As we plan for our upcoming travels this July, we can’t help but look back at the fun we had on our 2014 family summer vacation. With stops at the Grand Canyon, Sedona, and Hawaii, it was one of those trips you hoped would not come to an end!

We began our adventure visiting one of the most awe-inspiring landscapes in the world, Grand Canyon National Park!  There was something incredibly peaceful about looking out at the  beauty and the vastness of the canyon. One of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Grand Canyon is roughly 4 to 6 million years old: Standing there and sharing this experience with loved ones as they take it all in for the first time is indescribable and priceless!

Our trip in Arizona did not stop there.  We set south to Sedona through the visually-stimulating Red Rock country and past the most stunning towering rocks.  We felt like we were in an old-time western movie!  This place is a landscape photographers dream!  Every twist and turn of the road provided jaw dropping views.  We really enjoyed hiking through the trails and exploring the area.

Leaving the beauty of Arizona behind was a difficult task made easier when you know that you are headed towards paradise.  Next stop: Hawaii!  The island of Oahu is home of some of the most gorgeous beaches on the planet.  Our first night was spent overlooking the surfers on Waikiki Beach and in no time at all we were into the Aloha spirit!

The remainder of our Hawaiian getaway, we stayed at Disney’s Aulani Resort.  We were not disappointed!  This place had something for everyone in our party from young to old.  From big water slides,  the lazy river and the luau, all the way down to the tiniest hidden Mickey detail, everything about Aulani felt magical.  Bobby did not want to leave the resort and mom loved it!

Our trip to Hawaii wouldn’t be complete without exploring the island.  We climbed the top of Diamond Head, we visited the Pearl Harbor memorial, took a tour around Kualoa Ranch, and of course had to have some shaved ice on the North Shore.  Needless to say, everyone had an amazing time!