A Must-Do for Nature-Loving Families: Ideas for Your Next Vacation

 

Vacations provide one of the best times for families to bond but the real question is often getting activities that will keep the kids busy and interested as the adults take time away from their regular schedules or monotony of work. 

So, if you are wondering where to go next, consider taking a nature adventure. Nature will give you many opportunities for relaxation, fun, and learning which means that it caters to the kids and adults at the same time. 

Therefore, what’s the best thing? There are many thrilling activities that you can enjoy in the great outdoors which ensures that you immerse yourself in nature's beauty and wonder while opening your kid's minds to their imagination too!! Here, are a few vacation ideas in Los Angeles for you and your family:

Family-Friendly Vacation Ideas You Need to Know

 

Are you planning a vacation for your family but you’re not sure what to do? Fortunately, there are hundreds of ideas that you can choose from, to suit all kinds of budgets. A fun family vacation does not have to be an expensive trip to the other side of the world. Of course, it could be, but that will require a lot of time and budget and is usually considered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. A vacation is all about quality time together and having fun, and there are many places and scenarios where you can make that possible.

An Epic Greek Vacation: How To Decide Where To Go?

 Imagine you’re standing on the edge of a cliff, the Aegean Sea’s brilliant blue expanse stretching before you, the sun casting a warm, golden glow over ancient ruins. That’s Greece for you - a land where every turn is a brush with history and every sunset feels like a scene from a myth. The air is filled with the scent of olive trees and the distant sound of waves crashing against the shore. This is where legends were born, and gods once walked. From the bustling streets of Athens to the serene beaches of the islands, Greece offers an awesome mix of experiences. So now the big question, with limited time and a limited budget, where should you go on your Greek adventure? Sure it would be great if you were a trust fund baby and you could visit all these amazing places in one go, but that’s likely not the case for you. So here are some considerations for you to use when planning your trip to Greece.

Tips For Your Next Beach Vacation

 

Everyone needs to have a break away and to take some time off from work and other responsibilities every so often. Doing so will keep you healthy and happy throughout the year. 

One option if you enjoy being by the water is to take a beach vacation. It’s a great way to disconnect and get some rest and relaxation. You want to make sure that you are properly prepared so you can have a positive experience. Start by reviewing some tips that you can apply on your next beach vacation.

How to Look Sophisticated on Beach Vacations

Heading to the beach and want to radiate that sophisticated vibe, instead of looking like you just stumbled out of a seaside souvenir shop? You’re in luck because it really is not very difficult to hit the sands with style and look more "chic getaway" and less "castaway,: with just a few simple tips and tricks, as you will see below…

American Cities That Are Perfect For Family Vacations

 Some cities are a little more family friendly than others - we all know that! If you’re a parent, when it comes to deciding your vacation spot of the year, this is going to be at the very top of your mind. So let us help out! If you want to take the kids somewhere new on vacation this year, check out these American cities that are great for family members of all ages. 

Orlando, FL

Home to Disney World, as well as Universal Studios, and Harry Potter world, Orlando is an obvious choice for families of all ages. You can also visit Seaworld, plenty of gardens, and the Florida Mall. It’s a great place to be if you want an action packed vacation, and if the kids have complained about being bored before. If you need to waste some energy, you won’t ever need to go far! And if you’re a fan of seafood, you’ll love eating out while you’re in Orlando.

Chicago, IL

Chicago is great for families as it’s filled with museums, great boating tours, some lovely little parks for downtime in between places to visit, and an amazing zoo. The chance to get out on a boat is particularly great for kids, as this new list of the most popular boating destinations proves. And once you’re all done out in the water, you can head to the beach; the windy city has a pretty good coastline for young children, and there’s plenty of room for everyone!

New Orleans, LA

You might not think of New Orleans as a family destination, but outside of the Mardi Gras parade, you can have a great time in the Big Easy with the kids. The French Quarter is not only a very cultural neighborhood, but it’s also filled with history, which the kids will love learning about. When you’re done there, you can visit the Insectarium, get on a carriage, and try out some local Creole cuisine. Super yummy and probably like nothing the kids have ever tried before, which is a lot of fun!

Washington, D.C.

The capital of the USA, there’s a boundless amount of things to do in Washington D.C. with the kids. The entire Smithsonian complex, the natural history museum, the botanic garden, the waterfront, as well as about a hundred other museums and galleries, you’ll really be spoiled for choice if you visit. The kids can learn a lot of hands on history, bring home lots of new toys, and play pretend in the park land that you can also enjoy a picnic in.

