One.

Over the weekend, we went on a little trip to celebrate our one-year anniversary.


Originally, we talked about going back to the beach. But we quickly decided against that for a few different reasons. We did know we wanted to do something special, however, so we settled on St. Louis - it's only a couple hours away, and we wouldn't feel like we were "wasting" a trip by only going for a day.

Since it was so hot, we decided to leave Coop with my parents. Yes, I just about freaked out a time or two, especially with his teething troubles the weekend before. But they assured me he would be just fine, and he was, thankfully. This also enabled us to do more walking, since we stayed Downtown, and go to a really nice restaurant for dinner.

Once we arrived on Friday afternoon and checked in (we stayed at the Hilton at the Ballpark, which is very nice!) we changed clothes and headed out. We stopped at the gift shop at Busch Stadium looking for something Cardinals to take home for Mister Cooper, but didn't find anything we liked. So, we ventured on over to Hooters for some appetizers and a couple beers.  

Afterwards, we stopped at a little market to pick up more beer and a few food items.

View from our room ... they are currently doing work on the old Courthouse

Once we got back to the hotel, we rested a bit, then made a decision on dinner and got reservations. We had lots of suggestions, and mostly just wanted somewhere good, within walking distance. We decided on Carmine's  and it was absolutely delicious!

All ready for a night on the town!

After dinner, we decided to take a little carriage ride through Downtown St. Louis. We've been on one in Memphis, Tenn. so decided an StL one. It was fun!

Afterwards with our horse, Hercules.

 We had great intentions of changing clothes and going out for a few more drinks, but after pumping, I was exhausted so we just stayed in and slept.

The next morning we got on the road decently early so hubby could take advantage of his anniversary present. A few weeks ago, there was a voucher on Living Social for a flight instruction school and 30 minute supervised helicopter ride. Hubby would totally love to be a pilot, so I knew it would be perfect for him!

He totally enjoyed the class. I actually sat in on it because it was about 1 hour from Downtown and there was nothing for me to do, so the instructor actually took me up in the air for about 10 minutes for free

Proudly holding his log book!

Since we only had granola bars for lunch, we were STARVING at this point. Since riding in a helicopter was on his bucket list, we decided to cross something off mine - eating at the Cheesecake Factory! I had a yummy tomato basil mozzarella pizza, and hubby had the biggest burger ever. Seriously, I've never seen my husband fail to eat an entire burger, but he couldn't finish it!

Once we scarfed down our food, we raced to my parents' to pick up our little sweetie. We were so excited to get him. I think he was glad to see us too - once he saw us, his face lit up and he started squealing! A perfect ending to a perfect weekend :)

Guest Post: Underrated and unique vacation destinations {for families!}

Since we have a little one now, it's definitely going to change how and where we vacation! We do LOVE the beach though, so it's important to us that we find a family-friendly destination.

Meet Christina Johnson. She works remotely for Elliman Prudential in the New York City Apartments and Rentals market.  She is using her journalism major to combine what she loves most, writing and her career. Her specialties include home decor design and DIY home improvement projects.

When Christina approached me about doing a guest post on the blog, it didn't take me long to say yes! Obviously finding a family-friendly vacation destination is important now. Not only that, I can totally relate to wanting to use your journalism degree although your career is not in the field. Her article definitely gives me some ideas - and I hope you get them, too!\

Oh, and if you have any great locations to add to this list, please let me know!

Long lines at tourist attractions, overbooked hotels, and a lack of family-friendly activities can make vacationing at some of the really popular places less fun than it should be. But there are a number of places that you can vacation that don't get quite the amount of busy tourist activity as some of the more popular places. Located in the United States and around the world, these cities offer more than just hotels, movie theaters, and restaurants. They offer a wide variety of activities that adults and children can appreciate.

Amelia Island in Florida is not as well known as areas such as Orlando, Miami, or Key West, but that does not mean it has nothing to offer vacationers. Visitors can have a short stay at a bed and breakfast, hotel, or resort. They can also have an extended stay at a rental condo or house, or go camping in one of the local campsites. Beaches offer opportunities for swimming, horseback riding, hiking, or collecting seashells. Companies such as EoMotion Segway Tours provide off-road adventures on segways through Fort George Island State Park. Visitors can also take Segway, bicycle, or kayak tours through the Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort Nature Center. Guided tours showcase birds, turtles, crabs, night creatures, and plant life.

While Houston, Texas is one of the largest cities in the country, it is not always considered a hot spot for vacationers. But it offers a wide variety of activities for families. The Galleria shopping mall has luxury stores, restaurants, cafes, an arcade, and a year-round ice skating rink. NASA and Space Center Houston have tours and interactive exhibits for adults and children. Visitors can see hundreds of animals at the Houston Zoo or have an educational and fun experience at the Houston Museum of Science and History. The Houston Children's Museum was created specifically for children, with interactive exhibits, guest speakers, art classes, and film events. For visitors arriving in the city during certain times of the year, there are large events to attend such as the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and the National Dog Show.

For those families that wish to travel on an international scale, there are cities throughout Europe that have activities both parents and children will enjoy. Munich, Germany is home to amusement parks, marionette theaters, museums, and castles. Beer halls are often kid-friendly, offering special menus especially for the under age set. The Munich Toy Museum has a wide collection of historical toys from both Europe and America, including dolls, plush bears, and trains. Tierpark Hellabrun, the Munich Zoo, cover almost 90 acres and includes over 5,000 animal inhabitants situated in simulated natural habitats. There are also pony and camel rides, a petting zoo, and a seasonal penguin parade.

Also home to castles and other historic activities, Edingburgh, Scotland is home to gardens, museums, and countryside day trips. Tours can be taken through Edingburgh Castle, one of the most iconic fortresses in the country. Day trips can be taken through guided tour groups to areas such as Loch Ness, home of the fabled Loch Ness Monster. Families can also explorer the Museum of Childhood, a multi-level exhibition with collections of toys, clothing, games, craft items, and other objects that showcase the many aspects of childhood.


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