Fun with aspen dust. haha Did you know that the white “stuff” on the trunks of aspen actually is a form of sunscreen?

Yup. We follow the rules.

DEMON SQUIRREL!!!!

This tunnel is supposedly haunted…. ooooooooooooo. It is the third tunnel up from the falls, so follow the trail. Check it out… if you are brave enough.

There are also some neat statues just out of Manit0u Springs, which caught my eye. They are really cool, so you should check them out on your way out of the falls.

Check out Helen Hunt Falls, with the best times to visit being the summer and the fall, to have a fun day-trip hiking experience.

The infinity pool was the nicest pool I have ever swam in my whole life! I especially liked the swim-up bar, where the bartender Gary created my virgin pina coladas. There is also a snack bar right next to the pool, so you can take a break and have lunch down by the water. The waitor, Manuel, was very nice and always called us his “amigos.”

I found some amazing shells along the beach, all of them different. This was pretty entertaining, and I ended up spending a good amount of  time collecting my shells.

My favorite thing to do on the beach, next to collecting shells, is BOOGIE BOARDING! This was my first time, but it only took me a few tries to get the hang of it. The waves were perfect size for me, and even my little brother (who is six years old) tried it a few times.

Even though there are many other things to go visit in Cancun, like the Mayan ruins, it is extremely hard to leave the beautiful beaches right in front of your condo! One of my top ten favorite places in the world… Cancun beaches!

Ever been to a Cancun beach you recommend? Or maybe have another beach you loved? Tell us about it in a comment below!

My favorite part was the bike ride with my mom and lil sis on the Rio Grande trail. I was cruising along, thinking I was such a pro while going downhill the whole time. Be careful, though. Because however long you ride on the way there, you have to ride slightly uphill on the way back. So plan accordingly, unlike some people…(cough, cough.)

The trail has markers so you can keep track of how far you’ve gone. We did about 2.5 miles and it took us about an hour to ride, round-trip.

We rented our bikes from Aspen Velo Bicycles, and it was a great rental shop to go to. (Cost was $22 for 2 hours; $16 for kids.) Right off the trail, you can join the trail right after after renting. They suggested we go about 7 miles and stop for lunch…we didn’t quite get that far, but we enjoyed it, anyway!

TIP: All bikes come with a water bottle holder, but I would recommend bringing a backpack or something to carry snacks, wallets, etc. because there are great picnic areas by the river to rest at and enjoy a break.

9. One of my favorite places to shop in Montana is a cute small town called Bigfork. They have the best little stores around! And a fabulous art fair, the beginning of every August.

8.  See plays in the Bigfork playhouse! They are a very fun night event. My favorite plays we’ve seen there are “The King and I” and “Beauty and the Beast.” “Cats”–not so much.

7. Float down the Swan River on inner tubes. It is relaxing and totally fun with the family! Put in at the public access at the top of the river (near the lake) and pull out down at Robinson Creek. It takes about an hour.

6. Go fishing on the lake. You can also fish on the river too.

5. Visit Glacier National Park. Glacier is an awesome place to experience great hiking trails, glaciers (duh!), and beautiful views!

4. Go to Norm’s News; an old fashi0ned soda parlor and candy shop! Enough said.

3. Go swimming in Swan Lake! I swim almost every day when I visit Montana during the summer. It’s cold–fed from mountain streams and the river–but you get used to it (or numb enough not to care).

2. Go waterskiing!!! My mom wants me to single but I just do face-plants dropping a ski. And our old boat is too tired to pop me up. So I’ll go with two.

1. INNER-TUBING!!!!!!!! It takes little skill, and it is a blast! I’d inner-tube every day if I could. A total rush…Sadly, we killed our tube after two weeks. New one next year, courtesy of Costco.

Have a favorite summer activity in Montana or your own town? Leave us a comment below!

