Dinosaur roadside attraction near Palm Springs, California #travelwithkids

The silliest stop on our southern California adventure was also one of the most memorable. We took the family to meet the large and amazing Cabazon Dinosaurs! 

These huge dinosaurs are an easy road trip from the Palm Springs, California area. The drive was about 22 minutes on Interstate 10. My husband surprised the kids with a stop to visit the dinosaurs on our way to Joshua Tree National Park. Parking was plentiful and we were able to snap some photos of the California dinosaurs and visit the gift shop. The Cabazon Dinosaurs roadside attraction is a must for dinosaur lovers! (And I know many of you remember the movie Pee Wee Herman's Big Adventure, whether you will admit it or not.)

The kids, ages 3 and 9, thought the dinosaurs were funny and we had a good time snapping photos and waving hello to these giants, way up high. If you are near Palm Springs, California, do not forget to drive the kids over to this entertaining attraction. The Cabazon Dinosaurs certainly make a BIG impression!

This post was not sponsored, I just think you should visit! Especially if you have kids along on your adventures. Roar!

Summer vacation in Arizona? Yes! #FamilyTravel

Would you ever consider a summer vacation in the hot desert in the summer? We did!

Looking back at past family travel  photos this week, I was reminded of the fun we had in Arizona (June 2011). If you seek out specific locations and fantastic swimming pools, Arizona can be an enjoyable and kid-friendly family vacation. If you are from a non-desert area like the southeast or northeast, Arizona provides a unique landscape and an experience that isn't your same-old summer beach trip.

How did we decide to do a summer vacation in Arizona? I was looking for a kid-friendly US resort with a great pool area. Several travel articles popped up in my Google search which led me to The Arizona Grand Resort - a hotel with an attached waterpark!  Amelia was only three years old at the time, so swimming and light sightseeing were the only things on our summer vacation agenda. Phoenix was also an easy flight from Atlanta, so it seemed like a perfect summer vacation choice. We began searching for things to do with kids in the Phoenix area and ended up with a fantastic summer trip.

Water is a must for summertime in the desert, so start your vacation search by looking for water activities and inviting family swimming pools.  We began our Arizona summer vacation with a few days at the Arizona Grand Resort enjoying their attached Oasis Waterpark and on-site dining.

Arizona Grand Resort and Oasis Waterpark

We took a drive one day to Slide Rock State Park in Sedona, Arizona where visitors can climb over red rocks and venture into a valley with a natural slippery rock water slide.