Category: Holidays

When you were younger, you had the entire summer off and vacation stretched out forever. Now there’s a good chance that summer comes and goes without any special vacation from your work. But if you’ve let this one slip away thus far, don’t worry. You still have time to get away for a week or two and recharge your batteries. The best spots may need a reservation further in advance, but the great thing about our country is that beautiful destinations are never too far away. So check out some of these last minute travel ideas.

Gulf Shores
Located on the Florida-Alabama border, this coastal getaway is beautiful this time of year. And while it’s a popular destination, you can look farther down the beach from the main drag for some accommodations that are more likely to have openings.

Horseneck Beach, Massachusetts
The crowds will be at Cape Cod, but if you’re looking for a last minute adventure with fewer people on hand, your best bet will be Horseneck Beach. It’s perfect for campers, but there are accommodations at the Paquachuck Inn, as well as a private dock for fishing and boating.

Lake Mead
If you’re in the area and don’t want to make a drive to the coast, then why not check out Lake Mead. You can visit the Hoover Dam and Black Canyon National Trail, and remember that the Grand Canyon isn’t far, either. And since the lake is down nearly 60% due to drought, hikers can access previously underwater sites like the Old West town of St. Thomas. A bit of a mixed blessing, but you might as well see it while you can.

Nashville, Tennessee
There’s just nothing like some live music in one of Nashville’s famed honky-tonks, and there’s plenty within the city to check out, as well. Great food, fantastic nightlife, and a friendly atmosphere make Nashville a perfect destination when you don’t have weeks to spend at the beach.

Cannon Beach, Oregon
Named one of the World’s 100 Most Beautiful Places in the June 2013 issue of National Geographic, Cannon Beach is a must see for anyone planning a quick getaway in the Pacific Northwest. Go for a stroll on one of the dozens of public beaches, warm yourself by a fire in the evening, or just take in the stunning scenery. You can’t miss with a trip to Cannon Beach.

Montego Bay, Jamaica
It might be a little out of your way, but there are frequent flights into Montego Bay and plenty of hotels to choose from. So even this late in the game you’ve got a chance to score some rooms. Unplug, relax, and take a dip in the warm waters—you’ll thank us when you get back.

You’ll have plenty of pictures from your vacation—even a last minute one—so remember to show them off in the best way possible, with a wifi cloud frame from Nixplay. Check out our wide selection today!

Beatrice Bisais

Bea is Nixplay’s Social Media Manager. She enjoys drinking coffee, reading about wars, and writing stories. Send her a message at beatrice.bisais@nixplay.com.

Family vacations are some of the most memorable times you’ll have together as a family. As the kids grow older and begin lives of their own, you’ll find that you aren’t able to get together for that trip to the beach every year. Something comes up, or someone doesn’t have enough vacation days left when you make plans. So cherish your family vacations while you have your whole family together.

Another reason those vacations are so special is because of the photos that you take. Memories of the beach are great, but they don’t beat the photos that remind you how young everyone looked and how much fun you were all having—and get you thinking about doing it again.

And if you’re like a lot of people, you’ll frame one picture from that vacation, probably the “best’ one, and place it somewhere in your house. Or maybe you’ll send that picture as your Christmas card this year. So what happens to the rest? They end up in a box or a photo album that gets pulled out once every year or so. Or you might post them all to Facebook, but really the same thing happens. How often do you get online just to look at pictures from that vacation three years ago?

There’s a better way to keep all your vacation memories fresh, and it doesn’t involve letting your pictures collect dust in a box or an online album. With a digital frame from Nixplay, all your photos will be right at your fingertips. Your digital frame makes it easy to store all your vacation photos, but you don’t have to pick and choose which ones you see. All you have to do is plug in your flash drive or click on your Nixplay mobile app, and you can create a playlist of all your photos from vacation.

So while you’re cooking in the kitchen, your digital frame will be sliding from one image to the next. Days at the beach, mini golf, dinner with the family—they’ll all be there for you to see without a hundred different frames taking up all your counter space. And if you’ve seen enough of that vacation, you’ll easily be able to set up a new playlist. Say, one from your first trip with all the kids, or maybe that couples’ vacation you took for your 20th anniversary. The point is, digital frames give you the freedom to pick and choose your favorite photos, and then actually get to see them every day.

And when you’re looking at vacation photos regularly, you’re going to remember just how much fun you were having in the surf, or exactly how relaxing that beach chair was. And that’s when you start planning your next vacation—and all the memories that come with it. So check out our wide variety of digital frames, and find the perfect one for you and your family photos.

Beatrice Bisais

Bea is Nixplay’s Social Media Manager. She enjoys drinking coffee, reading about wars, and writing stories. Send her a message at beatrice.bisais@nixplay.com.

“Home for the Holidays” isn’t just a sentimental song. When the holidays roll around each year, just about everyone wishes they could gather their entire extended family together in one spot to celebrate. And while some families are lucky enough to be able to do just that, others have members spread all across the country, or even the globe, who can’t make it for a Christmas visit.

If that’s the case in your family, what can you do to bring everyone closer together this Christmas, in spite of the distance? And if you’re one of the lucky ones, how can you maintain that Christmas closeness all year long? We’ve put together a list of ways to bring your family closer together, and keep them that way.

1. Share family traditions year-round.

Traditions are an important part of family identity and bonding, especially during the holidays. But it doesn’t have to be Christmas to share a tradition with family members, no matter how far away they live. Does Grandma have a legendary cake recipe? Distribute it to everyone in the family and have a long-distance bake-off each year! Points can be awarded for appearance, creative twists, and, since virtual tasting isn’t an option, most vivid taste descriptions from spouses and kids. Is your family into fishing? Hold a virtual fishing derby each year, measuring fish to see who wins the prize. By sharing a tradition, even long-distance relationships can be strengthened.

2. Write letters.

Writing letters may be old-school, but that just makes it even more special. It’s so rare to get a letter in the mail these days that when one does arrive, it makes a lasting impression. And that’s why it’s perfect for tightening those family bonds. Assign each family member a regular pen pal, or have everyone write to everyone else on a rotating basis. Encourage pen pals to include drawings, pictures, or even small gifts in their envelopes, as well. Looking forward to the next letter is a fun way to keep family on everyone’s mind.

3. Share photos via Nixplay Wifi Cloud Frames.

If you currently rely on email or social media to share photos with your extended family, they’re getting a glimpse into your life – but only a fleeting one. With your pictures sandwiched between their friends’ posts about their children, and updates from their favorite organizations, they just don’t have much staying power. When each household has their own Nixplay Wifi Cloud Frame, however, all that changes. Family photos can be sent directly and instantly to each frame from family members’ smartphones, and even customized with captions, so that an uninterrupted stream of family photos is displayed. Having that constant reminder of family in your home is the perfect way to keep in touch, keep up-to-date, and share experiences – which is exactly what it takes to bring family closer together.

So if you’re looking for ways to strengthen those family bonds at Christmastime and throughout the year, try these tips to jumpstart your efforts. And since Christmas is just a few short weeks away, why not get the ball rolling by presenting your family members with their own Nixplay Wifi Cloud Frames as gifts? You’ll be setting the stage for a closer family relationship, and getting your Christmas shopping out of the way, all at the same time! Check out our selection of frames today.     

Beatrice Bisais

Bea is Nixplay’s Social Media Manager. She enjoys drinking coffee, reading about wars, and writing stories. Send her a message at beatrice.bisais@nixplay.com.