When I walked through the High Line, I noticed people in this community love to come to the High Line just to hang out. It almost is used like a park for most locals. People are lying on chairs tanning, sleeping, and talking with friends and family. It is a great place for the community to get a little nature in the midst of a major city.

It was a humid and extremely hot day, so there was no way we were going to pass up the gelato stand along the High Line. It was such a cute little cart, but I was a little disappointed by portion I received for the five dollar price. The ice cream truck below was a much better deal; if you go, purchase your ice cream below and take it up for your stroll!

My mom also wrote about the High Line…check it out if you want more info.

What’s your favorite neighborhood park? Comment below!

The cupcake I chose was Devil’s Food; a sinful chocolate filled, chocolate cake, chocolate sprinkles cupcake! For any chocolate lover like myself, this is definitely the way to go. (My mom went with a Cookies ‘n’ Cream option.)

Look for Crumbs shops near you, because they are obviously becoming very popular. “Our shops are expanding constantly!” said the cashier who sold us our delicious treats. The stores are very cute inside, with pictures on the walls with quotes everywhere like “You can taste happiness” and “Home baked goodness in every bite.”

TIP: Do not go right after a meal! You WILL be stuffed! Maybe a midday snack would be better?

So next time you are in NYC, and are looking to satisfy your sweet tooth, check out Crumbs. Mmmmm… now I’m craving a cupcake!

Have you been to one of the Crumbs shops or another yummy cupcake shop? Tell us about it in a comment below!

This Spanish fort stands 140 feet above the sea, and still is largely intact, with a wall that surrounds Old San Juan. It was built in the 16th century, and is the oldest European construction in the United States, so it’s worth the time away from the beach.

We also stopped by La Fortaleza, which was my favorite part of the fort we visited. It’s always been the governor’s home, but also housed prisoners for a time. Since originally, the governor was there to oversee Spanish interests in the Caribbean basin, this was a prime place for him to live.

Tour of the Governor’s House

This short but informational tour gives a brief history of San Juan, and what La Fortaleza provided. Some of my favorite stops on the tour were the “fountain of youth,” the prison cells, the governor’s gardens, and the view of the original Casa Blanca (see the old Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall movie, Casablanca, if you don’t know what I’m talking about) right up the hill.

A total of 170 governors have lived in La Fortaleza.

You are free to walk wherever you want around the fort, and some tours are offered for the major part of the fort. If you are exploring downtown, definitely drop by the Spanish Fort, because it really gives you new perspective on Puerto Rico’s history and culture.

Have you ever been to Puerto Rico and stopped by the Forts? Or have you fell in love with another part of San Juan? Please leave a comment below!

I was really looking forward to the water slides, but when they were turned on, the motor exploded! Luckily, though, they fixed one of the slides pretty quickly.

I also bought a tshirt from the store next to the cafe. (They have really cute T’s. Check em’ out!)

Ever been to Glenwood Springs? Or looking forward to a trip there soon? Leave us a comment below!

For the first night, we stayed at the Quality Inn right on the river. It had nice rooms and a small, indoor pool.

After a continental breakfast the next morning, we went up over the mountain on trams to Glenwood Caverns theme park, which is like a kid’s mini Disneyland! If you go on an off weekend, you almost have the entire theme park to yourself! We did a cave tour–it was pretty good, especially if you’ve never explored a cave before. But I really loved the theme park. Some highlights:

• Alpine slides (my favorite part!)
• Cave tours
• Laser tag
• Climbing wall
• Mechanical bull ride
• 4D Movie Theater (the only one in Colorado)
• A giant maze (Warning: you are timed! )

They also have a cafe for lunch! You will want to spend a whole day here, especially if you want to play laser tag 10 million times in a row like me!

After taking the tram back down the mountain, we went to the local’s favorite  drive in. They had AMAZING burgers! You can’t miss this cute drive in if you are in town. And your burger will be awfully lonely without his friend, milkshake!

Ever been to Glenwood Springs with the family? Any recommendations to see in this town? Please leave a comment below!