I had never heard of Hocking Hills, Ohio until I received a few tweets from @MyHockingHills.

Hocking Hills isn’t a town, but a county and a region of Southeast Ohio known among outdoorsy types as a great place to “get away from it all.” Specifically, visitors here will be getting away from:

• Traffic
• Internet
• Cell reception
• Chain restaurants
• Light pollution
• Honking horns and other noise pollution
• TV
• Starbucks

What do you get in exchange? Peace and quite and natural beauty, of course.

Without a TV or the Internet, the modern family might fear getting bored. Fortunately, there are plenty of activities in the area – all of which are about a 20 minute drive from each other. Our family got to:

Ride horses at The Spotted Horse Ranch:

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The ubiquitous saguaro cacti of the Arizona desert.

The great thing about living in the Phoenix area is that in the winter we only have to experience snow if we want to. Snow is an outright novelty reserved for the adventurous who wish to travel the two- to five-hour drive to get to elevations that receive snowfall. Otherwise, for the most part we enjoy balmy temperatures and only the occasional rainstorm. So, if you’re currently stuck in a snow drift and craving a non-arctic getaway, might I recommend a visit to Arizona? Here are eight great winter activities to do in the state.

One – Visit Kartchner Caverns State Park. The caves have a year-round average temperature of 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Check out this article for more information.

Two – Stroll among the shops of Old Town Scottsdale. Sunny days get up into the high 60′s in the winter, and there’s no slush on the sidewalks! Take a look at this article for more information.

Three – Hike the Superstition Wilderness. Take a stab at finding the Lost Dutchman’s hidden stash of gold!

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Riding Honey along the beaches of Amelia Island

Nestled off the coast of Florida, Amelia Island may not be on all the maps but it’s worth the adventure to find it. This charming island bursts with natural beauty and the best way to see it is on horseback. I love horses and one of my favorite activities whenever I travel is to explore my new surroundings is to hop onto a horse and ride along the most scenic route. On Amelia Island, that means  the pristine beaches. Read More »

The lush, tropical backdrop of the Oasis Canoa Resort

I watch my 11-year-old daughter splash around turquoise waters with her new friend.  They jump out of the sea and hunt for seashells.  Next, they head to the resort’s theater to watch movies.   It could be the typical family beach vacation except that my daughter’s new friend Veronique is from Lyons, France  and doesn’t speak a word of English.  Neither do most of the staff at the Oasis Canoa Resort in quaint La Romana, Bayahibe but the experience qualifies as the best family vaction because it forced my daughter and the rest of us out of our cultural comfort zone and into the welcoming aura of Dominican friendliness. Read More »