Spending Nyepi in Bali--Part 1

A Melasti Ritual, Sanur Beach, Bali

We love Bali--this is no secret.  But it's not only the beach, the sun and the cheap massages that endear us; we love the Balinese culture that is ever-present in day to day life.  And on this visit, we are getting a huge dose of it.  Balinese New Year, or Nyepi, happens to occur during our time here.  It's a first for us, and it is like no other festival or holiday in the world.  There are 3 main components to Nyepi, the first of which we will describe here.

3 Best Family Beaches With Playgrounds in Southern California

As a family with kids under 10yrs old, our idea of the perfect beach has soft clean sand and gentle waves.   What is even better though is if there is a playground for the kids AT the beach too.  Oh--and clean washroom facilities nearby would round out our wish list!  On a recent trip to Southern California, we got our wish not one, not two but three times!  Set your GPS with these locations on your next trip to SoCal!

Does Cruising With Kids Makes Sense?

Cruising.  Everyone seems to be doing it these days.  But what about our back-packer-budget-independent travel style?  And with kids in tow?  For a while now, we've wondered, Would a cruise work for us?

How To Ride The Sea to Sky Gondola For Only $10

Vancouver, B.C. Canada has a new tourist attraction, the Sea to Sky Gondola.  While the gondola gives you access to breathtaking views and beautiful natural scenery, it does come with a hefty price tag.  Want to know how to save at least 60% off the price of the return ride?
 

How To Move Your Pet Overseas: The Ultimate Guide

Are you an expat or traveler who wants to take your pet with you overseas?  We are!  

 Moving overseas is  complicated.  Moving a family of 4 even more so.  Now add in moving the family pet.   And did I mention that the move is from Melbourne, Australia to Vancouver, Canada?  Yup, that’s over 13,000km, and a 16+hr flight for us, and now our dog. 

Bainbridge Island With Kids In Tow

I have been to Seattle, Washington at least a dozen times in my life, but our recent trip was to be the first with my husband and our kids in tow.  While I was eager to show them the iconic parts of Seattle, we had to first tackle the issue of where we would stay.  Once again the Internet came to the rescue.  My mouse came upon an intriguing option as we scrolled through the many hotel booking sites: Bainbridge Island.

A Day in Seattle With Kids In Tow

With the kids in tow, we recently explored Seattle, Washington for the first time as a family.  Not normally huge fans of urban areas, we limited our visit to just one full day.  So what did we do?  Plenty!