Fun Family Activities To Try on a 2-Day Vacation to Banff National Park

April 17, 2018 by Kathryn 16 Comments

For as long as I can remember, I have loved the picturesque town of Banff. Nestled at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, it’s like a secret passageway into the wild world beyond. As a child, I stopped there with my parents on the way to visit family in B.C. As a teenager, I set out to explore the town with a car full of friends. And now, as an adult, I have the chance to introduce my boys to the spot that holds so many memories for me.

And if there’s a great spot for a family vacation, it’s Banff National Park! That’s why my husband and I recently decided to spend a few days exploring the town and surrounding area. And if you’re planning a trip of your own, these activities are perfect for families:

1) Climb to the Top of Tunnel Mountain

A trip to Banff National Park wouldn’t be complete without climbing to the top of a mountain! This climb is on the outskirts of Banff and while there are some tough stretches, it’s easily done with children. Just make sure to bring plenty of water and a few snacks! At the top, climbers are rewarded with a picturesque view of the town of Banff and the nearby mountains. [Read more…]

Tips for Traveling with 2 Under 2

February 23, 2018 by Kathryn 2 Comments

Traveling with kids is a challenge, and that’s especially true with two kids. When both are also under two years old…well, let’s just say challenging probably isn’t a strong enough word! Today Katelynn from Hampers and Hiccups is sharing her tips and tricks for making traveling with 2 under 2 just a little bit easier!

When I was pregnant with our second baby, my husband and I were considering taking a trip over to Wales, UK to see my aunt and her family before Sweet Girl turns 2. This would put us in the air with 2 under 2 for, oh, about a million hours. It’s a long trip from our home in Saskatchewan to their doorstep in Wrexham.

While we were still chewing this over, my father-in-law brought up the idea of taking the entire family down to Maricopa, Arizona. The timeline was the same as our dream trip! All these conversations were taking place before we even had a second baby, but I was sure we’d be able to do some traveling with a rambunctious toddler and a 6-month-old. So, we agreed to the Arizona trip and decided to save Wales for another year. When we head off, Sweet Girl will be 23 months old, and Pip 6 months old.

Now that Pip is born, and Christmas is over with, I’ve started focusing on our April trip to Maricopa. I was half-planning the whole time, but just in my head. Now I’m actually making lists. And holy moly is there lots to consider!

This will be our first real trip with kids. No more carry-on luggage only. We’ll be waiting at the baggage carousal with the rest of heavy packers. [Read more…]

Sharing the Best of Edmonton on the Trivago Weekend Travelogue

December 14, 2017 by Kathryn 1 Comment

Living on the Prairies may seem a little limiting when it comes to looking for an exciting weekend road trip excursion, but there are actually quite a few action-packed cities to explore. And since moving to Saskatoon, one of our family’s favourite destinations is a weekend in Edmonton.

The city is bustling with exciting things to do and see, so finding the best of the best can be a challenge. That’s why I partnered with Trivago to showcase my perfect weekend itinerary for families that will let you see the most appealing attractions that Edmonton has to offer. Find the best places to stay, the most mouth-watering spots to eat and so much more! [Read more…]

Prep Your Family for Holiday Travel with Netflix Downloads

November 28, 2017 by Kathryn 1 Comment

With the holiday season fast approaching, I’m sure that our family isn’t the only one that’s planning some travel to visit relatives in other areas. And even though I’m excited about taking Baby Cormac to spend Christmas with his grandparents, I’m also bracing myself for the inevitable hassles and hurdles of flying with three kids.

And it doesn’t help that available services and entertainment on airplanes continue to dwindle. Many of our recent flights haven’t had in-seat entertainment, leaving my boys to get quickly restless on longer flights. Paying for Wi-Fi is usually an option, but with current flight costs, I don’t want to spend even more just to keep my boys occupied!

[Read more…]

The Star Trek Experience at Calgary’s TELUS Spark is Must-Visit Fun for Families and Series Fans

May 4, 2017 by Kathryn Leave a Comment

One of the best things about living in Canada is having so many amazing attractions and destinations that are just a short drive away. I’ve had the chance to explore quite a bit of Saskatchewan and its surrounding provinces in my lifetime, yet I’m always amazed to learn about new family-friendly spots just next door. That’s why I was so excited to be able to take the boys on a road trip to Calgary, Alberta this past weekend to check out the TELUS Spark Star Trek: The Starfleet Academy Experience!

