Nanny to Mommy

Family fall vacations can be a great idea, especially early in the season. Various outdoor activities are still available to enjoy, and the extra time for bonding is always precious.

However, you'll need to do some planning to make this autumn getaway truly memorable. Here are the essential considerations for your upcoming family trip.

Whether you are spending a day at the beach, staying at the lake, or just adventuring outdoors, this is a great list of needs the entire family will enjoy. We live in Georgia where is hot and humid all summer long. We are always at the beach, lake, or swimming pool, so over the years I have learned what has worked for our family.

If you are looking for something fun to do with the family this summer that is closer to home, a camping trip is the perfect holiday idea on a budget.

With the current state of the world we have been left uncertain, and overseas travel is unlikely to be safe for a long time. If you do want to take your family somewhere this summer, a camping trip close to home is a great idea and will allow you to stay away from people and enjoy some quality time with the ones you love.

Grab yourself some 3 room tents for families, pots and pans and plenty of board games, and let’s take a look at some of the easy family meals you can create during the perfect camping trip!

During Spring Break, we decided to randomly take a trip to Chattanooga. My husband was looking on Groupon and at first we thought we would head to the beach, but everything was booked. Plus we needed to find a place for our dog to go. We are usually planners, so this was something different for us and I'm so glad we decided to do it. I called my mom asking if she would watch out dog for us (which she agreed to) and she recommended going to the mountains.

On the way to Chattanooga (Friday), we decided to hike at Cloudland Canyon State Park. You hike down to a beautiful waterfall and then you hike across a bridge to beautiful rocky ledges. We hiked about 5 miles that day, even the kiddos did. They loved every minute of it. We plan on camping there very soon.

In our efforts to start a healthier lifestyle, my husband and I have taken up hiking again. We are not trying to lose weight; we are trying to get more active and eat a balanced diet. My husband's birthday was on Monday, so we decided to take a trip over to High Falls State Park since we had never been before. Located northwest of Macon, High Falls State Park is named for tumbling cascades on the Towaliga River. Boat rental, ramps and fishing docks provide easy access to the park’s lake, known as one of Georgia’s top fishing spots for hybrid and white bass.

The day started a little chilly, but it has been feeling like Spring almost nearly day here in Georgia, so it did warm up. It was actually the perfect day. Not too hot, not too cold, slight overcast so the sun didn't beat down on us. My will-be-three-in-March son decided his 30 lb. self wouldn't walk most of the way and of course we forgot our Lillebaby carrier, so my poor husband carried him most of the time.