12-day family-friendly itinerary to Peru

After years of dreaming about visiting Peru, our family finally made this trip a reality a few years ago. As first-time travelers to the country, we wanted to see the main highlights like Machu Picchu but also experience authentic Peruvian culture and food.

This 12-day itinerary covers our favorite stops from our family trip. We started in Lima, touring the historic city center and sampling delicious local cuisine. Next, we flew to Cusco, the heart of our Peru adventure. We spent several days in Cusco itself before finally embarking on trips to iconic sites like the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu.

Our itinerary featured a well-balanced combination of Incan ruins, stunning natural landscapes, and cultural experiences. From breathtaking Machu Picchu to the lively markets of Cusco, this itinerary covers the best of this incredible country based on our family’s memorable trip to Peru.

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Top 10 family-friendly things to do in Chicago

Recently we spent a few weeks in the windy city of Chicago. Although we do not travel to big cities that often, Chicago is one of our favorite cities in the U.S.! 

It’s been a long time since our last visit to Chicago, but some places still look familiar (in fact, a long time ago, we used to live here). There is something special in this vibrant city life, impressive architecture, and vast Lake Michigan. Did you know that Chicago was named the Best Big City in the U.S. for the 6th straight year by Condé Nast Traveler?

Let’s take a closer look at all the family-friendly activities in Chicago in the summer.

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Top 10 kid-friendly things to do in Juneau, Alaska

Recently, we spent a few days in Juneau, Alaska’s state capital, located in Southeast Alaska. This little town is tucked in a temperate rainforest between the base of Mount Juneau in the Tongass National Forest and the Gastineau Channel. Juneau is a true gem for nature lovers and is home to soaring bald eagles, brown bears, and majestic humpback whales.

Interestingly, with no road access, Juneau is the only state capital in the mainland United States that can only be reached by airplane or boat.

Juneau has a rich Gold mining history, with the mining industry being a significant part of the local economy in the past. The legacy of mining in Juneau still lives on through the many historical sites and artifacts – from abandoned mines to preserved mining equipment.

Without a doubt, Juneau is a great destination for a family vacation, with activities to suit all types of travelers. Here are the best kid-friendly things to do in Juneau at our Juneau Alaska family travel guide.

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Visiting Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park with kids

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park is located on the Big Island of Hawaii, the biggest and the youngest island in the chain. This National Park extends from the sea level to 13,680 ft. and is home to the summits of two active volcanoes – Kīlauea (one of the most active volcanoes in the world) and Mauna Loa.

Visiting this national park is a must-do when you are on the Big Island, and if you are lucky, you can even witness the glorious flowing lava on the bottom of the caldera.

It’s no surprise that Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park has been recognized as an International Biosphere Reserve and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Let’s review some important information before planning your next trip to Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.

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Top 10 kid-friendly things to do on Big Island, Hawaii

We recently spent a week on the Island of Hawai’i, also known as the Big Island, the largest and the youngest in the Hawaiian island chain. Although we had been to Hawaii five times before, this was our first time on the Big Island, and we were really eager to explore a new destination. What we had already learned after visiting 3 other Hawaiian islands is that all of them are breathtaking and have something unique to offer.

The Island of Hawai’i is 4,028 square miles big but, in fact, is the least populated island in the chain, comprising only 14% of the state population. Also, it’s not a secret that the Big Island has a feature distinguishing it from other Hawaiian islands – it is home to five separate shield volcanoes, with three of the volcanoes still active!

Did you know the island has four different climate zones, ranging from tropical wet to tundra, making it one of the most ecologically diverse places on the planet?

Undoubtedly, this incredible island is a great travel destination for any traveler, including the little ones. So let’s dive into the top 10 kid-friendly things to do on Big Island, Hawaii.

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Day trips from Seattle, Washington

If you happen to be in Seattle, Washington and are looking to combine your stay in the city with some quick day trips, we’ve compiled a few ideas for you. Seattle is surrounded by mountains and evergreen forests, and islands. Moreover, there are three National Parks in the proximity to the city! But if you only have a day to explore the area and cannot afford a long trip, don’t worry! Here are some suggestions for short day-trip destinations from Seattle.

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Top 10 kid-friendly things to do in Seattle, Washington

Recently our family spent a few days in Seattle, Washington. We can’t believe that after ten years of living in Northern California, we just made our way up to Emerald City. Seattle is famously known as the birthplace of Starbucks and grunge music, and it’s a major technology hub with the headquarters of Amazon and Microsoft. It’s located in the Northwest part of the U.S. and is beautifully surrounded by mountains, evergreen forests, and water.

We only had three days to explore the city, yet tried to squeeze in as many popular tourist attractions as possible (and did a pretty good job, I must say). So let’s take a look at some family-friendly activities in Seattle!

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Top 10 Things to Do in San Juan Bautista, California

San Juan Bautista, California, is a charming town with early California history landmarks. It is home to one of California’s most scenic and well-preserved Spanish-era missions, Mission San Juan Bautista. Surrounded by Galilan Mountain Range and Flint Hills and located on San Andreas Fault, San Juan Bautista has a nationally registered historic district, a quaint Main Street, and historic adobes. It’s a true gem for history buffs and architecture enthusiasts!

We absolutely fell in love with the little town and had the pleasure of visiting it multiple times throughout the years. We think it is a perfect destination for a day trip from the San Francisco Bay Area and one of the towns not to miss when you are in that part of California. In this blog post, we will highlight the top 10 things to do in San Juan Bautista.

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Visiting Pinnacles National Park with kids

Pinnacles National Park, California
Pinnacles National Park, California

Pinnacles National Park is the newest National Park in California (a former National Monument), established in 2013. Interestingly, it is one of California’s least visited National Parks (along with Lassen Volcanic National Park, which we visited last year).

The unique rock formations – pinnacles – that dominate Pinnacles National Park were formed 23 million years ago due to volcanic activity and tectonic plate shifts. Today, this National Park spans across 26,000 acres of mostly wilderness.

Undoubtedly, Pinnacles is the perfect place to go if you’re looking for peace and relaxation. Surrounded by untouched nature, you can explore the area by hiking, rock climbing, or walking through the caves.

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Is LEGOLAND California Resort worth visiting?

The entrance to LEGOLAND California Resort
The entrance to LEGOLAND California Resort

We recently visited one of the most popular family theme parks in California – LEGOLAND Resort. This theme park is a homage to the famous interlocking LEGO building bricks, with more than 60 million LEGO bricks throughout the park! What’s more, LEGOLAND California Resort offers various family-friendly entertainment activities.

Did you know there are ten LEGOLAND Parks worldwide – in California, New York, Florida, Denmark, Germany, Japan, the UK, South Korea, Dubai, and Malaysia?

Interestingly, this was the first theme park we had ever visited, and the girls were really excited. In this blog post, we highlighted some aspects you should know before visiting LEGOLAND California Resort and things not to miss while you are there.

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