::6 Things we do to have BIG Epic Family Vacations:: Part Uno.

(This is a two-part series, with fun things to do while on vacation with kids.) 

In years before we have done fun vacation in Texas but in 2016 we ventured really far away from home. And, it was amazing. 

So, last summer our family took our first BIG Epic family vacation! And, that it was. Since the kids have been born we haven't done big vacations and we have only flown with the 3 of them (one of them being my nephew, which him and his mom travel with us, my only Sister) once for an emergency trip to Detroit to see my Aunt. 

But, ever since we figured out that our Dos (2) could last a couple of hours on the road, we started doing small Texas road trips, gradually building them up to last year's 12-hour road trip to Destin, Florida! Where we rented an apartment for a week and had SO much fun! Here is a list of our TOP 6 things we do to have GREAT family vacations! 

Our vacation consisted of my parents, my sister, my nephew, my brother, my sister in law, my sister's friend, and us four! 

1) We stop at the rest stops and make it a fun learning experience and picture opportunity: 

From Texas to Florida we stopped at every state line and not only took it as a potty-kid break we also learned about the new state and took pictures, Santiago was learning about the state capitals last year so we had to stop and reiterate what each state capital was! (Texas -Austin, Louisiana-Ba-ton Rou-ge, Mississippi- Jackson, Alabama- Montgomery and finally Florida-Tallahassee) 

2) We have become major beach bums, my kids LOVE the sun, sand, and ocean: 

This past year the boys (my son and my nephew) were big enough to learn to body surf on their boogie boards. They loved it, Cam learned too! Everyone laid out on the beach before and after the crazy rain storms, haha.  You would seriously think my kids were born on the beach, there is just something about it that gives them so much life. So we tried to live on the beach as much as we could. 

3) We enjoyed the pool just as much as the beach: 

Once it got too hot on the beach we would cool off in the pool or if it was too dark and we would get kicked off the beach. The kids loved the pool and the hot tub in our condo complex. My Cam was a little fish in water. We had fun and the kids practiced their swimming skills and learned to play pool games!

4) We looked into kid friendly site seeing and went out to eat and found fun places for the kids to explore! 

This is usually my Husbands favorite part, our major resource is Yelp and Google, both are highly accurate at locating kid-friendly restaurants and other local kid-friendly resources. As the kids have grown we have learned to find age-appropriate sites and activities.  We found the Harbor Walk Village with tons to do in Fort Walton beach. 

5) We ride along with Pirates on big ships in an open sea!!! 

One of our favorite parts of a past beach trip to South Padre Island here in Texas was finding a Pirate Ship with a fun adventure for kids and families. So, when we visited Destin, Florida we discovered they had one as well! Only this time we shared the experience with our whole family and it was so much fun! The kids get to become honorary pirates and dance and do a treasure hunt. It's probably one of the more expensive parts of our trip but worth it. 

6) We enjoy every minute no matter how chaotic! 

When you get 8 adults and 3 kids on a 12-hour trip and then try to coordinate activities and food times and likes, it can be crazy. But, no matter how crazy times get we make the most of it and enjoy every moment we get together. More than anything we make sure the kids have fun! And, that's all that matters t us all... 

"Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you will look back and realize they were the BIG things!"-Anonymous 

::Fall in Love with Colonial Antigua, Guatemala:: Leslie~Guest Houston Latina Blogger

**This is a guest post provided by a fellow Houston Latina Blogger**

FALL IN LOVE WITH COLONIAL ANTIGUA, GUATEMALA

By Leslie of Life with Salsa

Our Guatemalan adventure took us from Guatemala City, to Solola, to Jutiapa, back to Guatemala City, to the jungles of Tikal and now we were finally heading to my favorite place, La Antigua Guatemala!

FALL IN LOVE

While everyone we met along the way kept trying to tell my husband that he wouldn’t like Antigua as much as the rest of the places we visited. I didn’t care what they said, I fell in love with the city since the first time I went there with my mother years ago. Well obviously they don’t know my husband either because he fell hard in love with it, so much he wants to move there.

It’s really hard not to get attached to this adorable city filled with so much history. It’s a tourist destination, people from all parts of the world want to experience Antigua and some of them stay. Other like my husband start his plan on how he can go and stay forever.

Antigua is a gorgeous Spanish colonial city that has kept its charm by only allowing to build and restore in the same style over the years. Similar to the rules of the French Quarters in New Orléans. The architecture is not the only thing you will love. Its history is never-ending and around every corner.

HISTORY

Antigua Guatemala translates to Ancient Guatemala. I believe its translation was because what is now Guatemala or Guatemala City was not there. The Kingdom of Guatemala began in other parts and its third was Antigua.

I was always told that Antigua was the prior capital of Guatemala before a major earthquake forced its survivors to move to now Guatemala City. I decided to do research and Ciudad Vieja in Antigua was one of the places that the capital once was. The Volcano of Water or Volcan de Agua erupted and destroyed it. Then they rebuilt still close to Antigua, then an earthquake destroyed the city again.

THE STRUCTURES

The city is filled with old ruins structures of churches, convents and monasteries. You will walk by a beautiful home or hotel and next door is the structure of this ancient building. It’s breathtaking!

The Palace or what is called the Captain General’s Palace is in the center of the city. We walked by it, went it and gawked at it in the morning and at night. You can’t help but try to imagine all the stories and what the walls have seen throughout the years.

