Why Travel Is Great For Children
There is no reason why children shouldn’t enjoy the benefits of traveling as much as you do. In fact, there are many reasons why travel is great for children and let me explain why.
Author: Cynthia
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Theme Park
Busch Gardens in Tampa Bay is fun for the entire family. Whether you have children, teens, or grandparents it is sure to thrill everyone!
Complete Vacation Guide To Las Vegas
With so much to see and do in Las Vegas, I have narrowed it down to this alphabetized complete guide of things to do & see on and off the iconic strip. I have also included fun celebrity chef restaurants!
If you’re wondering where to start, I have made it easy for you. Start here! I also suggest you check online for show times & schedules, especially if you’re traveling during a holiday season. I don’t know about you, but I would be disappointed if I thought something was open, you go, and it ends up being closed. This would be especially true if you’re on a time crunch.
Bellagio Fountains
The Bellagio is a resort on the Las Vegas strip and it is absolutely gorgeous. As a matter of fact, many of the resorts on the strip are grand & gorgeous. I’m pointing this one out because the fountains located in front of the resort is a spectacular show in itself. The fountains dance to popular music at specific times. Click here for showtimes.
CBS Television City
CBS Television City is located inside of MGM Grand Resort. It is a free interactive experience in which you, the viewer, would be one of the first people to rate a television show that has not been aired yet for the public. It was a neat experience for us because we are movie & TV buffs. This also makes for a great time to relax your feet & be in air condition after walking the strip!
Cityscapes +
Waterfall structure 
Caesars Palace 
A walk through one of the resorts 
Inside the Mirage 
The Mirage 
Treasure Island 
Trump Hotel 
Sundown in Vegas 
Sundown in Vegas 
Hershey’s Chocolate World 
Check out ALL those Hershey’s! 
My favorite flavor! 
Excalibur Hotel & Casino 
NY, NY Hotel & Casino 
Inside Excalibur Hotel & Casino 
Luxor Hotel & Casino 
Vegas vibes at night 
Coca Cola heaven!
There is just something special about exploring Las Vegas on foot. Yes, you may get tired, but you get to discover a lot of things you never knew existed until you walked it yourself. If it gets too hot, it’s ok because it’s best to discover Las Vegas at sundown or night anyway. These are some of the best cityscapes and more that we saw while walking the strip. Do
Ethel M Chocolates
How can you love chocolate and NOT visit this place??? Ethel M Chocolates is absolutely free and it’s not that far from the strip. It wasn’t busy at all when we were there, but we also went early. It is a self-guided tour of what the factory workers are making at the time. There are so many goodies here to buy & try
Freemont Street & Binion’s
Binion’s Gambling Hall 
Binion’s Gambling Hall
Freemont Street was quite…interesting. However, I would say that it really is not meant for families or children under 16. If you bring kids here, it’s at your own risk of what they could possibly see. With that being said, they do have a cool zip line experience and at Binion’s Gambling Hall, you can literally be in front of $1 million. The money is real and it’s encased so you can’t really touch it and our teen boys were told that they couldn’t be anywhere near it!
Although we didn’t eat at Heart Attack Grill, it was a unique restaurant. Everyone that dines there is given a hospital gown to wear. And if you weight at least 350 lbs, you eat for free. Like I said, unique.
Hoover Dam
If you have time, I would absolutely make this a day trip! Make sure you bring water, sneakers, a camera, and wear cool clothing.
Visiting the Hoover Dam can be very hot, so be aware of that. I also recommend taking the power plant tour because there is so much you can learn about how this dam operates. For costs and more information, click here.
M&M’s World
As you can probably tell by now by reading this guide, I love chocolate! When I knew that M&M’s World was here, we had to go. This is such a fun and colorful place. You can find all your favorite M&M flavors here along with cool gifts for all of your friends back at home.
Marvel Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N
If you have any Marvel or movie fans in the family, they will truly enjoy this. This attraction is located inside the Treasure Island Hotel on the strip. Make sure to check on Groupon.com for offers as this is the way we discovered Marvel Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N.
The Mob Museum
If you’re looking for an interactive museum that is truly extraordinary, you can’t miss The Mob Museum. They have 3 floors of exhibits and the underground is the speakeasy! If you’re of legal age, you can sit at the bar and have a drink. You can also experience the Use of Force Training Experience (age requirement) and the Crime Lab Experience (age requirement) where you get to be the forensic scientist. I can’t say enough how interesting & fun this museum is, so check it out!
National Atomic Testing Museum
The National Atomic Testing Museum is located only 15 minutes away from Freemont Street. If you visit Freemont Street, leave a few hours earlier and visit this museum on the way. It won’t take you a long time to go through this museum, but if you are history buff, especially, you will enjoy this.
