QT Family - Family Map Adventures

One Checkpoint Short — Our Most Successful Adventure Race

At the end of the race, our exhausted family was sprinting toward the finish line trying not to be late. Then suddenly, our daughter dashed ahead of us full of energy, racing toward the final checkpoint by herself. We still missed one checkpoint that day, but for the first time, clearing an adventure race course felt within reach.

City Museum St. Louis with Kids: What It’s Really Like (Crawling, Climbing, and Getting Lost)

City Museum is part playground, part maze, and something you really have to experience to understand.

City Museum in St. Louis isn’t really a museum—it’s a place to crawl, climb, and get completely lost. Here’s what a full day there actually felt like with a 5-year-old.

From Wisconsin Winter to a 90° Surprise: Our St. Louis Trip with a 5-Year-Old

From a last-minute plan change to a surprise 90° spring day, our St. Louis trip with a 5-year-old turned into one of our most memorable adventures—crawling through tunnels, climbing rocks, and seeing the Arch from miles away.

A 90° Spring Day in Missouri: Lone Elk, Elephant Rocks, and Johnson’s Shut-Ins with a Kid

Clear water and rocky landscape at Johnson’s Shut-Ins on an unexpectedly hot March day

A 90-degree day in March changed everything. What started as a backup plan turned into one of our most memorable days—driving through Lone Elk, climbing Elephant Rocks, and exploring Johnson’s Shut-Ins with a 5-year-old.

JW Marriott Anaheim With Kids: Is It Worth It?

The pool view from our room at JW Marriott Anaheim.

We compared Disneyland Hotel, Howard Johnson, and JW Marriott Anaheim for our February trip with a five-year-old. Here’s how the pricing, breakfast, location, and comfort factored into our decision — and whether JW Marriott was worth it.

How We Saved Money at Disneyland Without Missing the Magic

Visiting during Lunar New Year gave us seasonal entertainment without peak-season pricing.

Disney is expensive — but not every upgrade actually improves the experience. Here’s how we saved money at Disneyland with a five-year-old by focusing on the decisions that truly mattered, from ticket strategy to hotel benefits.

Two Days at Disneyland: Finding Magic Again

We didn’t just walk into a theme park. We walked into Lunar New Year.

Disney felt expensive. Overwhelming. Designed for long days and big energy — not for a five-year-old who still needs breaks and bedtime. But Disneyland was different. Smaller. Walkable. Manageable. So we went.

And somewhere between flying over London on Peter Pan’s Flight, racing through Radiator Springs, and watching her twirl in a line of little princesses, I realized something.

We weren’t trying to maximize the park.

We were choosing the moments.

This wasn’t the Disney trip where we did everything.

It was the one where we were fully present.

And that made it magical.

Author: QT Family