If you want to take the kids on a new kind of vacation, make sure you visit one of the cities listed above. The more you travel around the USA, the more enriched your travel is going to be as a whole. And seeing as you won’t run out of family friendly things to do in any of the above 4, it’ll be lots of fun!

How To Have A More Active Vacation This Year

If you’re someone who loves to get outdoors or active on their vacation, then there are plenty of ways to make the most out of your next trip this year.

There’s nothing better than being somewhere new and getting the blood pumping. While it might not be for everyone - some may prefer a relaxed vacation - for others, staying active keeps it interesting.

There are lots of ways in which you can enjoy and have fun on vacation that’s sports-related or highly active. Keeping your days jam-packed might be just what you’re looking for in your next trip overseas or in the same country.

Here are some helpful tips on how to have a more active vacation this year and to make the most out of your time away.

How to Keep Your Home Safe While You’re on Vacation

Going out of town to take a break from the mundane everyday grind can definitely be good for you, but before you start packing your bags and heading out the door, think about the risks that you are placing your personal properties and entire home in. Apparently, an empty house is a surefire magnet for robberies and break-ins.

Welcome to Fishers, Indiana - Population FUN!

Do you remember visiting a place as a child and later as an adult think some day you'd like to take your kids there? For me that place was Conner Prairie. I can remember going there with my 5th grade class for a field trip. I can recall how much fun I had and all of the neat stuff we got to see while we were there. And after seeing them at a media event recently and finding out about all of the new exhibits they've added since then I just knew I had to go back. So that's exactly what I did - and this time with my family! We had a week of vacation planned just for exploring places near home right here in Indiana and today was all about the town of Fishers. Since it was Father's Day I wanted to plan a day of things my husband would enjoy, and being a history buff this was right up his alley. Boy was it different than it was all those years ago when I first went (of course I won't go into detail just how many years ago it was). You could tell that over the years they put alot of thought, time, and money into making it even bigger and better. From the moment you enter the front doors you're taken back to the 1800's as you visit their indoor Create.Connect exhibit. I really liked this addition because it gave you a place indoors to visit just in case it was super hot out, or raining. Plus it was filled with several hands on experiments you could explore with your family. We made paper airplanes that we got to test fly, built a windmill, and got to explore circuits of electricity. It was nice seeing the kids work together peacefully!

After we were done exploring inside we went out the back doors and checked out all of the historic themed areas outside. Let me tell you it was nothing like is was back when I went as a kid. There was so much more to explore and see. Yes I can remember some of the buildings and things I heard the people say as we visited them, but there are alot more places than there was back then. I think the kids most enjoyed the Animal Encounters barn (because we have animals at home) and the pop-up woodworking exhibit. It was awesome seeing them and their dad all working on a project together. They ended up making a mallet with a big head like you would see in a cartoon. It even sparked my son's interest so much he started researching the wood shaving tool they used.

So I guess you could say the first part of our day was a big success. Everyone found something that really interested them and we all had a nice time together...with no arguing or fighting.

After our adventures at Conner Prairie it was time to stop off and have some lunch. We were all good and hungry after all of the walking we did. I'm a big fan of restaurants that cook foods from scratch because it reminds me more of a home cooked meal so we opted to stop off at a local restaurant called the Pure Eatery. I would much rather sit down and enjoy some family time waiting for a good cooked meal than rushing through a fast food joint and regretting it later. Pure Eatery makes their foods fresh every morning, and they make their soups and dressings all from scratch. Now that's my kind of restaurant! To start with we had a Spinach & Asparagus Dip appetizer plate and let me tell you it was so good even the kids couldn't get enough of it. It was a first for me having the spinach dip with asparagus instead of artichokes and I really liked it. I think I could have eaten the entire thing by myself as a meal and been happy. Of course that would have mean I missed out on trying their Club Wrap. It was really good too so I'm glad I didn't. My husband had their Pig Out sandwich, my son had a Chef Salad, and my daughter had a Mini Quesadilla. Everyone left satisfied...and stuffed. But not before I asked our waitress to snap a photo of us. It's hard to get everyone in one photo when you're on vacation so I took the opportunity when the area we were seated in cleared out. It definitely made lunch memorable.

