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Badlands National Park
Badlands National Park

Beyond Mount Rushmore: Southwestern South Dakota

The area west and south of Rapid City is home to several national and state parks as well as the famous and frequently photographed Mount Rushmore. While Mount Rushmore draws a huge number of visitors every year, visiting this area and skipping the rest of the region would be like swinging through Paris to see the Eiffel Tower and visiting nothing else. The park areas around Mount Rushmore include large tracts of land where Bison roam freely, one of the largest caves in the world, unique geological landscapes not found anywhere else in the world, and fun cultural and historical attractions.

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Badlands National Park, South Dakota
Our campsite in Badlands National Park, South Dakota

What to Pack for a Camping Trip with a Toddler

Planning a weekend camping trip with a young child (or more than one) can be a real challenge, as we know. So when we set out to take a multiple-month road trip across the country, our tripathalas (the region of the brain devoted to travel) went into overdrive for several weeks. How can we possibly do this? We can't just take a tent and some toys! We actually have to keep another human being alive!

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Chicago
Chicago as seen from the Sears Tower

Chicago For Kids

The first stop on our summer road trip was Chicago, and it didn't disappoint. Since we were traveling with our three year old daughter, we wanted to make sure that we provided plenty of entertainment for her instead of just dragging her around to the major sights that most grown-ups would want to visit.

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Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland
Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland

The Top 10 Castles of Scotland

Scotland has been home to over 2,000 castles over the centuries, although just several hundred have stood the test of time. The magnificent castles that stand today offer visitors an opportunity to step back in time and explore the beauty and extravagance of these ancient royal homes and fortresses. With all of these amazing castles to see, it can be difficult to decide which ones to visit on a trip to Scotland. To make the decision a little easier, here's a list of the top 10 castles in Scotland, all of which offer incredible sights and experiences to be had.

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Ponte Vecchio, Florence
Ponte Vecchio, Florence

A Week in Italy

When imagining the perfect vacation in Europe, it's hard for your mind not to wander to Italy. It's no surprise though, as Italy offers countless cities to visit, each featuring their own unique history, culture, and sights to see. What follows is a 7-day itinerary of the "Big Three” Italian cities: Rome, Florence, and Venice.

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Mesa Arch
Mesa Arch, Canyonlands National Park

Canyons and Cliff Dwellings: A Sampling of the Southwest

The Southwestern United States is a grand palette of history, culture, and natural wonders as brilliant as the reds, oranges, and golds of the dramatic landscape itself. Thisis a sampling, an itinerary from a trip of my own, of locations in Colorado, Utah, and Arizona. Integrated throughout are tips on cutting costs as well as lodging and dining recommendations along the way.

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Edinburgh
Edinburgh

A Weekend in Edinburgh, Scotland

Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland, is one of the best preserved medieval cities in the U.K. with their 12th century castle and medieval architecture found throughout Old Town. You can easily spend a weekend exploring the winding streets with their hidden alleyways and climbing up to mountain top viewpoints. Use this weekend tour as your guide to get the most out of everything Edinburgh has to offer.

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