We are a family of four who love to experience new adventures in new places. Join us as we recount our world adventures and make new ones along the way.
We hope you’ll find inspiration here and get answers to all of your family travel questions.
Did you get your brick today? In honor of Lego’s 90th birthday, Lego stores gave out free building kits today. We were literally one of the first to arrive at our local store.
Didn’t get one? You can still get one tomorrow. Check your local Lego store. No purchase necessary, but we’ve never managed to go and not buy something!
If you’re in Billund to visit the Lego House and Legoland I highly recommend taking a short drive to Brande, Denmark. This small town is filled with street art and it has some great restaurants right on the plaza in the middle of town. We loved seeing the enormous murals on tall buildings throughout town as well as the smaller pieces. There was a huge variety to enjoy.
Where is your favorite places to see street art?
Did you know that the biggest Lego store in the whole world is located in Billund? Its right inside the gates at Legoland and it has EVERYTHING! There was a huge pick a brick area, where you can choose the bricks you want to buy, an area to make your own minifigures, hard to find Lego sets, exclusive Lego sets and every other set you’ve ever seen.
🛍 Pro Tip: Go early and make your selections while the store is quiet… and enjoy the air conditioning! In the afternoon the store gets really busy as everyone searches for a souvenir to take home with them, but it’s empty in the morning and mid-day. You can even make your purchases and they’ll hold them until you’re ready to leave the park.
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Where else can you take a boat ride from the Sydney Opera House to the Taj Mahal, the on to the Acropolis, the Colosseum, the Statue of Liberty and the US Capitol Building? Legoland Billund! And they are all made out of Legos. How amazing is that?
Did you know, there are 10 Legoland theme parks around the world. Have you ever been?
For fans of Legos, the Lego House’s lower level offers a nostalgic look back on a favorite childhood toy. There is a room dedicated to past favorites from the 1930s until today. We loved walking through and remembering the sets we played with as kids and the boys loved seeing how things have changed. There’s also a digital catalog of every single Lego set ever created.
Did you play with Legos as a kid? What was your favorite set?
If you love Legos as much as we do, then you’ll love the chance to marvel at all of the amazing builds in the Lego House. From the huge Dinosaurs in the Masterpiece Gallery to the Idea Builds that are displayed throughout the building, you cannot possibly leave without feeling inspired to create something amazing.
What inspires you?
Are you traveling to Europe this summer? On the blog we wrote about our experience traveling there this summer and how it compared with past trips. Link in Bio. Here are a few highlights.
😍 Advanced tickets are easier than ever to purchase online. No longer do you need to queue up to wait at a ticket counter. Save your tickets on your phone to show when you arrive.
😀 Most COVID restrictions have been lifted so traveling is as “normal” as possible.
☹️ Many people waited until this summer to return to Europe, so popular tourist sites are crowded. Try to beat the crowds by going early.
😬 Airports and airlines are short staffed making air travel more challenging than before. Expect long lines and delayed flights. Plan to arrive at the airport early to ensure you have enough time to move through security and customs.
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Australia took our breath away, but Hamilton Island was quite possibly the most beautiful place we’ve visited.
Located just off the coast of mainland Australia in the Great Barrier Reef, Hamilton Island is a mecca for all things island. Beach, sailing, snorkeling, and amazing island views. Plus, wallabies and cockatoos aplenty.
Have you ever been to Hamilton Island?
What could be cooler than learning to surf in Australia?!? 🏄♂️
I’m not going to lie - water temperatures are cold in June, July and August, but there’s no better place to catch a wave for the very first time!
Read all about our time in Byron Bay on the blog. (Link in bio)
We try to plan our trips to be a mix of history, nature, learning and fun. The day we spent at the Tree Tops Course in the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary just outside of Brisbane will go down as one of our favorite days ever.
The course was a combination of ropes, tree stumps, rope swings, zip lines and so much more. The boys absolutely loved it and I worked to conquer my fear of heights.
The day ended with a zip line over the crocodile pit!
What’s one family adventure you’ll never forget?
Northern Tasmania – near Georgetown – is known for its wineries because the climate is perfect for growing grapes. We spent a day doing a wine tour and had some of the best wines ever. And every single winery had toys or games for the kids, so they loved it too!
Read more about our time in Tasmania on the blog. Link in Bio. And follow us for more Australia travel tips.
If you are traveling internationally this summer and returning to the United States by plane, consider bringing your COVID tests with you.
Pros:
💵 Less expensive than tests in many countries
📦 Arrives to your house in 1-2 days
🏥 No need to visit a clinic during your vacation
💻 Virtual visit 1-day before your flight home right from your accommodations
📲 Certificate to travel sent to your phone within minutes
Cons:
🧳 You have to pack it and bring it with you
⏱ You need to allow 30-min per person
We have taken 4 international trips in the past 6 months. After the hassles of finding a local test and rearranging our vacation to accommodate the appointments on the first two trips we switched to these tests and they were a vacation game changer!
You can order your 2 pack or 6 pack of test kits at emed.com. Be sure to download the NAVICA app and create your free account before you leave. Then go and enjoy your trip!
