Archive for the ‘Travel’ Category

The Grand Canyon Makes a Perfect Family Destination

Local mom Maria Bassett reviews her family’s recent trip to the Grand Canyon. For more reviews of destinations both near to Greenville and worth the trip from Greenville, see our Travel from Greenville page.

“Hey look, there’s a hole in the ground.” That would be the statement my 6 year-old said as we approached the east entrance to Grand Canyon National Park. We had driven many hours, and finally there we were, ready to cross off a lifetime bucket list item, and my son calls the Grand Canyon a hole. It may be a national icon, but it certainly is no beach, playground, amusement park, or anything that little kids regularly associate with fun. But the Grand Canyon is unlike anything else. There’s beauty and wonder and awe that rivals anything I have ever seen. And there are many child friendly amenities and accommodations to help your family experience this amazing canyon. Here’s your guide for enjoying it with your children.

The Grand Canyon National Park

Grand Canyon National Park consists of both the north rim and the south rim of Grand Canyon. The south rim is where most people go to see the canyon. It is where the visitor center and all the hotels, restaurants and shops are located. For the purposes of this article, we’ll stay on the south rim.

Beginning at the visitor center on the south rim, the park spreads out to the west and east with the rim trail connecting observations points, and of course trail heads for the trails down into the canyon. It is not recommended for anyone but experienced hikers to hike down into the canyon. Warnings in park literature remind folks that even for experienced hikers it is dangerous to attempt to hike down and up the canyon in one day. Most people backpack and stay the night in the canyon. However, families remaining up on the rim will still see plenty. The rim trail is not strenuous and very scenic.

Grand Canyon Village, full of hotels, restaurants and shops lays to the west of the visitor center and beyond that are many scenic overlooks along the rim trail. Similarly, many scenic overlooks including the famous watchtower, as well as the ruins of a Tusayan native village, spread out along the rim trail heading east from the visitor center.

Shuttles at the Grand Canyon

The single biggest parent help at Grand Canyon are the free shuttles offered by the park. From the shuttles you can get to every major overlook point in the park, to the hotels and restaurants within the park, and to the hotels and offerings of nearby Tusayan, AZ. The shuttles on the rim of the canyon come every 15 minutes, giving guests many options. It’s hot and dry, and let’s face it, little legs are not up for big time hiking. But you still want to walk some of the rim trail? No problem. Ride the shuttle to an overlook point, the markers on the trail tell you exactly how far it is until the next overlook. Sometimes it is many miles, and sometimes it is only a fraction of a mile. You can decide if you’d like to walk the trail to the next point, or ride the shuttle. The mileage between points is also available on the park maps handed out at the entrances, so you can plan ahead. Additionally the shuttle bus drivers will be able to give you information and advice on where to walk and where to ride. Tip: The shuttles do not stop at every overlook on the return trip back to the visitor center, so double check to make sure the route fits with your plans. The drivers will be able to help you here, as well.

My family really enjoyed walking a mile long section of the rim trail west of the village in the morning before it got too hot. We hopped on a shuttle, rode to the next overlook and then walked another slightly less than a mile section. It allowed us to really enjoy the view as we walked and get a closer look at some of the amazing desert vegetation, without getting too hot and tired.

Where to Stay

Grand Canyon Village offers hotels with amazing views. These also come with a price tag to match. It is definitely the easiest to stay in the village when it comes to getting back to your hotel, or enjoying sunset, but if the price scares you off, you have other options. The nearby town of Tusayan, AZ has several hotels and restaurants. You are still dealing with tourist pricing here, but in some cases nearly half the cost of the hotels in the park. Remember those shuttles? They come right into Tusayan. So you can park your car at your hotel, and ride right into the park. You won’t have to wait in traffic at the entrance gate (shuttles have their own special entrance) or worry about running into deer or elk at dusk. This shuttle drops you off at the Visitor Center and from there you can hop on a shuttle to the west overlooks, the east overlooks, or the village. The shuttles are color coded and easy to navigate. The restaurants along the rim are available to everyone, not just the guests staying in the hotels. So if you’re looking for a more affordable option, consider getting a hotel in Tusayan, but come into Grand Canyon village for dinner so you can catch the amazing sunset over the canyon. There are restaurants in the park at every price point, from cafeteria style to super fancy.

Our family stayed in Tusayan, rather than the park. We had no difficulty navigating the shuttles to get into the park and around it. On our second day, we drove into the park instead. We did have to wait at the entrance through some traffic, but otherwise it worked well to park at the Visitor Center and ride the shuttle from point to point. Your other option is to avoid the shuttles completely and drive your car from point to point. There is some parking at the points to the east of the visitor center, so it is possible to drive your personal car to those points. However, there’s not always parking available. And this method doesn’t allow the driver to enjoy the view. We found the shuttle the best mode of transportation within the park.

