The Southwestern USA: Utah, California and More

Great road trip plan through the California National Parks, from the Golden Gate Bridge to hot springs at Lassen National Volcanic Park. See Yosemite, Pinnacles Sequoia and more.

San Diego’s Lafayette Hotel, Swim Club and Bungalows is a great vintage stay close to Balboa Park. See what to expect from this old Hollywood destination hotel, one of the most fun places in San Diego.

By now you know how much fun we’ve had through the years in Disneyland and Walt Disney World, and now especially with our kids in the Parks.  Both Disneyland and …

The most Instagramable spots in Disneyland include everything from the Castle to finding the details in the park. Photography tips and best ways to enjoy Disneyland.

There are so many unique Utah road trip stops to make, but what to choose? We’ve picked our favorite sights and hikes that are great with kids and perfect for both adventure and learning. Lesser known road trip stops that will make you fall in love with Utah.

Mammoth Lakes, California has so much cool geology to experience. From hot springs to bizarre petrified springs, you’ll be amazed and what you’ll find just outside Yosemite.

Visiting Cabrillo National Monument in San Diego is the perfect mix of nature, history and nautical interest. It’s ideal to add to family travel in SoCal and is a great budget friendly activity.

The Bodega Bay Lodge is a beautiful property set just off the beach on the Sonoma Coast of Northern California. Review and ideas for things to do in the Bodega Bay area of Sonoma County.

There are so many choices of where to stay when planning a trip to Zion National Park. We range from camping to to hotels nearby to National Park Lodges. Everybody’s budget is different when they travel. Luckily, our ideas for where to stay at Zion National Park include the gambit of lodging styles, including national brand options.

There are lots of great places to eat in Mammoth Lakes, California. See top picks for unique, healthy spots for breakfast, lunch and dinner before skiing or after hiking. So many choices, but these are guaranteed good.

There are more than 100 lighthouses in the USA. These picks are beautiful, easy to visit and make for picturesque road trip adventures, from the Florida Keys to the Oregon Coast.

The Best Western Plus Island Palms Resort Hotel in San Diego is ideal for families. Centrally located, great pools, and delicious restaurant, it’s a perfect San Diego hotel.

Outside of the National Park there are tons of things to do in Yosemite Country. From hiking in the Sierra National Forest to off-roading and horseback riding, our top picks for adventures outside the National Park.

Summer in Mammoth Lakes, California is full of fun things to do. While people usually think of Mammoth as a ski destination, it’s also full of summer hiking, kayaking, boating and more. See the best things to do in summertime!

Travel plan for an inexpensive San Diego family vacation that you’ll love. Free things to do in San Diego, best beaches, and where to stay to keep the costs down and still have an awesome SoCal trip.

What could be more perfect any time of year than a California Central Coast road trip? Nothing. Leaving the SoCal area out of Los Angeles and heading north up the …

We’ve just returned from our first family trip to Disneyland with all four of us and it was incredible.  We were so fortunate to get to experience not just Disneyland …

We get a lot of questions about attending Pride events with kids. This year we flew to California and did the San Diego Pride celebration and had a great time. …

For as much time as we spend in California you’d think that we’d have hit up most of the awesome spots or at least had a good handle on places …

This epic Utah biking journey takes you through Color Country, from Cedar Breaks National Monument to Grand-Staircase Escalante. Staying in eco-huts along the way, doing a 190 mile mountain bike adventure in Utah is a bucket list item for outdoors people.

The Hoodoo Moab Hotel is the perfect luxury property just outside Arches National Park. See what makes this resort great for families and an ideal break in the middle of the most rugged landscapes of Utah.

Kayaking in Texas is very surprising and interesting. From paddling through cities to exploring the Gulf Coast and Rio Grande. Tips for planning kayaking around Texas.

This Utah National Parks road trip plan takes you to all five parks, includes some stops at amazing Utah State Parks and goes off the beaten path for an amazing trip. Includes hotel recommendation and how to plan this fun Utah road trip.

The Capitol Reef Resort at the edge of Capitol Reef National Park is one of the most unique properties we’ve seen. Located in the center of the state, this Utah glamping resort is fun with kids, or perfect for an adults-only National Park trip.

The Evergreen Lodge at Yosemite is ideal for exploring the quiet side of Yosemite National Park. From family cabins to rustic retreat lodging, the Evergreen Lodge has many options and is located very near Hetch Hetchy and Groveland, California.

Everybody seems to have an opinion about overrated sights and places to visit.  Roadside attractions are totally cliched to stop at, but why not stop?  Viewpoints on highways that have …

We’ve been looking forward to this road trip for a LONG TIME. Like, I can’t even tell you how long. We are finally exploring more of the Southwest with the …

There is nothing like a California Coast road trip.  That California life is so awesome with all that nature and sunshine.  What better way to experience it than by doing …

Mission San Juan Capistrano is one of the most beautiful Spanish missions in Southern California. Located between San Diego and Los Angeles, see what there is to do at San Juan Capistrano and in the surrounding area.

Road Trip themes are a great way to plan a vacation adventure. We’ve pick 20+ ideas for fun, family friendly road trips around the USA and Canada.