Our Sweet Adventures

18/10/2024

Sedona, you are beautiful!! We felt your energy and magic. What a perfect destination to celebrate 9 years

We hiked 30 miles, explored incredible caves, rock-scrambled to summits, enjoyed sunset vortexes, went on an off-roading jeep tour, ate delicious Southwest cuisine, and drank cold beer and fine wine.

Since we've been home, we have dealt with ongoing illnesses. That's the beauty of a household of five. Everything gradually hits one person at a time.😆So, I am a bit behind in publishing my blog posts, but the wait will be worth it! My Sedona itinerary is pretty extensive and has a wealth of information.

Until then, here are some highlights:

📸 1 - Sunrise hike to Cathedral Rock. An uphill hike to a vortex with sacred energy flowing through the natural atrium and stunning views.

📸 2 - Sunrise hike to Subway Cave. I will never forget that “wow” moment when we rock-scrambled our way up, turned around, and saw this amazing cave.

📸 3 - Rock scrambled our way up to the top of Bell Rock. I loved every hike in Sedona, but this one was my favorite. It’s another vortex site, and I think we really felt its energy. There is no “trail” on this hike. So, Adam and I worked together to find a path to get to the top. Parenting can challenge you (more than any hike), and this trail reminded us how great we are when we work together.

📸 4 - We went on a very rugged Jeep tour with Safari Jeep Tours. It was such a thrilling experience driving on the edge of a cliff. Then, we went on a short hike to Merry Go Around Rock for sweeping panoramic views of Sedona.

📸 5 - Sunset vortex at Airport Mesa. We enjoyed a short hike to the summit, where we felt the positive effects of the phenomenon as the sun went down, casting a warm golden-hour glow on Bell Rock and Cathedral Rock.

📸 6 - Dancing in the Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village. It is an acclaimed arts, culture, and shopping district inspired by Guadalajara. I loved browsing the art galleries.

📸 7 - Cold beer Sedona Beer Company after three hikes. They also serve delicious food. It was one of the best lunches we had in Sedona.

📸 8-9 - Wine hopping on the Verde Valley Wine Trail. Page Springs Cellars is a picture-perfect winery on the banks of Oak Creek. We also enjoyed sweet wine tasting at Oak Creek Vineyards and Winery. Every wine I had was so good that I took a bottle home!

05/08/2024

Two NEW recipes to help cool you down as the weather starts to really heat up!

Coconut Sorbet - a luscious vegan and dairy-free frozen dessert perfect for a hot summer day. The coconut flavor is heavenly, with the perfect sweetness to make you feel like you are on a beautiful island.

Lemon Pie Ice Cream - French-style ice cream churned with homemade lemon curd and crumbled graham crackers to create the perfect summertime frozen dessert.

https://www.oursweetadventures.com/the-best-coconut-sorbet-recipe/

https://www.oursweetadventures.com/lemon-pie-ice-cream-a-frozen-custard-recipe/

17/07/2024

In my newsletter tomorrow, I will share how you can stay at the stunning Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal for only $2,400—a cash value of $10,259.

Sign up for my newsletter to learn how to get this deal for this hotel or many others!

This is the home page's excerpt

12/07/2024

Start your weekend with a delicious summer cocktail in hand! Try my new recipe, the Dirty Monkey Frozen Cocktail (a boozy chocolate banana milkshake) or the Cayman Pink Sand, Bermuda Rum Swizzle, Limoncello Spritz, and Passion Fruit Pisco Sour.

https://www.oursweetadventures.com/category/drink/

25/06/2024

Beat the Texas heat and enjoy a family summer getaway in New Braunfels! This Texas Hill Country destination is one of the best family getaways thanks to its many kid activities.

You can have a blast at one of the world's best waterparks, relax on a river float, get up close with animals on an African safari, experience the thrill of an alpine coaster and a miniature train, marvel at the largest cavern in the state, and so much more.

For a stress-free family weekend, our top pick is The Resort at Schlitterbahn New Braunfels. Yes, it's not just a waterpark, it's a resort too! We love staying here because it's within walking distance of the waterpark, and guests enjoy the perk of one-hour early entry!

