All packed up and ready to go, we hit the road for our 6½-hour road trip to LAX. First stop: Shake Shack in Desert Palm for our final burgers of the trip—Miss S’s special request. Then it was on to Palm Springs, where we braved the searing heat (personally I love it!) for a quick … More USA Trip – Day 30: Palm Springs, LA & Home
We’ve spent the past couple of days soaking up the sun by the pool, making the most of these final days before heading home. It’s been the perfect mix of relaxation and a few last adventures around town. In between lazy swims and lounging under blue skies, we managed to squeeze in some great final … More USA Trip – Days 28 & 29: Phoenix – Sun & Pool Time
We enjoyed a slower start to the day — a welcome change after all the travel and activity. Everyone slept in a little, pottered around doing some light chores (ok, that was mostly me…), and took their time getting organised. Mid-morning, Mark, Sophia, and I headed out for a quick run to Best Buy, followed … More USA Trip – Day 27: Phoenix – A Day at Home
This morning, Greer and I got up early and went for a walk around Arrowhead Lakes, where we’re now staying. It was still a little cool and the quiet streets made for a peaceful start to the day. The fresh air and gentle pace were just what we needed, and our bodies definitely felt better … More USA Trip – Day 26: Phoenix – Morning Walk, Shopping & Top Golf
The first order of business this morning was to secure a new place to stay. We’d done a bit of research the night before and knew there were some solid options, so we dove back into Airbnb and began the hunt. It didn’t take too long to find a place that ticked all the right … More USA Trip – Day 25: Phoenix – New Home
We’d planned to spend the day at home, hoping to make the most of the pool — especially since Mark had found a skimmer and was determined to bring it back to life. But after half an hour of valiant scooping (and very little visible improvement), it became clear the filter system wasn’t doing much … More USA Trip – Day 24: Phoenix
It was an early start today — we were on the road by 5:30am, bleary-eyed but packed and ready to go. After saying goodbye to “Terry the Tank” (our faithful rental car, affectionately named by Sophia), we made our way through check-in and braced ourselves for the security line. For the busiest airport in the … More USA Trip – Day 23: Travel to Phoenix, Arizona
Our first stop today was the incredible Georgia Aquarium — though not before making a quick pit stop at Starbucks for some much-needed breakfast and coffee. The aquarium was surprisingly quiet when we arrived, which made it feel even more magical. We headed straight for the shark exhibit and, for a little while, had the … More USA Trip – Day 22: Atlanta – Aquarium, Coca Cola, Football & Ponce City Market
It was another early start for us this morning, with bags packed and wheels rolling by 7:30am. What could’ve been a quick one-hour drive turned into a two-hour crawl thanks to peak-hour Atlanta traffic. Eventually, we rolled into the city and made a beeline for Starbucks — caffeine and breakfast muffins were non-negotiables at that … More USA Trip – Day 21: Atlanta – Baseball & Shopping
We enjoyed a leisurely start to the day, taking full advantage of the slower pace before heading out for brunch at Mama’s Boy — a local favourite with the tagline “Southern Fun Dining.” And it lived up to the hype! The kids went classic with stacks of French toast and pancakes, Mark tackled the hearty … More USA Trip – Day 20: Athens – University of Georgia and Covington, GA
We packed everything up and hit the road toward Athens, Georgia — but not without a few key stops along the way. First up was the obligatory photo at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park sign. We hadn’t managed to grab one earlier in the trip, and we weren’t about to leave without it! There … More USA Trip – Day 19: Road trip to Athens, Georgia – More Smoky Mountains, Cherokee & Tallulah Falls
Today we set out to explore the Great Smoky Mountains National Park — the most visited national park in America. The name “Smoky” comes from the natural fog that often drapes the mountain range like a wispy veil. This ethereal mist is created by the vegetation releasing volatile organic compounds (or, as our Climbworks guide … More USA Trip – Day 18: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Anakeesta & a Mountain Coaster
Greer was still feeling a bit off this morning and wasn’t sure whether she wanted to come zip-lining or stay in bed for the day. Mark gave her a gentle encouragement to come. His thinking was that if she was up and moving, she might just find herself feeling well enough to join in. And … More USA Trip – Day 17: Smoky Mountains – Ziplining & Shopping
After a quick morning call to Dollywood to sort out an issue with our tickets (thankfully, it was all sorted easily), we hit the road and arrived with plenty of time to spare. The day was already off to a good start, and we were excited to get going. Once inside the park, we made … More USA Trip – Day 16: Smoky Mountains – Dollywood
Once everything was packed and loaded into the car, we hit the road—although our first stop was just around the corner at Whole Foods to collect an Amazon order (so easy and convenient!). The total journey was supposed to take around 3 hours and 20 minutes, but somehow it managed to take most of the … More USA Trip – Day 15: Drive from Nashville to the Great Smoky Mountains
We had a slower start to the day today, which was a welcome change after a string of early mornings. Once everyone was fed and ready, we set off to visit the Parthenon—yes, you read that correctly! Nashville is home to a full-scale replica of the original Parthenon in Athens, originally built for the Tennessee … More USA Trip – Day 14: Nashville – Parthenon, Shopping & Grand Ole Opry
So, we discovered a slight downside to our otherwise fantastic Airbnb—its proximity to the train tracks. Turns out, trains don’t take the night off. Multiple passed through in the early hours, and yes, they all blared their horns, even at 2am. ? Let’s just say sleep was… interrupted. We had a slightly slower start to … More USA Trip – Day 13: Nashville – Country Music Hall of Fame, Studio Tour and Dinner with Friends
It was a very early start this morning—we packed up, grabbed a quick breakfast, and were on the road by 6:25am, bleary-eyed but ready for a full day ahead. Our first quick stop was Fort Knox, and yes, the rumors are true—security is tight! We weren’t expecting to get in (or strike gold), so we … More USA Trip – Day 12: Road Trip to Nashville – Fort Knox, Maker’s Mark, Lincoln’s Birthplace and Mammoth Cave
We kicked off the day at the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, where the iconic giant bat leaning against the building greeted us as we arrived. We spent some time exploring the museum, which was filled with fascinating displays tracing the history of baseball and the legendary players who’ve swung these famous bats. It was … More USA Trip – Day 11: Louisville – Slugger Museum & Baseball
Another early start, and after packing up, we hit the road toward Louisville, Kentucky—about an hour and a half away. The drive was scenic for the first stretch before giving way to bigger motorways as we approached the city. Our first stop was Churchill Downs, where we had a “Barn and Backside” tour booked. Our … More USA Trip – Day 10: Louisville – Churchill Downs, Muhammad Ali Centre and Bourbon