What to Expect

Yes, to my son’s first glance Grand Canyon was a hole in the ground. A really, really big hole. A beautiful, vast, amazing, feel like you’re standing in the middle of a gorgeous three dimensional painting kind of hole. But, definitely not a hole you want to fall in. Many places along the rim have fences, and railings, and rock barriers. Many do not. The places that don’t have these barriers tend not to have straight down cliff style edges, but they still would be a disaster to fall from. I joked that my goal when visiting the canyon was not to lose a child over the edge. But it wasn’t really a joke. It is definitely not a place to let your children run on ahead of you on the trail.

Expect to see wildlife. We saw many elk (including babies!), mule deer and ground squirrels. It is so fun to view these animals in their natural habitat. However, do remember to keep wildlife wild. Don’t feed the squirrels, don’t try to pet the elk. Ground squirrels injure more people in the park each year than any other animal. They don’t have the weight of elk, or the venom of rattle snakes, but they do have the inability to tell the difference between a finger and a french-fry. They are bold little things near where people are eating, so be sure to shoo them away and not indulge their begging, cute though they may be.

Bring water. Lots of water. Not only is it hot, but Grand Canyon is at pretty high elevation. It’s dry. You need more water than you think you will. There are water bottle filling stations throughout the park, but not at many overlooks. Use the map to plan where you will fill up, and make sure to bring enough for all members of your party. This is another great thing about the shuttles, if you stay on the rim trail the most you’ll be waiting for the next shuttle is 15 minutes. Then you can hop a shuttle and ride to the next water station. However, shuttles only stop at overlooks.

Bring snacks. There are many restaurants in the village, and a snack bar at the east end and the west end of the park, but there isn’t much in between. Hint: There’s an ice cream shop along the rim in the village section, at the back of the Bright Angel Restaurant. We enjoyed stopping there after walking and riding the shuttle along the rim to the west.

Visiting Grand Canyon has been a bucket list item of mine ever since I was a child, and I was so happy to share the experience with my family. We only stayed 2 days, but it was unforgettable. I hope someday soon, you’ll get to experience it as well. When you do, I hope that this gives you some ideas for navigating Grand Canyon comfortably with children.

Have your kids seen the Grand Canyon?

Homeschooling Around the USA – A Day in St. Louis

Maria Bassett shares her family’s experience visiting St. Louis, Missouri. They even rode a tram to the top of the St. Louis Arch also known as the Gateway Arch. This trip is a fun and educational destination for the whole family.

St. Louis, Missouri is rich in American history. From the Louisiana Purchase, to the Lewis and Clark Expedition, to fur trappers, and wagon trains setting out in search of land or gold, St. Louis played a critical role. Today we can learn how our country was shaped throughout the westward expansion of the 1800s, by visiting the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial in St. Louis, Missouri, home of the famous Gateway Arch.

If you’re looking for more fun places to travel to, read our travel guide!

The history of St. Louis

The Jefferson Expansion Memorial and surrounding area are undergoing extensive renovation. During the construction, the Old Courthouse, approximately a 10-minute walk from the Gateway Arch, is closed for renovations and expected to open in Spring/Summer of 2025. Stay in the know about their grand opening on their website. Here’s what to expect when they reopen:

In these exhibits, you can learn about the Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804-1806) which stopped for its final supplies and winter camped near St. Louis before setting out over uncharted land. You will also learn about St. Louis’s role in fur trapping and trade, and how those trappers became guides for others heading west. St. Louis also played a pivotal role for people headed west in search of land for homesteads, or wealth in the gold rush, by serving wagon trains as a final supply stop and last taste of civilization before heading out west. The Old Courthouse contains other historical exhibits as well, including information about the Dred Scott case, which was heard at this courthouse and decided in 1857. Many say this provided fuel to ignite the civil war.

During the construction, the Old Courthouse also serves as the ticket center to purchase tickets to enter the arch and to ride the tram up into the arch. So you’ll want to get your tickets before heading down the walk to the arch. Even though we got caught in the rain, we didn’t mind the walk. Its downhill and very easy.

Visiting the Gateway Arch

The Gateway Arch is a 630 foot arch sitting on the Mississippi River in St. Louis, serving as a monument to the massive westward expansion this country experienced in the 1800s. But it’s more than just a metal arch, you can actually ride to the top inside the concrete and steel structure via a tram. Guests enter small pod-like cars that seat 5 at the bottom of the arch for the ride to the top. As you ride to the top, you can see bits of the mechanics working to bring you to the top through the windows on your car’s doors. Once at the top, you exit the cars and can walk in the top of the arch for spectacular views of St. Louis and across the Mississippi River. When you have had enough of the views, you head back down the arch in the same way you came up. The tram ride to the top was by far the highlight of my children’s day in St. Louis!

