Seconds to Go

Mother-Daughter Travel Bloggers

Exploring New England, Oregon and Everywhere in Between

Get Out and Explore with Seconds to Go

We’re a mother-daughter travel blogging team, sharing our experiences adventuring, from coast to coast across the US. Although we're a travel blog, we aim to help the last-minute day tripper as well as those planning a vacation.

We’re turning our experiences into a series of “trips”, to help like-minded travelers easily find things to do. Explore each “trip” individually or string them together for a longer adventure.

If you need Disney World vacation planning advice and tips, we’ve got you covered as well. We’re drawing from over a decade of Disney World travel to provide you with all of the planning information you’ll need.

So, why not take a look around, and then, Get Out. Explore

ABOUT

Meet Kat and Ali

Mother-daughter travel bloggers exploring the U.S. coast to coast.

In the Solitude of Nature

Oregon Travel

dogs walking at MInto Brown Island State Park

Explore Minto Brown Island Park: The Most Dog-Friendly Place in Salem

Minto Brown Island State Park is the perfect dog lover’s paradise. This riverfront West Salem park offers walking, hiking, jogging, and swimming, all with the option to take man’s best friend with you! The Search for Dog Friendly Parks at the Halfway Point When I stumbled upon Minto Island Brown Park in Salem, I was … Read more

views from Rim Drive are what to do at Crater Lake

What to Do at Crater Lake-Best Bets for Your Visit

When thinking about what to do at Crater Lake, many people go right to the pristine, blue water of the lake itself, but the over 180,000-acre park has much more to offer. With historic lodges, dining, sightseeing drives and endless hiking trails, Crater Lake National park is an experience, not just a destination. We visited … Read more

Valley of the Giants: Oregon’s Tallest Hidden Secret

When it comes to visiting the Pacific Northwest, adventurers have a lot of choices, but none are as humbling as the Valley of the Giants Oregon trail near the now defunct town of Siletz. Accessing this special, sacred old growth grove requires an intrepid spirit, perseverance, and if traveling on a weekday, possibly a death … Read more

Silver Falls State Park in Oregon: 10 Awesome Waterfalls in a Single Day

Silver Falls State Park in Oregon is the largest park in the state at close to ten thousand acres. It features moderate trails through dense Oregon forest that bring you to a total of ten different waterfalls. The well-maintained trails, paired with the uniquely beautiful falls, make Silver Falls hike in Oregon a popular place … Read more

Visiting Oregon: 11 Things to Do When You Get There

When visiting Oregon, it may be hard to narrow down a list of things to do. So, we’ve put together this simplified visitor resource, a companion to our Oregon travel guide, to help you discover the top attractions, and scenic places in Oregon this magnificent state has to offer. Exploring the Outdoors: Scenic Places in … Read more

Royal Terrace falls on the McDowell Creek Falls trail

McDowell Creek Falls- A Mythical Oregon Hike

McDowell Creek Falls Oregon is a moderate hike located north of Sweet Home. It features beautiful forest views and serene boardwalk stairs leading to the base and summit of two waterfalls. Oregon Hike Views For us, the McDowell Creek Falls trail started out in a small gravel parking lot at the Royal Terrace Trailhead in … Read more

A Wild and Woolly Weekend

Yellowstone National Park

Exploring the beauty and majesty of Yellowstone in a single weekend.

History and Charm

Things to Do in New England

girl and golden retriever look inside Dover Stone Church

Dover Stone Church, Our Gateway to New York’s Abandoned History

By Kathleen Hesketh | January 22, 2023

As the fall laid down a blanket of leaves and blazed in glorious colors, it seemed a strange time to leave New England, but New York state is a magnificent bastion of historical references all rolled into one endless sweep of stunning terrain. And it’s just over the Connecticut border, where a place called Dover … Read more

Best Connecticut Hiking Trails: 7 Hikes that Will Knock Your Socks off

By Kathleen Hesketh | January 17, 2023

You don’t have to search long to come up with dozens of Connecticut hiking trails, but narrowing in on the best hikes in Connecticut often requires a little determination. Many are short, flat jaunts with little to pique your curiosity, while others dig deep into history or the ecological wonders of the state. These are … Read more