After lunch we headed down the road to K1 Speed a local indoor go-kart racing track. It was a little busy when we arrived so we played some games in their waiting area before the kids were up for their ride. It was nice to just hang out and relax as a family and just unwind a little. The kids took their first ride while my husband and I watched from the sidelines. My son really enjoyed it, but my daughter was too nervous around the people that kept whizzing past her. So my husband ended up using her second race pass. I was totally okay with it since it was Father's Day and all. It was fun seeing the boys out there together trying to out-do each other on the track. At the end of our visit my daughter decided that her dad and her both got first place and her brother got second. Normally my son would argue up one side and down the other with her, but not today. He knew it was dad's special day and didn't want to ruin it. I was pretty proud of him for not saying anything and just silently standing there on the number two block.

And to finish off our special Father's Day adventures in Fishers we ended our day at The Escape Room. My husband is one of those guys that likes to solve puzzles and he likes to be challenged at the same time. So with that in mind I knew he would like what The Escape Room had to offer...plus I had been dying to go there myself so that didn't hurt either. I had some friends that went and told me how much fun it was so I was really excited about going. Our room theme was "The Race 2". We were up against another team trying to be the first ones to solve all the clues and find the security code to unlock the box that contained the replacement four-barrel carburetor we needed to repair our car for the race. Right off I will say it's quite an adventure. You have one hour with your team to find clues that lead you to other clues that will eventually lead you to figure out the code you need. If you're in a room with people you don't know I will say that can add to the challenge a bit. We had three other people we didn't know in our room and they kept trying to do everything their own way since they had been in one before while we were trying to just figure out what the heck we were even doing at all. But even though we had some frustration of them not following all of the directions when they did find them we did make it out before time ran out! And I have to say we all really enjoyed the experience. We've actually already been looking into doing another one soon with some friends so we know who we are in the room with.

At the end of the day we all really enjoyed our first family visit to the town of Fishers. I know there are several other great places to explore there that we didn't have time for so I'm hoping we can get there again before summer is over for another day trip. I challenge you if you're not familiar with towns near your hometown to check them out, you'll probably be just as surprised as I was at how much fun is just waiting for you within an hour of home.

Exploring "backyard" treasures on our mini spring break

It's funny how we grow up in a certain part of a state yet sometimes we still don't really know much about it. Take for instance where you live, hop in a car and drive an hour in any direction. How much do you know about the places that you would end up? Sadly most of us would say we don't really know much about those places. After having talked to my daughter about places she would like to go for a short spring break trip we decided it was time to start exploring our own "backyard" so to speak right here in Indiana. We knew with my son working that we only had a few days to venture out so we decided to make it a shorter trip this time around. So we took in account driving time and settled on heading up north about an hour for our mini spring break. And after several visits to the South Shore CVA website to plan our trip we were ready for spring break to come!

We started our trip off with a visit to the John Dillinger Museum located inside the historic Lake County Courthouse in Crown Point, IN. A town I can honestly say I've never actually stopped in. We've passed through it several times heading up to northern Indiana for other trips but never really given it a second thought. After this trip though we are already talking about heading back this summer to check out a few other "hot spots" we learned about while on our trip.

About the John Dillinger Museum:
If you know who John Dillinger was you know he was an infamous gangster, so like my husband and I at first you're probably wondering why anyone would dedicate a museum to a gangster. Well it's not really to honor him so to speak, but to show how the criminal activities of Dillinger and other gangsters has transformed the FBI and crime fighting technology. We found it quite interesting to follow his life from just an average every day man to a well know criminal and how it all came to a screeching halt when he was shot and killed. The museum is appropriate for all ages and is very educational. At the end of the tour there is even a very nice memorial honoring the men, women and K9's of Lake County, IN who have died in the line of duty. My kids thought the best part was the little jail cell they had set up where you could get your own feel at being locked up. I for one wouldn't be to excited about having to potty in a little corner bucket! It was a great learning experience for all of us and we each took something away from it so I was pretty happy. If you're ever in the area, or have the chance to visit the area I would highly recommend checking it out.

Once we were done with the museum portion of the visit we then headed down the hallway and visited many unique shops that are also located in the basement of the courthouse. It was really a neat thing seeing all the shops and their offerings. There were shops with antiques, apparel, toys, candy, homemade goods, a vinyl shop, a clock repair shop, and a few others I don't recall off the top of my head! My favorite though was the candy shop and a little shop by the name of Mescolare. It's a cute shop that carries gourmet foods (many homemade) and kitchen wares of all sorts. It has a ton of cute stuff to offer from many local area business people. The couple that owns the shop were so nice offering us many suggestions of places to visit in the area - which is what promoted us to decide we want to come back in the summer.

