The Best Resources for Planning a Summer Family Vacation

From deciding where to go, how to get there, & how to get the most bang for your buck, here are The Best Resources for Planning a Summer Family Vacation...

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Scholastic. The opinions and text are all mine.

Another school year is quickly coming to a close, and soon the kiddos will be home for summer school break. Time for long summer days at the pool, s'mores around the fire pit, weekend road trips, and the annual summer family vacation. 

Okay, so maybe you hadn't really thought about that last bit quite yet. But there is no need to panic, folks. I gathered up some of the best resources for planning a summer family vacation to share with you all today. So whether you need a little help deciding where to go or maybe you just need some tips for the actual traveling part, I got covered in today's post!

Deciding Where to Go.

If you haven't already pinpointed just where you and the family will be packing up and heading off to this summer, then this is where you need to start. 

Now you can either close your eyes and throw a dart at a map (hey, I am not necessarily ruling that one out ;) ), or you can start by asking yourself a few key questions-

The Best Money Saving Tips for Ski & Snow Family Vacations

Plan a budget friendly wintertime family getaway this year with these Best Money Saving Tips for Ski & Snow Family Vacations...

This post was created in partnership with Family Travel Forum. 

While I was compensated for this post, all opinions expressed below are 100% my own.

Winter and snow (aka, ski season) is upon us, and it is time to start planning those wintertime family getaways. Whether you are planning to stay close to home, heading to the snowy slopes of Colorado, or heading northeast to ski the mountains of Vermont & New Hampshire, it is no secret that ski & snow vacations for the family can get a little pricey. But there are ways to save money and cut the costs without also having to cut back on the experiences and the frosty family fun.

I have partnered up with my friends at Family Travel Forum today to bring you all the very best tips for saving money on ski passes, lift tickets, equipment rentals, lodging, and so much more this coming ski season. A fabulous wintertime family vacation doesn't have to break the bank, folks. :)

The Vacation of Your Dreams Might Be a Few Clicks Away...

We are a family that loves to travel.  

We love experiencing new places, trying new foods, and jumping head first into the all the things the locals love.

A few months before the summer arrives each year (and sometimes even earlier than that!), we start planning our summer vacation. There is something that makes us all giddy and happy from just planning out the details of our next family getaway.

Last summer we spent a week in the Outer Banks. This summer we will be visiting Hilton Head and Savannah. (And psssttt... I just may be doing a couple of family travel posts of the area when we get back.)

And next year?

Who knows? Maybe Hawaii! 

Because I could be one of the very lucky winners in RCI's "Win Your Dream Vacation Sweepstakes" . ;)

5 Reasons to Plan a Family Vacation to Amelia Island

Located on the northeast coast of Florida, Amelia Island is the perfect family friendly travel destination brimming with historic charm & miles of pristine beaches...

This post was created in partnership with Amelia Island tourism. As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

Last month I had the pleasure of spending 4 amazing days exploring Amelia Island on the northeast coast of Florida. In addition to discovering the amazing beaches, the fresh from the sea local food scene, & the historic charm of this seaside destination, I also had the chance to stay at not one but two of the island's premier family friendly resorts. 

To say that I was utterly impressed by what all Amelia Island has to offer as a family vacation spot would definitely be an understatement. 

Amelia Island quite literally has something to offer every member of your family- from the foodie to the history buff to the outdoor enthusiast. And many of the resorts on the island offer programs and perks specifically tailored to the kiddos in your family whether they are 3 years old or in their teens. 

While I could probably rattle off at least 100 reasons why you should plan your next family vacation to Amelia Island, here are my top 5... ;)

10 Disney Trip Must-Haves for Kids

Planning a family vacation to Disney World soon? Then you will definitely want to check out this collection of 10 Disney Trip Must-Haves for Kids...

This post may contain affiliate links. Purchasing through them helps support this website.

Can you all believe that summer break is already here? My youngest just graduated from Pre-K this week, and my oldest will be walking across the stage to receive his high school diploma next weekend. 

Both of the kiddos are out of school for the summer, and we are looking ahead to lazy days by the pool and of course, a couple of family vacations. 