Check out my new post to find the best things to do in New Braunfels with kids, more information about The Resort at Schlitterbahn, and the best places to eat with kids.

In New Braunfels


https://www.oursweetadventures.com/best-things-to-do-in-new-braunfels-with-kids/

17/06/2024

Looking for a fun, family-friendly beach destination in Texas?!? Check out South Padre Island! Home to the best beach in Texas and known as the "Sandcastle Capital of the World."

You can quickly fill an entire weekend at South Padre with fun family activities and only scratch the surface of all the island offers. Check out my new blog post for more details, but here are a few things you cannot miss!

- Spend the day at Beach Waterpark. A trip to SPI, especially in the summer, is only complete with a visit to this epic waterpark. It has an iconic sandcastle aquatic playground with several slides for young kids, and a 1,400-gallon water tipping bucket!

- Learn how to build a sandcastle with sandyfeet sandcastle services. The Sandy Feet team teach you how to make epic sandcastles using everyday items like plastic silverware. Plus you get to spend time at the beach!

- Go on an eco-friendly dolphin watch with The Original Dolphin Watch. South Padre Island is home to several year-round pods. After watching dolphins swim in the channel, you can see marine life up close before they release them back into the water. We saw about five different dolphins, including a mommy with her baby.

- Enjoy family-friendly activities at Gravity Park South Padre Island. Drive go-karts, ride the Ferris Wheel, play a round of mini golf, and the two most thrilling adventures—ride a giant swing and the world’s tallest reverse bungee!

https://www.oursweetadventures.com/best-things-to-do-in-south-padre-island-with-kids/

04/06/2024

School is out. Summer is here! If you want fun things to do with your adventurous toddler, check out my ultimate list of Things to Do in Dallas with Toddlers!

Best Things to Do in Dallas with Toddlers: Indoor Play and Museums
CAMP (Dallas)
Crayola Experience - Toddler Town (Plano)
Dallas Museum of Art – Arturo’s Nest (Dallas)
Epic Waters Waterpark – Rascal’s Round Up (Grand Prairie)
Great Wolf Lodge (Grapevine)
Bookmarks at NorthPark Center (Dallas)
Legoland® Discovery Center – DUPLO® Village (Grapevine)
Peppa Pig World of Play (Grapevine)
Perot Museum – Moody Family Children’s Museum (Dallas)
Play Street Museum (Multiple Locations)

Best Things to Do in Dallas with Toddlers: Outdoor Adventures
Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden – Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden (Dallas)
Klyde Warren Park (Dallas)
Texas Discovery Gardens (Dallas)

Please click my link to read more about each place. And share my post with your family and friends! Have a great summer exploring Dallas with your toddler!

https://www.oursweetadventures.com/best-things-to-do-in-dallas-with-toddlers/

21/05/2024

Summer is just around the corner, and it will be HOT! So beat the heat with my ultimate list of the best indoor playgrounds and adventure parks in Dallas/Ft. Worth for kids of all ages!

Indoor Playgrounds in Dallas
B&B Theatres (Red Oak and Wylie)
Bright Side Play (Southlake)
Cheeky Monkeys (Multiple Locations)
Dino Kidz (Allen)
Jungle Castle (Flower Mound)
Jungle Land (Prosper)
KidMania (Fort Worth and Plano)
Kids Empire (Dallas, Euless, Garland, and Mesquite)
Mini Playtime (Farmers Branch)
Peppa Pig World of Play (Grapevine)
Prosper Playhouse (Prosper)
Round1 (Grapevine)
Safari Run (Plano)
Shenaniganz (Rockwall)
SPARK! (Dallas)
We Rock the Spectrum (Dallas and Plano)

FREE Indoor Playgrounds in Dallas
CityBridge CityScape (Plano)
Frisco Public Library (Frisco)
Galleria Play Place (Dallas)
Irving Bible Church (Irving)
Living Spaces (Grand Prairie, Fort Worth, and Frisco)
Prestonwood Kidz (Plano)
Preston Trail Playground (Plano)
SCHEELS (The Colony)
The Ark Playground (Coppell)
The REC of Grapevine (Grapevine)
Watermark Tree Fort (Dallas)
Wesley's Indoor Playground (Southlake)