After we finished up our visit to the museum and the shops we hopped in the car and headed a little further north to Merrillville, IN. We've actually been there a few times so I was already familiar with the area. A few years back we actually took a trip to Deep River Waterpark for a family fun day. One of our other favorite places to stop while in town is the Albanese candy factory. They have a nice retail store attached to the front of the factory so you can shop all of their freshly made confectionery goods. We were there at just the right time too because with it being Easter shopping season they had a ton of Easter baskets and themed goodies! The kids and I probably spent 1/2 hour just walking around taking it all in trying to decide what we couldn't leave without! I would have to say of all the gummies I've ever had they have to be my favorite. While out running around we stopped to eat at Joe's Crab Shack (best hush-puppies I've ever had hands down) and did a little shopping at the Southlake Mall.

Once we decided we just couldn't fit in anymore fun and adventures for the day we called it a night and settled into our hotel room over at the Clarion Inn. It was right off the highway so it was super close to everything and made it convenient for heading out in the morning. One thing I've always loved about staying in a hotel is that you can just relax and unwind. No looking at all the things that need to get done when trying to relax at home. There's time to just hang out in the room and watch TV, or soak in a nice hot tub full of bubbles!

Plus the next morning someone else cooks your breakfast, and who doesn't love to be served breakfast as soon as they're out of bed! I know for me it's my time to splurge a little and have all of my favorite breakfast foods. There's nothing better than a hot breakfast buffet where you can have a little of everything. And I have to say Clarion Inn did a wonderful job with their breakfast line-up. The food was all fresh and hot, and there was plenty for everyone.

We all got up fairly early so we ate our breakfast, took our showers, then packed up and headed out to get an early start to the day. Of course what kind of mom would I be if I didn't take advantage of the photo opp of my son toting my Thirty-One bags down the hallway for me. Such a sweet kid taking care of his mamma on the trip for sure. I'm sure he will thank me for this photo somewhere down the line...well maybe not, but at least it's a fun memory for the scrapbook later!

We only had one stop on our itinerary for the day because we knew it was going to be and all day adventure. Plus we didn't want to have to rush through anything. I'm sure by the roadside signs in the photo above you've probably already figured out where we were headed...Fair Oaks Farms. We've actually been to Fair Oaks Farms before, but it's been several years ago and they have added lots of new stuff since then. We really enjoyed it before so I knew it would be even more fun this time with their new adventures. Plus we had plans to visit the Farmhouse Restaurant for lunch!

When you get your tickets in the "Your Adventure Starts Here" building you have the option of doing the cow adventure and/or the pig adventure. The new crop adventure is included when you purchase either or both the cow/pig adventure. So no matter which way you go you'll have at least two adventures to go on. I would say if you have an entire day do them all because it's well worth it. You'll also schedule your bus tours (for the cow and pig adventures) when getting your tickets to save time later. This makes it super easy because you don't have to wait in a line to get on a bus or worry about scheduling one later in the day. We knew we had lunch plans at noon so we did one tour before and one after lunch and it worked out perfectly.

Our first adventure was the Cow Adventure. First we stopped by the birthing barn since we had a little time before our bus tour. It's here that you'll have the opportunity to possible see a baby calf being born. We've seen it before so it wasn't a big deal that we missed it this time around. Once we were done checking out the birthing barn we headed over for the bus and took the tour of the facility where the cows live and are milked. It's down the road a bit from the farm for the protection of the cows. It's actually a really neat adventure to take and learn all about the process of milking cows. Once you're done with the tour the bus brings you back to what I call the educational center that has all sorts of great exhibits to learn about cows and even "have your own try" at milking a cow! Okay so not a real cow, but it's still pretty cool to try.

Next we hopped over to the Farmhouse Restaurant and had lunch. And let me tell you lunch was amazing. They pride themselves in using foods that were made from ingredients grown and harvested (or raised) on the Fair Oaks farm, or other regional farms. I have to say it was the best "home cooked" style meal I've had a in a long time.

