american west, Family, Hiking, Kids, Museums, national parks, outdoors, parenting, photography, Travel, Uncategorized, Vacation, writing

White Sands National Park

This first post in our Southwest Adventure series showcases our family's experience at the unique and spectacular White Sands National Park in Alamogordo, New Mexico, with photos of sand sledding and enjoying the natural settings.

american west, california, Camping, Hiking, national parks, outdoors, Travel, writing

Backpacking the Angeles: Hoegees Camp and Spruce Grove

The Angeles National Forest has a number of trails and camps that can make for a fun backpacking adventure. The Gabrielino Trail and other trails in Big Santa Anita Canyon made for a fun introductory backpacking weekend close to Los Angeles.

Dog, dogs, Family, Hiking, outdoors, Pets, Travel, Uncategorized

Great Hikes: With Dogs

In this first of a two-part series, the Cranky Camper considers what conditions she looks for when planning a hike with dogs. Also listed here are several dog-friendly hikes in the San Gabriel Mountains.

Beaches, california, Family, holidays, Kids, outdoors, photography, Style, Travel, Vacation

Good Times and Sunny Climes at the Beach

Living in Southern California, there are many places for relaxing along the coast. Here are a few of our favorite beaches in Los Angeles and Orange Counties.

Amusement Parks, Florida, Money savers, Shopping, Style, Travel, Uncategorized, Vacation

Animal Kingdom and Souvenir Shopping on a Dime

In the fifth and final installment of our Disney World series, we share our experiences at Disney's Animal Kingdom, as well as some things we learned visiting the park. We also share a few shopping tips we learned for saving money on Disney-themed souvenirs.