tour of the castle, but to visit the gardens, see the huge wine barrel, explore the apothecary museum and take a ride on the funicular railway.  And that’s all before visiting the town itself!

Mark Twain described Heidelberg Castle in his 1880 travel book A Tramp Abroad saying:

“A ruin must be rightly situated, to be effective. This one could not have been better placed. It stands upon a commanding elevation, it is buried in green woods, there is no level ground about it, but, on the contrary, there are wooded terraces upon terraces, and one looks down through shining leaves into profound chasms and abysses where twilight reigns and the sun cannot intrude.”

It was so well placed that the earliest castle structure, built in the early 1200’s, was later expanded into two castles. As the home to the King of Germany in 1401, expansion became a necessity. Not only was additional space needed  his for court and entourage, but so were additional defenses. In the end, it was no longer a castle, but a fortress.

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Manteo Travel Idea – Discover Outer Banks History at Roanoke Island Festival Park

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When you and your family need a break from the beach, Roanoke Island Festival Park is a great destination. Our top Manteo travel suggestion is only five miles from Nags Head. This 27 acre park will keep the kids busy for hours.

We visited with my 9 and 12 year old as well as my nephews ranging in age from 1 – 5 years.  There was plenty to keep the kids of all ages entertained.   However, Roanoke Island Festival Park isn’t just for kids.   This is the perfect spot for adults to discover Outer Banks history as well. We saw plenty of people exploring the park sans kids with the Elizabeth II being a highlight for all visitors.

Must See Site Attractions:

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