One of our country’s greatest treasures is our National Park system- 394 extraordinary places to explore and enjoy. Its no secret that Trekaroo is a huge proponent of our National Parks. We have encouraged families to check out the Junior Rangers program, highlighted some amazing National Park adventures, and worked hard to create detailed family review pages for popular parks such as Yosemite and Yellowstone. National Parks are such great destinations for families because they are inexpensive to visit, get families outside, and provide plenty of great educational opportunities.
This year, the National Park system is offering several free entry days. As a matter of fact, there is an entire week this year that parks will be waiving the entrance fee! From April 16-24, all visitors will be able to enter the parks for free, making for some great daytrip or Spring Break opportunities. The parks system will also offer free entry on June 21 (the first day of summer), September 21 (National Public Lands Day), and November 11-13 (Veterans Day Weekend). Be sure to mark those dates on your calendar and start planning your vacations accordingly.
Do you have an outing that you would like to spotlight this week?
Perhaps its a post about a vacation you just took or a day trip that you think our readers should know about. Or maybe its a post about the vacation you are currently planning and going to book through Trekaroo! Link up something fresh from your blog using the Mr Linky below.
PLEASE READ AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS.
Step 1: Pick a recent post (past couple of days)
Step 2: Under “Name” write: “Title of your blog post (blog name)” – blog name in parenthesis
Under “url” paste: the link to your blog post (not your home page)
Step 3: Grab the Spotlight Thursday image and link to this post so your readers can see who else is playing along this week.
We want to be sure that everyone who participates in Spotlight Thursdays gets their moment in the spotlight so blogs that don’t link back will unfortunately have to be removed.
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Sharlene Earnshaw (aka doubleadventure) is Blogger-in-chief for Trekaroo and the blogger behind Double the Adventure.
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
I love roadside attractions. They seem to be a bit of a dying breed so when I hear about a good one, I make sure to schedule in a pitstop to our road trip itinerary. Several months back, I was watching California’s Gold (I have a slight obsession with ultra enthusiastic public television icon Huell Howser) and became infatuated with a place called Desert View Tower. Desert View Tower is located off Interstate 8, near the tiny town of Jacumba which is not far from the Mexican border in the eastern reaches of San Diego County. Built in the 1920′s by Bert Vaughn who owned the town of Jacumba, this four-story, cut-stone structure sits 3,000 feet above sea levels with sweeping views of the desert beyond. Before the advent of the highway system, the trek to the Pacific Coast was very difficult coming from the desert so Vaughn built the tower to honor those early pioneers who made the journey.
Fast forward nearly ninety years later and enter a tower filled with random relics of an eclectic past. After coughing up $2.00 to explore climb the tower, visitors are greeted by tanks filled with turtles and fish, framed photos of random landscapes hanging on the walls with price tagged affixed, and the occasional sleeping dog on a ratty couch. Stop to enjoy the player piano and little bits of history sprinkled throughout the journey up the staircase to the lookout point. Its a strange time capsule of mementos passed down by past owners of this unusual spot out in the middle of nowhere. The view from the top is quite scenic with a boulder strewn mountainous landscape occupying the foreground and a desert stretching out to Mexico beyond.
While the tower is certainly quirky and fun, kids will have an even better time exploring the giant boulders nearby. Sure, the rocks are great for climbing but the real attraction are the boulders carved into all sorts of animals and designs by a quirky folk artist named W.T. Ratcliffe in the 1930′s. Ratcliffe hung around Desert View Tower for several years, hand carving designs into the rocks and then leaving one day, never to be heard of again. Explorers will find a snake, bison, lizard, alligator, and even an Indian Chief carved into the granite, all making for a whimsical display. Spend ten minutes or an hour as you climb, weave through, and discover what this unusual pile of rocks offers to its visitors.
Desert View Tower may not be in its prime but it is still a roadside attraction worth stopping to see. The owners are friendly, as are their entourage of dogs and cats that call the tower home, and those crazy carved rocks are just aching to be climbed.
Find the details on visiting the tower on trekaroo »
Do you have an outing that you would like to spotlight this week?
