For those of us who are lucky enough to be able to hop into our car, board a boat or plane, and travel beyond our hometown, we can expect so much more than an escape from our daily routine. Travelling provides an incredible opportunity to expand our horizons, explore life experiences beyond our own, and (true to the core values of this online community) learn. 

Letting kids play with technology can be as dangerous as leaving them alone in a playground.

Here's what you need to know:

Long trips can disrupt everything children rely on. Sleep patterns shift. Meals lose structure. Growth, which depends on routine, gets pushed aside for schedules that don’t match a child’s rhythm.

When staying on the island of Kauai in the summer, there are so many fun things to do! From breath-taking nature to welcoming small towns to learning the history, the adventures are endless. Whether you are traveling solo, or with children, this was my amazing experience in paradise. 

100 Things to Do in Michigan Before You Die, written by travel writer extraordinaire Kath Usitalo (herself a Michigander), is the latest book in a series we absolutely love from Reedy Press.

They are must-reads for any travel, culture, and food lover.

Visas

Beautiful coastlines and verdant landscapes of the Pacific Northwest are on full display in Whidbey Island, Washington. Located in the Puget Sound east of the Olympic Peninsula, this island is the place to go for a slow-paced getaway.

If someone asked me what animal I would describe myself as, I would say a dolphin. So when my family and I visited Oceanside, California, where we were fortunate enough to go on a boating tour with Oceanside Adventures and see thousands of dolphins, I truly felt right at home.

Achieving work / life balance is commonly a goal most of us are told to strive towards. Like climbing a mountain, once on the top, a sense of accomplishment, possibly even fulfillment, awaits. Certainly, the concept of “balance” is welcoming and conjures up a picture of the harmony that exists when both sides of the scale are perfectly even and almost ethereal.

But, how long will that last?