After lunch we headed over for our Pig Adventure bus tour. Again it was located a bit down the road for the protection of the piggies. We got to see lots of pigs, and learn alot about them reading the signs on the wall and doing various tasks at the interactive exhibits. While there we got to see lots of little pigs including one that had just been born a short time before our arrival. I thought that part was really neat to see how they acted right after birth. Once we were done there we took the bus back to the main farm again. The kids got to do a fun indoor ropes course when we returned from the adventure so that was pretty exciting for them.

And our final adventure was the Crop Adventure. It wasn't quite as exciting as the other two since there weren't any live animals, but it was still really interesting. We started off with a short video about farming, then went into a self guided tour that included many interesting facts and interactive stations. The kids enjoyed doing some of the activities together which was nice to watch. Plus it gave me time to read through some of the facts found on the walls. The thing we all agreed was really cool was seeing the little digital read out that told the current world population. WOW now that was a big number. We actually stood in front of it long enough to watch it change as babies were reported being born. It was fun doing the interactive stations, but for me I really enjoyed all of the information that was presented. So many things you never realize that have to be thought about and planned in regards to farming.

There is honestly so much to see on the different adventures I could probably do a separate detailed post on each one of them. I'm sure you can tell that though from the photos. We had a great day despite a nice rain storm coming in the afternoon. Pretty much all of the activities are indoors so even on a rainy day there's lots of fun to be had!

As you can see you really don't have to go far from home to have a good time on a trip. Exploring the "backyard" of your hometown can actually be very rewarding and fun at the same time. From here we decided to make it our mission starting this summer to visit even more places around Indiana. It's never too late go get out and learn about what you're state has to offer and our time is NOW!

Romantic Getaways You Should Visit In London

Ancient, historic, trend-setting London is one of the most popular travel destinations for holidays or for a romantic getaway. There are many wonderful places to visit for a unique and very romantic moment.

London is renown for cobbled streets and quaint lanes for romantic walks.  Kynance Mews in Kensington is a beautiful, romantic place to stroll hand-in-hand or steal a little kiss!  It's really no secret that many a lover has explored these wonderful little streets with someone special.

OK, so it might sound a little odd to suggest visiting a train station for a romantic moment, but hold on!  There really is nothing more romantic than visiting a place that takes you back in time when trains were the most luxurious form of transportation.   St Pancras Station is one of the most beautiful train stations in all of London and is graced with a 30 foot sculpture of lovers embracing! Hint! Hint!

Tucked away in Soho, Andrew Edmunds is considered the most romantic restaurant in all of London.  Established in an 18th century townhouse, flooded in the warmth of candlelight and a touch of history, it's the perfect spot for romance.

Nestled away in Clerkenwell, Fox & Anchor Pub is a must for a secluded, private meal with someone special.  Tiny wooden alcoves in the back offer an ambiance of intimacy with the perfect touch of coziness.  Take a trip to Clerkenwell, order a plate of fish & chips and fall in love!

You must bring your date to the Whispering Gallery located in the magnificent dome of St Paul's Cathedral.  It's called the Whispering Gallery for a very good reason.  You can whisper, standing 110 feet away from each other, and still hear every word!  Keep in mind, this is a church so be careful what you say!

Kensington Palace Gardens is one of the most popular places for lovers in all of London.  The Lovers' Arch graces the flower beds in the front of the royal palace.  You will stroll through this one-of-a-kind garden with the most beautiful backdrop, it's the perfect place to fall in love.

From the top of Greenwich Park, feast your eyes on a spectacular view of lush green lawns while gazing at grand architectural designs in the style of Andrea Palladio.  Unrivaled in all of London, you will walk away with romance in your heart and dreams in your head.

Take a trip through nostalgia with a ride on London's famous double-decker buses, known as Routemaster buses.  Many of the older buses have been revamped for Wedding Specials.  Nothing could be more romantic than a post-wedding kiss on the most beloved transportation in London.

Queen Mary's Gardens in Regents Park has more than 12,000 scented flowers, drawing lovers from far and wide.  On Valentine's Day you must take a romantic stroll through London's largest collection of roses.  This will tell your very special someone how much you love her!

Take your special someone to the Victoria & Albert Museum in South Kensington and visit the William and Judith Bollinger Jewellery Gallery.  Your eyes will pop out viewing over 3,500 jewels including diamonds worn by Catherine the Great and breathtaking tiaras designed by Cartier!  Most of these gems are so huge, you might question their authenticity!  Take their word for it, everyone is real!  You are also welcome to use their special computers to design the perfect wedding ring for your “I Do” Day!

