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  • 12 North Georgia Apple Orchards and Apple Houses Worth Visiting This Fall

    12 North Georgia Apple Orchards and Apple Houses Worth Visiting This Fall

    Featured photo courtesy of R&A Orchards.

    Apple picking, cider doughnuts, farm activities, and quieter market stops across North Georgia

    Fall in Georgia

    Fall in Georgia rarely arrives all at once. The afternoons may still feel like summer, but little signs begin appearing everywhere—cooler mornings, pumpkins outside the grocery store, and baskets of freshly picked apples filling the farm markets in the North Georgia mountains.

    For our family, visiting an apple orchard is about much more than the apples. It is the drive through the mountains, children searching the trees for the perfect one, the smell of fried pies drifting from the bakery, and somehow coming home with far more apples than we ever planned to buy.

    Some families want a full day of wagon rides, animals, games, and apple picking. Others would rather make a peaceful stop for fresh cider, homemade treats, and a bag of apples to take home. Georgia has a little of both.

    Most of the state’s apples are grown in North Georgia, particularly around Ellijay and Blue Ridge, but every orchard and apple house has something slightly different to offer. This guide brings together twelve Georgia destinations—from busy U-pick orchards to old-fashioned roadside apple markets—to help you choose the kind of all day that feels right for your family.

    Before You Go

    Apple availability can change quickly because of weather and how many visitors arrive. Always check the farm’s website or social media on the morning of your trip, especially if picking your own apples is the main reason for your visit. Prices, hours, and activities may also change during the season.

    Which North Georgia Apple Orchard is Right for Your Family?

    OrchardLocationBest For
    B.J. Reece OrchardsEllijayU-pick plus many children’s activities
    Hillcrest OrchardsEllijayFestival atmosphere and live entertainment
    R&A OrchardsEllijayApple picking, flowers, bakery, and cafe
    Red Apple BarnEllijayA gentler outing for younger children
    Mercier OrchardsBlue RidgeLarge orchard, bakery, market, and cider
    Hillside Orchard FarmsLakemontU-pick, maze, animals, and preserves
    The Folk CollaborativeMcCaysvillePeaceful Appalachian orchard and bakery
    Aaron Family OrchardsEllijaySmall family apple house and flowers
    Panorama OrchardsEllijayMarket, baked goods, fudge, and ice cream
    Penland OrchardsEllijayTwo convenient traditional farm markets
    Mack Aaron’s Apple HouseEllijaySimple, old-fashioned apple stop
    Jaemor FarmsAltoCloser-to-Atlanta market and fall activities

    1. B.J. Reece Orchards, Ellijay

    B.J. Reece is a good choice when your family wants apple picking and enough activities to fill most of the day. Along with more than 20 apple varieties, the farm offers wagon rides, a petting zoo, slides, duck races, and a corn box, with additional attractions available on weekends.

    The year-round market and bakery are filled with fresh produce, fried apple pies, cider doughnuts, breads, preserves, and Georgia-made products. For 2026, U-pick begins August 29 and is scheduled daily through September and October.

    Best for: Families who want U-pick apples and lots of children’s activities

    Where: 9131 Highway 52 East, Ellijay, Georgia 30536

    Good to know: Admission and apple bags are purchased separately. Children two and younger enter free. Weekdays are usually calmer and less expensive.

    Website: B.J. Reece Orchards

    2. Hillcrest Orchards, Ellijay

    Hillcrest feels like an orchard and a fall festival rolled into one. Its Apple Pickin’ Jubilee brings wagon rides, jumping pillows, an apple-tree maze, mini golf, farm animals, cow milking, live bluegrass, clogging, and the orchard’s memorable swimming-pig races.

    The farm market and bakery sell apple pies, fritters, cider doughnuts, caramel apples, fudge, and cider slushies. U-pick begins September 1 for 2026, while Jubilee weekends run from September 5 through November 1.

    Best for: An all-day festival experience with shows, animals, and apple picking

    Where: 9696 Highway 52 East, Ellijay, Georgia 30536

    Good to know: Admission is required for everyone of walking age and older, and picking bags cost extra. Weekdays have fewer crowds and a lower admission price.

    Website: Hillcrest Orchards

    3. R&A Orchards, Ellijay

    Two women sitting beneath apple trees at R&A Orchards in Ellijay, Georgia
    Photo courtesy of R&A Orchards.

    R&A Orchards offers a comfortable middle ground between a simple apple-market stop and a large fall festival. Visitors can pick apples and flowers on fall weekends, take a wagon ride, shop the bakery and market, or sit down for lunch at the cafe.

    The family-owned orchard grows a wide selection of apples, along with peaches and nectarines, and the market carries produce, cider, preserves, honey, and fried pies. The 2026 U-pick season runs on weekends through October, subject to availability.

    Best for: Families who want apple picking, flowers, and relaxed farm lunch

    Where: 5505 Highway 52 East, Ellijay, Georgia 30536

    Good to know: U-pick hours differ from the bakery and market hours. Check the current apple and flower availability before leaving home.

    Website: R&A Orchards

    4. Red Apple Barn, Ellijay

    Red Apple Barn has a gentler pace than some of the larger festival-style orchards. A tractor ride carries visitors to the orchard, and the U-pick experience includes fresh apples, cider, a cider doughnut, farm animals, playgrounds, duck races, and seasonal flower picking.

    The farm also has picnic areas beside the creek, a covered bridge, pumpkins later in the season, and a market stocked with apples and baked treats. It can be a lovely choice when younger children need enough to do without an overwhelming schedule.

    Best for: Younger children and families seeking a more relaxed orchard visit

    Where: 3379 Tails Creek Road, Ellijay, Georgia 30540

    Good to know: Apple picking is offered on selected weekdays and weekends, not daily. Check the current schedule and picking varieties before visiting.

    Website: Red Apple Barn

    5. Mercier Orchards, Blue Ridge

    Founded in 1943, Mercier Orchards is a fourth-generation, family-owned and veteran-operated farm with more than 50 apple varieties. Its U-pick experience begins with a tractor ride through the orchard, with the varieties changing as the season progresses.

    The large market and bakery make Mercier worth visiting even when U-pick is unavailable. Visitors can shop for fresh apples, pies, jams, cider, and specialty foods, while adults can also explore the orchard’s wine and hard-cider offerings.

    Best for: A blue Ridge day trip with apple picking, shopping, bakery treats, and cider

    Where: 8660 Blue Ridge Drive, Blue Ridge, Georgia 30513

    Good to know: U-pick depends on weather and fruit availability. Check the orchard’s live U-pick page before making a special trip.

    Website: Mercier Orchards

    6. Hillside Orchard Farms, Lakemont

    Hillside Orchard Farms Brings apple picking to the northeast corner of Georgia. During fall, the farm pairs its U-pick orchard with a corn maze, train and hayrides, a playground, friendly farm animals, and an indoor gem mine.

    Its market is known for small-batch jams, jellies, relishes, sauces, and other products made from fruits and vegetables. This is useful alternative for families visiting Helen, Clayton, Tallulah Gorge, or the Rabun County mountains.

    Best for: Combining apple picking with a Northeast Georgia mountain trip

    Where: 18 Sorghum Mill Drive, Lakemont, Georgia 30552

    Good to know: The 2026 store is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and U-pick availability changes with the harvest. Confirm before driving.

    Website: Hillside Orchard Farms

    7. The Folk Collaborative, McCaysville

    The Folk Collaborative offers a quieter, old-fashioned orchard setting in the Appalachian hills near the Georgia-Tennessee line. Its bakery and coffeehouse focus on small-batch foods, seasonal apples, fried pies, and goods inspired by Southern Appalachian traditions.

    The property also hosts special experiences such as orchard breakfasts, dinners, farm tours, and seasonal events. It is the kind of place to consider when the atmosphere, mountain scenery, and slow morning matter as much as a filling an apple bag.

    Best for: A peaceful orchard atmosphere, bakery stop, and special farm events.

    Where: 2984 Mobile Road, McCaysville, Georgia 30555

    Good to know: The Folk Collaborative is not offering U-pick apples for the 2026 season, although pre-picked apples are available in the shop. Check the event calendar before visiting.

    Website: The Folk Collaborative

    8. Aaron Family Orchards, Ellijay

    Sunflower field in front of Aaron's Apple House in Ellijay, Georgia.
    Photo courtesy of Aaron Family Orchards.

    Aaron Family Orchards is a smaller family-run apple house with roots reaching back to 1938. The market carries fresh apples, cider, canned goods, produce, and baked treats, while newer additions include U-cut flowers, a bakery, and a petting farm.

