Author: Katy Flint

Travel Adventures

15 of the Best Family Friendly Things to Do in Pigeon Forge, TN

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Planning family vacations can be stressful, but with this guide to the Top 15 “Family Friendly” Things to do in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, we’ve taken the stress off you! My friends over at Hotels.com want you to be able to relax and enjoy your time with the family, so they’ve asked me to share this list with you!

Pigeon Forge and Sevierville Tennessee Drone Aerial.

COVID-19 Disclaimer – As travel is still uncertain, please keep your own safety in mind along with the safety of others! If feel comfortable traveling, please do so responsibly! We have a few tips to follow if you do decide to travel at this time:Wear a face mask, make sure to have hand sanitizer handy and wash hands frequently, check websites before you travel for updates, policies, closures, etc. And finally, book a hotel with free cancellation in case you need to change your plans at the last minute!

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Midwest Travel

7 Don’t Miss Stops In & Around Duluth for Couples

— Katy Flint6 Comments
7 Don’t Miss Stops In & Around Duluth for Couples

If you’ve never spent time in Northern Minnesota along the shores of Lake Superior, you really don’t know what your missing! T and I recently spent a couple days exploring this area and came up with 7 things that we think are perfect in Duluth for couples!

If you’re looking to take the entire family, there is plenty to do that you could spend several days, but since we avoided most of the kid friendly places they are not being included here! Don’t worry, family or a couple, you’ll have a great time!

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Iowa

Get Outdoors in Charles City, Iowa

— Katy Flint2 Comments

Summers in Iowa are a great time to get outdoors. Whether you’re looking for a weekend getaway with your special someone or with the family, there are endless options of things to do outdoors in Charles City. Golfing, bike trails, kayaking, and more are at your fingertips here! We’ve gathered up some great options for you plus great places to eat and stay so you can enjoy your time in this community! Check out these great ways to get outdoors in Charles City!

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Iowa

Great Bike Trails in Iowa: Explore the State on 2 Wheels

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Great Bike Trails in Iowa: Explore the State on 2 Wheels

While most people think of corn, pigs, and wide open spaces when they think of Iowa, there really is much more to our state! These great bike trails in Iowa are just the beginning of lots of outdoor things to do here!

It doesn’t matter whether you’re a seasoned bike rider or enjoy it a little at a time, Iowa has one for you! You can use these trails to explore the communities they connect or just to burn some energy and get a workout in! Bike trails are a great way to explore with the family at very little to no cost. Iowa has a large system of bike tails all over! Here are the great ones we have found!

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Iowa

North Central Iowa Freedom Rock Tour (And Other Great Stops)

— Katy Flint5 Comments

Iowa is full of so many great places to explore. One of the great ways to see the state is to conduct your own Freedom Rock Tour. The Freedom Rocks are something truly unique to Iowa and are great for kids and adults of all ages and backgrounds. We have created this North Central Iowa Freedom Rock Tour (and Other Great Stops) to have a great time this summer seeing a great part of the state!

The Freedom Rock Development

Back in 1999, Ray “Bubba” Sorensen II painted the first Freedom Rock in Adair County near Menlo, IA. He was moved to do so after watching “Saving Private Ryan” and wanted to honor veterans and soldiers in some way. Not long after that, the Freedom Rock Tour was formed and he began painting rocks in all of Iowa’s 99 counties. Originally, Sorensen painted the Freedom Rock as a thank you and was not paid to do so. Once the Tour was formed, he began this as his full-time job (as well as serving as a representative in the Iowa House). Now, communities raise funds to have the murals commissioned.

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Travel Adventures

Tips for Traveling in the “New Normal” World

— Katy Flint4 Comments

The spring of 2020 has brought so many changes to our world thanks to COVID-19. So, I thought I’d share my tips for traveling in the “new normal” world! I’ve found them to be helpful to me while planning and executing trips this summer and I hope you do too!

Shrine of the Grotto of Redemption in West Bend, Iowa
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Midwest Travel

Branson for Families: 6 Reasons it’s Perfect

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Branson for families

It’s no secret that we’ve been to Branson MANY times! When you love visiting somewhere, you return right?! I still find myself fighting the stigma that Branson is where the retired folks go, so I thought I’d share 6 reasons that Branson is for families!

*Please note that due to COVID-19 not all places may be open or operating at full capacity. It is best to call ahead when making plans. Please also keep in mind all recommendations of local and federal governments while traveling and exploring. Please only travel when you feel it is comfortable for you and your family.

Go-Karts & Mini Golf

Go-Karts

If your kiddos are anything like ours were when they were younger, any vacation that included go-karting and mini golf was a hit! Branson does not have shortage of either of these features! Branson is home to the Track Family Fun Parks. We’ve visited several of these during our visits and while the lines may be long at certain times, they are definitely worth it! 2 and 3 story go-kart tracks like the Heavy Metal High Rise, The Wild Woody, or even the Rookie Go-Karts, your family of all ages are bound to have a great time!

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Recipes

Shrimp & Rice Veggie Bowls

— Katy Flint4 Comments
Shrimp & Rice Veggie Bowls
shrimp & rice

When I can’t travel, I bake & cook. When I bake & cook, I eat things that aren’t healthy for me. Thankfully, these Shrimp & Rice Veggie Bowls are not unhealthy for me and I’m currently obsessed with them, so I thought I’d share them with you!

I’ve always enjoyed cooking. My mom had me in the kitchen with her at a very young age helping her and working alongside her. She also empowered my brother and I to cook for ourselves (safely of course) at a young age as well as to enjoy food, try new things, and explore different flavors.

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