Eateries with Indoor Playgrounds in Dallas
Bubbles Eat & Play (Fairview)
Monster Yogurt (Dallas and Richardson)

Indoor Play Areas and Museums in Dallas
Andretti Indoor Karting & Games (The Colony)
CAMP (Dallas)
Crayola Experience (Plano)
Explorium Denton Children's Museum (Denton)
Frontiers of Flight Museum (Dallas)
KidZania (Frisco)
Immersive Gamebox (Dallas and The Colony)
Legoland Discovery Center (Grapevine)
PeeknPlay (Frisco, Grapevine, and McKinney)
Perot Museum (Dallas)
Play Street Museum (Multiple Locations)
Project Play Discovery Museum (Hurst)
Sci-Tech Discovery Museum (Frisco)

Indoor Adventure and Trampoline Parks in Dallas
Altitude Trampoline Park (Multiple Locations)
Bolder Adventure Park (Grand Prairie)
Ground Control (Irving)
HAPIK (Garland)
Ninja Kidz Action Park (North Richland Hills)
Pump It Up (Arlington, Dallas, and Frisco)
Strong Fitness (Farmers Branch)
Snowy Fun (Little Elm)
Super Llama Inflatable Park (Plano)
Urban Air Adventure Park (Multiple Locations)

Indoor Aquatic Playgrounds in Dallas
Epic Waters Waterpark (Grand Prairie)
Great Wolf Lodge Waterpark (Grapevine)
The Cove at the Lakefront (Little Elm)

Please share my post with your family and friends! And have a great time at these indoor playgrounds in Dallas!

https://www.oursweetadventures.com/best-indoor-playgrounds-in-dallas/

06/05/2024

Check out my new post, "The Ultimate Guide to Traveling with Twins".

It has everything you need to know, from flying with twins to going on a road trip, what to pack, sleeping arrangements as they get older, and more.

It also includes a FREE printable family packing list and my list of the best travel credit cards to start planning your family trips for free!

And please spread word or join my Double the Adventure: Twins & Multiples Travel Tips Facebook group!

My ultimate guide to traveling with twins has everything you need, including a FREE packing list, tips for flying with twins, and more.

21/04/2024

Hey everyone! The last several months I have been a bit MIA on sharing updates of published content on Facebook and completely neglected my newsletter for a year. I apologize for that! But I am going to do my best on sharing more information in this space and my newsletter. Starting with how we travel for FREE!

In four months, I have already accrued 250k points! That is worth over $4,800!!! So how did I get enough points within four months to be able to take my family of five to travel for free? Sign up for my newsletter to find out. I will be sharing details this week 😄

Visit my website and sign up with this form.

https://www.oursweetadventures.com

09/04/2024

Have you heard of La Romana in the Dominican Republic? It is a hidden slice of paradise an hour south of Punta Cana and our new favorite Caribbean destination.

Don't just take our word for it. Did you know that La Romana has an exclusive community resort that welcomes celebrities like the Kardashians, Rihanna, Jay-Z, Beyonce, Michael Jordan, and former U.S. presidents? It was also the location for The Bachelorette finale and home to the #1 golf course in the Caribbean! Needless to say, La Romana is a hidden slice of paradise in the Dominican Republic and THE place to be!

We had such a wonderful family trip to La Romana. A few of our favorite things were feeding cheeky monkeys, taking a boat ride to Saona Island, learning how to make ci**rs, and visiting a Mediterranean-inspired village.

And as a young family of 3 boys under 4, we are picky when it comes to booking excursions. I can confidently say that these three companies are all you need to enjoy the best things in La Romana.

Slow Dive Casa Chihuahua - this awesome local tour company specializes in small group eco-friendly PADI courses, full-day and night dives, snorkeling, and land and sea excursions. Slow Dive Casa Chihuahua is the best because of their dedication to teaching beginner and advanced divers how to dive sustainably.

We booked a private boat tour to Saona Island to control the pace with our kids and had an amazing trip! Slow Dive (William) was great with our kids and knowledgeable. They really catered to our needs and gave us an epic day on the water that we will never forget!