    The family has been replanting its apple orchard on smaller dwarf trees with future U-pick visits in mind. For now, this is best treated as friendly market and farm stop rather than assuming apple picking will be available every day.

    Best for: A smaller family business, fresh apples, flowers, and a simple farm stop

    Where: 8350 Highway 52 East, Ellijay, Georgia 30536

    Good to know: Confirm current flower cutting, animal visits, and any apple-picking opportunities directly with the orchard before going.

    Website: Aaron Family Orchards

    9. Panorama Orchards & Farm Market, Ellijay

    Panorama is the stop for anyone whose favorite part of apple season happens inside the farm market. The family fruit farm dates to the 1920s and grows more than 20 apple varieties, with fresh-picked fruit available through fall and often into winter.

    Inside the market are fresh cider, fried pies, cider doughnuts, apple breads, whole pies, fudge, and twelve flavors of homemade ice cream. It is an easy place to gather everything needed for an apple-themed afternoon at home.

    Best for: Fresh apples, baked goods, homemade ice cream, and an easy market visit

    Where: 63 Talona Mountain Road, Ellijay, Georgia 30536

    Good to know: Panorama is a farm market, not a public U-pick experience. It is open year-round, but individual apple varieties remain seasonal.

    Website: Panorama Orchards

    10. Penland Orchards & Farm Market, Ellijay

    Penland Orchards has been family-owned since 1936 and now operates two seasonal farm markets in ellijay. The farm grows more than 30 varieties of apples, peaches, and nectarines, and its stores sell produce, fresh cider, pies, fritters, breads, canned goods, and other local favorites.

    With one store along Highway 515 and another on Highway 282, Penland is convenient for travelers coming through different parts of apple country. It works especially well as a quick market stop on the way to or from another fall activity.

    Best for: A traditional market visit with two convenient Ellijay locations

    Where: 41 Talona Mountain Road and 7678 Tails Creek Road, Ellijay, Georgia 30540

    Good to know: Both markets are seasonal, generally opening from mid-May through November. Penland does not advertise public U-pick apples.

    Website: Penland Orchards

    11. Mack Aaron’s Apple House, Ellijay

    Mack Aaron’s Apple House is one of the simplest stops on this list, which may be exactly what some families want. Rather than a full schedule of rides and attractions, it offers the traditional apple-house experience: seasonal apples, cider, preserves, produce, and treats to carry home.

    The apple house has served visitors along Highway 52 since the 1940s and usually offers several apple varieties through the harvest season. It is easy to pair with another Ellijay orchard because several of the area’s best-known farms sit along the same road.

    Best for: A quick, low-key apple-country stop without festival crowds

    Where: 8955 Highway 52 East, Ellijay, Georgia 30536

    Good to know: This is primarily a farm market rather than a U-pick attraction. Seasonal hours depend on the apple harvest, so check before making it your only destination.

    Website: Mack Aaron’s Apple House

    12. Jaemor Farms, Alto

    Young child holding apples inside Jaemor Farms market in Alto, Georgia
    Photo courtesy of Jaemor Farms.

    Jaemor Farms is a useful option for families who want fall farm fun without driving all the way to Ellijay or Blue Ridge. The Alto market sells apples, fried pies, ice cream, produce, boiled peanuts, and seasonal gifts, while fall weekends bring a corn maze, hayrides, farm games, pumpkins, and an apple slingshot.

    Jaemor grows Ginger Gold and Arkansas Black apples and bring in additional East Coast varieties through relationships with other farms. That gives the market a broad selection as different apples come into season.

    Best for: A closer-to-Atlanta farm market with fall activities and plenty food

    Where: 5340 Cornelia Highway, Alto, Georgia 30510

    Good to know: Jaemor does not advertise U-pick apples. Visit for the market and fall attractions, and check the farm calendar for current weekend activities.

    Website: Jaemor Farms

    Choosing the Right Georgia Apple Orchard

    There is no single best orchard for every family. Some children will happily spend an entire day racing from one farm activity to the next. Others may enjoy a wagon ride, a few apples, and a quiet cider doughnut before they are ready to go home. The best choice is the one that matches your family’s energy, budget, and idea of a good fall day.

    Whichever place you choose, leave a little room in the car for the apples, cider, pies, and unexpected extras that somehow follow everyone home. Those ordinary pieces of the day often become the part we remember: sticky fingers in the back seat, an apple rolling around on the floor, and a kitchen counter covered with more fruit than we know what to do with.

    What to Make With the Apples You Bring Home

    Slice of old-fashioned apple cake with blueberries showing the soft apple layer between two cake layers

    Once you arrive home with more apples than you know what to do with, turn a few of them into my Old-Fashioned Apple and Blueberry Cake. It’s an easy sheet cake filled with shredded apples and blueberries—the kind of simple fall dessert that’s perfect for sharing with family.

    A Final Planning Note

    Hours, admission, activities, and crop availability were checked for the 2026 fall season but can change without much notice. Before leaving home, visit the farm’s official website or social media page for same-day updates.

    Helpful Resources for Planning Your Apple Trip

    Georgia Grown apple information

    Explore Georgia: Where to Go Apple Picking in Georgia

    Gilmer County Chamber orchard directory

  • Old-Fashioned Apple Cake with Blueberries

    Old-Fashioned Apple Cake with Blueberries

    There are some recipes that taste good, and then there are recipes that somehow bring an entire part of your life back with them.

    This is one of those recipes for me.

    The smell of this cake sent me straight down memory lane.

    Suddenly, I was back to riding my bike around the neighborhood with my friends, without a worry on my mind. Just riding around, laughing, talking, and watching the beautiful fall colors around us.

    There was something special about the neighborhood I grew up in. Depending on what time of day you walked or rode past the houses, you could smell what everyone was making for dinner. Somehow, everyone seemed to cook around the same time, sit down around the same time, make coffee around the same time. There was a rhythm to everyday life that I didn’t think much about back then.

    I remember this was sometime in the early 2000s, and there was a TV show that everyone loved. When it came on, the neighborhood almost seemed to go quiet. Everyone would head home, get cozy, make coffee, and watch it.

    Around that same time of the evening, my mom would usually be making dinner.

    I still remember riding my bike home, tired and hungry, opening the door and immediately smelling whatever she had been cooking. That feeling is hard to describe. I didn’t realize it at the time, but that smell meant home. It meant comfort. It meant love.

    And this cake was part of some of those meals.

    After a hearty, cozy dinner, a warm piece of this cake was heaven to me. Maybe that’s one of the reasons fall has always had such a special place in my heart. So many of my favorite memories seem to come wrapped in cool evenings, warm kitchens, good food, and the people I love.

    I still love eating this cake warm. You can add a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a little whipped cream, but honestly, it doesn’t need anything. And somehow, it’s just as good the next day, cold straight from the refrigerator.

    There are soft shredded apples tucked between two layers of cake, and in my version, blueberries baked right into the top layer.

    And that brings me to one little detail about this recipe.

    The Original Recipe Was Actually Called “Lazy Apple Pie”

    I remember very clearly what my mom called it in her recipe book:

    Lazy Apple Pie.

    Now, please forgive me for renaming it. 😂

    Technically, my mom was right. It has apples, and it was called a pie for as long as I can remember. But to me, it has always felt much more like a cake.

    And the blueberries?

    Those are entirely my doing.

    The original recipe did not have blueberries. I took the liberty of adding them this time, and I loved what they brought to it. The little bursts of blueberry work so well with the soft apple layer that I think they earned their place.

    But if you want to make the cake exactly the way I remember it from childhood, simply leave them out.

    Whatever we decide to call it, though, one bite still tastes like home to me.

    What Makes This Apple Cake Different

    This isn’t a typical apple cake where everything gets stirred together and baked at once.

    The batter is divided into two layers. The first layer is partially baked, then covered with shredded apples. The remaining batter goes over the apples before the cake goes back into the oven to finish baking.

    I add blueberries to that top portion of batter, which gives you a soft blueberry cake layer on top, a juicy apple layer in the middle, and another tender cake layer underneath.

    It sounds like a few extra steps, but it really is a simple cake once you start making it.

    Can I Make It Without Blueberries?

    Absolutely.

    In fact, that is the original way this cake was made.

    Simply leave the blueberries out and use the remaining plain batter for the top layer. You’ll have the old-fashioned apple cake I grew up eating.

    So if blueberries aren’t your thing — or you just don’t have any — don’t let that stop you from making it.