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I just completed another trip around the sun, so it seemed like a perfect time to tell you a little .
Our family of four LOVES to travel. In the past 12 months, we have taken 9️⃣ trips. Five were domestic trips where we visited 4 new states (Indiana, Kentucky, Utah, Mississippi) and returned to 3 states (Ohio, New York, California).
The other 4 were international trips. We visited 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇨🇦 Canada, 🇨🇭Switzerland and 🇫🇷 France. And we’re excited to return to Europe next month to visit 2 new countries.
The truth is that talking travel, researching destinations and planning trips are our favorite pastimes. So we decided to put our knowledge and experience to work and create our very own travel blog (link in bio). It’s one part travel journal, one part inspiration and one part tips for how to make travel fun and memorable for your family.
If you’re looking for inspiration or tips on traveling with kids, we’d love to have you follow us!
On the blog we recently wrote about how to spend one incredible day in Valencia.
🔭 Start your day at the La Ciutat de les Arts y les Ciencies, with six separate spaces dedicated to the arts and sciences. We visited the Umbracle and the Science Museum, but in different weather we would have loved to visit the Oceanografic.
🥘 Paella – need I say more? Valencia is the home of Paella and you should not miss your chance to have a leisurely lunch of Paella while you are there.
🏛 Valencia is also known for its architecture. After lunch stroll through the downtown area admiring a variety of architecture that spans generations.
Get all the details on the blog (link in bio) and start planning a day in Valencia!
Tuesday Travel Tip – Vacation Rentals
One of the ways we’ve saved money traveling and made our experience more enjoyable is to stay in vacation rental properties. This allows us to spread out and give everyone their own space, cook meals just like we do at home and do laundry.
It means that while we’re traveling, we still have the creature comforts of home. And by cooking most of our meals in, we don’t need a huge food budget.
But finding a vacation rental property that meets your needs can be daunting. Over the past 6 years, we’ve compiled a checklist of things to consider and details to pay close attention to before booking… and we’re sharing it today. (Link in Bio)
By taking a few steps ahead of booking your next vacation rental, you can feel confident that you arrive to the property you’re expecting and your group will be comfortable, relaxed and have an amazing time.
What’s your best tip for finding a great vacation rental?
Annecy, France is a beautiful quintessential French town that’s absolutely worth a stop.
About 40 minutes from Geneva, it’s located in the Haute Savoy region of France and was originally the home of the Count of Geneva.
Allow time for a leisurely lunch at one of the quaint cafes and to walk along the river bank.
Have you visited Annecy?
Spring has sprung in Geneva! We had a great morning walking by the United Nations, through the Botanical Garden and around Lake Geneva.
There were spring flowers everywhere. Daffodils, crocuses and the tulips will be out soon.
What’s your favorite spring flower?
One of my least favorite things about traveling internationally right now is the requirement to take a COVID test one day before returning to the US. I completely understand and appreciate the rule, but I don’t want to have to use my last few moments of vacation time to visit a local clinic for a test.
On our most recent trip to Europe I brought test kits that I had pre-purchased along in my suitcase and did my test over breakfast on my next to last day. It was unbelievably easy and made my last day enjoyable, rather than stressful.
You can only use certain CDC-approved at home tests to meet the travel requirement. Along with the Binax test I used, all of them require you to have a virtual appointment with a nurse to certify your results.
Here are a few tips:
🏥 Purchase your tests at least a week in advance to be sure you have them in time. I’d also recommend having an extra just in case you have a false positive.
🏥 You will need to download the appropriate app and create your account while you are still in the US.
🏥 Set aside 30-60 minutes for your test. Mine took 35 minutes from start to finish, including 15 minutes for my test to process, while I ate breakfast.
🏥 You will need strong wifi. You can use your phone, a tablet or laptop as long as it has wifi and a camera so that the nurse can see you and your test.
🏥 Certified test results are delivered to your phone just minutes after your visit is complete. Those results (including a QR code) are what you’ll need to provide to your airline and/or customs officials.
Testing from the comfort of my AirBnb, while sipping my morning coffee, was super easy and I highly recommend it. It was also considerably cheaper than booking a test at the airport or a local clinic. I will definitely choose this option in the future.
Have you tested abroad? What’s your preferred method?
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There is something absolutely magical about watching whales breach. These enormous animals spend the majority of their life under water, so to see them in person is really a remarkable moment. In our stories today, we’re remembering our trips to whale watch.
We’ve whale watched in a few places, but Port Townsend, Washington – just outside Seattle and near Olympic National Park – is one of the very best places to see them.
Here are a few tips:
🐳 Be sure to book your tickets in advance if you are going during a busy period and be sure to arrive early.
🐳 Depending on what time of year you go, you’ll see different wildlife.
🐳 It’s important to find an established, reputable company because they’ll know where to see the best wildlife and they’ll be able to tell you a lot about them. We used for our tour and had the most amazing time… and learned a ton!
🐳 Dress appropriately to be outside for most of the day. Sunscreen in summer and warm layers the rest of the year.
Visit the blog (link in bio) to learn more about our day following the J-Pod of Orcas through the San Juan Islands and follow us for more travel inspiration, tips and tricks.
