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1 week ago | 
shebuystravel.com | Erica Bray
I scored major "cool mom" points by taking my almost 5-year-old daughter to Mall of America on a three-night vacation. Located just outside Minneapolis, MOA has drawn more than 40 million visitors a year since it opened in 1992. It's easy to see how it earned iconic status: indoor roller coasters, an aquarium with a walk-through tunnel, shops that stretch for literal miles. Back then, it felt like the future-and somehow, it still does.
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Feb 14, 2025 | 
frommers.com | Erica Bray
Articles / Travel Ideas / Outdoor & Adventure | Published: Oct 07, 2024 | Updated: Jan 10, 2025
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Feb 9, 2025 | 
miamiherald.com | Erica Bray
For Christmas, my family swapped snow for sand and headed to Beaches Negril for our first multi-generational vacation. Our group of 13, ranging in age from 4 to 73, chose the all-inclusive resort based on glowing reviews from travel agents and mom bloggers raving about its family-friendly vibe. As a mom of a 4-year-old, I was excited about the convenience that this resort promised.
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Dec 3, 2024 | 
nzherald.co.nz | Erica Bray
Step aboard the Jacobite steam train, the real-life Hogwarts Express, and journey through the Scottish Highlands in spellbinding style. Photo / West Coast RailwaysA Harry Potter-themed dream come true: what it’s like to ride the real-life Hogwarts Express in Scotland, by Erica BrayThe moment I stepped onto the train platform and saw The Jacobite, the whimsical music of the Harry Potter films began to play in my mind.
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Nov 8, 2024 | 
shebuystravel.com | Erica Bray
I kept animals top of mind while crafting our family’s Scotland vacation itinerary, a multi-week adventure that would start in Edinburgh and take us deep into the Scottish Highlands. The intent was mainly to keep my animal-loving toddler engaged during the journey. To my surprise, the animal encounters in Scotland didn’t just dazzle my daughter; they also became the most memorable trip experiences for me.
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Sep 20, 2024 | 
frommers.com | Erica Bray
The sound of bagpipes filled the air as I settled onto a patch of grass to watch burly men in kilts attempt to hoist and flip massive timber logs. I was about to witness a competition known as the "caber toss," a demonstration of strength, stamina, and strategy. This was my first Highland Games, which I attended in the seaside village of Arisaig. But you have lots of others to choose from; it was just one of more than 100 Highland Games held across Scotland annually, and they welcome visitors.
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Sep 19, 2024 | 
flipboard.com | Erica Bray
2 hours agoFrom Zimmermann to Zara. Forget keeping up with the ebbs and flows of trends. The little black dress (a.k.a. the LBD) will forever be a reliable staple to have on hand. After all, fall has become synonymous with party season. From autumn weddings to holiday soirées, having a dependable look that you …
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Apr 14, 2024 | 
cluballiance.aaa.com | My Reservations |Erica Bray
Road trips invite a sense of freedom and openness for spontaneity that structured group tour vacations simply cannot emulate. You’re able to move at your own pace, stopping and going as you please—and those stops along the way often lead to chance encounters that ultimately become precious souvenir memories. Ready to make some road trip memories of your own? Here is a curated collection of road trips across the USA that may inspire your next adventure.
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Mar 27, 2024 | 
cluballiance.aaa.com | My Reservations |Erica Bray
Travel insurance can be an overwhelming expense to consider atop an already costly vacation. Admittedly, even as a seasoned travel industry professional with three decades of globe-trotting under my belt, I have a moment of pause each time I’m confronted with this. Ultimately, I almost always purchase some travel insurance coverage, especially when it’s a complex international trip.
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Mar 14, 2024 | 
ace.aaa.com | Erica Bray
Taking the road less traveled often leads to wonderful rewards. When my guide in Badlands National Park turned off a 2-lane paved road onto a single-lane gravel road—one that caused our tiny van to rumble, veer, and skid—I held on to my seat in eager anticipation.
We were headed up Sheep Mountain Table, a backcountry setting in the park’s highest area. We passed only a few other vehicles on that bumpy journey, which foreshadowed a special (and uncrowded) spot.