    Can I Use a Different Berry?

    Yes. I think this recipe would work beautifully with other berries too.

    You could try raspberries, blackberries, or even a mixture of berries in place of the blueberries.

    I would avoid adding too much fruit, though. The apple layer already adds quite a bit of moisture, so the berries are really there as an extra little burst of flavor rather than another full fruit layer.

    What Kind of Apples Should I Use?

    You don’t need anything fancy for this recipe. A good baking apple that softens nicely while still keeping some flavor works perfectly.

    Something like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Gala, Pink Lady, or a combination would all work.

    And yes — the apples are peeled and shredded, not sliced.

    Shredding them is part of what makes that middle layer so soft and almost melt into the cake.

    Do I Have to Partially Bake the First Layer?

    Yes, I would keep this step.

    The first layer only needs to bake until the surface is set and still quite pale. It isn’t supposed to be completely baked or golden yet.

    That little head start gives you enough structure to hold the shredded apple layer instead of having everything sink together.

    How Do I Know When the Cake Is Done?

    After adding the apples and second layer of batter, bake until the top is lightly golden and the cake portion tests done with a toothpick.

    Just remember that there is a juicy apple layer inside, so if your toothpick goes directly into the apples, it may come out moist even when the cake itself is finished.

    Look for set cake, a lightly golden top, and no wet batter.

    How Should I Serve It?

    My favorite way will probably always be warm.

    A scoop of vanilla ice cream melting over the top is very hard to beat.

    You can also serve it with whipped cream, dust it lightly with powdered sugar, or simply eat it exactly as it is.

    And I can personally confirm that standing in front of the refrigerator and eating a cold piece the next day is also an excellent serving method. 😂

    How Should I Store Apple Cake?

    Once the cake has completely cooled, cover it well and keep it in the refrigerator.

    Because of the moist apple filling, I prefer storing this one chilled rather than leaving it on the counter for several days.

    You can eat it straight from the refrigerator or warm an individual piece slightly before serving.

    How to Make Old-Fashioned Apple Cake with Blueberries

    1. Prepare the batter

    Beat the eggs and sugar together until well combined. Add the milk, oil, and softened butter, then mix until everything is incorporated. Add the flour and baking powder and mix just until you have a smooth batter.

    2. Divide the batter

    Divide the batter approximately in half between two bowls.

    Leave one half plain. Gently fold 1 cup of blueberries into the other half.

    3. Bake the first layer

    Spread the plain half of the batter evenly into your greased baking dish.

    Bake at 350°F for 15 minutes.

    The surface should look set and pale, but the cake should not be fully baked yet.

    4. Add the shredded apples

    Peel and shred the apples, then spread them evenly over the partially baked cake layer.

    5. Add the blueberry batter

    Carefully spoon or spread the remaining blueberry batter over the shredded apples.

    Try to cover the apple layer as evenly as you can, but it doesn’t have to look perfect.

    6. Finish baking

    Return the cake to the oven and bake at 350°F for another 25–35 minutes.

    The cake is done when the top is golden and a toothpick inserted into the cake portion comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs.

    If the top starts browning too quickly, loosely cover the pan with aluminum foil and continue baking until the center is done.

    7. Let it cool and serve

    Let the cake cool slightly before cutting.

    Serve it warm as-is, or add vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

    It’s also delicious chilled straight from the refrigerator the next day.

    Slice of old-fashioned apple cake with blueberries showing the soft apple layer between two cake layers

    Old-Fashioned Apple Cake with Blueberries

    A cozy layered apple cake made with soft shredded apples between two cake layers and blueberries baked into the top. The original family recipe was made without blueberries, so they can easily be left out.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 minutes
    Cook Time 50 minutes
    Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
    Servings: 12 pieces
    Course: Dessert
    Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 large eggs
    • 2 cups granulated sugar
    • 1 cup milk
    • 1 cup canola or vegetable oil
    • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
    • 4 cups all-purpose flour or cake flour
    • 1 tablespoon baking powder
    • 4 apples, peeled, cored, and shredded
    • 1 cup fresh blueberries, optional

    Equipment

    • 15 x 10 inch baking dish
    • Large mixing bowl
    • Box grater

    Method
     

    1. Preheat the oven to 350℉. Lightly grease a 15 x 10 inch baking dish.
    2. In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs and sugar together until well combined.
    3. Add the milk, oil, and softened butter and mix until incorporated.
    4. Add the flour and baking powder and mix just until you have a smooth batter. Avoid overmixing.
    5. Divide the batter approximately in half.
    6. Spread the plain half of the batter evenly into the prepared baking dish.
    7. Bake at 350℉ for 15 minutes. The surface should be set and pale, but the cake should not be fully baked.
    8. Spread the shredded apples evenly over the partially baked cake layer.
    9. Gently fold the blueberries into the remaining half of the batter.
    10. Carefully spread the blueberry batter over the apple layer.
    11. Return the cake to the oven and bake at 350℉ for another 25-35 minutes, or until the top is golden and a toothpick inserted into the cake portion comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
    12. If the top begins browning too quickly, loosely cover the cake with aluminum foil and continue baking until the center is done.
    13. Let the cake cool slightly before cutting and serving.

    Notes

    Blueberries are optional. The original family recipe was made without blueberries. You can leave them out completely for the more traditional version, or substitute another berry such as raspberries or blackberries. Keep the amount around 1 cup.
    Flour option: I usually make this cake with all-purpose flour, but for this batch I used cake flour. Cake flour gives the layers a softer, more tender texture, while all-purpose flour makes them slightly firmer and a little drier — which actually works beautifully with the moist apple filling.
    Butter: Use softened butter rather than melted butter. If you forgot to bring it to room temperature, microwave it for just a few seconds at a time until softened.
    Apples: Peel, core, and shred the apples before adding them to the cake.
    First bake: The first cake layer should only be partially baked after 15 minutes. It should look set and pale, not fully finished.
    Toothpick test: Because the apple layer is naturally moist, try to insert the toothpick into the cake portion rather than directly through the apples.

    How to Serve It

    This cake is especially good warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

    It’s also delicious on its own, and it works surprisingly well cold straight from the refrigerator too.

    How to Store It

    Once completely cooled, cover the cake and store it in the refrigerator.

    I’d say it’s best within about 3–4 days. You can eat it cold or warm an individual piece briefly before serving.

    Can You Make It Ahead?

    Yes. This is actually a nice make-ahead cake because the apple layer keeps it moist.

    You can make it the day before, refrigerate it once cooled, and either serve it chilled or let it sit out briefly before serving.

  • A Simple Fall Bucket List for Families

    A Simple Fall Bucket List for Families

    There is something about the first hint of fall that makes me want to slow everything down.

    I haven’t experienced that first truly cool fall morning yet in this year’s Georgia heat. It’s currently 90 degrees outside while I’m writing this.

    And yet, something in the air is telling me fall is coming.

    It’s hard to explain. Maybe there really is the slightest fall breeze in the morning. Maybe the air smells a little different. Or maybe I’ve simply decided that fall needs to hurry up and get here so ordinary things can start feeling a little more special again.

    I love the idea of a fall bucket list, but I don’t want one that leaves me feeling like we need to squeeze fifty activities into a few short months.

    I want the kind we can actually enjoy.

    A few bigger outings. A few traditions we already love. And plenty of small things that happen right at home on an otherwise ordinary Saturday.

    So this year, this is the kind of fall I’m hoping for.

    1. Visit a Pumpkin Patch

    This one probably makes every fall bucket list, but for good reason.

    Family visiting a pumpkin patch surrounded by orange pumpkins
    This photo is from six years ago, which somehow feels both like yesterday and lifetime ago. We’ve been doing fall days like this for a long time.

    We love picking out pumpkins, but we also usually get a few partly because I want the seeds.

    I scoop them out, clean them, season them, and bake them until they’re crisp. There is something about the smell of pumpkin seeds roasting in the kitchen that immediately makes the house feel like fall.

    I’ll add my simple baked pumpkin seed recipe here soon.

    I just need this Georgia weather to cooperate long enough for me to actually go buy a pumpkin first.

    2. Have a Slow Fall Morning at Home

    Not every fall memory needs tickets or reservations.

    One cool Saturday morning, I want to leave the pajamas on a little longer, make pancakes or waffles, open the windows if the weather allows, and let the morning take its time.

    Sometimes those are the days I remember most.

    3. Bake Something That Makes the Whole House Smell Like Fall

    Apple bread. Pumpkin muffins. Cinnamon rolls. Cookies.

