{Personal Expressions} Snapshots of winter - 2010

We have had some winter thus far....snow, freezing rain, sleet, ice and now a warm front that promises 50deg weather for new year's eve...I'll take that, thank you!

Here are some snapshots of winter right in my backyard! - wanted to take these before all the snow melted away :)

{Travel Update} Weekend in Wisconsin - what a way to spend Christmas!

What do you do when you get a boatload of snow and more snow, sleet and ice is predicted in the forecast…why, you get out and have fun in the snow.

That’s exactly what we did when we made a quick trip to Wisconsin. We wanted some outdoor time, possibly hike around and snowshoe….So we packed the car with kids, dogs and other pets that we just could not leave behind (think fish!)…and drove for a few hours to a small town in Wisconsin.

We stayed in a cozy house overlooking a river, which was frozen, but still was so beautiful. We sledded to our hearts content anywhere we could find a small slope – be it just outside the house, on the road that lead to a dead end or the mound of snow pied on the side of the road! Each sledding experience was so excited for the kids and the adults got some thrills as well. We also went tubing in a place that was away from the crowds – almost a local hangout.

We walked on an icy river and had bonfire in the middle of winter. This was a totally new experience and now I wonder why we never thought of that before. The warmth of the fire against the cold air blowing is such an amazing contrast of experiences! – you will have to trust me on that :)

Do give us a shout to let us plan a winter getway for you..and your kids!

{Travel Update} Who says Illinois has no hills?...I beg to differ

Being in the mid-west for so many years makes a mountain lover like myself yearn for the sight of a slight hill, elevation or contour that resembles a mountain. Imagine my delight when my hubby discovered Starved Rock State Park a few hours outside of Chicago. We have been going to Starved Rock for many years now. We travel in summer, fall and even in winter. We have even camped in their campground!!!. 

Everytime we go, we discover something new - a new path to hike, a new vista to admire....new forest creatures to oggle at...

We certainly make good use of our Kelty carrier. Its the best!

A shout out to all the mid-westerners out there - especially the ones close to Chicago. Get out there and explore Starved Rock State Park. You will NOT be disappointed!

{Travel Log} Kayaking 101...201...and beyond | Midwest Outdoor Travel

Our family is largely water loving. We have a dog that loves to jump into any water she sees, kids who have recently discovered a love for splashing - be in the pool, tub or beach and nephews who participate in competitive swiming at a national level. So, it is only appropriate that the family enjoys kayaking as an activity.

We have done many kayaking trip around the country. Be in kayaking along a national lakeshore, kayaking in an obscure state park we stumbled upon in Florida or solo kayaking in the west. There is something so realxing and peaceful about kayaking. You can really relax and let your feet rest while your arms get a real workout rowing:). The views from a kayak are breathtaking and really unique. You never know what you might see from the water looking in-land or even in the water. We have spotted baby turtles that swam close to the kayak to check out the humans, aligators who thankfully passed us by without a second look and even beaver dams.

Check out some of the visats from our various kayaking trip and as always do give us a shout to let us plan a custom kayaking trip for you....and your kids...you will not be sorry! :)

{Personal Expressions} Snapshots | Naperville Lifestyle Photographer

Wanted to share some of my favorite snapshots..

Drop me a note if you can guess where these are from :)

{Travel Log} Camping in Sequoia National Park | California Outdoor Travel

There is something so captivating about sleeping in a tent snuggled in layers of sleeping bag and blankets, sitting by the campfire roasting marshmellows!

Camping in Sequoia National Park is truely an experience to remember. Know as the Land of Giants, this park is so beautiful. The landscape is so diverse – huge mountains, rugged foothills, deep canyons, vast caverns, and the world’s largest trees!. And not to mention so many black bears. We spotted 6 bears in the 3 days that we camped in the park - on the trail, on the sideway and not to mention crossing the road!

A visit to Sequoia is twice as sweet because there are two parks in close proximity to each other - Sequoia and Kings Canyon. The two parks have 14 campgrounds of which the majority are first-come, first-served.

There are multitude of activities in the park than range from driving around the famous Generals Highway loop that houses all the famous sequoia trees, participate in ranger led hikes or hit the backcounty trails for some specaticular views. No matter what the season there is always something to do and something to see at Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks.

Contact us to create a customized trip to these “Twin Parks” complete wth maps, itenaries and detailed “must sees”!

{Travel Log} Hiking in Glacier National Park | Montana Outdoor Travel

Although Glacier National Park was the country’s 10th National Park, it is by far the most picturesque park in the US. The park has over 700 miles of trails that lead to some of the most spectacular scenery on the planet.


Glacier National Park attracts over two million visitors each year. There are many different facilities and attractions in the park from driving, hiking, camping, horse riding, and boat tours. There is something to interest everyone particularly kids. There is plenty of wild life to be seen and that surely interests youngsters and adults alike.

The average visitor spends three to four days in the area, although you easily could fill a week with activities in the park. We spent 5 days in the park with two kids under the age of 5! In those 5 days we hiked on average of 3-4 miles most days and saw plenty of wildlife from black bears to moose to bald eagles and white-horned sheep. We even took a boat ride on a boat that was built on a lake right in the park and has been in service since 1924!

Even though the park has 13 campgrounds within the boundries of the park itself, we stayed in a cozy cabin 15 minutes from the park. The campground reservations get sold out very quickly!

One of the main roads in the park, the ‘Going-to-the-sun’ road is a must see. Rather it is a must drive. The views are simply breadthtaking as the 50 mile road winds around the mountains and rises to an elevation of 6680ft (at the highest point) with some of the best sights in northwest Montana.

Investing in sturdy hiking shoes, a good camera with lots of extra battries and a kid carrier for families with young children is an absolute must for this park. But perhaps the most important thing to have when visiting Glacier National Park is a sense of adventure and the promise to yourself to step out of the car and go exploring!

Contact us to create a customized trip to Glacier National Park complete wth maps, itenaries and detailed “must sees” at this beautiful park!

Cataloging of trips begins

We have travelled as a family for several years now - both before and after kids. As I started to catalogue all the trips we have gone on for this venture, I realize that we are more active than the average family with kids. Not because we have to but because we want to. I want my kids to be aware of the great outdoors, experience watching a grizzle hunt for berries, see a moose wadding in the stream, spot a bald eagle on a tree, hike for 6 miles on a 1000ft elevation climb. Sure we can see all of this in National Geographic or read about this in a book but what a thrill it is to experience all of this first hand.


My daughter was so excited to have see 6 bears in one trip to Sequoia National Park. She was even more excited to spot a bald eagle and mountain goat through a looking scope in Glacier National Park. She did us proud by earning her Junior Ranger badge at the age of 5!


Please spend sometime and read through our catalogue of trips and know that it is never too early to instill a love of nature and the outdoors in kids. They really enjoy the time spent outdoors, you can bond as a family and truely learn not to sweat the small stuff.

Welcome to Memorable Jaunts

Hello there,

As we start our journey with Memorable Jaunts, we welcome you along for the ride and hope you have as much fun as we do as we start this new venture.

Thanks for stopping by! - come back soon :)

Feel free to contact us at info(at)memorablejaunts(dot)com