Mackinac Island, Michigan

Beautiful old buildings and history are just part of what you will see when you go to Mackinac Island in Michigan!
You take a boat out to the island and it's quite entertaining on the way there. I wasn't exactly sure what to expect when I got there because planning is something I didn't do beforehand!

I want to go back here again, soon just to see more of what I missed!

One of the first things you notice coming up on the island is the Grand Hotel.

The Grand Hotel is named perfectly! It's a beautiful and wonderful part of Michigan's history!

If you have a bicycle, you can pay to take it across on the ferry to get to the island, there are no vehicles there. You can only travel by foot, bike or horse. That is only part of what makes this trip unique!

There are so many things to do here, you could be here for days and still not get to do or see everything.

I thought a house of mirrors would be interesting and yes, interesting as it was, I don't think I'll try that again! I wasn't able to find my way out for a really long time! If I was a kid again, I would probably just stood there and cried for a really long time, although there were kids there that found their way out long before I could figure out that I was trying to go out through the entrance!

The butterfly house was quite interesting! In the butterfly house there were all kinds of butterflies that you just can't see anywhere else! You might even get some that end up landing on you!

There are other little museums and shops all over the island. Some of my favorites included the ones that draw you in like the free samples of fudge! I never knew how many different flavors of fudge there could be! All the exercise you get from walking or riding is cancelled out by all of the fudge you end up eating while there.

So anyways, if you like real fresh air, history and adventure, I would recommend it, it can be a day trip  or you can spend a night at the hotel. I'm sure, either way, you'll have a great time!

Cooks Forest, PA

Love hiking, camping, tubing or canoeing down a river, biking, horse back riding, water and amusement parks and seeing lots of wildlife?

Want to go where you can relax and get away from it all?

Cooks Forest Pennsylvania State Park could be just what you're looking for!

This is a perfect getaway if you prefer nature and  want to get away from the hustle and bustle of every day life or away from pollution and noise!

Some of the best souvenir shops, antique and Amish made furniture stores are hidden here if you want to find something unique!

My favorite thing to do is to find one of the water parks, get the kids an all day pass, make sure they have a phone that works if they need to contact me (provided I'm in an area where my phone works) and head out to the shops here that the kids think are boring or just go back to camp and spend some quiet me time with a book.
 *yes, my kids are old enough to be left alone without a babysitter or I wouldn't leave them there!*

A family favorite is to get big inner tubes and float down the river. It takes a couple hours just to do but is a really beautiful, relaxing experience!

We haven't tried the canoes yet, I haven't actually ever been in one and it makes me a little nervous even though the water rarely is more than 3 or 4 feet deep.

If you like Miniature Golf or Putt Putt, there are a few places here that have interesting courses. I love the game when I'm winning and hate it when I'm losing but I'm still a good sport either way!

This is where I like going a lot whether staying in a cabin or camping in a tent or camper. There are plenty of choices of where to stay.

Warm peaceful nights with a camp fire, marshmallows, hot dogs & a sleeping bag is always a  wonderful way to end the day!

Bear Island, NC

If you love the beach, white sand, privacy and camping out, Bear Island, NC might be the place to go!

Bear Island is a State Park in Swansboro, North Carolina. Close to Atlantic Beach. You can make it a day trip if you don't like camping, just make sure you get back to the ferry dock before the last one goes back to the mainland. Yes, I said a ferry. You have to get on a ferry that takes about 20 minutes and is about a mile away.

Before loading everything up if you plan on camping, you will need to go to the office there and make sure there is an available spot open,  advance reservations are best if you already have decided that you want to stay there. The cost is minimal. Parking is free.

What you need to know:
1. Once the last ferry leaves for the night you can't get back to the mainland unless there is an emergency, like a storm coming and then there will be an evacuation notice given and you can leave.
2.  You can't wander around off of the trails, it is all protected lands and wandering around where you aren't supposed to be causes destruction that takes years for mother nature to replace.
3. You have to carry anything you want to take with you for a mile, back packing is most likely your best option.
4. Wild life is the last thing I thought I would see but there are little critters all over, raccoons there aren't afraid to come right up to your campsite and try to steal food out of your cooler or garbage.
5. If you pay attention to the water, you'll see dolphins playing out there. Make sure if you take a camera you have plenty of batteries for it!
6. My cell phone worked out there but I kept in in a zip lock bag to keep the sand and water out of it and shut it off when I wasn't using it so I didn't end up with a dead battery.
7. Bug repellents are really helpful! The biggest complaint there were the sand fleas. OUCH!
8. If you spend the night there, you can't have a traditional lantern with white lights because of the turtles. Lights have to have a red covering over them. If you use white lights out on the beach, be prepared to pay big fines!
9. There is the possibility of the concession stand being open during the day but the options of what you can get there are limited so you'll want to bring your own food and drinks in case they are closed or you're staying there for the night.
10. Sun lotion is a must! Not a lot of shady spots to stay in while here, you will mostly be in the sun unless you bring an umbrella or a tent.

Pigeon Forge, TN

If you're looking for a get away where there are a lot of great things to do and see, whether you want a romantic weekend or a fun filled family vacation, I would recommend Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

First you will want to figure out where you want to stay. Motels and campgrounds are plentiful, no matter what you consider relaxing for a vacation, I'm sure you will find what you need.
A lot of the motels here have swimming pools, water slides, gyms, free breakfasts, comfy beds, scenic balconies, heart shaped hot tubs and jacuzzis  and lots of other things that make it a great vacation even if you never leave the motel!

Pigeon Forge is close to Dollywood, if you love amusement parks you'll want to check this one out! They have rides, shows and lots of other great things  to see and do. You'll want to check into everything they have before you go so you don't miss out on anything!

You will be close to the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. If you like camping, hiking and seeing breath taking scenes, this might be for you! There are bears there so you may want to study up on how to stay safe around them if you don't have a clue!

If you're interested in renting a cabin, reservations usually have to be made ahead of time. You can get a honeymoon cabin with a great view and a heart shaped tub for just the two of you or a vacation cabin for the wedding party or family that  has multiple bedrooms, bathrooms, game rooms and still end up with a great view!

Let's say you're engaged and want something different for your wedding other than the local church. There are many little Wedding Chapels to choose from here, usually you have to make reservations. You have quite a few options here, you can invite guests, have a reception, order a cake, they take pictures for you and you can pick and choose which options are best for you!

Just remember if you go to Pigeon Forge for a vacation, you are going to want to do some research before hand and make a plan of what you want to do because the list of things to do there is overwhelming if you just show up there without a plan.