One possible trip that is currently on our radar is a Walt Disney World vacation. We are still looking at dates and crunching the numbers, but we might be taking our daughter to Disney for the first time some time this July (fingers crossed we can make it work!). 

With Disney on the brain as we chat about the details with our favorite Pixie & Pirate Destinations travel agent, I have found myself browsing Amazon lately looking for the must-haves that I have to buy before our daughter's first trip to Disney. After adding a few to my wish list, I thought why not share some of my favorite Disney finds with you all? ;) 

5 Ways to Save Money on Day Trips

Get out and about and explore without breaking your travel budget with these 5 Ways to Save Money on Day Trips...

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Brita, but all my opinions are my own.

Though we tend to travel and take little road trips all year round, summer seems to be when we really get out there and hit the road for a little family vacation time. My oldest is out from school for a couple of months, and we are pretty much free to pick and go when an opportunity or urge arises. 

But one thing that I have learned about summer travel is that the expenses of taking a trip- even what seems like a little weekend getaway- can add up fast. I can snag a great deal on a hotel or B&B. We can find the best price on gas and fuel up before heading out. But what I was finding is that those little day trips we took to get out and about and explore once we arrived at our destination were just eating up our travel budget. 

Walk around a little town or explore an area of a city, and you will find that there all kinds of ways to spend money around every corner. I soon discovered that those little day trips were eating up our travel budget for that trip quick, so I implemented a few changes over the past year or so. These changes have saved us hundreds of dollars. And money saved means more stays in our travel fund for the year which equals more trips and family time! :) 

So, what haveI done to save my family money as we explore and discover the areas that we love traveling to? I gathered up my five top tips for you all below...

The Best Way to Book Your Favorite Attractions in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Looking to save time, money, & a little sanity when planning that Pigeon Forge, Tennessee family vacation? Then be sure to check out The Best Way to Book Your Favorite Pigeon Forge Attractions...

This post was created in partnership with TripAdvisor. As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

When you think back on some of your favorite family vacations & road trips, what is it about those particular trips that set them apart from the others? What made those vacations more memorable for you and your family? For myself & my kids, it is always about the experiences we had there- the things we did & saw, the one-of-a-kind attractions at that particular destination, and the memories we made while enjoying them all together. 

Obviously the getting there (road trip? plane ride? train ticket?) and booking a place to stay are also important when planning a memorable family vacation, but as soon as I have those two things squared away I start turning my attention to the must-do's & must-see's at that particular destination. That is where TripAdvisor's Things To Do tab comes in handy! :) 

Just last week my kids & I headed to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee for a 3 day cabin getaway. A week or so before our trip date, I clicked on over to TripAdvisor to check out the reviews on some of the most popular attractions in the area & to book tickets for a couple of them in advance...

SIMPLY RIGHT equals Simply Savings...

It is not a real secret at this point that my family is on a very tight budget.  We made the decision before our daughter was born that I would stay at home.  This was very important to my husband and I, but we knew that decision would also mean quite a few sacrifices and scaling back- no more eating out twice a week, no more impromptu online shopping, fewer vacations.  All these things we were willing to compromise on.  

What we were not willing to compromise on was quality products for our baby girl.

We have always been very skeptical of any of those bargain diaper and baby wipes brands, and have always shelled out the money for the more expensive, brand name ones.

That was until we were introduced to SIMPLY RIGHT baby diapers and wipes from Sam's Club.  

We love the diapers just as much as the name brand ones we have been using.  Maybe even a little more... ;)   They fit baby girl so well!  And we love the leak protection.  I would say within 10 minutes of me putting the first SIMPLY RIGHT diaper on her we had a full on blow out.  Guess what?

No leaks.  

At all.

They passed with flying colors. :)

After taking a trip to our local Sam's Club to do a little price comparison, we were surprisingly shocked to see just how much a pack of 200 of the SIMPLY RIGHT diapers actually cost!  You are not seeing things, folks.  That is less than $36 for 200 diapers! :) 

We seriously pay that right now for about half that amount of name brand diapers.  Ummmmm... hello!  We are switching! :)

We were also able to try the SIMPLY RIGHT baby wipes.  I was a little skeptical when I took the first one out of the pack.  They seemed to be much thinner than the baby wipes we were used to using.  But they are very gentle on baby girl's sensitive skin and stood up to the biggest of messes just as well as their name brand counterpart we had been using.