For a perfect romantic getaway weekend, you should pack your bags and head to the Lime Wood in Hampshire.  You will embrace its beautiful surroundings of New Forest and set the perfect ambiance bathing in one of the most luxurious stand-alone tubs, located in the middle of your guest room!

London is loaded with romantic spots tucked away all around the city.  From ancient pubs to elegant gardens, you should plan your next getaway to one of the most magical cities in the entire world!

You can find cheap business class to London from the USA at:
http://cheapfirstclass.com/cheap-business-class-flights-to-london/

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of cheapfirstclass.com.

Start your Journey with #TargetWedding

Content and/or other value provided by our partner, Target. All opinions are my own. #sponsored

When my husband and I first got together it was a whole new journey for me. I'd always been a city girl and taken vacations to amusement parks growing up. While he on the other hand grew up in the country and did hiking, camping, and all things outdoors. They say opposites attract, and I guess in this instance that saying holds very true.

One of those opposites could be seen right off when we made our wedding registry. See my idea of an ideal wedding gift would be something like the Canon EOS Rebel T5I so I could not only make memories with my new husband, but also record them to share with our friends and family for years to come.

Where on the other hand my husband would pick his ideal wedding gifts from something like the items in the Outdoor Registry Bundle.

So to make a compromise I go on new adventures with him to places where he grew up, and he lets me take pictures while we are there. This makes for a definite win-win for us both. He gets to show me new experiences and I get to record our adventures for our friends and family to see later. One of the first places he took me was where his is from out east. We went through the mountains of Vermont and New Hampshire all the way to the ocean in Maine. So many great sights I had never seen before having always lived (and traveled) in the mid-west. And thankfully because I had my camera with me I was able to take lots of great photos to share our adventures with everyone! Just like any trip, a marriage isn't about where you're going, it's about the unexpected experiences along the way that make it truly worth going the distance.

You can check out these great registry ideas and lots more when you visit the Target Wedding registry.

Giveaway CLOSED - The winner has been notified via email and confirmed.

Win it:  One lucky reader will win a $25 Target gift card. This giveaway will end September 13th at 12:00 AM EST. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email. If no response, a new winner will be chosen. Open to residents of the US.

Entry Method:  Please use Rafflecopter form to enter.
Disclosure:  Thanks to PR Firm/sponsor I was provided with the above mentioned product for the purpose of my personal review. This blog post is not a paid post and the honest opinions stated are my own. Please allow 4-6 weeks for prize delivery from the sponsor.

Big Splash Adventure Indoor Water Park - Family Fun for ALL!

My family recently made a trip to Big Splash Adventure Indoor Water Park in French Lick, IN.  We didn't plan a big vacation this summer because my husband didn't have a lot of time due to a new job and not having paid time off yet. So we took advantage of his few days he had off over shut down to head down to northern Indiana. We had never been to Big Splash before but had seen advertisement brochures at our local visitors bureau. From the time we arrived the kids immediately got super excited. You could see some of the slides that came outside of the building as soon as you pulled into the parking lot.

From the moment we walked inside the doors I knew we were going to have a ton of fun. They had a nice large indoor arcade area as well as a place you could order food. Once you arrived, you honestly didn't have to leave for anything. They were even working on an area for younger children to play which I thought was pretty awesome. I remember when my kids were younger I always wished more places offered an area for them to play since they were too small to play the arcade games.

Once we hit the changing rooms and got our suits on we immediately headed into the water park area. All I can say is WOW was it amazing. I couldn't believe just how much they had packed inside the building. There were several water slides, a lazy river, a kiddy tide pool, pool basketball, and lots of other adventure zones. Of course the kids made sure they checked it ALL out, some things even multiple times. My husband and I opted to take the lazy river around a few times and take it slow. Then we checked out the water slides with the kids. It was a ton of fun.

Then we opted to check out the hot tub that was for adults only. It was in a separate area inside fenced in to keep it safe from the little ones so they didn't accidentally step into the hot water. It was very nice being able to relax, but also being close at hand in case our kids needed us. There was also a nice sized pool outside, but we didn't get in it because it was a little cooler out with the clouds that loomed above.

All in all we had a wonderful day and we spent it as a family. I couldn't have asked for a better mini-vacation.