The Neon Museum
The Neon Museum is reliving old Las Vegas. It is best to reserve your tour tickets online because it is not a self-guided tour. The tour operators know their history! We had an amazing lady give us so much information and we were also able to ask questions. You may not touch the signs, but you can take as many photos as you like. If these signs could talk, I would sit and listen for hours!
Piff The Magic Dragon
Seeing Piff The Magic Dragon was hilarious! He was on “America’s Got Talent.” He didn’t win the show, but he got his own theater in Las Vegas and that is
The Venetian
The Venetian Resort has to be my favorite resort on the Las Vegas strip because it is very beautiful and romantic. The ambiance is low light, Italian music, and, of course, they have great food! The gondola ride is pricey, but I say you have to do it at least once, especially if you’ve never been to Italy. This resort is a wonderful place to just sit, have a cup of coffee, and people watch. At certain times, they will have opera singers at the piazza. I highly recommend you spend some time at this resort exploring!
World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop
Does anyone recognize this place? You might if you ever watch Pawn Stars on the History channel. This store is just a 10-minute drive from the strip. If you want to meet any of the stars, don’t count on it. They make impromptu appearances so you never know if they will be there. You’ll be lucky if you do! We, unfortunately, were not so lucky. Make sure you browse the store, though, because there are many interesting things here that you might even want to purchase yourself.
Celebrity Chef Restaurants
Bobby Flay
*We did not dine here.
Buddy Valastro
I wanted to try this bake shop because I’ve seen the “Cake Boss” show on TV many times. I’ve always been amazed by how great the cakes look on TV. I was not disappointed when we tried the cupcakes! They were delicious and decorated beautifully!
Emeril Lagasse
*We did not dine here.
Giada De Laurentiis
I watch Food Network A LOT! Therefore, I had to try the gelato from Giada. Again, I was not disappointed. It was so refreshing after walking the strip on a hot day! The rest of my family loved their treats, as well!
Gordon Ramsay
*We did not dine here.
Jim Tselikis/Sabin Lomac
*We did not dine here.
Masaharu Morimoto
*We did not dine here.
Robert Irvine
For full details of our personal experience with Public House restaurant, click here.
Wolfgang Puck
*We did not dine here.
If you’re adventurous and/or love hiking plus you have the time, you might want to check out this national park over to Nevada’s neighboring state, Utah. My blogging friend highly recommends the Canyonlands National Park Island in the Sky.
Fun Or Nearly Free Activities In Pinellas County, Florida
Are you looking for some fun things to do on the west coast of Florida, but don’t want to break your budget? Enjoy these fun or nearly free activities in Pinellas County, Florida. The Florida Botanical Gardens is a wonderful place to get away from …
Tarpon Springs: Greek Culture in Florida
A visit to Tarpon Springs, Florida is like stepping into a whole new world. Engulfed in culture, great food, and shopping it makes for a fantastic day! LOCATION If you love the ocean, you will love to take a visit here. Tarpon Springs is located …
Florida Botanical Gardens | Paradise in Pinellas County
Discover paradise in the middle of Pinellas County, Florida at the Florida Botanical Gardens. After a long day at work or a simple weekend day trip, these gardens will renew your spirit and soul. Breathe in the fresh air and the aroma of these beautiful flowers and plants.
It’s free!
The Florida Botanical Gardens is absolutely free to visit. And speaking of free, while you’re here make sure to visit Heritage Village, which is just next door. It is also absolutely free.
When you get here make sure to pick up one of these brochures to help guide you through the gardens.
Getting around
This is a self-tour garden so you can take your time and even bring a picnic to spend a long afternoon. There are plenty of places with benches and tables you can eat at.
Kids included!
If you have children, don’t think this would be a boring place. In fact, it’s totally the opposite! They have a children’s trail that is very educational. This is one of the reasons this garden, along with Heritage Village, have many school field trips.
Explore with me!
Make sure to stop and smell the roses, pun intended. If you just walk through the Florida Botanical Gardens, you’ll miss the real meaning behind visiting here. Stop…breathe…read…and soak it all in. This place has trails to explore and chairs to relax. Join me now and see for yourself!
Wedding moments
And now for the pinnacle moment, this is an amazing place to have a wedding! This garden is often booked for wedding events and it is for obvious reasons. The garden has its own section named “Wedding Garden.” If you’re interested in the Florida Botanical Gardens for this reason or for more information, visit their website.
Convinced you yet to visit? I feel truly blessed to be able to visit this place anytime I want since I live locally. So, whether you want to visit for the first time, are a local, are looking for a place to get away, or are planning a wedding, check out the Florida Botanical Gardens.