    Honestly, I don’t even care what it is.

    Part of fall is having something baking in the oven while everyone keeps wandering into the kitchen asking when it will be ready.

    Preferably without destroying the oven this time.

    4. Go Apple Picking

    Apple picking is already one of our fall traditions.

    Young child carrying a bag of freshly picked apples through an orchard

    Every year we go, and the kids absolutely love it. We somehow always come home with more apples than we realistically need, which means I spend the next several days turning them into whatever I can think of.

    Apple pie. Apple butter. Something baked. Something new I suddenly decide to try because there are still twenty apples sitting on the counter.

    Honestly, that is part of the tradition too.

    5. Make the First Pot of Chili

    I have to admit that I am probably the biggest chili fan in our house.

    I make it so often that I already have several different kinds of chili in my recipe book.

    It has always been one of my favorite meals when the weather outside is stormy or gloomy, but in the fall it somehow hits differently.

    The smell of chili filling the house while it’s cool outside makes everything feel warmer and cozier.

    That first real fall pot of chili is one of those little things that makes the season feel official.

    6. Take an Evening Walk When the Leaves Start Changing

    No destination.

    No planned activity.

    Just go outside after dinner and walk.

    Two children walking beside a lake on a sunny fall family outing

    Let the kids collect leaves, notice which houses already have Halloween decorations up, and enjoy that little stretch of weather when it isn’t too hot and isn’t freezing yet.

    7. Have a Fall Movie Night

    Blankets on the couch. Popcorn. Something sweet.

    Everyone gets comfortable, we pick a movie, and for once nobody needs to be anywhere.

    The older my kids get, the more I realize these simple nights at home are traditions too.

    8. Decorate the House Together

    Putting out the fall decorations is one of those simple things that makes the season feel like it has officially arrived.

    Simple fall home decor with pumpkins and seasonal decorations

    The kids can help choose where things go, we can bring out the pumpkins and fall colors, and suddenly the house feels a little warmer and cozier than it did the day before.

    It doesn’t have to be complicated.

    It’s really just about creating that little feeling of fall at home.

    9. Visit a Fall Festival

    One local fall festival is enough for me.

    Give us pumpkins, food trucks, music, something for the kids to do, and preferably weather cool enough that we’re not sweating while pretending it’s fall.

    10. Make Caramel Apples

    Will they probably be messy?

    Yes. Will the caramel somehow end up everywhere except the apple?

    Also yes.

    But that is probably half the fun.

    11. Have a Backyard Fire Night

    When the evenings finally cool down, I want one night outside with a fire, blankets, and marshmallows.

    Nothing elaborate.

    Just sitting together long enough for everyone to smell like campfire smoke afterward.

    12. Let the Kids Pick Their Own Pumpkins to Carve or Paint

    I have learned that children’s ideas about the perfect pumpkin and mine are rarely the same.

    Carved pumpkin displayed at home during the fall season

    So this year, everyone gets to choose their own.

    Crooked, tiny, enormous, strangely shaped — whatever they fall in love with.

    13. Take the Fall Photos

    I love having pictures from our family days.

    The pumpkin patch, apple picking, a pretty fall walk, the kids holding pumpkins they chose themselves — these are the kinds of pictures I know I’ll be happy to have years from now.

    14. Buy One Ridiculously Fall Drink

    Actually, I have a confession to make.

    I love fall. I love pumpkins. I will happily buy pumpkin-spice room fragrance, light a candle, decorate with pumpkins, and eat an unreasonable amount of roasted pumpkin seeds.

    But put pumpkin in my latte or dessert?

    Apparently that is where I draw the line.

    I am sure pumpkin spice lattes and pumpkin desserts are absolutely delicious. I have no evidence suggesting otherwise because, much like a stubborn little child, I tend to decide I don’t like them before I’ve even properly tried them.

    A little ironic, considering how enthusiastically I welcome pumpkin season into every other part of my life.

    So maybe this fall, instead of ordering my usual safe choice, I’ll finally try one ridiculously fall drink.

    Maybe.

    No promises.

    15. Have a Rainy Fall Afternoon With Nowhere to Go

    This might be the one I’m secretly hoping for most.

    Rain outside. Lamps on inside. Something baking or cooking. Everyone home.

    Books, movies, games, naps — whatever the day turns into.

    No productivity required.

    16. Make One New Fall Tradition

    I don’t know what ours will be yet.

    Maybe a certain meal we make every October. Maybe an annual fall movie night. Maybe visiting the same pumpkin patch. Maybe something completely accidental that the kids ask to do again next year.

    Some of the best family traditions aren’t planned as traditions.

    They simply happen once, everyone loves them, and suddenly we keep doing them.

    17. Let Some Fall Days Be Completely Ordinary

    This might be the most important thing on my list.

    There will be school mornings and laundry piles and grocery trips and evenings when nobody wants what I made for dinner.

    Fall doesn’t suddenly make ordinary family life disappear.

    And maybe that’s exactly the point.

    We don’t need every weekend packed with activities to have a beautiful season.

    Sometimes fall is a pumpkin patch.

    Sometimes it’s an apple picking.

    And sometimes it’s opening the windows on a cool morning, drinking something warm while the kids are still in pajamas, and realizing that this ordinary day feels pretty good exactly as it is.

    That’s the kind of fall I’m hoping for.

  • Why We Keep Going Back to St. Augustine: Our Favorite Things to Do With Kids

    Why We Keep Going Back to St. Augustine: Our Favorite Things to Do With Kids

    Some places are wonderful to visit once.

    And then there are places you somehow keep finding your way back to.

    For our family, St. Augustine has become one of those places.

    Our first trip was in September 2023. We went for a weekend, stayed in a hotel overlooking the water, parked the car, and barely touched it again. We walked everywhere, found some really good food, explored the historic streets, took a carriage ride through the city, and somewhere along the way, I completely fell in love with St. Augustine.

    Apparently, a weekend wasn’t enough.

    We came back in April 2025, this time with a new little addition to the family and an entire week to explore.

    And then we came back again in April 2026 for another seven days.

    That third trip didn’t exactly begin according to plan. Our vacation rental situation turned into an unexpected hotel stay, quite a few phone calls, and a very memorable first day. I shared that whole story separately because, well… it needed its own post.

    But once everything settled down, St. Augustine worked its magic on us again.

    After three family trips, we’ve found places we return to, restaurants we genuinely miss when we’re home, things the kids still talk about, and somehow even more things we haven’t managed to do yet.

    So this isn’t a perfectly timed three-day St. Augustine itinerary.

    It’s simply St. Augustine the way our family has come to know it: the places we’ve loved, the things we’d happily do again, and a few reasons we apparently can’t stop coming back.

    Walk St. George Street

    If there’s one place that feels like the center of our St. Augustine trips, it’s St. George Street.

    It’s the pedestrian street running through the historic district, filled with little shops, restaurants, historic buildings, sweet treats, and plenty of places to wander into when something catches your attention.

    And something always catches our attention.

    We’ve had pizza by the slice at Grandma’s Pizza, ice cream, fudge from Kilwins, soft pretzels from Ben’s Soft Pretzels, and probably more little snacks than I can remember.

    But one of my favorite memories from our very first trip had absolutely nothing to do with food.

    While we were walking, we came across a man with several animals. There were snakes—which I personally felt perfectly comfortable admiring from a very safe distance.

    But he also had a tiny squirrel he had rescued after it fell from its nest as a baby.

    The girls got to hold it.

    And it was adorable.

    That’s part of what I love about walking around St. Augustine. You can have a plan, but some of the memories you bring home happen simply because you were wandering around and stumbled across something unexpected.

    Explore Castillo de San Marcos

    Castillo de San Marcos was one of the first major historic attractions we visited, and it’s one I think is absolutely worth seeing with kids.

    We walked through the fort, explored the different areas inside, and learned about its history. There was enough to look at that the girls weren’t simply being dragged through another historical building while the adults read signs.

    During our visit, we also timed it so we could see one of the historic weapons demonstrations.

    Standing inside a centuries-old fort overlooking the water while hearing the boom of the demonstration is definitely one way to make history a little more memorable.

    And the views aren’t bad either.

    Visit the St. Augustine Alligator Farm

    On our second trip, we visited the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park.

    There are a LOT of alligators.

    Different species, different sizes, alligators underneath the walkways…

    Basically, if you came to Florida hoping to see an alligator, this should take care of it.

    The elevated boardwalks were one of my favorite parts because you can walk above the exhibits and get such a good view.