Perhaps its a post about a vacation you just took or a day trip that you think our readers should know about. Or maybe its a post about the vacation you are currently planning and going to book through Trekaroo! Link up something fresh from your blog using the Mr Linky below.
PLEASE READ AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS.
Step 1: Pick a recent post (past couple of days)
Step 2: Under “Name” write: “Title of your blog post (blog name)” – blog name in parenthesis
Under “url” paste: the link to your blog post (not your home page)
Step 3: Grab the Spotlight Thursday image and link to this post so your readers can see who else is playing along this week.
We want to be sure that everyone who participates in Spotlight Thursdays gets their moment in the spotlight so blogs that don’t link back will unfortunately have to be removed.
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – -
Sharlene Earnshaw (aka doubleadventure) is Blogger-in-chief for Trekaroo and the blogger behind Double the Adventure.
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
If my daughter could live on one food exclusively it would be chocolate. She may only be four years old but she is a girl with sophisticated tastes and the finer the chocolate, the better. Given her young age, she probably hasn’t given the origins of her tasty treat. I can only imagine her reaction if I told her that we could visit an entire factory filled with chocolate!
Photo via Flickr User Euromagic
Do you have a chocolate lover in your family who would jump at the opportunity to see how their favorite dessert is made? Then do we have a list for you! Our list maker extraordinaire, Lydie Thomas, searched high and low for the best chocolate factory tours in the US and came up with a great top ten list. From Hilo to Hershey and everywhere in between, there seems to be plenty of wonderful chocolate to be discovered.
Click this link to see Trekaroo’s list of the Top 10 Chocolate Factory Tours.
Do you have an outing that you would like to spotlight this week?
Perhaps its a post about a vacation you just took or a day trip that you think our readers should know about. Or maybe its a post about the vacation you are currently planning and going to book through Trekaroo! Link up something fresh from your blog using the Mr Linky below.
PLEASE READ AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS.
Step 1: Pick a recent post (past couple of days)
Step 2: Under “Name” write: “Title of your blog post (blog name)” – blog name in parenthesis
Under “url” paste: the link to your blog post (not your home page)
Step 3: Grab the Spotlight Thursday image and link to this post so your readers can see who else is playing along this week.
We want to be sure that everyone who participates in Spotlight Thursdays gets their moment in the spotlight so blogs that don’t link back will unfortunately have to be removed.
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – -
Sharlene Earnshaw (aka doubleadventure) is Blogger-in-chief for Trekaroo and the blogger behind Double the Adventure.
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
Welcome to 
In my mind, there is no better time to visit the Desert Southwest than early spring. The weather is mild, the landscape is speckled with color from the short wildflower bloom, and sun is almost always shining. When my family visits the region, the experience is always feels much more authentic when we stay at a hotel with architecture and amenities that reflect the Sonoran Desert surroundings. The Westward Look Resort in northwestern Tucson succeeds in bringing all that is wonderful about the desert to its guests all while offering plenty of on-site activities to keep the whole family entertained.
Westward Look was the first resort to be built in Tucson, and it is filled with history. The original hacienda was built in 1912, complete with exposed log beams that were brought down from nearby Mt Lemmon and native ocotillo branches covering the ceiling for natural insulation. In the 1940′s the property became a dude ranch, housing such icons as the critters from Walt Disney’s “The Living Desert” and the artist behind the world famous Coca Cola Santa. By the 1960s, the property was expanded to become a full size resort and reflects much of what visitors will see today with it’s fine dining options, impressive accommodations, and impressive city lights views.
The property sits on 80 acres and features suite sized guest rooms with adobe style exteriors which seem to blend into the immaculate desert landscaped grounds. The property boasts 8 tennis courts, 3 pools, basketball, volleyball, horseshoes, and shuffleboard. There is also a fitness center with classes for guests and a Sonoran Spa with treatments that reflect the desert culture and environment.
Another great activity that the resort offers is horseback riding. Guests ages 7 and older are welcome to enjoy a scenic ride around the property, including a special sunset ride. Younger guests will still appreciate a walk down to the stables to visit with and maybe even get a nuzzle from the horses.