Note: This is NOT a ride for claustrophobic people, and it is not a wheel chair accessible OR stroller accessible ride. Folks who have mobility problems may find it difficult to climb in through the car’s narrow and short doors. You definitely have to duck to get in. However, small children are allowed to sit on their parents’ laps. In this way, our family of 6 was able to stay together in one car.

Purchase Tickets to The St. Louis Arch

If you’re looking for something else to do, consider one of several river cruises. You can also purchase tickets for these at the Old Courthouse. However, my family found that the Old Courthouse, the Gateway Arch, and the walk through the park around the arch, was really plenty to do for one day. If you are staying in the area for several days, you might also want to check out the St. Louis Zoo, which has free admission!

Tips and Pointers for visiting the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial

Plan for crowds, especially in the summer. Give yourself plenty of time to visit exhibits and get through ticket lines. (You can purchase tickets in advance here. This is highly recommended in the busy summer season, as the trams will fill up and sell out.)

Make sure to arrive at the arch about 30 minutes before your tram ride time, as guests have to go through security similar to an airport, removing jackets, passing through a metal detector, and putting all bags through an x-ray.

Strollers will not fit on the tram, so plan to either leave your stroller inside the arch basement or utilize a wearable baby carrier instead.

St. Louis is a big city, with all the usual big city traffic. Consider staying at a hotel within walking distance to the memorial to avoid traffic and parking delays. We stayed at the Drury Inn near the Convention Center, which has an indoor parking garage, and found it to be an easy walk to the Old Courthouse and the Gateway Arch.

Would your family love the history found in St. Louis?

Looking for more fun things to do in St. Louis, MO? Check out our review of the City Museum in St. Louis!

Meet Maria Bassett

Maria Bassett is a former school orchestra teacher, turned home-school mom. She and her husband homeschool their 3 sons and 1 daughter, currently pre-school through 2nd grade age. Believing children learn best when they are engaged and having fun, this family loves to take their homeschool on the road, around Greenville and beyond.

Mom Review: The Old Exchange in Charleston

Local mom Jackie Vest shares her experience taking her children to The Old Exchange in Charleston, SC.

The Old Exchange is touted as a “must-see” when visiting downtown Charleston. Located right on the water, it is a historical gem of both the Colonial and Revolutionary eras – being at times a Revolutionary-era prison, a place where George Washington visited, a post where slaves were sold, a building for 18th Century assemblies, a platform for trade and business, a dungeon for pirates, and the place from which South Carolina’s delegates ratified the Constitution.

There is more history here than can be absorbed. Visitors are welcome to wander around before and after tours, take a guided tour, and even sign the Constitution!

Our Time at The Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon (aka The Custom House)

Below the building is a huge brick dungeon complete with full-size pirate figures, gun powder kegs, and more. The only thing my boys loved more than that awesome dungeon was standing in the great hall where our delegates once stood and signing their names on the Declaration of Independence! The tours are very informative, yet can be a bit lengthy for toddlers – bring diversions. The whole building itself is a mystery as so many things took place upon that foundation, it is incredibly fascinating! Of course, we couldn’t leave without visiting the gift shop, my boys are now the proud owners of gunpowder holders made from cow horns and leather.

Plan Your Trip to The Old Exchange

Open every day of the week 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

122 East Bay Street
Charleston, SC 29401

(843) 727-2165
(888) 763-0448

Visit the website here.
Plan to spend 1-3 hours here depending on your kids.

Would your kids love a visit to The Old Exchange?

Meet Jackie

Jackie Vest is a writer and at-home-mom of two energetic little boys. She enjoys adventuring around the beautiful Upstate, the hilarity of kiddo-raising, outdoor fitness with friends, and her Favorite 5 C’s: cooking, crafting, camping, coffee, and chocolate. You can connect with her via her blog at: JackieVest.com.

Saving Money on Vacation Doesn’t Mean You Can’t Have Fun

Whether it’s the beach or the mountains, the city or the country, many families take their vacation time during the summer. School is out and it’s the perfect time to get away together for a week (or more!). But someone’s gotta pay for it and planning for the costs ahead of the time can help to reduce the stress and increase the relaxation. But even if you didn’t think ahead, there is still time to enjoy a break. ~Kristina Hernandez

Thank you to Parent Financial for sponsoring this content. To learn about planning for your own family’s financial future and getting your budget on track, be sure to check out our great sponsor Parent Financial and read our introduction to the company here.