By switching to SIMPLY RIGHT baby diapers and wipes, we could potentially save up to $392 a year!  

This little family could do quite a bit with an extra $392 in savings a year.  :)  Namely, it would guarantee us some of kind of family vacation about once a year.  In fact, that $392 would almost pay for the beach vacation we have planned for the summer.  This will be our first vacation together as a family of four. We had to skip a vacation last summer because of our budget restraints.

What would you do with the extra $392 in savings for your family?

For a FREE sample of SIMPLY RIGHT™ diapers or wipes, visit http://simplyrightbabycare.com/sample.html today!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of SIMPLY RIGHT™ Baby Care Products.

5 Simple Tips for Sticking to a Travel Dining Budget

Staying on a dining budget while traveling is easy with my 5 Simple Tips for Sticking to a Travel Dining Budget...

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of the Visa Clear Prepaid program and 

the Green Dot® Reloadable Prepaid Visa® Card.

If you happen to travel at all- whether it be once a year for a family vacation or you take multiple road trips throughout the year- you probably already know that dining out while traveling can really eat up (pun intended ;) ) most of your travel budget pretty quickly. 

Being a foodie and food blogger, experiencing the local food scene in a new city ranks right up there in my top priorities when traveling. And because of that, the dining out expenses can really start adding up. Mainly because I want to try it all. 

Since my family and I love traveling, we have had to find ways to keep our dining budget in check because going over it one too many times means less trips throughout the year as our annual travel budget is depleted. Savvy savings and sticking to a budget with our travel dining = more trips as a family for the year! :)

So what are my best tips for staying on a travel dining budget? I am sharing my top five with you all below...

How to Roar & Explore in Columbus, Ohio

Not only is the fun-packed Columbus Roar & Explore Getaway budget friendly, but it also offers a little something for everyone in the family from the preschooler to the teenager to the adults...

My family & I were were offered the Columbus Roar & Explore Getaway package to review courtesy of Experience Columbus. 

As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

My family & I have deemed the summer of 2016 as the summer of our family weekend road trips. Instead of going on a longer week long vacation to just one destination like we usually do in the summertime, we are opting for 2-3 days visits to 3-4 different family friendly spots instead. First on our family summer road trip list was the Columbus Roar & Explore Getaway. Not only was this fun-packed getaway budget friendly, but it also had a little something for everyone in our family from the preschooler to the teenager to the adults.

We started our visit to Columbus, Ohio with a little Roar first and headed to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Powell...

Presidents' Quarters Inn- A Reflection of the Charm of Savannah

The Presidents' Quarters Inn is a charming, family friendly bed & breakfast located in the heart of Savannah, Georgia's historic district... 

This post may contain affiliate links. Purchasing through them helps support this website.

I would like to thank our gracious hosts at Presidents' Quarters Inn in Savannah, Georgia for our lovely stay. Other than providing our accommodations, I was not compensated for this review post in any other way. The opinions expressed below are 100% my own.

Almost 10 years ago I feel in love with the charm and architecture of Savannah, Georgia.  I visited the city once more after that, but knew it would not be my last visit.  

When my husband & I married over 3 years ago and then had our daughter a year later, I knew we would have to travel to this lovely city as a family.

We enjoy traveling to places that not only provide vacation fun, but that also tell a story.

And boy does Savannah have stories to tell! ;)

But there will be more about that in tomorrow's post...

Exploring Fort Wayne in 3 Days: A Family Friendly Itinerary

From kayaking with views of the city to a budget friendly baseball game to a hands-on science museum, here is a family friendly itinerary for exploring Fort Wayne, Indiana is just 3 days...

This post was created in partnership with Visit Fort Wayne. As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

I will be the first to admit it that Fort Wayne, Indiana is not typically the first destination that comes to mind when planning a vacation packed with family friendly fun. But my family & I's three day visit to Fort Wayne earlier this summer totally changed my preconceived notions of this Midwestern city. 

