Hey! Just in case you missed it, the first travel challenge was posted at Deseret News yesterday. I’ll give you a hint, it was long, used a lot of gas money and gave me a migraine.

This year we have partnered with Deseret News to take on 12 Travel Challenges in 2012. We added another member to our family last year and decided not to let it stop us from what we enjoy. So we created 12 challenges that we must do this year with two small children along for the ride. It would be a lie to say I’m not nervous but I’m also excited. The experiences will be on Deseret News but tips and reviews will be here for you all to read. Hope you enjoy and write your own list of travel challenges too!

Follow our updates on twitter too! @HilaryeTravels @ReidTravels @TheBabyTravels

I love that Christmas is just around the corner. The air is filled with hope and happiness. It seems everyone get’s a little extra spring in his or her step this time of year.

It’s fun to shop for my family, especially BabyTravels who is two and loving this time of year for the first time in her little life. She loves Christmas trees and lights and of course the plethora of treats and fun activities. The other day as I was helping her to write her letter to Santa I began to think of what my Christmas wishlist was this year. And of course the first thoughts that came to my mind were of lavish trips and vacations.

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A girl can dream right?

I can’t believe that summer is almost over. It feels like yesterday the rain gave way to warm sunshine here in Utah. I think this has been one of my favorite summers in a long time. I’ve enjoyed popsicles at dusk, pool trips, and blowing bubbles in the wind (can you tell I have an almost two-year old?). Not to mention all the picnics, and sight-seeing and soaking up the sun. But I’m still left with a pretty big list of things I would like to accomplish this summer and an ever-increasing awareness of time running out.

It’s good to know I’m not alone. Hundreds of thousands of people try to cram a last minute summer vacation in the few weeks left before school starts. That one last trip to the lake, a final camping trip, or even a spur of the moment trip to Disneyland. And now I too have the itch to plan a vacation with my little family of three (before it expands to four) but I’m wondering where in the world should we go on such short notice? And better yet how do we spend little money to enjoy the trip because BabyTravels just had surgery?

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I came across this list created by about.com as I was doing some research for top summer destinations for families in 2011. I wasn’t surprised by most of the list, Hawaii was on there three or four times, Orlando is always popular, and Cancun Mexico. I did notice a trend that they were all beach vacations though. That was a little disappointing.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m as much a beach go-er as the next person. I am always dreaming of a proper beach vacation. However, I would have liked to see some National Parks listed on the list such as Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, or Mount Rushmore. You know the quintessential summer family vacations for people who can’t necessarily afford the luxury of a Disney vacation or Hawaiian airfare, or even for those people who want to show their kids another part of the world’s beauty.

What are your thoughts? Where do you want to take your family this summer?