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Tip #1: Plan Ahead for Summer Vacation

You plan ahead for flights and hotels and time off work so why not start planning in advance for all the costs associated with your dream trip? Court Creeden, who runs Parent Financial, advises that families should first figure out what the trip will cost and then incorporate those costs into their annual and monthly budgets, where a certain amount of money can be saved each month.

“From there you can start by determining how many months you have until the trip and then calculate how much you should be putting away each month to have the trip saved for when the vacation starts,” Creeden explained.

“As an example, if you are planning on spending $2,500 to take the family to the beach in July, you could start at the beginning of the year knowing you have seven months until the trip. To be ready for the total cost, you should have been saving $357/month leading up to the vacation and then you would have been fully prepared for the trip. The earlier you start the better and the less likely you will need to dip into savings or use a credit card to help handle the costs!”

Tip #2: Don’t Forget the Smaller Costs – They Add Up

This is so easy to overlook but those extra costs of a vacation, both before and during, can really add up. Maybe $100 for clothes, another $50 for shoes, $20 for sunscreen, a few dollars here and there for games for the car or plane ride all adds up. Then once the vacation starts, don’t forget about extra food and snacks, drinks, magazines, taxis or Uber, or the t-shirt and photos from the theme park.

“These small expenses can add up to hundreds of dollars if not planned for,” said Creeden. “As a result, many parents find that they look at the hotel and flights for a trip to figure out the ‘costs’. Once the vacation is over they realize that the trip was hundreds of dollars more because they didn’t take into consideration the park passes, new clothes, beach toys, etc that were purchased and increased the total cost. “

So plan wisely for all those extras ahead of time or put away a special fund for purchases.

Tip #3: Consider Less Expensive Alternatives

Some of you are reading this and saying, “But I want to take a summer vacation now and I haven’t budgeted seven months for it!” Hang in there.

“Consider hotel alternatives and look at Airbnb or VRBO to find less expensive lodging options,” suggests Creeden. “Don’t book hotels online or from a 1-800 number. Call the front desk and see if there are any special prices or availability to potentially get a better rate. If flying, consider two ‘one-way’ tickets rather than roundtrip to find some potential cost savings.”

There are also some great day trips to local spots that don’t cost much where you and your family could leave early in the morning and make a long day of it. And if you left early enough, you could drive to the beach, have fun all day, and drive back in the evening and save money on a hotel.

Tip #4: Do Your Homework

Besides planning ahead and thinking of incidentals and special gifts or purchases beforehand, there is a lot you can do to be smart about vacationing.

Creeden suggests to “do your homework and look for off-season passes, Groupon specials, and discounted rates. Don’t forget to consider using your rewards miles or points to offset costs for flights or hotels.”

Using those reward miles is how my family paid for our summer vacations. We got free flights and hotels and my parents taught us how it works but that you need to be smart and pay off the credit card bills while racking up the miles or points!

Tip #5: Remember that the Amount of Money Does Not Necessarily Equal the Amount of Fun

Remember that your children don’t know how much you spend, so a great weekend at the beach could be just as fun as one at an expensive amusement park.

Tip #6: Pack Your Lunch and Snacks

Pack lunches or buy snacks for the plane flight or car ride.

Tip #7: Pack a Souvenir

Buy the kids a fun souvenir ahead of time to give them when you arrive at Disney rather than paying a much higher price buying gifts the theme park.

Tip #8: Consider Listing Your Home for Rent While You Are Gone

Consider listing your home for rent on AirBnB while gone to make some extra money.

Try to think ahead and be financially smart so that taking well-earned your summer vacation won’t cause stress afterwards.

To learn about planning for your own family’s financial future and getting your budget on track, be sure to check out our great sponsor Parent Financial and read our introduction to the company here.

Do you have a tip to add that helps you save for your summer vacation?

Court Creeden is a registered representative of and offers securities, investment advisory and financial planning through MML Investors Services, LLC. Member SIPC [www.SIPC.org] 6000 Fairview Road Suite 400, Charlotte, NC 28210 (704) 557-9600. Court Creeden is not authorized to give legal or tax advice. Consult your own personal attorney legal or tax counsel for advice on specific legal and tax matters. CRN 201807-203641

Meet Kristina, KAG Food Expert

Kristina Hernandez is a mom of two girls, freelance writer and photographer and New Jersey native who is thrilled to call the Upstate her new home. She loves cooking, trying new foods, and checking out all that Greenville has to offer.

Archive for the ‘Travel’ Category

The Grand Canyon Makes a Perfect Family Destination