Fort Wayne is a vibrant & diverse city that deserves more credit & props than I originally afforded it. From kayaking with views of the city to a budget friendly & fun minor league baseball game to a larger than life, hands-on science museum, Fort Wayne just may be the perfect family friendly getaway that you & your family have been looking for. :)

Since there is so much to do & see in Fort Wayne, I thought I would share our 3 day itinerary with you all to help you narrow down some of the must-see & must-do attractions & activities in and around the city. You will find that most every place we visited in this post is no more than a 10 minute drive from one another. That is one of the things we found most attractive about Fort Wayne as far as a family friendly destination goes- the city was extremely accessible, easy to navigate, & most everything there is to do and see there is fairly close together. 

Family Friendly Luxury at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island

From AAA 5 Star-Diamond dining to an amazingly luxurious spa to a kids' club that goes above and beyond, The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island is sure to surpass the expectations of every member of your family...

This post was created in partnership with Amelia Island tourism & The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island. As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

While exploring the wonderful & charming area of Amelia Island on the northeastern Atlantic coast of Florida, I was also afforded the opportunity to stay at one of the island's most acclaimed luxury resorts, The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island. 

As would be expected from any resort in the Ritz-Carlton family of hotels, the Ritz on Amelia Island offers its guests countless luxuries & accommodations. But what really took me by surprise is just how family friendly and accommodating The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island is towards their much younger guests. 

From AAA 5 Star-Diamond dining to an amazingly luxurious spa to a kids' club that goes above and beyond, The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island is sure to surpass the expectations of every member of your family... :)

Italian Basil Orzo Salad

I thought I would share my recipe for this gorgeous Italian Basil Orzo Salad with you all this week since it was specially requested by my mother that I make this while we are at the beach this week.  

Yes, my friends.  We are taking a family vacation and soaking up the rays.  

It is a MUCH needed family vacation. :)

But do not worry.  I will not leave the blog empty and sad this week!

I have a couple more delicious summer inspired salad recipe posts coming your way this week, plus a couple of sand & sea themed posts- they only seemed appropriate given my locale for the next 6 days or so. 

I originally made this Italian Basil Orzo Salad for our 4th of July cookout, and it was huge hit with my family.  I think my mother was maybe 3 bites into this salad when she said, "You have to make this while we are at the beach."

Of course, I will oblige my mama. ;)

I used a tomato basil flavored feta in this salad that I happened to find at my local ALDI.  If you cannot find a flavored feta, plain feta will work just fine in this salad.  The basil dressing is packed with tons of freshness and flavor...

Italian Basil Orzo Salad

by Frugal Foodie Mama

Prep Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

6050495

Ingredients (6 servings)

• 1 cup chicken broth
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
• 1 medium zucchini, cut into 1/2 slices and then quartered
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• salt & pepper
• 1 medium cucumber, peeled and chopped
• 1 medium sweet banana pepper, halved, seeded, & chopped
• 1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced and then chopped
• 1 cup grape tomatoes
• 1/2 cup feta cheese (I used a tomato basil feta cheese that I found at my local ALDI.)

For the basil dressing

• 2 cloves of garlic, peeled, smashed, & roughly chopped
• Juice of 1 lemon
• Large handful of fresh basil leaves, roughly chopped
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/3 cup olive oil

Instructions

Combine the chicken broth and water in a medium sauce pan, cover, and bring to a boil. Once boiling, add the orzo. Cook for about 7-8 minutes, stirring 2-3 times.

Drain the orzo and immediately rinse with cold water. Transfer the orzo to a large bowl and chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour.

While the orzo is chilling, roast your zucchini. In a medium bowl, combine the zucchini chunks, the 1 tbsp olive oil, and salt & pepper to taste. Spread out onto a baking sheet and roast at 400 degrees for 10-15 minutes, stirring once about halfway through.

Once roasted, set aside and allow to cool completely.

Once your orzo has chilled, add in the cucumber, banana pepper, red onion, grape tomatoes, the feta cheese, and the cooled zucchini. Toss together and then set aside.

In a food processor or blender, blend together the garlic, lemon juice, basil leaves, and salt. Then slowly add in the olive oil and continue blending until well combined. Pour the basil dressing over the orzo/veggies mixture.

