Great US Destinations - The Memorable Journey ~ The Affordable Mouse

See the USA and Explore America’s Great River

Nancy Cruise Planning, Great US Destinations August 16, 2021August 5, 2021american river cruising, mississippi river, river cruise american, river cruise mississippi, see the usa, viking american river cruise, viking river cruise 0 Comment

When most people think about exploring America, they think of either a classic long road trip, or they consider taking to the skies to get to where they want to go as quickly as possible. But there’s another way that you can experience a fabulous vacation seeing the USA – on a relaxing river or waterway cruise.

Long popular on the rivers of Europe, river cruisers can leisurely sail past beautiful scenery and historic landmarks, dock at fascinating ports, enjoy delicious regional cuisine, all while benefiting from unpacking once, and not having to think about packing again until the end of their trip. Read more

Christmas in July – Why You Need to Book Your Holiday Travel Now

Nancy Christmas Holidays, Disney Vacation Planning, Great US Destinations, Sandals and Beaches Resorts, Universal Orlando Resort, What to Do at Disney World July 26, 2021July 21, 2021caribbean christmas vacation, christmas disney world, christmas universal orlando, christmas vacation caribbean, disney world holiday season, harry potter park christmas, holiday season wizarding world, when should i book my christmas vacation 0 Comment

Christmas trees at the Grand Floridian Resort at Walt Disney World.

Merry Christmas! It’s July, so it’s the perfect time to start thinking about the holiday season, right?

(And I’m not talking about buying all your Christmas gifts now – although there’s nothing wrong if you want to do that….).

Nope, it’s time to plan your holiday travel. Because while the early bird generally always gets the worm when it comes to travel, that’s even more true this year than usual. And here’s why. Read more

Vacation Souvenirs You’ll Always Treasure

Nancy Aulani a Disney Resort and Spa, Cruise Planning, Disney Vacation Planning, Disney Vacation Tips, Great US Destinations, Sandals and Beaches Resorts, Saving Money on Souvenirs, Universal Orlando Resort, Vacations Around the World July 19, 2021July 18, 2024best souvenirs for kids, favorite souvenirs, souvenir ideas for kids, vacation souvenir ideas, vacation souvenirs 0 Comment

Yes I bring an extra empty suitcase on vacation and this is why.

I may be what my husband calls a “souvenir junkie” – but not in the way you think. I just feel that vacation souvenirs deserve more attention than a random ‘grab-a-quick-chochki-in-the-hotel-gift-shop’ type of attention. Because once you get home and recover from your PTD (post-trip-depression, which is totally a thing), having some truly special items that provide you with treasured vacation memories is worth more than whatever you spent on them.

I think that souvenirs deserve a little thought.

Over the years, we have accumulated a variety of interesting souvenirs, both when our daughter was young and on our own, and I can truly say that I pretty much know where, if not when, we got nearly all of them. Those souvenirs are packed with precious memories, and whether they were expensive or cheap, they’re pretty priceless at this point!

So what are some of the vacation souvenirs that have become our “past vacation” treasures? Read more

Top 4 Things to Know When Visiting America’s Canyons

Nancy Great US Destinations July 12, 2021July 7, 2021best way to see the grand canyon, best way to see the usa, bryce canyon, canyons of the usa, grand canyon, see the usa, usa canyon country, visit american canyons, visit arizona, visit utah 0 Comment

I’ve wanted to visit the Grand Canyon for as long as I can remember, so planning our recent visit to America’s “canyon country” was something that I was super excited about, and a true bucket list vacation for me and my husband. Still, I wasn’t prepared for how much I would fall in love with this part of the U.S. Who would have ever thought this beach-loving, water-loving, surf-and-sand-loving girl would fall in love with giant mountains of rock? As we have told many since our return, America is truly beautiful and seeing the incredible canyons of the southwest should be something that everyone does at some point in their lives.

Not only did we enjoy *seeing* the canyons, we enjoyed leaning about and *experiencing* them as well. In fact, we learned some important tips that are the subject of today’s blog. Read more

Tips From a TA: How to Prepare for Flying Right Now

Nancy Aulani a Disney Resort and Spa, COVID Travel Tips, Cruise Planning, Disney Vacation Planning, Great US Destinations, Sandals and Beaches Resorts, Universal Orlando Resort July 5, 2021June 30, 2021airline travel tips, flying tips, travel tips, what is it like to fly right now, what to expect when flying now 0 Comment

Travel is back! And if you’re planning your first trip since the pandemic – especially if it’s the first time you’ll be flying – some of our experiences on our recent vacation to the American southwest will likely be helpful for you to know. Because when you know what to expect, you can be prepared! Read more