    There are also plenty of birds and other animals to see, so it isn’t only about alligators.

    My strongest secondary memory from that day?

    It was HOT.

    Very, very hot.

    If you’re visiting during warmer weather with children, bring water and plan accordingly. But we had a great time, and it’s somewhere I’d recommend for families who enjoy animals.

    Drink From the Fountain of Youth

    Yes, we actually drank the water.

    You almost have to, right? 😂

    The Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park was another place we finally visited during our most recent trip.

    There is plenty of history to explore, beautiful grounds to walk around, and the famous spring where visitors can taste the water.

    There are also peacocks wandering around the property, which obviously made everything more interesting for the kids.

    But something else I remember is the drive around that area.

    Those enormous trees stretching over the road from both sides create the most beautiful canopy. It’s one of those places that makes you want to stop the car in the middle of the street and take a photograph.

    I did not.

    Because I had children and a husband in the car, and apparently they prefer that I don’t stop traffic for my photography. 😂

    Admire Flagler College

    Even if you’re not particularly interested in college campuses, Flagler College is worth seeing for the architecture alone.

    It is beautiful.

    We arrived too late during our last visit to take the full tour, unfortunately, but we were still able to see portions of the building.

    And what we saw was enough to make me want to return and do it properly next time.

    This is one of those St. Augustine experiences that has officially moved onto the we’re-not-missing-it-next-time list.

    Visit Villa Zorayda

    After Flagler College, we visited the Villa Zorayda Museum.

    The building itself immediately catches your attention, but inside there is an incredible collection of art, antiques, furnishings, and historical pieces.

    This was another one of those places where I kept looking around thinking about how much history is packed into a relatively small area of St. Augustine.

    And because so many of these places are close together, it’s easy to combine several historic stops into one day without spending half of your vacation driving around.

    Visit the Lightner Museum — And Stay for Lunch

    The Lightner Museum has become one of those places we keep returning to.

    We’ve visited more than once, and one of my favorite parts is stopping for lunch at Café Alcazar, tucked inside the historic building.

    There’s something about having lunch surrounded by all that architecture and history that makes an ordinary vacation meal feel a little more special.

    The museum itself is beautiful, but honestly, even simply walking around this part of St. Augustine is something I enjoy.

    Take a Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride

    Our carriage ride during our first trip is probably one of the reasons I fell so hard for St. Augustine.

    We went in the evening and rode through the historic streets while seeing different parts of the city.

    It was slower.

    Quieter.

    And incredibly charming.

    You can spend the day walking from attraction to attraction, but seeing St. Augustine from a carriage gave us a completely different view of the city.

    I’d happily do this one again.

    Visit Potter’s Wax Museum

    A wax museum with children is basically an invitation to take ridiculous pictures.

    So naturally, we did. 😂

    Potter’s Wax Museum has all kinds of recognizable figures. The girls had fun walking around seeing who they recognized, and posing for pictures.

    It’s also a nice option if you need something indoors—something we appreciated during a trip when the Florida weather apparently forgot it was supposed to cooperate with our vacation plans.

    Walk Along the Waterfront

    Not every part of a family vacation needs an admission ticket.

    Some of my favorite St. Augustine moments have simply been walking.

    We’ve walked along the water, watched boats go by, spotted a floating tiki bar full of people having a much more energetic afternoon than we were 😂 , and wandered through the historic district with nowhere particularly urgent to be.

    Sometimes that’s when St. Augustine feels the most like St. Augustine.

    And Now… Let’s Talk About the Food

    Apparently, one of our family’s primary St. Augustine activities is eating.

    I didn’t realize quite how committed we were to this until I started remembering all three trips. 😂

    DJ’s Clam Shack

    If you like lobster rolls, please understand that I take this recommendation seriously.

    I LOVE lobster rolls.

    And DJ’s Clam Shack has one of my favorites.

    We’ve gone back multiple times, and during our latest trip we ate there more than once.

    I love sitting outside when the weather cooperates, especially when there’s live music. Between the food, the trees, the outdoor seating, and the atmosphere, it feels like you’re right in the middle of everything I enjoy about St. Augustine.

    River & Fort

    River & Fort is another restaurant we discovered and then deliberately returned to on our next trip.

    The food has been wonderful, and I have photographic evidence because apparently taking pictures of meals before allowing anyone to eat is now part of being a blogger. 😂

    The rooftop and location make it especially nice when you want dinner to feel like part of the experience rather than simply somewhere to eat.

    The Grouper Shack

    The Grouper Shack deserves a spot on this list simply because we kept finding our way back there. Of all the restaurants we tried in St. Augustine, this is probably the one we visited the most.

    It’s casual, easy, and exactly the kind of place that works when everyone is hungry and nobody wants dinner to become a whole production. Sometimes the places you remember most from a trip aren’t the fanciest ones—they’re just the ones that quietly become part of the routine.

    And apparently, for us, that was The Grouper Shack. 😂

    Columbia Restaurant

    This is another place we’ve returned to on multiple trips.

    We originally discovered it during our first visit and liked it enough to come back when we returned to St. Augustine.

    That’s probably the easiest way for me to tell you whether we’d recommend a restaurant: Did we go back?

    If the answer is yes, you already know. 😂

    Mayday Ice Cream, Kilwins… and All the Little Treats

    Family vacations require ice cream.

    I don’t make the rules.

    We’ve stopped at Mayday Handcrafted Ice Cream, Ben & Jerry’s, Kilwins for fudge, Ben’s Soft Pretzels, and various other places we’ve discovered while walking.

    And because St. George Street is so easy to explore on foot, grabbing something sweet and continuing to wander has become part of the experience for us.

    One of My Favorite Parts Isn’t an Attraction at All

    During our second visit, we rented a house in a neighborhood close enough that we could walk into the historic district.

    I loved that house.

    But what surprised me was how much I loved the neighborhood itself.

    The huge old trees, the porches, the architecture, the quiet streets…

    Something about it reminded me of my childhood.

    I couldn’t even tell you exactly what it was.

    Sometimes I would sit outside in a rocking chair, look around at all that charm, and feel like I’d been dropped into an old memory.

    That’s something St. Augustine does incredibly well.

    There are plenty of attractions to put on an itinerary.

    But the city itself is part of the attraction.

    Still on Our St. Augustine List

    After three visits, you’d think we’d be finished.

    We are not. 😂

    The Old Town Trolley Tour is somehow still on our list.

    We’ve seen the trolleys. We’ve passed the ticket booths. We’ve talked about doing it.

    And somehow, every single trip ends without us actually getting on one.

    So I’ve decided that’s our mission for next time.

    There are also places we’ve reached too late in the day to experience properly, including the full Flagler College tour.

    But maybe that’s not such a bad thing.

    You always need a reason to come back.

    Why We Keep Coming Back

    Our three St. Augustine trips have been very different.

    We’ve stayed in a waterfront hotel where we barely needed our car.

    We’ve stayed in a charming neighborhood where I could have happily spent an afternoon sitting on the porch.

    We’ve traveled with different ages and stages of our family.

    We’ve had sunshine.

    We’ve had rain.

    We’ve had heat.

    We’ve had weather so chilly that we wondered why we packed for Florida. 😂

    And we’ve had one vacation begin with a rental-property disaster that temporarily made us wonder what in the world we were going to do.

    But somehow, St. Augustine keeps winning us back.

    Maybe it’s the history.

    Maybe it’s the enormous trees hanging over the streets.

    Maybe it’s walking through St. George Street after dinner.

    Maybe it’s sitting outside eating a lobster roll while live music plays nearby.

    Maybe it’s watching the kids experience something we’ve already seen and discovering it differently through them.

    Or maybe it’s simply that St. Augustine has become familiar without becoming boring.

    We’ve been three times now.

    And somehow…

    I still have a list for next time.

  • When Your Vacation Doesn’t Go as Planned: What to Do Next

    When Your Vacation Doesn’t Go as Planned: What to Do Next

    You spend weeks—or sometimes months—planning a family vacation.

    You find the house. Make the reservation. Pack what feels like half of your home into the car. You get everyone out the door, survive the drive, and finally arrive ready to unpack and relax.

    And then…

    Something goes wrong.

    That’s exactly how our family vacation in St. Augustine started.

    After hours on the road with our three girls, we arrived at the vacation rental we had booked only to find construction surrounding the property. The road was torn up, access to the house was difficult, and with three children—including a toddler—it wasn’t a situation we felt comfortable with.