Dominican Attitude Excursions - another wonderful company specializing in small groups and private tours. I could not find any tours online that had everything I wanted until I found Dominican Attitude. They took us to a cigar factory (one of my favorite things we did, and I don't even smoke), a chocolate factory, the Cave of Wonders, and finished at the marvelous Altos de Chavon. They create custom tailor-made tours, so if you don't see anything you like online, contact them!

Runners Adventures - operates some of the most popular excursions in the Dominican Republic: Monkeyland, Jungle Buggy Adventure and Ziplining! You can enjoy one of these tours for a half-day excursions or easily combine multiple excursions for one epic day! We did the half-day Monkeyland and Plantation Tour and had a great time. It's a fun experience for all ages. Just watch out for those cheeky monkeys ☺

If you are looking for your next getaway, check out La Romana and my new post of "The Best Things to Do in La Romana!

Explore La Romana GoDominicanRepublic

https://www.oursweetadventures.com/best-things-to-do-in-la-romana/

04/10/2023

Dripping Springs is one of our new favorite destinations in Texas! From outdoor adventures to drinking your way through the city, and family fun activities - there are several fun things to do in Dripping Springs to fill a weekend, if not more.

Check out my new post to inspire your next trip to the Texas Hill Country!

https://www.oursweetadventures.com/best-things-to-do-in-dripping-springs-texas/

Destination Dripping Springs

15/09/2023

NEW blog post featuring the best Kid-Friendly Breweries and Distilleries in Dripping Springs.

We LOVE the Texas Hill Country, and Dripping Springs has quickly become one of our favorite destinations. The small city is known for its abundant breweries, distilleries, and wineries. The booze flows as much as its mineral springs. Thankfully, for families, there are plenty of kid-friendly breweries and distilleries with kid's menus, epic playgrounds, wooden forts, and even goats!

In my article, you can read about every kid-friendly brewery and distillery, but here is a snippet of some of our favorite places.

Beerburg Brewing - a unique brewery that focuses on a family atmosphere and one-of-a-kind beers sourced from sustainable ingredients. Their Wildcraft Beers feature native ingredients foraged from Texas. Families will enjoy the coloring book kids menu, homemade ice cream, and the nature playscape.

Fitzhugh Brewing - known for its historic and world-regional beers. The brewmaster gets as many ingredients as possible from the inspired destinations to match the exact beer profile. So, when you drink an Italian-style beer at Fitzhugh Brewery, it will taste the same as if you were drinking it in Italy. Outside is a gorgeous white playground to match the modern farmhouse style of the brewery. The playground has a rock wall, a rope ladder, two slides, and a cute hangout spot with chairs.

Jester King Brewery - specializes in farmhouse ales, barrel-aged farmhouse ales, spontaneous fermentations, lagers, culture IPAs, pale ales, and stouts. It's also more than a brewery. It is a destination. The 165-acre property has walking nature trails, a wood-fired pizzeria, a rustic inn, a wooden play fort, and a working goat farm where you can step inside the pen and pet the goats.

Suds Monkey Brewing - is a nano brewery and lively local spot. They host weekly entertainment like BINGO and Trivia Nights that's fun for everyone. Their scratch-made pizza (Detroit style) and pizza rolls are delicious, and we LOVE the kid's play area. It has an awesome wooden jeep, rock wall, sand pit, slides, and tires to climb.

Dripping Springs Distilling - is the second distillery in Texas and one of the most unique vodka distilleries in the country! They have one-of-a-kind, 50-gallon, handcrafted copper stills you cannot find anywhere else. The distillery produces vodka, infused vodkas, traditional and American-style gin, and more. The outdoor area is lovely for families, with plenty of space to run around, a small playground, and a one-net soccer field.

Treaty Oak Distilling - is a haven for families and friends to enjoy experiences in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. The 28-acre ranch has an authentic Texas barbecue restaurant, an open-air bar, an 18-wheel truck turned stage for live music, a playground for kids, bourbon tours, brisket classes, and more. You can order a flight of whiskey or gin, handcrafted cocktails, and pitchers (yes, pitchers) of cocktails and beers.

https://www.oursweetadventures.com/kid-friendly-breweries-and-distilleries-in-dripping-springs/

24/07/2023

NEW family travel post "The Best Things to Do in St. Louis with Toddlers."