Toss well.

Serve immediately or chill in the fridge until you are ready to serve.

Enjoy!

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This Italian Basil Orzo Salad is just like taking a big ole bite out of summer.  I am happy to say that the sweet banana pepper and basil I used in this salad came from my very own garden.  I am looking forward to making this again soon now that I also have cherry tomatoes and cucumbers almost ready in my garden.  

Do you have a favorite pasta salad or salad you like to make when summer has rolled around?

A Family Friendly Guide to Virginia Wine Country {Where to Stay}

I know a bed & breakfast and Virginia wine country are probably not the first places you think of when considering where to the take the family for a road trip or vacation.  Usually those venues are reserved for couples and romance, right?  

In some cases, yes.

But there are family friendly bed & breakfasts out there!  And even family friendly wineries {gasp}... but more on those later this month. ;)

Recently we stayed at the Briar Patch Bed & Breakfast Inn in Middleburg, Virginia for a couple of nights during my son's spring break.

The main house of the Briar Patch Bed & Breakfast Inn

The Briar Patch is conveniently located directly off from the main highway that runs through downtown Middleburg, the John Mosby Highway (yes- easy to find and get to which is pretty important when you may or may not have some travel weary kiddos along!).  It is also wonderfully located for possible day trips to Washington, D.C., Manassas, or Harpers Ferry.

The inn is equipped with a pool, a hot tub, and satellite TV in the main house.  Oh, and have I mentioned that they are also pet friendly in case you need to bring your furry family member along? ;)

My husband and I actually stayed here almost two years ago on a little romantic pre-baby girl getaway.  We stayed in the main house that time.

But for our family friendly stay, we were given the cozy cottage for our two night stay...

(Most bed & breakfasts have policies against children of certain ages staying in certain rooms or areas of their establishment, if they even allow them at all.  Children younger than 8 are not permitted to stay in the main house at Briar Patch, but children of all ages are welcome at their cottage.)

The cottage at Briar Patch is equipped with a full kitchen and spacious living space.  Perfect if you were to plan a longer stay.  We all loved the bright, open rafters throughout the cottage.  They even had the cottage stocked with toys for baby girl, and a pack 'n play set up in the bedroom.  There was a fold out futon in the main living space which was perfect for my teenage son. 

My favorite room just may have been the bathroom for that gorgeous, deep sink-in tub. ;)

Barn & stables behind the Briar Patch- yes, they have horses! :)

A hot breakfast was served in the main house both mornings during our stay.  I am not going to lie- this just might have been one of my favorite things about our stay at Briar Patch.  A delicious breakfast, freshly brewed coffee, and a beautiful view?  And I didn't have to lift a finger?  Awwwwww... yes. :)

The daffodils at Briar Patch provided the perfect backdrop for baby girl's Easter photo shoot. ;)

We had such a lovely and relaxing time at the Briar Patch Bed & Breakfast.  They were so generous and accommodating to our little family. I really cannot thank them enough.  I had emailed them about receiving their off-season rate since we were missing it by just one day, and one of the owners went above and beyond that simple request for our short stay in Middleburg.  I truly cannot express enough gratitude to them.  :)

If you are looking for a romantic getaway, a breathtaking wedding venue, or a just a lovely place to stay during a family trip through Virginia wine country, I cannot recommend the Briar Patch and their staff enough. 

Psssttt... the cherry blossoms will be blooming soon!  Virginia wine country is gorgeous when in full spring bloom.  I believe we only missed that by about a week or two.

Of course if your travel plans do not take you to the Loudoun County, Virginia area, then be sure to research bed and breakfasts in the area that you will be staying at before you just book that room at a cookie cutter hotel.  Often times, B&B's will run budget friendly specials and packages.  And never be shy about calling or emailing an establishment about a special request- you just may receive a very pleasant and unexpected surprise. :)

*The opinions above are strictly my own.  Yep, all 100% me, myself, and I.  I was not obligated to and was not compensated for this post.  I just really appreciate the hospitality and generosity that was afforded to myself and my family during our stay, and wanted to share our experience with my readers.