Sad Tales, Historic Remains: Lovers Leap State Park in Connecticut

By Kathleen Hesketh | January 16, 2023

Many of New England’s hikes blend history with the modern day, but few do it as seamlessly as the trails at Lovers Leap State Park in Connecticut. Explore history against the modern backdrop of the state’s rural New Milford countryside and learn a thing or two about local legends. It’s up to you to decide … Read more

6 Connecticut Winter Activities: The Perfect Way to Spend a Cold Day

By Kathleen Hesketh | January 2, 2022

Connecticut day trips are a great way to bust the boredom of gloomy winter weather, but if you think you’re limited in options by the snow or cold, don’t worry. We’ve put together our top 6 Connecticut winter activities for non-skiers, to help you get out and explore this winter. These experiences offer some great … Read more

Historic drum factory surrounded by New England fall colors

New England Fall Color, Incredible Ways to Enjoy the Season

By Kathleen Hesketh | September 26, 2021

When it comes to autumn spectacles, New England fall color is unbeatable. While many areas of the country sport their most dazzling displays in autumn, few come close to creating the same majesty as the tiny northeastern states. However, if you think we’re just being biased, why not put our claim to the test, and … Read more

A Former Stage Actor Builds Gillette Castle in Connecticut, Hides Its Secrets for Years

By Kathleen Hesketh | September 10, 2021

Traveling across New England, it isn’t uncommon to find historical residences, but Gillette Castle in Connecticut sets the stage, so to speak, for a unique experience and day trip. Entering the twilight years of his life, actor, playwright, director and innovator, William Gillette, built a stone house atop the Seven Sisters mountain range overlooking the … Read more

Our Sidekicks

Dog-Friendly Travel

Places to go with your furry friend and the gear you need when you get there.

Our Happy Place

Things to do at Disney World Besides the Parks

30 Epic Disney World Activities to Explore Beyond the Parks

By Ali Patton | April 20, 2023

Disney World is all about thrilling entertainment, but there are many things to do at Disney World besides the parks. Sometimes the hustle and bustle of the parks can get overwhelming, and you need a day to unwind. Or, perhaps you want to add another day to your vacation, without the cost of  park tickets. … Read more

Exterior of Disney's Grand Floridian REsort

Onsite Hotels at Disney World, Why Stay Anywhere Else?

By Kathleen Hesketh | April 10, 2023

With over 25 onsite hotels at Disney World, it’s common for travelers to the Florida parks to choose one of Disney’s eleaborately themed resorts for their magical vacation. To help you decide whether you should stay at a Disney hotel on property or select nearby accommodations, such as a good neighbor hotel, we’re providing some … Read more

Dumbo ride at Disney World

How to Afford Disney World in 2023: Insider Secrets for Doing Disney Cheap

By Kathleen Hesketh | April 2, 2023

According to a survey conducted late last year, over 90% of respondents feel that a Disney vacation is too pricey for the average family to afford. In fact, half have postponed a trip after being surprised by the cost of tickets or food and beverage. Unfortunately, these travelers don’t understand how to afford Disney World … Read more

How Does FastPass Work At Walt Disney World (Genie+)

By Kathleen Hesketh | March 29, 2023

How Does FastPass Work At Walt Disney World (Genie+) When we work with clients planning Disney World vacations, one of the first things we’re asked is how FastPass works at Disney World. Since you’ve landed on this page, you’re probably wondering the same thing. The first thing you’ll need to know is that the Disney … Read more

Slinky Dog Dash with Disney World Genie Plus booking screenshot

Using Disney World Genie Plus, the Magic Is in the Details

By Kathleen Hesketh | March 29, 2023

The new Disney World Genie Plus service was rolled out in October of 2021 with little fanfare, a few glitches and a whole lot of grumbling from past guests who were well accustomed to the former FastPass service. Similar to FastPass, Genie Plus allows you to skip the queue on popular attractions in favor of … Read more

Magic Kingdom castle with colored sky.

Experience a Whole New Disney World with Magic Kingdom Genie Plus

By Kathleen Hesketh | March 29, 2023

Roller coasters, spinning rides, thrills, drops and pleasant cruises, you’ll find attractions for all ages at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. With so much to see and do, using the Magic Kingdom Genie+ service can be a real time saver and make it possible to experience more of the magic during your vacation. To learn how, … Read more

Incredible Hikes

Explore 16 of the Best Oregon Hiking Trails

We love to get out and explore the unpaved path and even some paved ones. We've found some of the best hiking adventures in Oregon.

