What to Know Before Visiting Cumberland Island (Essential First-Time Guide)

If you’ve been here awhile, you may have noticed a pattern in our vacations.  Most of them involve wild horses and that’s by design.  Our house has three horse crazy girls, (myself included) and spending our days chasing wild horses, is the most logical choice when planning a vacation. 

This southern island is unique not only due to the presence of wild horses, but also due to the fact that it remains largely undeveloped. Visiting here is like stepping back in time to see coastal Georgia as it once appeared. With wild horses roaming freely, thick maritime forests, historic ruins and miles of untouched beaches, this island feels more like a preserved wilderness than a typical beach destination. 

We loved this coastal gem so much, I designed a quick guide for first time visitors wanting to know what to expect from their trip.  Be prepared to return though, this island is certainly not the type of place you visit only once.

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Visiting Amelia Island for the First Time: A Spring Break Adventure

When spring break rolled around last year, we only had about 5 days left to go on adventure after our oldest’s travel soccer games took up both weekends.  We knew we had to travel somewhere fairly local to us and wanted to keep it within driving distance so we started researching. 

Seeking out warmer temps we decided to allow ourselves about 5 hours driving time and see where that got us.  It landed us smack dab in the middle of the Florida/Georgia line and also conveniently close to an island of wild horses.  When we knew we could combine our whole families interests in one trip (horses, fishing, outdoors), we knew we’d found our spot. 

We decided to make our home base Amelia Island, Florida.  The location was within perfect driving distance to plenty of history, amazing beaches and abundant wildlife.  To help out others planning to visit this incredible spring break destination, I’ve created a quick guide to visiting Amelia Island for the first time.

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haThings to Do on the West Coast of Puerto Rico: Beaches, Culture, and Adventure

The west coast of Puerto Rico is a destination full of rich history, pristine beaches vibrant cultures and stunning naturall gems. From sun-soaked shores to colorful murals historic lighthouses and natural wonders there’s something for everyone on the western shores of Puerto Rico. 

Whether you’re visiting for the first time or returning to explore more, I’ve create this guide exploring the top things to do on the west coast of Puerto Rico in hopes of making your trip just as magical and memorable as ours. 

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Visiting Vieques, Puerto Rico for the First Time: What You Need to Know

Visiting Vieques was the kind of trip that seeps into your soul. From the second you encounter your first wild horse you’ll know there’s something special about this place. Of all the places we visited in our 10 day trip to Puerto Rico this was no contest the favorite, beating out even El Conquistador Resort. 

Like anywhere you go,a little planning goes a long way.  Vieques has a charm all it’s own, but also a few quirks along the way.  To help you out when planning your next trip, I’ve created this quick post sharing Vieques travel tips for visiting Vieques, Puerto Rico for the first time. 

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How to spend 10 days in Puerto Rico

It’s hard not to fall in love with Puerto Rico –  it’s a tropical paradise brimming with stunning beaches, lush rainforests and vibrant streets alive with colorful art, culture, and incredible food! 

Spending ten days in Puerto Rico could never be enough  I think we could visit the island 100 times and discover a hidden jewel every single trip.  

Sadly, ten days was all we had for the trip – and we packed a LOT into those 10 days.  I’ll break down each of these legs of the trip in a separate blog post, but first I’ll give you a brief look at the highlights of how we spent 10 days in Puerto Rico.

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Is El Conquistador Resort Worth It? An Honest Review

If you’ve searched for a Puerto Rican resort, chances are El Conquistador was returned as one of your top results.  The website and its stunning images of beautiful grounds, tropical views and white sand shores probably left you easily imagining yourself relaxing at this resort. However, imagining the price tag can quickly take the wind out of your sails. 

So you want to know:  Is El Conquistador Resort worth it?  Its hefty price tag can be off-putting at first glance, so you likely want to know, is it worth the price?

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Best Things to do in San Juan for First-Time Visitors

When we started planning our most recent summer vacation we knew we wanted to visit somewhere tropical, colorful and full of character.  It didn’t take much research before we knew that San Juan was the perfect place to begin our journey. What better place to visit than a city painted in bold Caribbean color, alive with music, culture,incredible food and centuries of layered history?

From the moment we arrived we knew we’d made the right choice.  From the old world charm of the cobblestone streets to the rich aromas wafting out of buildings beckoning visitors inside to taste flavors passed down through generations, every corner of San Juan unlocked a treasure to be discovered.

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Is Great Wolf Lodge Worth the Money?

Yes, Great Wolf Lodge is worth the money for families looking for a fun, convenient, and memory-filled getaway. With indoor water parks, themed rooms, and all-inclusive entertainment, it delivers a full vacation under one roof. In today’s economy, every dollar counts, and parents want to know if the experience truly matches the price tag. As someone who has visited multiple Great Wolf Lodge locations with my family for more than a decade, I can confidently say the value holds up. From the attractions to the family-friendly atmosphere, this post breaks down exactly why Great Wolf Lodge is worth the money and how to make the most of your stay.

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If you’ve been here awhile, you know we love a good trip to Carowinds.  This summer we had even more to look forward to as the park recently expanded one of our favorite areas – Camp Snoopy.  With new rides, refreshed spaces, and a dose of Peanuts charm around every corner, it was the perfect family day.

There’s still time for you to pencil in a visit before summer ends so check out this sneak peek at what’s new (and still beloved) in Camp Snoopy this year! 

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Check out this post full of fun things to do in the mountains of Tennessee!  From Pigeon Forge to Gatlinburg to the Great Smoky Mountains, adventure abounds in these country roads! 

Spring break came late for us this year and we struggled to decide the best location for our next adventure.  Wanting something different than our usual beach trip, we finally settled on the Great Smoky Mountains.   Our little family loves hiking, and we knew the combination of trails, mountain air and plenty of attractions would be the perfect vacation for us.

We set off on a short but sweet 5 day trip, packing as much into our time as we could.  What resulted were lots of laughs and fun memories, and a strong desire to return to these mountains ASAP.

So if you’re planning a trip to the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area, check out my quick list of things you don’t want to miss!  Each of these attractions are ones we’d do again in a heartbeat and highly recommend adding to your itinerary should you find yourself planning a trip to these beautiful mountains of Tennessee.

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