Rob Taylor's Blog, page 22

Off the beaten path Kauai: 18 secret(ish) activities and tips

Being less common to visit on a trip to Hawaii than Oahu or Maui, off the beaten path Kauai is still quiet and beautiful; nearly untouched. These secret(ish) activities will ensure a wonderful trip to Kauai with kids or without. It’s the perfect island for a relaxing Hawaiian vacation.

Nicknamed the “Garden Island” because of its lush landscape, plentiful waterfalls, and beautiful mountainous terrain, from the moment we landed, Kauai did not disappoint. You’ll find that Kauai is the opposite...

Bryson City at Christmas: Holiday Magic in the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina

If you haven’t heard of Bryson City, North Carolina before, I wouldn’t be surprised, but you no doubt have heard of all the reasons it’s a famous vacation destination. Located in the Smoky Mountains, and including an entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Bryson City is both an outdoorsy destination and THE Christmas town you didn’t know you needed. We’re going to tell you all about the holidays in Bryson City, including the Polar Express train.

We’ve got our favorite Christmassy ac...

Best Things to Do in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin in the Summertime (and some fall picks!)

Lake Geneva, Wisconsin is a popular destination for people who grew up or live in the Midwest, but if you’re not from the area, it may be totally unfamiliar. We really enjoyed our visit and found some of the best things to do with kids at Lake Geneva and Wisconsin farm country. Near Madison, WI and Milwaukee, it’s a great destination for getting away from city life, and is the perfect stop on a Wisconsin road trip. It’s even an easy weekend getaway from Chicago.

Being a historic summer town, ...

Camp Margaritaville Resort Near Orlando – Tiny Home Getaway in Central Florida

Who knew that Camp Margaritaville would become a thing one day? And who knew that it would be the perfect destination for exploring the lakes and nature preserves of Central Florida. Near Legoland and not too far from Disney World and Universal Orlando, Camp Margaritaville in Florida is a fun spot to camp out for a few days or a week to just relax or have all the Florida adventures.

Be sure to check out our ideas for fun Central Florida things to do at the end of this article, because this is...

Doors-off Helicopter Tour of Kauai – A Little Bit Terrifying, Every Bit Beautiful

If you would’ve asked me if I wanted to do a doors-off helicopter tour of Kauai a year ago, I would’ve said no. And then I would’ve googled it and still said no. But I’m going to give you the full scoop on it and why it is actually one of the best tours you can do in Hawaii. Kauai is beyond beautiful and the door-off helicopter view of it is astounding.

We’ve got lots of ideas and tips for exploring all around Kauai, so be sure to check out our other articles. In the meantime, if you have any...

Doors-off Helicopter Tour of Kauai – Everything You Need to Know

If you would’ve asked me if I wanted to do a doors-off helicopter tour of Kauai a year ago, I would’ve said no. And then I would’ve googled it and still said no. But I’m going to give you the full scoop on it and why it is actually one of the best tours you can do in Hawaii. Kauai is beyond beautiful and the door-off helicopter view of it is astounding.

We’ve got lots of ideas and tips for exploring all around Kauai, so be sure to check out our other articles. In the meantime, if you have any...

Review of the Kauai Shores Hotel in Kapa’a on Kauai’s East Shore

A trip to Kauai is a Hawaii bucket list item for many, and I get it: the Garden Island is gorgeous and fun, and so very unique. Staying at the Kauai Shores Hotel is a great option for getting to explore both the historic South Shore and the epic Na Pali Coast of the North Shore. This review includes what to expect and tips for booking a stay at the Kauai Shores Hotel, as well as plans for awesome adventures around the island.

If you have any additional tips or questions, always feel free to l...

Christmas in Disney World: Favorite Things to Do and See for Disney Holidays

Getting to visit Disney World at Christmas is really wonderful. Even if you’re not big into the holidays, it’s pretty magical. We’ve been fortunate enough to get to visit two years in a row and it’s just getting better and better. We poured through our pictures and videos and came up with our favorite things to do at Disney World for Christmas, and some of them are kind of surprising.

If you aren’t interested in visiting Walt Disney World in the month of December because it’s already a busy m...

Snorkeling with Manta Rays on the Kona Coast of the Big Island of Hawaii

Planning a Hawaii trip is a complicated and expensive thing to do, but there are a few activities that are absolutely worth it… like nighttime snorkeling with manta rays! When we headed to the Big Island of Hawaii we were most looking forward to exploring Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, but the manta rays really did take the cake.

Snorkeling with manta rays off the Kona Coast on the Big Island of Hawaii is an incredible experience, but is it kid-friendly? Is it a responsible wildlife activity...

Visiting Hawaii Volcanoes National Park at Night for Lava Glow and Starry Skies

One of the highlights of visiting Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is experiencing the lava glow at night. But how does a normal person without fancy equipment photograph it? Well, we’ve got the answers for how to capture the lava glow and how to have the best experience at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park at night. This is one of the most unique things to do on the Big Island of Hawaii!

Be sure to check out our guide to Hawaii Volcanoes NP as well, because we have ideas for hiking, viewpoints an...