    Road construction and blocked sidewalks in St. Augustine, Florida

    Suddenly, instead of carrying suitcases inside and starting our vacation, we were trying to figure out where our family was going to sleep that night.

    If you’d like the whole story, you can read about how our St. Augustine vacation didn’t start as planned here.

    Thankfully, everything eventually worked out-and actually turned out better than we expected.

    But going through it taught me quite a few things.

    If I ever find myself standing outside a vacation rental again wondering, Well… what are we supposed to do now?, I will be much more prepared.

    So if your vacation ever takes an unexpected turn, here’s what helped us, what I learned, and what I would do differently next time.

    A Quick Note Before We Start

    Everything I’m sharing here comes from our family’s personal experience. Every reservation, property, booking platform, and situation is different.

    The solutions that were available to us may not be available in another situation, and I’m not suggesting that a rental company or booking platform is required to provide the same resolution we received.

    I’m simply sharing what happened to us, what helped, and what I would consider doing if we ever found ourselves in a similar situation again.

    1. First, Stay Calm and Figure Out What’s Actually Wrong

    Easier said than done, I know.

    When you’ve been traveling all day, the kids are tired, everyone is hungry, and you’re standing in front of the place where you thought you’d be sleeping that night, your brain tends to jump straight to:

    Our vacation is ruined.

    Mine certainly wasn’t thinking, What a wonderful opportunity to practice flexibility. 😂

    But before making any decisions, take a minute to understand exactly what the problem is.

    Can you safely access the property? Is the problem temporary? Is the property significantly different from what you expected? Is there something that makes you uncomfortable staying there?

    For us, the concern was the construction surrounding the house and the condition of the access around it, especially with our children.

    Once we knew we weren’t comfortable staying there as things were, we could focus on what to do next.

    2. Take Pictures and Document What You’re Seeing

    Before leaving, take pictures or videos of the problem.

    This became important for us because when we contacted the people helping with our reservation, they asked us to send photographs of what we were seeing.

    If something doesn’t match what you expected when you booked, I would also save anything relevant from the original listing and keep your messages and communication together.

    At that moment, you may be thinking only about solving the problem, but later you’re going to be very happy you documented what was happening while you were actually there.

    3. Contact the Host or Property Contact-and Your Booking Platform

    Once we realized we had a problem, the phone calls began.

    And, naturally, our phone service decided that this would be the perfect moment to barely work.

    Because apparently one vacation problem at a time would have been too easy.

    We contacted the people responsible for the property and also reached out through Vrbo, which was the platform we had used for our reservation.

    If you booked through Vrbo, it’s also worth checking their current guidance for problems with a property. At the time I’m writing this, Vrbo advises travelers whose property significantly differs from the listing to contact the host and report the issue to Vrbo within 24 hours of check-in.

    My biggest advice from our experience is to explain the situation clearly, ask what options are available, and keep important communication documented whenever possible.

    Don’t assume you already know what they will or won’t do. Ask.

    Every situation can be handled differently, and policies can vary, but you won’t know what options may be available until you explain what’s happening.

    4. Solve Tonight Before Trying to Solve the Entire Vacation

    This is probably one of the biggest things I would remember if this ever happened again.

    At first, it felt like we needed to solve everything.

    Where are we staying tonight?

    Where are we staying tomorrow?

    What about the rest of the vacation?

    What happens to the money we already paid?

    What do we do with three tired children?

    And where on earth are we supposed to put all these suitcases?

    But we didn’t actually have to solve the entire vacation at once.

    We needed somewhere safe and comfortable to sleep that night.

    Once we looked at it that way, the problem became a little smaller.

    We found a nearby hotel with an available room and decided to deal with the replacement vacation rental separately.

    Hilton Garden Inn in St. Augustine, Florida

    Sometimes the next step doesn’t have to fix everything.

    It just has to fix the next few hours.

    5. If You Need a Hotel, Keep the Receipt

    In our situation, we booked and paid for a hotel ourselves for that first night.

    We kept the receipt, sent the information to the representatives helping us, and ultimately the cost of our hotel stay was reimbursed.

    That was what happened in our particular situation. It doesn’t mean another reservation or booking platform will necessarily be handled the same way.

    If you need unexpected accommodations, I would ask the company you’re working with what they want you to do before booking, if you’re able to, and ask what documentation they need.

    And whatever you do:

    Keep. The. Receipt.

    Actually, keep everything until the situation is completely resolved.

    6. Don’t Feel Pressured to Take the First Option You’re Given

    When something has already gone wrong, there’s a strange pressure to accept the first solution simply because you want the problem to be over.

    The people helping us offered several replacement properties, and we genuinely appreciated that they were trying to find somewhere for our family to stay.

    But the options we saw weren’t the right fit for us.

    And I remember feeling like maybe we should just choose one because… well, what else were we supposed to do?

    Instead, we looked at other available properties ourselves.

    We found one that worked better for our family, sent it to them, and asked whether it could be considered.

    In our situation, it could.

    The same idea applied when we needed a hotel for that first night. We wanted somewhere we felt comfortable bringing our family, so we looked until we found an available hotel that worked for us.

    That doesn’t mean every situation will allow you to choose whichever property or hotel you want. Availability, price, policies, and the circumstances of your particular reservation can all affect your options.

    But I learned something important:

    You can be grateful that someone is trying to help you while still being honest that a particular option doesn’t work for your family.

    When you’re stressed, it can be tempting to accept the first solution simply because you want the problem to be over. But if an option genuinely doesn’t work for your family, it’s ok to politely ask whether there are other possibilities.

    Are there any other options?

    Would this property work instead?

    Can we book this hotel?

    The answer might be no.

    But it might also be yes.

    7. Think About the Awkward Day Between Checkout and Check-In

    This is something I hadn’t even thought about until we were living it.

    A hotel may require you to check out in the morning, while your new vacation rental might not be available until later in the afternoon.

    Which leaves you with several hours,

    children, luggage…

    and nowhere to go.

    Fun!

    If I were doing it again, I would ask the hotel about late checkout as soon as I knew we wouldn’t be able to access the replacement property until later.

    They may not be able to offer it. There may be an additional charge. It may depend on availability.

    But it doesn’t hurt to ask.

    Even an extra hour or two can make a difference when you’re traveling with children and trying to bridge the gap between two places.

    I’d also make a simple plan for those in-between hours.

    Maybe you have breakfast, explore somewhere nearby, have lunch, go to the beach, or choose an activity that works for your family.

    Sisters sharing ice cream in St. Augustine, Florida

    We continued enjoying St. Augustine while we waited, and looking back, I think that helped the vacation start feeling like a vacation again.

    8. Put One Night’s Necessities in One Suitcase

    Oh, this is one I would absolutely do differently.

    When you’re traveling with a family, “our luggage” isn’t exactly one cute little carry-on.

    If there’s even a small chance you could end up somewhere for only one night, the last thing you want to do is unload every suitcase from the car, drag everything into a hotel, and then pack the entire operation back into the car next morning.

    Next time, I would make sure everything we might need for one unexpected night is packed together and easy to reach.

    You could pack a small emergency overnight bag specifically for this purpose, which honestly might be a great idea. Or, if you’re like us and already have enough luggage traveling with a family, you could simply use whichever suitcase has a little extra room and put everyone’s basic overnight necessities together in that one.

    Pajamas, a change of clothes, toiletries, chargers, children’s nighttime necessities, any essential medications-basically whatever your family would need to get through one night.

    That way, if plans unexpectedly change, you can grab one bag or suitcase instead of unloading everyone’s luggage from the car.

    Hopefully we’ll never need it for this reason again.

    But after this trip?

    I’m definitely packing a little more strategically.

    9. Once You’ve Done What You Can, Go Back to Having a Vacation

    Once we had somewhere to sleep and knew people were helping us figure out the rest, there wasn’t much more we could accomplish by worrying about it every second.

    So we ate.

    We walked around.

    We explored.

    Girls looking at a historic building in St. Augustine, Florida

    The kids got a break from the car.

    And slowly, the day that had started as What in the world are we going to do? started feeling a little more manageable.

    Things weren’t going according to plan.

    But we were still in St. Augustine.

    We were still together.

    And we could still have a vacation.

    I think that’s one of the biggest lessons I took away from the whole experience.

    What I Would Do Differently Next Time

    Hopefully, there won’t be a next time.

    But if there is…

    I probably won’t be happy about it. I’m not that evolved. 😂

    I would, however, be much less panicked because now I know what to do.

    I’d make sure one suitcase contained everything we’d need for an unexpected overnight stay.