Across the street is City Hall which is just as majestic. We sat in central park or la plaza one night and there was a very interactive celebration that started at city hall, went through the park and ended at the Captain General’s Palace.

San José Church is right next to City Hall. Beautiful and always being photographed. The best photographs to me were at night. It has an interesting feel watching it from the central park lit up.

Convento de Santa Clara was the first ruin that I took hubby to, and he was caught off guard. I had told him all about my love for this city and the ruins of all the structures but I don’t think he had really imagined it.

Casa Santo Domingo is now a luxury hotel but it was once ruins. You can enter the hotel and walk around and see what is left of the structure. Worth to stop by and see one of the places I want to get married in.

La Merced Church is bright yellow and has its own charm. Plus there are a lot of street food vendors in that park if you get lucky. About a block away is the Arc of Santa Catalina. Very popular, hard to get a photograph without a ton of people in it.

Church of Las Capuchinas I have to say was one of my favorites. It felt eerie and welcoming at the same time, if that makes sense. I think it’s the essence of how old it is that made me feel that way. The chapel is so romantic and I was told they hold weddings there.

San Francisco Church is pretty big and sits on a large piece of property. It’s one of the older churches and it is being restored. There are a lot of vendors on the property and food vendors. Apparently since it is private property they can sell there.

There are so many more ruins and you can tour several of them but we couldn’t make it to all of them. We took our time with the ones that we went to see. There is too much to see and read plus you pay to tour so you don’t want to just run through them. Just another reason to return.

CLEAN & SAFE

No matter what you see or hear about the dangers of traveling abroad, I can honestly say we felt so safe walking this city, even late at night in Antigua. There are cops patrolling and from what I was told from locals is that they also have tourist police. Which makes sense since their economy is largely based on tourism they don’t want crime to scare us away.

I remember my other visits and don’t remember Antigua ever ugly but this time it was more pristine. Everything was so clean, no graffiti or trash on the streets. I didn’t even see stray dogs, which you see in several parts of Guatemala.

I talked to several expats that we met during our stay. We are not particularly shy especially when we have things in common with people. They explained that the Mayor of Antigua was doing a great job at keeping the city clean and tourists happy. If you go to any touristic area in Guatemala, you can’t hide, THEY know you’re a tourist, you get attacked by the street vendors. This did not happen in Antigua. In fact it was rare that you saw any. Unless you were in private property like a church courtyard or if the church had a park. This allows you as a tourist to actually see the city and not be fighting off sales people. If you’re like me and want arroz con leche for breakfast you end up walking half the city to find it at a church park. So delicious, it was worth the walk and the 5Quetzales, which is 65 cents!

I did find that a lot of the restaurants in the heart of Antigua although good, catered more to tourists and you paid the same for a meal as you would here at home.

So we ventured off to eat elsewhere. We were also still full from all the food we ate throughout our Guatemalan adventure. We really stuck to snacking. Whenever I saw a street vendor making a doblada or a pupusa that was my meal. Hubby was happy to get his fruit with chile.  Our hotel was close to central park so we walked to a panaderia (bakery) and got local sweet bread and juice for breakfast.

FAVORITE

Our favorite thing of Antigua Guatemala? We stayed next door to an ice cream place on my list, recommended by Tripadvisor. It’s a small place called Sobremesa, the owner also has a restaurant around the corner with the same name and offers the ice cream there too. You HAVE to try it, several flavors of ice creams made with real ingredients. I want to say we tried six each in the few days we were there. Clearly we became obsessed!

If you’re heading to Guatemala make sure Antigua is on your list and take me with you!

::Visiting the Valley~Summer Road-trips:: Part Three

One of our last days in McAllen we visited the McAllen Nature Center. Filled with terrain and local plants. Some of my personal favorites are cactus and succulents. And, a reminder. Walk do not run. Life is filled with so much busy work, hastily decisions, and constant motion. What a perfect place to slow down, take in nature and family and remember to slow down. Life isn't always about the go, go, go, at times you should learn to listen to your heart, mind, and body and just relax. We have tried to do just that this summer. Relax and take it all in. Our road trips calm us and make us happy. 

On this day we truly enjoyed nature, it's creatures and of course one another's company. Family is so important during trying times, it's always great to have the memory of all the people who truly love us and whom we love. 

When I am in the Valley time tends to stop or slow down for me and I feel like I am at home. Because well I am. I wasn't born in South Texas but I spent my entire childhood and young adulthood there and it's my home. 

We also visited the Hidalgo Pump House, but I didn't know we needed a permit to take pictures, so I only got to take a couple. This was one. It's a great little area to learn about the water industry and it's history in the Valley. 

::Wordless Wednesday, Kinda:: McAllen Wall Art

On our last few visits to McAllen my Hubby had been wanting to take Santiago to a comic book store. My cousin, Alfredo, who lives there is a huge fan as well. So, just like a scene out of the Big Bang Theory, kinda, HAHA, we walked into Kaboom Comics in McAllen.  It was so much fun, plus they have an uber cool wall with Super Hero art, another one of my cousins {yes, I am Mexican, I have a ton of cousins.} drew one of the super heroes seen here. Pretty neat huh? 

On one of our drives back to our hotel we found this awesome sight, a beautifully lit building which we then found out was an art gallery and part of the McAllen Artwalk. 

In picture: Nuevo Santander Gallery

I want to go inside on our next visit.