families

A Bryson City Christmas in North Carolina’s Smoky Mountains – 2Travel Dads

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Bryson City Christmas - 2TravelDads

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 enjoying a Bryson City Christmas, including the Polar Express train.

A Bryson City Christmas in North Carolina’s Smoky Mountains

We’ve got our favorite Christmassy activities for you and some tips for visiting Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the off-season. You’ll find that Bryson City is a great destination in fall and winter for just relaxing, and it’ll really put you into the holiday spirit if you’re planning a visit in December.

Our family always enjoys doing a corn maze and visiting farms during the fall, but did you know that some farms go full-holiday for Christmas? Christmas in Bryson City stretches from the decorated downtown to the local farms, and Darnell Farms is awesome for holiday lights and activities.

Full Story at 2TravelDads

Bryson City Gay Travel Resources

Exploring Glacier National Park by Boat Tour – 2TravelDads

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Exploring Glacier National Park by Boat Tour - 2TravelDads

Exploring Glacier National Park in Montana

Glacier National Park boat tours are one of the more unique National Park activities in the USA. The setting is picturesque, and the actual mode of transportation opens up views and access in the park for people who might not normally get to experience as much of it. In Glacier NP, it’s a vintage experience that opens up a trip into more than hiking.

We still haven’t visited Switzerland. It’s been on our list for some time and somehow we haven’t gone. We have been to the Rockies in the USA though, and I think that’s sated us. True, the Rocky Mountains don’t have historic quaint villages, but they do have the beautifully jagged mountains, the pristine lakes, the Swiss-style buildings and folks in costume playing alpenhorns. And there are small, quiet little boats. Exploring Glacier National Park by boat tour is a surprisingly wonderful way to experience the Park.

On previous trips we’d seen the boats on Swiftcurrent Lake, and down on St Mary and Lake McDonald, but I’d never given them a second thought. “There are so many hikes to do. Why would we go on a boat?” Enter children and being trapped in a location.

By Chris and Rob – Full Story at the 2TravelDads

Montana Gay Travel Resources

Montana’s Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park – 2TravelDads

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Montana's Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park - 2TravelDads

Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park, just north of Yellowstone, is a remarkable place to explore. A must see on a Western Montana road trip, the caverns are an easy addition to any number of travel plans, including a cross-country drive. In this article we’re going to tackle the who, what, why, when and where of the Lewis and Clark Caverns (but not in that order).

Where is Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park

Located about forty minutes south of Butte, Montana, the Lewis and Clark Caverns are just off Highway 2. If you’re driving across the state, taking the detour to the Jefferson River Valley is easy and won’t put you terribly off track. The highway actually loops back onto I-90 so you don’t even have to back track! Like doing a detour to Philipsburg, MT visiting Lewis and Clark Caverns is an easy addition and totally worth it.

From Yellowstone National Park, Lewis and Clark Caverns is about 2 hours from the Gardiner, MT entrance and just under 2 hours from the West Yellowstone entrance. There are plenty of other attractions in the area, including Big Sky and Virginia City, so if you need to interrupt your Yellowstone trip, you’ll have plenty of other interesting sites and activities to make the day additionally worthwhile.

By Chris and Rob – Full Story at the 2TravelDads

Montana Gay Travel Resources

Gay Disneyland for LGBTQ+ Families – 2TravelDads

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Gay Disneyland for LGBTQ+ Families - 2TravelDads

Disneyland. We’ve been so many times through the years. I used to work at the park and have friends that still do. It’s one of the most special places we go back to.

In this podcast episode we go land by land through gay Disneyland discussing our favorite attractions, details of the park, and what we feel are the ride most worth waiting for. We hope you enjoy our discussion, and be sure to come back for our episode all about Disney’s California Adventure!

Gay Disneyland: Everything Worth Waiting For (And More)

In this episode we go attraction by attraction picking and choosing our favorites. We know that some Disneyland attractions are worth waiting 45 minutes or an hour, but not all… even if the wait time shows a long line. Between the best rides and shows to mix up the magic, this podcast episode should give you a good idea of planning and what to use your valuable time on when you visit the Happiest Place on Earth!

By Chris and Rob – Full Story at the 2TravelDads

Greater L.A. Area Gay Travel Resources

Big Sky for Gay Families – 2Travel Dads

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Big Sky for Gay Families - 2Travel Dads

Big Sky, Montana brings to mind epic ski trips and exclusive mountain getaways in the snow, but did you know that it’s much more than that and it’s actually an incredible summer destination? There are remarkable, fun things to do in Big Sky, MT in summer months. Although it may be considered the off-season there, summertime is just another cycle of fun.

