I think almost anyone you talk to these days would say they want to travel more. With social media, it's easier than ever to see what our friends, acquaintances, and random bloggers we follow are up to, and it seems many of them are constantly on an exotic vacation. If you're like most normal people, you want to jet set to that overwater bungalow or 7-country Europe tour, too!
Read MoreI find deciding what to wear for a day at a theme park to be exceedingly difficult. On one hand, I want to be comfortable, as these are long days of walking in the hot sun. On the other hand, I want to make sure I look put together since I know we'll be taking a lot of pictures. Outfits need to be breathable and cute, and I need to be able to sit comfortably on all types of rides.
Read MoreBefore this summer, all I really knew about Atlanta was that it was the worst traffic to drive through on our way from Florida to Wisconsin (or vice versa).
But all that changed when I had a chance to visit Georgia's capital with my kids. My extended family was vacationing in the mountains of northern Georgia for a week of togetherness and relaxation, and one of my 5 sisters was flying into Atlanta a few days into the trip. We decided to make a day of it when we went to pick her up.
Read MoreSome of the biggest obstacles to traveling with kids are time, money, and exhaustion. Travel can get pretty expensive, and I know it's tough to justify spending money on a trip when your kids might not even remember it. Many families don't get much vacation time, and when they do, they want to spend it with their extended family, catching up around the house, or relaxing.
Read MoreWhen you travel a lot, the hotels all begin to seem the same. But every once in a while you stay in a hotel that's so beautiful, so memorable that you can't stop thinking about it for months to come.
That's how I felt after my stay at Hotel Emma in San Antonio. Every detail was attended to, the decor was stunning, the beds were a dream, and I felt like royalty throughout my entire stay.
Read MoreWhen I traveled the world as a young adult, I didn't care where I slept. It could be a hostel, the floor of a friend's bedroom, or a couch. Now that I'm a 30-year-old with three little kids, I'm much more aware of our accommodations when we travel. We need somewhere quiet, with a spot for the baby to sleep peacefully where the 2- and 5-year-old won't wake him up. It also has to be kid-friendly and a great location. On our recent trip to Tampa Bay, the Hilton St. Petersburg Carillon Park was the perfect choice for serenity and calm after a crazy day of travel and exploration.
Read MoreThe first time I took a really long road trip with a toddler I was 9 months pregnant with my second and moving across the country. I basically let her watch as many movies as she wanted because I didn't have the mental space to think of other activities nor the physical agility to turn and help her out in the back seat.
Now that I'm a mom of three, and I have taken countless road trips ranging from 1 hour to 20 hours with my little ones, I am determined not to get out of the car ready to pull my hair out or have my kids be movie zombies.
Read MoreMy family lives on the east coast of Florida, so we are no stranger to beaches, palm trees, and warm weather. But driving across the state to visit Sarasota felt like the perfect tropical getaway with my two youngest. My boys are 2 and 13 months, so I'm always on the lookout for kid-friendly locations whenever I travel, and Sarasota was bursting at the seams!
Read MoreSo you're planning a family trip to Disney World, but you're overwhelmed by all the options for places to stay. I personally find it helpful to read first-hand experiences and reviews of what a hotel is like so I can make an informed decision. I had the opportunity to stay at the Walt Disney World Dolphin hotel to facilitate a recent article I wrote for TravelPulse. I thought it would be helpful to share my experience here!
Read MoreThe prospect of entertaining toddlers and preschoolers on a long road trip is enough to deter even the bravest parent from traveling. Kids can go stir crazy, whine incessantly, drop things a million times, and refuse to nap.
If you're traveling with a 2 year old by car, you'll need activities to keep them entertained. In my experience, a cross country road trip with a 2 year old isn't so bad if you're prepared. The best road trip activities for little kids are simple, mess-free, and something they can do without supervision. Here are the best road trip activities for 2 year olds, 3 year olds, and preschoolers that I've come up with!Schedule
Read MoreI am forever on the hunt for the perfect multi-use bag or backpack. You know why? Because I hate buying bags. Just hate it. I already have way too many purses, backpacks, tote bags, canvas bags, laptop bags, grocery bags, and overnight bags in my house and I seriously can't stand it. The last thing I need is another bag I can only use for one specific situation, then have no idea where to store it when it's not in use.
Read MoreEver since moving to Florida I've kept a running list of places I would like to visit with the kids. My entire life I've lived in the midwest (aside from my semester in Quito, Ecuador), so I want to take in everything this state has to offer while we live here.
Read MoreJust over two years ago, my husband, my daughter, and I packed up everything we owned and moved from Minnesota to Florida. Since that move, we have added two more little boys to the family, and have made the drive back to the midwest 3 times. We opt to drive straight through, because we usually have our dog with us, and because unpacking multiple children, suitcases, and bags for a few hours of sleep in an unfamiliar hotel seems like a waste of time and money. The drive would be around 18 hours with no stops, but often ends up being closer to 20 or 21. Yes, you read that right. Almost a full day in the car with an infant, a toddler, and a preschooler. Yikes.
Read MoreEver since our family moved to Florida, we've had the urge to discover all of the fun destinations our state has to offer. Since we've had two babies in our 2 years of living here, travel options have been somewhat limited, so we've been starting with easy day trips to the surrounding cities.
Read MoreI have big dreams of traveling around the world with my kids. In fact, Pippa at the age of 3 has already been to England, France, and Mexico. We've taken a brief hiatus from globetrotting since moving across the country, starting new jobs, and having 2 more babies, but that doesn't mean we can't be explorers in our own city and state!
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