This special exhibit is at the TELUS Spark building until June 4, 2017, and as a huge science fiction fan, I couldn’t wait to check it out. My boys, on the other hand, weren’t familiar with the Star Trek franchise, so I have to admit that I was almost as curious to see their reaction as I was to visit myself! Our tickets included admission to Star Trek: The Starfleet Academy Experience and admission to the TELUS Spark building itself, so I knew we’d all be in for one fun and educational day! [Read more…]

The 10 Rides Your Family MUST Try at Universal Orlando Resort

March 29, 2017 by Kathryn 35 Comments

My first visit to Universal Orlando Resort two years ago was a little like discovering a magical portal to another world. I hadn’t really known much about the park, so the rides, attractions and restaurants were all completely new to me, and I loved every one of them. After visiting, I shared my 7 Must-Try Unique Experiences at Universal Orlando Resort.

And this year, I had the chance to introduce my boys to the fun of Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure for the first time too! So a few weeks ago, my husband, his parents, the boys and I packed up a few snacks and got ready to spend a day of fun and excitement at the two parks that comprise Universal Orlando Resort. Wondering what rides you won’t want to miss? These were our family’s top 10 picks!

Universal’s Islands of Adventure

1) The Incredible Hulk

Our family loves roller coasters, and The Incredible Hulk is definitely a new favourite for all of us! Unlike a classic coaster with a slow climb followed by a speedy ride down, The Incredible Hulk launches the cars out at top speed right off the bat! Zackary was so excited to try this roller coaster for the first time and was grinning ear to ear when he stepped off at the end. He loved the speed, thrills and spins of the bright green coaster, and insisted on riding multiple times.

2) The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man

This ride was one of the first 4D attractions at Islands of Adventure and personally, it’s still one of my favourites. I knew my boys would love it just as much and expected Benjamin especially to be a big fan. I wasn’t disappointed. From avoiding the heat of the flames shot by villains to feeling the spray of water when splashing into a lake, travelling with Spider-Man was nonstop excitement and the boys couldn’t get enough of it. [Read more…]

Plan the Perfect All-Inclusive Family Vacation this Winter with These 4 Tips

November 10, 2016 by Kathryn 32 Comments

I’ve always believed that travel provides endless enriching opportunities for both adults and children, so travel has always been a priority for my boys and me. From a simple road trip to an exotic cruise, we’ve had the chance to enjoy all kinds of adventures together. But one of my favourite travel getaways with my boys has always been a trip to an all-inclusive resort. I love the hassle-free experience of knowing all our food, drinks and entertainment are included with our stay, while still having ample opportunities to explore the local attractions on day trips and excursions.

But like any vacation, proper planning helps to turn a good vacation into a great one! And if you’re considering escaping the cold this winter on your own all-inclusive family getaway, these four tips will help ensure that your trip to one of the best all inclusive resorts is the best one ever!

Vacation with Friends

If you have close friends with kids, consider vacationing together as a group! Not only do extra people make the vacation more fun, but many resorts will offer a discount to larger groups. That means you save money, your kids have more friends to play with and you can plan extra activities like a ladies’ spa day or a big group breakfast get-together! Make sure to also check for special deals that allow kids to stay and eat for free to save even more money! [Read more…]

Planning a Cruise? 4 Reasons You Should Be Booking with Carnival Cruise Lines!

August 9, 2016 by Kathryn 15 Comments

For quite a few years now, I’ve dreamed of taking my boys on a cruise. I loved the idea of visiting multiple exotic locations at once while also having the fun of sailing the ocean in a massive ship. This summer, my dream came true when my entire family had the chance to take a 7-Day Western Caribbean Cruise with Carnival Cruise Lines. I’d only ever been on one cruise before, and I was ten years old at the time. My fiancé had gone on a Caribbean cruise a few years ago, but hadn’t enjoyed it much. Zackary and Benjamin were stepping onto a cruise ship for the first time. Needless to say, none of us were sure quite what to expect. And within the first day, all of us were in love with Carnival Cruise Line.

There are a lot of different cruise lines to choose from, so what makes Carnival different? Well really, it was almost everything! Food, entertainment, staff and activities had all four of us enjoying every second on board. For me, these four features of the Carnival Magic ship stood out to me as being highlights of our cruise. If you’re planning a cruise, these are the reasons you should be booking with Carnival!

High Energy Fun 24 Hours a Day

While I wasn’t sure what kind of dynamic to expect from our Carnival cruise, Jeremy noticed at once that the Carnival Magic ship offered nonstop fun. On his previous cruise, entertainment had been limited and had generally ended in the evening. Carnival offered the exact opposite experience: a ship that never slept and offered endless entertainment options for all ages. From live musicians in the pubs to theme nights at the dance club to family-friendly magic shows on the main stage, it was no surprise to us that people seemed to be wandering the ship talking and laughing long into the night.

Since Jeremy and I are big comedy fans, we especially enjoyed the nightly shows at the Punchliner Comedy Club. We had the chance to see four different comedians during our seven-day cruise and even made time to take the boys to one of the comedian’s PG show. While some of the performers were better than others, we were both impressed by the high calibre of talent on the Carnival Magic. [Read more…]