Perhaps my favorite part of the resort are its two 2/3 mile nature trails. The Saguaro Trail wanders through desert terrain while the Hummingbird Trail meanders past a rock labyrinth, gorgeous ramadas, and specialty gardens. Be sure to take time to stop and savor the serenity of the Chef’s Garden. Revive your senses with the smell of citrus trees and the sounds of birds singing their multi-toned tunes.
If you are interested in reading more about the Westward Look Resort, be sure to read my entire review. If you decide that your family is in need of a desert escape remember that you can book your travel through Trekaroo!
Do you have an outing that you would like to spotlight this week?
Perhaps its a post about a vacation you just took or a day trip that you think our readers should know about. Or maybe its a post about the vacation you are currently planning and going to book through Trekaroo! Link up something fresh from your blog using the Mr Linky below.
PLEASE READ AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS.
Step 1: Pick a recent post (past couple of days)
Step 2: Under “Name” write: “Title of your blog post (blog name)” – blog name in parenthesis
Under “url” paste: the link to your blog post (not your home page)
Step 3: Grab the Spotlight Thursday image and link to this post so your readers can see who else is playing along this week.
We want to be sure that everyone who participates in Spotlight Thursdays gets their moment in the spotlight so blogs that don’t link back will unfortunately have to be removed.
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – -
Sharlene Earnshaw (aka doubleadventure) is Blogger-in-chief for Trekaroo and the blogger behind Double the Adventure.
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
Welcome to
Last year, my friend attended Spring Training for the first time. We headed out to Phoenix, AZ to watch the Angels play, and introduce our children to the fun of an afternoon at the ballgame. Spring Training venues are much smaller than major league stadiums, and the casual atmosphere makes for an extremely family friendly experience. Whether your family are baseball diehards or just casual fans, adding a few days of baseball to your Spring Break travel plans might lead to the start of a new travel tradition.
This year, fans of teams who play in the Grapefruit League have the opportunity to enjoy the ultimate Spring Training experience. The Ritz-Carlton Palm Beach has partnered with Roger-Dean Stadium, the Spring Training home of the Florida Marlins and St Louis Cardinals, to put together an incredible package for families who love baseball. The package is definitely a splurge (rates start at $799 per night based on double occupancy), but for super fans, it is an experience worth its weight in gold.
In addition to an amazing stay at the Ritz, the experience includes:
- Four box seats to a Marlins or Cardinals game
- Batting practice from the stands and on the field with home and visiting teams
- “Behind the Scenes” Clubhouse tour and a tour of Roger Dean Stadium Sports Complex
- Pre-game festivities and singing of the National Anthem on the field
- Ceremonial first pitch for one guest of the group
- Honorary Bat Kid with autograph and photo opportunities (inside the dugout) for children under 14 years
- Run the bases and play catch in the outfield following the game
- Media Stat Pack for all Ritz-Carlton guests
I imagine this package to be the ultimate gift for the obsessed little leaguer in your life or a husband whose life revolves around his team’s playing schedule. For more information, visit the Ritz’s website.
Do you have an outing that you would like to spotlight this week?
Perhaps its a post about a vacation you just took or a day trip that you think our readers should know about. Or maybe its a post about the vacation you are currently planning and going to book through Trekaroo! Link up something fresh from your blog using the Mr Linky below.
PLEASE READ AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS.
Step 1: Pick a recent post (past couple of days)
Step 2: Under “Name” write: “Title of your blog post (blog name)” – blog name in parenthesis
Under “url” paste: the link to your blog post (not your home page)
Step 3: Grab the Spotlight Thursday image and link to this post so your readers can see who else is playing along this week.
We want to be sure that everyone who participates in Spotlight Thursdays gets their moment in the spotlight so blogs that don’t link back will unfortunately have to be removed.
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – -
Sharlene Earnshaw (aka doubleadventure) is Blogger-in-chief for Trekaroo and the blogger behind Double the Adventure.
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