St. Louis is the most toddler-friendly destination we have visited yet (and I am not just saying that because Adam is an STL native). Now more than ever, cities have more inclusive museums and indoor play areas for kids, and St. Louis is one of them.

St. Louis is brimming with a variety of museums, and each one has dedicated spaces for toddlers. As a mom of 3 kids under 3, I appreciate this more than most.

Here are the best museums in St. Louis for toddlers. And check out my new post for other fun things to do.

City Museum, St Louis, MO - the ULTIMATE playground! The museum is an exhibit of repurposed architectural and industrial objects to create an epic playground. Check out Toddler Town on the third floor. It is a smaller version of slides and climbing fort structures with an awesome ball pit and a mini rope trampoline.

Missouri History Museum - has an award-winning family exhibit, History Clubhouse, with special programs such as Babies and Toddlers Storytelling – and it's all FREE. The History Clubhouse is an interactive space for children and their families to learn and experience local history.

Myseum - a scientifically fun children's museum and indoor playground with over 30 unique, highly interactive, educational, and just plain fun exhibits. Overall, it's entirely toddler-friendly, but there is also a "Toddler Central" area for kids 38 inches and under.

Play Street Museum St. Louis - an imaginative indoor play area and children's museum that allows kids to have independence and explore their creativity in a safe environment. Their charming town square has a pet rescue, grocery store, Victorian house, doctor's office, fire truck, and a building on "fire." They also have a fun Slime Lab where kids can create sticky science experiments.

Saint Louis Science Center - is one of the nation's only free nonprofit museums. Their Discovery Room is for young scientists to immerse themselves in educational play. Kids can play on a giant rocket ship with a slide and operate voice controls, paint on the STEAM easel, play with water and sand sensory tables, observe a saltwater aquarium and insect displays, and more. There is also a dedicated Crawler Corner for young tots 2 and under.

The Magic House, St. Louis Children's Museum - is one of the best children's museums in the country, with over 20 interactive exhibits. Wonder Works is the most toddler-friendly exhibit, a colorful, STEM-focused exhibit with an awesome play structure that allows kids to learn and explore how simple machines work. Other favorites included going down an epic three-story slide and playing with bubbles in the Bubble Room. They also have a wonderful exhibit for toddlers and babies 2 and under.

The National Museum of Transportation - has the most extensive collection of transportation vehicles worldwide, showcasing historic stage coaches, trolley cars, steam locomotives, classic cars, aircrafts, and more. Kids can ride a miniature train and historic trolley, drive cute Little Tikes cars, operate handcars, activate small train sets, and play at the Creation Station - a fantastic indoor play area with hands-on learning experiences for all modes of transportation.

Explore St. Louis

https://www.oursweetadventures.com/best-things-to-do-in-st-louis-with-toddlers/

23/06/2023

Traveling with a baby this summer? Or are you an avid traveler, soon-to-be parent, trying to figure out what to add to your baby registry? Check out my NEW POST on 35+ Best Travel Toys for Babies.

After traveling with our three boys the last few years, I can tell you that travel toys have been a huge part of our success. From tummy time toys to independent sensory toys, high contrast baby books, and more -my guide as it all!

Have your baby learn on the go with the best travel toys for babies. From tummy time toys to rattlers, teething, sensory play, books, & more.

24/04/2023

NEW post from the PNW "Best Stops on the Hood River Fruit Loop"

If you like booze, farm-to-table food, lavender, and picking fruit, this post is for you! This destination in Oregon is hands down, one of our favorite places ever.

The Hood River Fruit Loop is a 35-mile scenic drive and rural farm experience that includes distilleries, cideries, wineries, breweries, u-pick fruit orchards, lavender farms, fruit farm stands, bakeries, and more. All surrounded by a beautiful landscape with lovely views of Mt. Adams and Mt. Hood.

There are 28 stops on the Hood River Fruit Loop. My informative guide has all the details, but here are our favorite places to stop.

Apple Valley Country Store - to find homemade jarred products to fill your pantry and to taste freshly baked goods. Must order huckleberry cinnamon rolls (spring - summer), pear dumplings (fall), and their famous Tillamook huckleberry and marionberry milkshakes.

