Category: Travel

Five Crowns Mini Round is a five-suited rummy-style card game that's a smaller version of Five Crowns with fewer cards, although the fifth suit of stars and a rotating wild card are still present. Your goal is to combine all of your cards into sets and runs, be the first to go out, then watch the others scramble as they get one last chance to cut their losses. With each round, the number of cards dealt increases and the wild card changes keep players on their toes.

Pandemic is a cooperative board game where players work together to stop the spread of deadly diseases across the globe. Designed by Matt Leacock and first published by Z-Man Games in 2008, the game challenges two to four players (expandable with certain expansions) to take on specialized roles such as Medic, Scientist, or Dispatcher. The objective is to discover cures for four diseases before outbreaks spiral out of control. Unlike competitive games, Pandemic emphasizes teamwork, requiring players to coordinate their actions, share resources, and strategize collectively to win.

Gameplay unfolds on a world map featuring 48 interconnected cities, where disease cubes represent infections spreading across regions. Each turn, players travel between cities, treat infections, build research stations, and collect cards needed to cure diseases. Meanwhile, the game’s infection deck drives the spread of outbreaks, escalating tension as epidemics accelerate the pace of play. The balance between immediate crisis management and long-term planning makes Pandemic both accessible and deeply strategic. Its moderate complexity and 45-minute playtime have helped it reach mainstream popularity, appealing to casual players and dedicated hobbyists alike.

Pandemic has grown into a franchise with expansions and spin-offs that add new layers of challenge and narrative. Expansions like On the Brink, In the Lab, and State of Emergency introduce new roles, special events, and mechanics, while the acclaimed Pandemic Legacy series transforms the game into a campaign experience with evolving storylines and permanent changes to the board. Widely regarded as one of the most influential cooperative games, Pandemic has earned critical acclaim for blending tension, strategy, and collaboration, making it a staple in modern board gaming.

Imagine yourself staring down a giant Grizzly in Katmai National Park. Take a canoe ride alongside alligators in the swampy waters of the Everglades. Trek the trails that define our nation’s most valuable public resource – the National Parks! Trekking the National Parks is a spirited family board game that lets players experience the U.S. National Parks in a fun and competitive way. Up to six players compete in a cross country race to visit the National Parks and collect the most points. Gathering colored trek cards allows players to move across the map and claim valuable park cards. If a player is the first to visit a National Park, they collect that park's colored stone, which award bonus points at the end of the game. Players must jockey for position and make tough tactical decisions at every turn to emerge victorious!