Twilight Challenge: Photo Blog - Your Previous Vacations

We love to go on vacations as a family. They are usually smaller trips around Minnesota but always memorable. Until 2008 when we decided to save up and go to Mexico. We went in January 2010 down to Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico just 15 minutes from Puerto Vallarta. What a trip it was!

We took the kids and went with my hubby's parents. The resort we stayed at was beautiful.





We stayed at the Marival 5 star all inclusive hotel. This was the way to go...... we didn't have to worry about water because they stocked our room fridge daily with water bottles. We didn't have to worry about the food.... all safe to eat. And we didn't have to worry about drinks...... open bar all day long. Life is good!

We stayed for a week and enjoyed every minute of it. The kids loved going to kids club and the adults loved having a few hours in the morning kid free!

The pacific ocean was beautiful......



View from our hotel room at sunset....



We went on a few excursions while we were there. One was a boat tour which was a lot of fun. We went to a island to have lunch. On the tour we saw dolphins swimming next to our boat and whales.



Private beach where we had lunch.....


The tour guides were great and very entertaining. I even won a dancing contest and then had to stand up in front of everyone on the boat and do a dance and a dancing chair pose. That was embarrassing......

We also went on a tour of Puerto Vallarta and the Sierra Madre mountains. It was a scary ride on the bus going up the mountain but it was beautiful!



On the city tour they also took us to a tequila factory. We had a chance to learn how they make tequila and were able to sample and buy whole bottles. My favorite, the almond flavor tequila.



So many memories from Mexico that I can't wait to go back. There is still so many things I wanted to do. We are making plans to go back to Mexico when my father-in-law goes into remission from his cancer.

So that was 2010...... In 2011 we decided that we were keeping it light and instead camping a lot this summer. The kids love getting out to camp. Here are some pictures from our recent camping trip to Whippoorwill Campground in Theilman, Minnesota....


We had bad weather Friday on the way down to the campground. This is going through Red Wing, Minnesota. The bluffs had tons of mist from the humidity. It made a cool photo.....



Can't go camping without having bonfires and smores. The rain stopped after dinner on Friday night so we were able to have a campfire. We had one every night and the boys usually started it right away again in the morning.



The campground is a trailer park and they have very strict rules. You can only go 5 MPH driving through the campground. That is why everyone has golf carts for getting around. If you go over the speed limit, you will be yelled at and possibly kicked out of the campground.

But no worries.... they have these signs posted everywhere to remind you!



It was so HOT and HUMID the weekend we were there so we spent a lot of time at the spring fed pool.



The boys spent time making boats out of floatys. It was pretty funny..... The below picture has Jacob in the "front" of their boat using a noodle to paddle. Then Andrew is the "back end" of the boat but all you can see is him kicking up water.



And here is George.....



He chases people and had me running at one point. The campground has ducks and George is very protective of them.

The kids spent a lot of time fishing. There was a nice rainbow trout fishing pond put in just this year. They are hard fish to catch though..... very strong!









It was a great trip and we are looking forward to another upcoming camping adventure. This time we are camping in Wisconsin.



What trips have you done or going to do this summer?



Blogs to come.......

Week 6: Your best places to work out in the summer