Fox-Tail Cider & Distillery - excellent selection of ciders and distilled spirits. The vodka, Brandy, and gin are created from Fox-Tail’s apple ciders. So every spirit is 100% apple based. Must order their famous cider-tasting tray, the spirit sampler, or both.

Grateful Vineyard - a boutique winery, a small craft cidery, and a microbrewery with breathtaking views of Mt. Hood. The cider and beer are made from their 100-year-old apple trees, cherries, peaches, and pears. The high-elevation sparkling wine is unique thanks to its estate vineyard location, with an alpine elevation and lower temperatures.

Hood River Lavender Farms - pick a bouquet or frolic through lavender fields with views of snow-capped mountains. You can also visit their charming farmhouse gift shop to bring home lavender merchandise such as moisturizing lotions, essential oils, handmade soap, bath bombs, therapeutic wraps, and more – all produced from the organic lavender grown on the farm.

Kiyokawa Family Orchards - has the largest u-pick orchard in the Hood River Valley, with over 150 varieties of apples, pears, Asian pears, cherries, stone fruit, and more. Their farm stand is just as massive and impressive with freshly picked fruit ready to eat.

Mt. View Orchards - a three-generation sustainable, 50-acre apple and pear farm with over 125 varieties. They have one of the best u-pick apple orchards in the country with panoramic views of Mt. Hood.

Packer Orchards - their bakery is “Pear-Fect” to find freshly baked goods and homemade jams, salsas, pickled veggies, and more. The bakery uses its sweet orchard pears for homemade jams and baked goodies to help reduce and, in some cases, eliminate the need for added sugar. Highly recommend you get one of their GIANT cookies and a fruit empanada.

Stave & Stone Winery - vineyard tasting room has breathtaking views of Mt. Adams behind rows of grape vines. The winery has an excellent selection of award-winning pinot noir ranging from medium full-bodied to a pinot noir rosé and a refreshing rosé bubbly. You can choose from three different flights and order delicious bites of food while enjoying scenic views of lavender fields, vineyards, Mt. Hood, and Mt. Adams.

The Gorge White House - a fourth-generation family-owned and operated farm that offers hard ciders, wines, farm-to-table food, u-pick fruit, flowers, and more. The farm-to-table food cart prepares delicious locally sourced burgers, refreshing sandwiches, and fruit-forward flatbreads. I know it sounds different, but I highly recommend the blueberry & sausage flatbread and pear quesadilla. Some of the best food we've ever had.

The Old Trunk - a family-friendly antique store with a soda fountain, soft-serve ice cream machine, fruit stand, and a quaint garden of flowers and berries. Known for their 1950's antique shake machine for soft-serve berry shakes, sodas, fantastic vintage vinyl collection and rotating funky antique inventory. So grab something sweet and look around the store because you never know what hidden gems you will find.

https://www.oursweetadventures.com/best-stops-on-the-hood-river-fruit-loop/

Visit Hood River

05/04/2023

NEW post "17 Best Things to Do in Hot Springs with Kids"

Hot Springs is a beautiful family destination with fun things to do for kids of all ages. From babies to teens, there is something for everyone.

Go hiking in Hot Springs National Park, learn through play at Mid-America Science Museum, explore architectural wonders at Garvan Woodland Gardens, get a hole-in-one at Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf, collect thermal spring water, and more.

And yes, there is fun for adults too. We had as much fun as the kids!

https://www.oursweetadventures.com/best-things-to-do-in-hot-springs-with-kids/

26/01/2023

NEW POST "The Ultimate 3 Days in Portland, OR Itinerary"

We really enjoyed our trip to Portland last summer. The city lives up to its nickname, "keep Portland weird," but more importantly, the people are some of the friendliest in the country.

The donuts are insanely delicious, the gardens are beautiful, and all the top and unique sites live up to the hype. Also, Portland has some of the best food we've ever eaten. I think we ate donuts twice, ice cream, and beer, all within a few hours :)

My 3 Days in Portland Itinerary is a complete guide. It includes the best time to visit, where to stay, how to get around, the best things to do, and a mini food guide.

Travel Portland

https://www.oursweetadventures.com/3-days-in-portland-itinerary/