Big Sky for Gay Families

While there are some great guest ranches and small hotels, the Big Sky Resort is the ideal home base for fun things to do, and visiting off-season is perfect for getting the best deals and having the most diverse experiences. Here’s a complete plan for spending 4+ days here and it’s all the best things to do in Big Sky for gay families.

We actually went twice in one summer, so we know this town well. Whether it’s a part of your Montana road trip or you’re adding onto a trip to Yellowstone National Park, the resort is easy to work into your Montana travel plan. Check it out!

Full Story at 2TravelDads

Montana Gay Travel Resources

Visiting Vegas’s Valley of Fire (With Kids) – 2TravelDads

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Visiting Vegas's Valley of Fire (With Kids) - 2TravelDads

Before we visited the Valley of Fire with kids it just looked like an Instagram heaven. That’s all that we knew about it, all from photos that people had taken and posted to Instagram. And then we visited and hiked and had up close wildlife encounters and fell in love. Valley of Fire State Park is the best Las Vegas day trip you didn’t know you need to do.

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Utah State Parks – 2TravelDads

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Utah State Parks - 2TravelDads

Utah’s National Parks get all the attention, but there are some remarkable Utah state parks and national monuments that give the National Parks a run for their money. We have some great southern Utah state parks and protected areas that are breathtaking and totally worth your time on a Utah road trip.

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Lewis and Clark National Park in the Pacific Northwest – 2TravelDads

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Lewis and Clark National Park

Having grown up in the Pacific Northwest, I’ve always been familiar with the history of the area and some key figures in its settlement, including Lewis and Clark, the famous 19th century explorers. In southwestern Washington and part of the Oregon Coast, there is Lewis and Clark National Park. We’re going to tell you all about this little known National Park and give you some great ways to experience it all.

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Oregon Coast Camping With Kids – 2TravelDads

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Oregon Coast Camping

We have had our first Kampgrounds of America (KOA) camping experience and are thrilled to share it with you. Before this trip we didn’t really know what to expect at a KOA, even though we’d reviewed the website and seen many campgrounds. You just don’t know what the feel of a place is going to be and how it’ll fit with your travel style until you’re actually there. I’ll tell you it was great. When it comes to Oregon Coast camping, the Astoria / Warrenton / Seaside KOA Resort was perfect for us.

LOCALE OF THE ASTORIA / WARRENTON / SEASIDE KOA

We spend a lot of time in Oregon, and particularly on the Oregon Coast. At least once a year, this year it’s been twice already, we do an Oregon Coast road trip, either from tip to tip or just one part of the Oregon Coast. If you’re coming from Washington State or the Portland area, the practical first stop for you coastal getaway is Astoria, Oregon. About two hours from Portland and 3.5 hours from Eugene or Seattle, WA, Astoria or Seaside are totally doable for an easy weekend escape.

You do have to either drive along the Columbia River for a good portion of the trip or you’ll cross the Coastal Range. Either way, the drive is beautiful and there are plenty of stops you can make along the way, from hiking in the hills to visiting small towns full of wineries. If you’re coming from Washington, you can add a little side trip to Cape Disappointment State Park either on your way to or from the KOA Astoria to get your lighthouse fix, because there are two just off the Columbia River. However you get to your Oregon Coast camping destination, you’ll enjoy the full travel experience.

Full Story at 2TravelDads

Northern Oregon Coast | Central Oregon Coast | Southern Oregon Coast

 

Bryce Canyon National Park in the Off Season – 2TravelDads

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Bryce Canyon National Park in the Off Season - 2TravelDads

Bryce Canyon National Park is exceptional when it comes to unique geology and sights. It’s a place for hiking and appreciating nature’s fascinating processes and diversity. It also gets tons of snow in the winter and spring, so visiting Bryce Canyon in the off season is tricky but totally doable and beautiful. We paired it with a trip to Zion National Park and loved the combo and its varied experiences.

This is our guide for sights, hiking and accommodations at Bryce Canyon National Park, good for any time if year, but especially the off season. That’s actually the best time to go! Visiting Bryce Canyon National Park in the off season ensures smaller crowds and lower costs, so it’s a great budget friendly option.

The most popular time for visiting Bryce Canyon is for sure the summer, and why not? It’s gorgeous and sunny; thunderstorms show up out of nowhere; hiking trails are sure to be open; it’s great! Here’s a huge tip though: visitors taper off in early fall and the weather is still awesome. In winter and early spring you’re guaranteed minimal crowds and perfectly snow-capped hoodoos. Spring brings the snow melt and prairie dogs. You’ll love it, no doubt.

By Rob Taylor – Full Story at 2traveldads

Utah Gay Travel Resources