What Is Seconds to Go?

Travel Tips and Trips for people on the go.

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you have time to adventure out and explore, or maybe you want to take a trip, but don’t know what to do or where to go?

It used to happen to us all the time. We’d scour the web for ideas and suggestions but could never get the level of detail we needed to know if the experience was right for us.

As a result, we started “exploring”. That’s what we called our adventures when we’d get in the car and head out on a drive, just looking for something new and unique to do.

After years of traveling New England, Oregon and taking vacations to Disney World, we decided to share the knowledge and insights we gained from our adventures in a coast-to-coast blog of the U.S.

The result is a series of blog posts, each providing a no-hassle “trip”.

We are dedicated to low hassle travel, so even if you only have a few seconds before you go, each trip will quickly explain:

  • The time it takes to experience each trip
  • Special tips for making the most of each trip
  • Nearby destinations that you can visit

What you won’t find in a Seconds to Go trip:

  • Trips written about places we’ve never been
  • Trips based only on internet research with no personal point of view

So, if you’re looking for something to do, or want to plan a vacation, take inspiration from our trips and travel tips. You can even string our trips together for a longer day on the road. Maybe even a full vacation.

As coast-to-coast travel bloggers, it’s our goal to inspire you and provide the knowledge you need to quickly and easily create your own travel adventure.

We currently have a number of "trips for New England and Oregon. Look for detailed itineraries covering our other adventures coast-to-coast.

dogs walking at MInto Brown Island State Park

Explore Minto Brown Island Park: The Most Dog-Friendly Place in Salem

By Ali Patton | March 16, 2023

Minto Brown Island State Park is the perfect dog lover’s paradise. This riverfront West Salem park offers walking, hiking, jogging, and swimming, all with the option to take man’s best friend with you! The Search for Dog Friendly Parks at the Halfway Point When I stumbled upon Minto Island Brown Park in Salem, I was … Read more

views from Rim Drive are what to do at Crater Lake

What to Do at Crater Lake-Best Bets for Your Visit

By Ali Patton | March 5, 2023

When thinking about what to do at Crater Lake, many people go right to the pristine, blue water of the lake itself, but the over 180,000-acre park has much more to offer. With historic lodges, dining, sightseeing drives and endless hiking trails, Crater Lake National park is an experience, not just a destination. We visited … Read more

Valley of the Giants: Oregon’s Tallest Hidden Secret

By Kathleen Hesketh | February 26, 2023

When it comes to visiting the Pacific Northwest, adventurers have a lot of choices, but none are as humbling as the Valley of the Giants Oregon trail near the now defunct town of Siletz. Accessing this special, sacred old growth grove requires an intrepid spirit, perseverance, and if traveling on a weekday, possibly a death … Read more

Silver Falls State Park in Oregon: 10 Awesome Waterfalls in a Single Day

By Ali Patton | February 8, 2023

Silver Falls State Park in Oregon is the largest park in the state at close to ten thousand acres. It features moderate trails through dense Oregon forest that bring you to a total of ten different waterfalls. The well-maintained trails, paired with the uniquely beautiful falls, make Silver Falls hike in Oregon a popular place … Read more

Visiting Oregon: 11 Things to Do When You Get There

By Ali Patton | February 1, 2023

When visiting Oregon, it may be hard to narrow down a list of things to do. So, we’ve put together this simplified visitor resource, a companion to our Oregon travel guide, to help you discover the top attractions, and scenic places in Oregon this magnificent state has to offer. Exploring the Outdoors: Scenic Places in … Read more

Royal Terrace falls on the McDowell Creek Falls trail

McDowell Creek Falls- A Mythical Oregon Hike

By Ali Patton | January 25, 2023

McDowell Creek Falls Oregon is a moderate hike located north of Sweet Home. It features beautiful forest views and serene boardwalk stairs leading to the base and summit of two waterfalls. Oregon Hike Views For us, the McDowell Creek Falls trail started out in a small gravel parking lot at the Royal Terrace Trailhead in … Read more