    I’d keep snacks and water easy to reach.

    I’d document the problem immediately.

    I’d save every receipt.

    I’d ask questions instead of assuming what our options were.

    I’d ask about late checkout.

    And most importantly, I wouldn’t feel like I had to solve the entire vacation in the first thirty minutes.

    I’d solve tonight first.

    Then tomorrow.

    Then the rest.

    And maybe that’s the real reason I’m sharing all of this.

    Not because there’s a perfect way to handle a vacation going wrong, but because sometimes knowing what your next step could be makes the situation feel a little less overwhelming.

    A Simple Vacation-Problem Checklist

    If you ever arrive somewhere and realize your vacation isn’t going according to plan, here’s the little checklist I wish I’d had:

    • Take photos or videos of the problem.
    • Save relevant reservation and listing information.
    • Contact the appropriate property contact, host, or booking platform.
    • Ask what options are available for your particular reservation.
    • If you need a hotel, ask how unexpected accommodations should be handled before booking when possible.
    • Save receipts and important messages.
    • If a replacement genuinely doesn’t work for your family, politely ask whether there are other options.
    • Ask about late checkout if you’re between accommodations.
    • Keep one night’s necessities together in one suitcase or emergency overnight bag.
    • Make a simple plan for the hours between checkout and check-in.
    • Once you’ve done what you can, try to enjoy the vacation you’re still on.

    Sometimes It Still Turns Out Better Than Planned

    Our St. Augustine vacation certainly didn’t begin the way I’d pictured it.

    There was construction.

    There were phone calls.

    There were tired children.

    There was an unexpected hotel stay.

    And there was definitely a moment when I wondered whether this was going to become one of those vacations.

    But it didn’t.

    We eventually moved into another beautiful home. In our particular situation, the financial side of the original reservation and unexpected hotel stay was resolved, and we went on to have a wonderful family vacation.

    Looking back, the messy beginning is now just part of the story.

    And maybe that’s what I’ve learned from more than just vacations:

    Plans can change without everything being ruined.

    Sometimes you just have to figure out where everyone is sleeping tonight, get some food into the kids, and deal with tomorrow… tomorrow.

    And sometimes, somehow, it still turns out pretty great.

  • Our St. Augustine Vacation Didn’t Start the Way We Planned

    Our St. Augustine Vacation Didn’t Start the Way We Planned

    “Sometimes the best vacations don’t begin with perfect plans. Sometimes they begin with yellow caution tape.”

    We had been counting down the days until our family vacation in St. Augustine.

    The suitcases were packed. The girls were excited. Snacks filled every empty space in the car, and after hours on the road we were already imagining what the first evening would feel like. We pictured unpacking, letting the girls explore the house, and finally taking that deep breath that says, Vacation starts now.

    Instead, we turned onto the street and were greeted by something we never expected.

    Yellow caution tape.

    Construction equipment.

    Blocked sidewalks.

    Road construction and blocked sidewalks in St. Augustine, Florida

    Freshly torn-up roads surrounding the house we had rented.

    For a moment, we just sat there in silence.

    “This can’t be right.”

    The house sat on the corner, surrounded by construction. Although we could physically walk to it, the entire area felt unfinished and unsafe – especially with three young children. It certainly wasn’t the relaxing start we had imagined.

    My husband immediately began making phone calls while I tried to keep the girls entertained.

    That turned out to be much harder than expected.

    When Everything Seems to Go Wrong…

    As if construction wasn’t enough, our phone service decided it was the perfect time to stop cooperating.

    The one moment we desperately needed Google Maps, hotel searches, and phone calls… almost nothing would load.

    We were hungry.

    The girls were getting tired after spending hours in the car.

    My toddler wanted out of her car seat.

    Instead of unpacking our suitcases, we found ourselves walking through downtown St. Augustine looking for somewhere to sit, eat lunch, and figure out what to do next.

    Father walking with his daughters through downtown St. Augustine

    While my husband stayed on the phone trying to reach someone who could help us, I wandered the streets with the girls, trying to keep everyone’s spirits up.

    Eventually we stopped for lunch at DJ’s Clam Shack.

    Looking back, that meal felt like more than lunch.

    It was a chance to breath.

    Lobster rolls, chicken tenders, fries, and chowder at Dj's Clam Shack

    A Little Hope

    After several phone calls, we finally reached the guest-services contact for the rental.

    She was incredibly kind and genuinely wanted to help. She encouraged us to contact Vrbo, assuring us that they would be helpful once we explained what had happened.

    Soon, my husband, the guest-services representative, and a Vrbo representative were on a three-way call, working together to find a solution.

    Because the construction should have already been finished, Vrbo began looking for another property for us.

    The only challenge?

    We needed somewhere to sleep that night.

    After lunch I called a nearby Hilton Garden Inn and thankfully they had one room available.

    Family luggage gathered inside a Hilton Garden Inn room in St. Augustine

    Honestly…

    We liked it so much that we considered staying there for the rest of our vacation.

    After such a stressful afternoon, simply having a place to shower, change into pajamas, and sleep felt like a gift.

    Toddler looking through the window of a hotel room in St. Augustine

    The Unexpected Upgrade

    The following day, we learned the Vrbo had found another house for us.

    The replacement rental cost more than the original one, but Vrbo covered the difference, reimbursed us for our night at the hotel, and made everything right.

    When we finally arrived…

    Everything changed.

    The house was beautiful.

    It had windows stretching across the front, overlooking a peaceful lake.

    Every morning we gathered around the table with breakfast while sunlight reflected across the water.

    It became one of my favorite parts of the entire trip.

    Cozy breakfast nook beside windows overlooking the lake in a St. Augustine vacation rental

    Funny enough, if everything had gone according to plan…

    We never would have stayed there.

    What We Learned

    If you’re planning a family trip to St. Augustine, here are a few things our experience taught us:

    • Always keep the contact information for both your booking platform and your rental property handy.
    • Have a backup hotel in mind, just in case.
    • Pack extra snacks and drinks for unexpected delays.
    • Stay calm when plans change—you never know how they’ll turn out.
    • Give people the chance to make things right. Both the guest-services representative and Vrbo truly did.

    Sometimes the Detour Becomes the Story

    When I think back on our St. Augustine vacation, I don’t remember the frustration first.

    I remember breakfast by the lake.

    I remember the girls exploring the new house.

    I remember walking through the beautiful streets of St. Augustine together.

    I remember feeling grateful that everything eventually worked out.

    Our vacation didn’t begin the way we planned.

    But sometimes life has a funny way of replacing the story we expected with one we’ll remember even longer.

    And honestly…

    I wouldn’t change the ending.

    Two sisters sitting beside the waterfront in St. Augustine, Florida
  • The Strawberry Bread That Killed My Oven

    The Strawberry Bread That Killed My Oven

    A strawberry chocolate chip bread recipe, an oven disaster, and one unforgettable family dinner.

    Some evenings go exactly as planned.

    This wasn’t one of them.

    The plan was simple.

    I was making fried shrimp for dinner, and while it cooked, I had a loaf of strawberry bread baking in the oven. I imagined the smell of fresh strawberries filing the house while we ate dinner. The kind of evening that feels ordinary but somehow special at the same time.

    Strawberry chocolate chip bread before baking in the oven.

    My parents happened to stop by for dinner too, which made it feel even nicer.

    Dinner was planned.

    The bread was baking.

    Everything was going according to plan.

    Or so I thought.

    For months, our oven had been acting a little strange.

    Every now and then it would shut itself off in the middle of baking. Lately it had started making noises that sounded suspiciously like a Transformer preparing for battle.

    I kept joking about it.

    My family laughed.

    The oven continued its dramatic performance.

    I should have taken the hint.

    Strawberry chocolate chip bread baking in the oven.

    At one point I checked on the bread and noticed it didn’t seem to be baking properly.

    After nearly an hour, the center still looked far too soft.

    That was strange.

    This recipe had worked before.

    The timing should have been right.

    So I opened the oven to investigate.

    And that’s when I saw flames coming from the fan area inside the oven.

    Actual flames.

    Not the cozy baking kind.

    The “turn everything off immediately” kind.

    Needless to say, the oven was done for the night.

    Possibly forever.

    The bread wasn’t exactly finished either.

    At that point I assumed the entire loaf was ruined.

    I turned the oven off, covered the loaf with foil, and left it sitting in the remaining warmth while I figured out what to do next.

    Dinner still had to happen.

