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Destinations

Our Exclusive Tour of Caesar’s Palace in Rome {Walks of Italy Review}

November 4, 2015 by Dana Zeliff 21 Comments

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

Tour Caesar’s Palace in Rome

Rome, Italy’s capital city, is one of the oldest continuously occupied areas in Europe with over two thousand five hundred years of history. We spent an entire week in Rome and saw only a fraction of the historical sites the city has to offer.

To help us learn more about this ancient city, we teamed up with Walks of Italy and participated in their new VIP Caesar’s Palace Tour with Colosseum & Roman Forum tour. The unique feature of this tour is that it allows exclusive access to Caesar’s Palace, the home of Emperor Augustus Caesar (nephew of Julius Caesar) and his wife, Empress Livia, from the 1st century BC! Previously opened only for archaeologists and historians, special tour groups are allowed inside to view these amazing rooms.

Colosseum

Roman Colosseum [Read more…]

Filed Under: Europe Travel with Kids, Destinations, Italy Tagged With: Rome Italy

Holiday at the White Horse Inn – Hotel Weisses Rössl Innsbruck Review

October 7, 2015 by Dana Zeliff 11 Comments

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

Holiday at the White Horse Inn Innsbruck

 

While visiting Innsbruck, we wanted to be in the heart of the city. With less than 48 hours to experience all that Innsbruck has to offer, we wanted to step out the front door ready to explore. We chose to spend two nights at the family run Hotel Weisses Rössl Innsbruck. Located in Old Town, it was the perfect spot to start our adventure.

Hotel Weisses Rössl or “The White Horse Inn” dates back to 1590.  In the 1500’s many people couldn’t read, so they would refer to an inn or establishment by it’s sign such as the white horse or golden lion.  You can still see these old signs throughout the Old Town.

Hotel Weisses Rössl Innsbruck Review

The White Horse Inn has traditional decor with antlers and stuffed animals hanging from the walls. You really get the old inn feel as you walk through the halls.   It’s more of a guesthouse, where you’re given the keycard to come and go as you please. On holiday’s, Sunday’s and at night the front door is locked so you have to use your keycard to enter the building.  You also won’t find anyone at the front desk during these times.

Large bed plus a table with complimentary water.
Single bed next to the desk with flatscreen TV.
Second single bed – perfect for 2 kids.
Plush bedding at the White Horse Inn

The family room is the perfect size, offering plenty of space to move around plus ample storage for luggage. Each of the kids had their own bed, which is a must to keep the bickering down. The beds are comfortable with crisp white linen, plush duck down duvets and fluffy pillows.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Europe Travel with Kids, Accommodation Reviews, Destinations, Austria Tagged With: Innsbruck Austria

10 “Don’t Miss” Attractions at Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream

October 2, 2015 by Dana Zeliff 1 Comment

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

Busch Garden Halloween Horror Night

There is one thing you can always count on when a chill hits the air and the sun starts setting earlier – Busch Gardens is preparing for Howl-O-Scream!

The park opens at it’s normal time of 10 a.m. with all of the normal activities and rides in operation. But be warned: at 6 p.m. Busch Gardens becomes a seriously scary place and may not be suitable for little ones. Please use discretion when bringing children into the park at this time. It changes quickly so be sure if you have little ones to plan a head!

Once you make the decision to brave the park for Busch Gardens Halloween fun, do NOT miss these thrills:

Experience Busch Garden Halloween Horror Night like a pro:

1. Unearthed-Scarlett’s Revenge– Don’t miss the all-new house from the producer of The Blair Witch Project, Unearthed™- Scarlett’s Revenge.

During maintenance at the park, an excavation crew uncovered a centuries-old house buried deep beneath the ground. Upon opening its door, a sinister force was unearthed—Scarlett—a furious demon who wields a deadly deck of magical cards she uses to summon her evil minions. Journey below to experience the splintered labyrinth of horrors and the revengeful wrath of this demon scorned.

2. LumberHack– New for 2015 this is a grueling attraction!

Hikers beware: the woods hold a terrifying secret. More than 50 years ago a logging camp was abandoned after a horrific accident where saws ripped into human flesh instead of tree bark. Tragically, the loggers perished … only to inexplicably awaken from death sometime later filled with inhuman rage. Now the forgotten lumberjacks lie waiting for unsuspecting campers to stumble into their den of the damned.

The maze begins with campers begging you not to continue going- ignore them for a great scare!

[Read more…]

Filed Under: US Travel, Kids Travel Picks, Virginia, Amusement & Water Parks, North America, Destinations

Venice, Italy for Kids {Macacotour Review}

September 22, 2015 by Dana Zeliff 23 Comments

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

Venice Italy for Kids - Macacotour Review

Venice or “The Floating City” is one of the most spectacular cities in the world.

Did you know?

The city’s base is constructed of closely spaced wood pilings made mostly from alder trees. Submerged in water, the trunks don’t decay as they would above ground and are still intact after 1,500 years !

Limestone was placed on top of the pilings and acts as the foundation for the buildings seen in Venice today.   That is just one fact we learned during our Venice kids tour.

To learn more about Venice and it’s history, we booked a tour with Macacotour one sunny morning in August. The company specializes in tours for families.  As many  parents have discovered, it’s rare to find a tour catering to children.

Kids working to decipher their next clue with Macacotour
Kids working to decipher their next clue with Macacotour

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Italy, Destinations, Europe Travel with Kids, Kids Travel Picks Tagged With: Venice Italy

What to See & Do at Busch Gardens Tampa

September 20, 2015 by Dana Zeliff Leave a Comment

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

What to See & Do at Busch Gardens Tampa

If you’re planning a trip to the Sunshine State and looking for a vacation highlight besides Disney, check out Busch Gardens Tampa.  What are some of the highlights for visiting families?

Below are a lot of fun things to do for all ages and stages:

Flamingos at Skyride Busch Gardens Tampa

Sesame Street Safari of Fun – is the perfect area of the park for families with kids from toddlers to nearly preteens.

Rides that are just for the littles, and some meant for littles and a parent- from the Elmo’s Safari Go Round to Snuffy’s elephant romp kids are met with colorful, fun characters all over.

Characters at Skyride Busch Gardens Tampa [Read more…]

Filed Under: US Travel, Kids Travel Picks, Amusement & Water Parks, Florida, North America, Destinations

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Welcome!

Hi, I’m Dana. Planning a great trip shouldn't mean spending endless evenings scrolling travel forums, watching videos, and sorting through conflicting opinions online.

I've spent years exploring the world with my husband and our two kids, and those experiences shape how I help clients plan their own vacations. Together, we've visited 48 countries across four continents and spent nearly four years living in France.

Whether you're planning a European itinerary, a cruise vacation, an all-inclusive resort stay, or a family getaway, I'll help you sort through the options and create a trip that works for your travel style, interests, and budget. Read More…

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