Visiting Safety Harbor, Florida
A visit to Safety Harbor, Florida will place you in a quaint town of shops, restaurants, and a renowned resort & spa. Safety Harbor is located on the west shore side of Tampa Bay, Florida. Pinellas County, the county in which this city is located, …
10 Ways To Secure Your Home While On Vacation
Do you remember the movie “Home Alone?” Macaulay Culkin played Kevin in this popular Christmas movie. He was accidentally left alone at home while the family went on vacation, but that’s not the main focus of the movie. The main focus of the movie is …
Keeping Vacation Memories Alive When It’s Long Over
When your vacation is long over, make sure to keep your memories alive for years, if not forever, by following my 10 pieces of advice.
Let’s face it. It’s hard to remember everything all the time. I like to do these things because when I’m much older, I don’t want to forget my special memories.
Collect a Special Something From Every Destination
We usually collect a small magnet to add to our refrigerator, but many other people collect other things. It could be a Christmas ornament, a shot glass, pencil, pens, tea towels, etc. Special keepsakes are meant to be special because it’s an everyday item that reminds you of
Collect Brochures and Keep in a Photo Box or Scrapbook
This is such a fun way to create memorabilia. Brochures can change over time, so keeping these and making a
Collect Postcards
Aside from taking the photos yourself, this is the next best thing. We’ve been to many places where photography was not allowed indoors, but at the gift shop, they have postcards of what it looks like indoors. Some postcards are just absolutely beautiful or it could be a photo of something you couldn’t take yourself.
Do Unique Things
People usually do the most popular landmarks, the tourist traps, etc, but there’s something very special, and you might surprise yourself, on how great the hole in the wall spots or the off the grid places are. We once visited a green sand beach on the Big Island of Hawaii that we were told about while we were there and we’re so glad we visited because it has been one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen & been to. It was not very populated and locals drove you out to it or you could have hiked it. We were driven since we’re not really hikers. So go out of your way at times and/or don’t be so persistent in sticking to your itinerary to experience something that could be truly unique. Make your vacation memories memorable by getting out of your comfort zone.
Journal
Journaling is an expression of many senses. You can express what you saw, tasted, felt, heard, and smelled all from a pen & paper. You may do this already on a daily basis, but have you kept a journal just for your travels? Call it a travel journal or travel diary, this is a fantastic way to make sure you can always come back to it and relive your memories.
Make Albums on Facebook
Facebook has this great feature in which you can save all your vacation photos or any photos for that matter, and create albums. It is very easy to find your photos when they’re named as albums. You can access it anytime and share a memory whenever you like. I access this all the time when I want to share on my “Memory Maker Monday” thread on my Facebook group, which you can join at any time!
Reminisce
Get together with friends or family, break out some wine & games, and reminisce about the vacations you have taken. There’s so much fun in sharing and talking about the experiences you encountered. So get together and make it an event!
Revisit
If you can, revisit the places you vacationed once before. Things change, people change, and there is always going to be something new you can do. Try out places you didn’t eat before in the city, try one of those unique things to do that you didn’t get a chance to before, and speak to new locals. Going back to a place you fell in love with or even the place you grew up as a child will have special meaning to you. For example, a few years ago I was able to visit the neighborhood and the actual house that I grew up in. The people living there were so nice and so many childhood memories came back to me.
Snapfish
I use Snapfish for our yearly family album keepsake. They make it so easy for you to organize your photos, whether it’s yearly, travel related, birthday’s, Christmas, graduations, etc. You can save it and make it a work in progress. They also have many decorations, clip arts, frames, and layouts for your album. And to top it all off, prices are very reasonable! If you don’t want to do an album, they have many accessories like calendars, mugs, home decor, canvas prints, etc. I love the albums because they make great coffee table conversation pieces! When you’re ready to check out everything they offer and/or order click here or the photo directly below.
Save Up For Your Trip in a Special Jar
You can pay for a vacation with a credit card or your bank account outright, but there is something special about saving up for one and FINALLY paying for it. Your hard work seeing being accomplished makes it more memorable and you also feel a sense of gratification. We save our coins in a large wooden vase that we have from Costa Rica (a special something from above that I spoke about) and after a while or when it’s full, we use it primarily for fun and makes for unforgettable vacation memories!
Do you have a unique way to remember your vacations? Do you already use any of my 10 ways listed here? If you don’t already, which one stands out to you most? I would love to hear your answers in my comments!
Comic-Con San Diego & Other Things To Do Downtown
San Diego has everything you need for a fantastic family vacation! Pair it with Comic-Con and you have an unforgettable experience! Our vacation started with making sure we did not forget anything at home by completing our Ultimate Alphabetical Packing List (available by subscribing to …