    Thankfully, the shrimp was going into the deep fryer, so at least part of the meal was safe from the chaos unfolding in the oven.

    The baby potatoes and vegetables were another story.

    Since they were supposed to finish cooking in the oven, I ended up carrying everything outside to the grill instead.

    At that point I was trying to save dinner, save dessert, and figure out whether we still had working oven.

    The oven was broken.

    The bread looked questionable.

    The evening had officially gone off the rails.

    After dinner, we finally decided to cut into the bread.

    We were fully prepared to confirm that it was a complete disaster.

    After all, the oven had practically caught fire.

    The loaf had spent part of the evening wrapped in foil.

    And it certainly wasn’t winning any beauty contests.

    When I finally cut into it, it looked nothing like the beautiful loaf I had imagined photographing for the blog.

    The center had collapsed.

    The strawberries had turned into gooey, messy filling.

    The whole thing looked more like a strawberry cobbler trapped inside a loaf of bread.

    Strawberry bread after an oven malfunction during baking.

    And somewhere between the bread refusing to behave and the oven deciding to retire mid-recipe, I thought my carefully planned blog post had disappeared.

    And then something unexpected happened.

    The bread tasted amazing.

    Not just good.

    Actually amazing.

    Warm strawberries.

    Chocolate chips.

    Soft cake-like crumbs.

    Everyone kept taking another piece.

    And another.

    And another.

    Partially sliced strawberry chocolate chip bread after baking.

    The loaf wasn’t pretty.

    It definitely wasn’t Pinterest-perfect.

    But nobody cared.

    We stood around the kitchen laughing about the oven while eating piece after piece of strawberry bread.

    The recipe survived.

    The oven did not.

    Years from now, this will be one of those memories where we say:

    “Remember that strawberry bread that tasted amazing and killed the oven?”

    And somehow, that’s exactly the kind of story I want to remember.

    Not because everything went right.

    But because it didn’t.

    The bread failed to look the way I wanted.

    The oven gave up.

    Dinner changed course.

    My parents happened to be there for all of it.

    And somehow we still ended the evening gathered around the table, laughing and eating dessert.

    The best memories rarely happen when everything goes perfectly.

    They happen when dinner still gets made, family shows up unexpectedly, something goes terribly wrong, and everyone laughs anyway.

    Those are the ordinary days that end up becoming the stories.

    Life is ridiculous sometimes, but we ate the bread anyway.

  • Strawberry Picking with Kids: A Simple Spring Family Tradition

    Strawberry Picking with Kids: A Simple Spring Family Tradition

    Looking for a simple spring activity to enjoy with your children? Strawberry picking with kids has become one of our favorite family traditions. This year, a sunny afternoon at the strawberry farm turned into one of those ordinary days that ended up becoming a favorite memory.

    There are some days that take a lot of planning.

    And there are days that remind you that the simplest things are often the most memorable.

    A few days ago, we decided to go strawberry picking. After weeks of rain in the forecast, we finally saw one beautiful sunny day ahead and decided to make the most of it. Strawberry picking has become one of our favorite spring traditions, and we knew we couldn’t let the season pass us by.

    I was working on my blog with a cup of warm tea beside me and the window cracked open. A light breeze drifted through the room when I suddenly remembered something.

    Strawberry-picking season.

    And we were about to have rain every day in the forecast.

    I called my husband and suggested we go. He agreed right away.

    Easier said than done.

    The girls were still at school, my toddler needed to be ready, snacks had to be packed, water bottles filled, and somewhere along the way we completely forgot that my daughter’s violin lesson was that afternoon.

    By the time everyone was finally home, excitement had taken over.

    The girls practically flew through the door when I told them where we were going.

    Then the doorbell rang.

    Violin.

    Oops.

    We rushed through the lesson, laughed at our forgetfulness, and before we could change our minds, we were on our way.

    Phew. What an adventure just getting out the door.

    We usually visit early in the morning, when the farm is bustling with families. This time it was already late afternoon. No one at the fields by us. It was so different seeing everything so calm. We were so used to see lines of people waiting to buy tickets, and just trying to make happy memories like the rest of us.

    The fields felt calm and peaceful, rows and rows of bright red strawberries stretched out before us.

    The girls immediately ran ahead, searching for perfect berries hidden beneath the leaves.

    While the girls raced through the rows searching for strawberries, my husband and I followed behind, enjoying the rare quiet moment.

    Meanwhile, my toddler had concerns of her own.

    The grass was touching her legs.

    Apparently this was a serious problem.

    She spent the first few minutes alternating between picking strawberries and protesting the existence of grass altogether.

    Before long, the buckets began to fill.

    As we had these beautiful strawberries in our buckets, kids also had them all over their outfits.

    But clothes can be washed (hopefully).

    The memories are what last.

    After we finished picking, we wandered over to the animals.

    My toddler became completely fascinated with one particular goat.

    She would carefully walk toward it, reaching out to pet it.

    The goat would calmly flick its tail and walk away.

    So she followed.

    Again.

    And again.

    The goat remained patient.

    My toddler remained determined.

    I’m still not sure which one was more stubborn.

    The farm also had a giant jumping pillow built into the ground.

    The girls immediately took off running toward it.

    At first, I stood on the side watching.

    Then I decided life is too short to always be the person holding the bags.

    So I climbed on and started jumping with them.

    For a few minutes, I forgot about work, laundry, emails, and everything waiting for me at home.

    I felt like a kid again.

    We laughed, bounced until our legs were tired, and raced to the giant slides afterward.

    As we went down together, it suddenly felt less like a farm and more like one of those perfect afternoons in your own backyard where nobody is watching the clock.

    By the time we loaded four buckets of strawberries into the car, my husband and I couldn’t help but laugh.

    We had picked far more than we needed.

    But maybe that wasn’t the point.

    The point wasn’t the strawberries.

    It was spending the day outdoors together.

    It was following a stubborn goat around the farm.

    It was laughing on giant slides and jumping until our legs hurt.

    The strawberries will eventually be eaten.

    The memories will stay much longer.

    The drive home was filled with tired smiles, red-stained fingers, and discussions about everything we could make with our strawberries.

    Jam.

    Desserts.

    Ice cream.

    And, of course, plenty of strawberries eaten straight from the bucket.

    As mothers, we often feel pressure to create elaborate memories for our children. But standing in that strawberry field reminded me that children don’t always need grand adventures.

    Sometimes they simply need a sunny day, a bucket, and permission to wander.

    Strawberry picking has become one of our favorite spring activities, and it’s a tradition I hope we continue for many years.

    Because the truth is, the beauty of ordinary days is often found in moments exactly like these.

    Do you have a simple spring tradition with your family? I’d love to hear about it in the comments.

  • Finding Beauty in a Busy Morning

    One morning, I found myself in one of those mornings.

    The kind where everything feels rushed before the day even begins.

    Getting the girls ready for school, making sure everything is packed, thinking about what still needs to be done at home, what work is waiting, what the rest of the day will look like. My mind was already full, and the day hadn’t even really started yet.

    We got in the car and joined the line of morning traffic.

    Cars everywhere. Everyone going somewhere. It felt like the world was already moving fast, and I was just trying to keep up.

    I remember thinking about everything I had to do.

    What I needed to clean.

    What I needed to finish.

    What I hadn’t done yet.

    It was one of those realistic, busy, overwhelming mornings that most of us know too well.

    And then…

    Something unexpected happened.

    The line stopped.

    Right at the perfect spot.

    Not just for a second…

    but long enough for me to actually look up.

    A quiet pause in the middle of a busy morning.

    And right there, in front of me, the sky was glowing in the most beautiful shade of pink and red.

    It was one of those moments that feels almost unreal – like it wasn’t meant to be rushed past.

    And for a second, everything around me felt quiet.

    The cars were still there.

    The day was still waiting.

    Nothing about my responsibilities had changed.

    But I paused.

    I just looked.

    And I breathed.

    It felt like I was given a moment I didn’t plan for, and probably would have missed if everything had kept moving.

    And I thought to myself…

    How many moments like this do I pass by every day?

    Not because they aren’t there –

    but because I’m too busy to notice them.

    That morning didn’t suddenly become easier.

    I still had everything waiting for me.

    But something shifted, just a little.

    A reminder that even in the middle of busy mornings,

    even in traffic,

    even when life feels full…

    There are still moments of beauty.

    And sometimes, they come to us.

    Unplanned.

    Unexpected.

    Right when we need them the most.

    A Quiet Reminder

    Maybe we don’t always need more time.

    Maybe we just need to notice the moments that are already there.