Tuesday Travel Tip: Health Passes
Some countries, including Italy and France, are requiring anyone entering an indoor facility to have a health pass issued by that country. That means if you want to go into any restaurant, museum, church, or cultural site you’ll need one. This is separate from their entry requirements.
The requirements to obtain one, including what proof you need, vary by country. Italy allows you to show your CDC card showing proof of vaccination. France requires you to get it at a local pharmacy after you arrive.
Be sure to check the country you are visiting at least a week before you leave home to give yourself enough time to get your information together to get yours so you aren’t left outside!
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There’s something magical about being somewhere new. Even if you feel like you’ve read everything there is to read ahead of a trip there’s still so much more to learn when you get there.
Plus the experience of standing in the place you’ve seen or read about makes it so much more incredible.
What’s one place you’ve been that was so much better in person?
Isn’t that the truth! I don’t think there’s ever a bad time to visit Paris.
Have you been? What’s your favorite thing to do in Paris?
Tuesday Travel Tip – Start Planning for Summer Now
It’s hard to believe, but January is the perfect time to start planning your summer trip. Getting a head start not only gives you extra time to plan, but it also gives you more options for lodging and potentially cheaper plane tickets. Most people don’t start planning until April or May and as a result, airfares usually rise.
Need ideas about where to go? Stop by the blog (link in bio) for travel tips and inspiration.
It’s hard to imagine all that has happened in and around the Greek Theater in Athens since it was built in the 6th century BC. Think of all the history there.
The Sydney Opera House is a modern architectural marvel. To see it rising over the harbor in Sydney is absolutely breathtaking.
Which would you rather see?
Tuesday Travel Tip: Know Before You Go
Entrance requirements for foreign countries are changing rapidly. It’s important to know what the requirements are for you to enter when you book your trip, but you also need to stay abreast of the changes in the days leading up to your flight out.
Visiting the US consulate of the country you are visiting will provide information to help you prepare. You can also google for the latest news stories. But the best overview of entrance requirements I’ve found to date is Sherpa (apply.joinsherpa.com/travel-restrictions). You can type in your country of origin, destination, dates of travel and vaccination status and they will give you the latest available information. It’s quick and gives links to the information you’ll need and to date I have actually found it to be more up to date to any other site out there. Check it out!
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January is the perfect time to explore Joshua Tree National Park in Southern California. The desert climate makes for cool dry days in the winter months. The park has four entrances and it’s about an hour and a half to drive from the West Entrance Station to the Cottonwood Station at the south end of the park. If you drive through the park you’ll experience both the Mojave Desert, which is at the north end of the park, and the Colorado Desert, at the south end.
If you’re looking to get away from the crowds, visit early on a weekday and/or choose one of the hikes at Black Rock Nature Center in the western corner of the park. There’s no entrance fee to hike here and the views from the top of Warren Peak are breathtaking. Plus you’ll get to hike through the Joshua Trees and enjoy some quiet time in nature.
Visit the blog for more about our trips to national parks (link in bio). Follow us for travel tips and tricks.
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We took an amazing hike yesterday up Powder Mountain in Utah. The weather was perfect and the views were outstanding. It was so clear that you could see the Great Salt Lake in the distance. I loved all of the wildflowers along the way. It was great to have a change of pace and change of scenery. What are you up to this week? #familytravelblogger #18summersmakethemcount #childhoodunplugged #summer #familymoments #familyadventures #familymemories #travelmoreoften #lifewelltraveled #travelingfamily #travelingwithkids #travelbug #travelblog #lovetotravel #wearetravelers #openmyworld #beautifuldestinationsaroundtheworld #travelfamily #aroundtheworldwithkids #borntotravel #lifewelltravelled #traveljournal #familyadventure #letsgoeverywheretogether #travelwithaninsider #familytravelers
Today is our first day of summer vacation! I love summer because we can sleep late, hang out at the pool, travel and enjoy uninterrupted time as a family. The truth is that we only get 18 summers with each kid before they graduate high school. 18 summers to spend time with them. 18 summers to make memories with them. So today we’ll make the most of this time we have together! ❤️ #18summers #makethemcount #summer #family #familymemories #familylove #workathomemom #summerwithkids #familyislove #familyadventures #18summersmakethemcount #familymatters #familymoments #18summerswithyourkids #boymama #workathomelife #summerwithlove
Tuesday Travel Tip: Creating an itinerary that works for your whole family can be challenging, but it can make the difference between a boring trip and an amazing one. #ontheblog we wrote about a few of our top tips. 1. Consider how your family travels – do you like to relax on vacation or pack it in? 2. Schedule the iconic things 3. Diversity your activities – list everything your family would want to do in that area. Mix up your trip with a busy day alternating with a more relaxing day. 4. Think about scheduling – if your kids nap, keep your afternoons free. If you like to sleep late, don’t schedule anything you’ll have to rush to early. 5. Plan A, Plan B and Plan C – plan out the details now and have alternative options in mind if things don’t go as planned. With just a little time preparing, you can plan a great itinerary for your family and begin creating amazing memories. What are some of the things you consider before planning your trips?
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