Hiking Acatenango Volcano Guatemala: Everything You Need to Know
When the white mist hit my face at 7:00 am and my body’s chills shook me, tears eked out. This wasn’t what was promised, socked in with zero visibility and a cold rain. Yet the tears weren’t of pain. I was overrun with immense pride. For in the face of
Our Monthly Trips & Tips: June 2022
June was, as my kids would say, EPIC. It was chock full of all of my favorite things: momentous occasions with my children as they grow, adventure travel with Mr. Family Trip, and lots of friends and sunshine. I’ve been doing the hard work of showing up in the present
Things to do in Bedford, Virginia
All I wanted after college was a big city full of opportunity and creativity. I wanted hum. I wanted constant movement. I wanted to be faceless and nameless in a sea of humanity. The idea of being lost only to rediscover myself was immensely appealing. But then, today, having lived
A One Week Clean Eating Plan, Recipes & Shopping List
Every now and again, I will spend one week bringing awareness and conciousness to what I am putting in body, to what I am eating. I spend one week “clean eating,” and I always feel great afterwards! Clean eating, at least the way I approach it, is NOT a diet.
Things to do in Staunton, Virginia
We love living in Virginia. You may recall from our personal story that we lived at a beach in North Carolina for awhile, but Virginia speaks to our hearts in a way the beach didn’t. We’ve explored a lot of fun towns in Virginia and they’ve surprised and delighted us
Our Monthly Trips & Tips: May 2022
May’s been called December 2.0Â – and it is fitting. It is a time of transition and change, of running to and fro to close things down yet also beginning new things with gusto. May brings a lot of joy, but it can also be exhausting. News events at the
The Secret to Being the Sexiest One at the Pool
My friends and I who have kids frequently discuss how attractive our bodies used to be and how terrible swimsuit season makes us feel. We buy suits to cover up, well, as much as we can to hide our body. We believe the 20 year olds are the sexiest at
Questions to Ask Before Travelling Abroad
It’s happening! International travel is picking up again as so many put plans, dreams and trips on hiatus during a worldwide pandemic. I love Scott’s Cheap Flights predictions and they say that in 2022 both loads and prices are going up! We’re ready to get going again. But while international
The Case for NO Summer Bucket List This Year
The case for not having a summer bucket list and approaching summer as a family with love and openness.
A Really Great (seriously, a REALLY GREAT) Itinerary for the Family in Washington, D.C.
Taking the kids to Washington, D.C.: the heartbeat of our government, the scene of current events, and the pulse of our nation. It seems like a must-do at some point. But when? And given the cost of D.C. (and the crowds that can descend), how do you do it effectively
Our Monthly Trips & Tips: April 2022
As we reflect on our family trips and tips in April, it is a moment to recall how tender family life is. It is brittle, and on a scale that never feels quite in balance. Yet being here for each other is the most precious activity we could spend our
A Weekend in Harpers Ferry (with kids)
Sneaking off to Harpers Ferry for a weekend in spring was highly anticipated and desperately needed. After slogging through spring sports, heavy work projects, rejuvenated social demands after a sleepy COVID era, and the wear and tear of daily life, a scenery change was due. Which is why we travel,
How to Travel While Working a Full-Time Job
It’s hard to balance an extreme love of travel with a strong sense of responsibility or, even, just a desire for some stability. I feel it. I especially feel the struggle to balance these two conflicting feelings as a parent. We’ve elected not to be digital nomads because we like
6 Tips to Make Packing Easy and Efficient
Let’s face it: packing for a trip takes time and care. It can also create stress. When you travel frequently, like we do, it’s nice not to have trip preparation take more time than it’s worth. We simply can’t devote hours on end to packing when we are on the
What to do for a Girls Weekend in New Orleans (off Bourbon Street!)
A guide for a girls’ weekend in New Orleans and what to do (off of Bourbon Street!).
Our Monthly Trips & Tips: March 2022
I am ready for spring, and warmer weather, a little relief, and some freedom to stretch out! Most parents I know are like us, in the middle of all the things. I know April will likely bring some changes, though, so in the meantime March turned out to be about
Lagos, Portugal and Why Should You Go to the Portuguese Coast
When crafting our family’s itineraries for our travels, I struggle to find the balance between seeing the famous tourist spots and trying to capture the true essence of where we go. Having lived in both London and a small town in Italy for short spurts, I became quite proud of
What to do in Big Sky, MT – On & Off the Slopes!
We stayed up late into the night, exhausted and frustrated, but knowing a decision had to be made. As news of a big winter storm moving across the U.S. blared on the television and our phones beeped with notifications from airlines, we knew we had to risk it or call
Our Monthly Trips & Tips: February 2022
When I look back on February, the experiences are what are etched on my heart. (As usual.) I am sure we bought stuff, and I know I read a lot of books, but February was spectacular because of the amazing memories we created. One of those adventures was “epic” and
What Happened When I Tried to Learn to Row & Thoughts on the Book “Beginners”
Last summer, bored and feeling as though the Enneagram 7 part of me was suffocating, I signed up for my own “summer camp.” My children were off to epic summer camps, learning new things and exploring their abilities. Why not me? Could I use the long, hot summer days to
Visiting the Endless Caverns in Virginia & the Utter Darkness
I knew it was coming. I had been on enough to cave tours to anticipate it. Yet it was still creepy. As the guide moved towards the light switch, I found a handrail to hold on to and snuggled my 10-year-old next to me (not for his sake, but mine).
Our Monthly Trips & Tips: January 2022
January was a long one, and it seemed most of the Internet felt that way. With snowstorms and ice blanketing our part of the world, we found that we were all homebound again with canceled school and canceled plans more often than expected. But we still had adventures. As we
What You Need to Know to (Successfully) Visit Peña Palace & Sintra
I had the suspicious feeling that our Tuk Tuk driver had just manipulated us into paying an exorbitant fee and was also silently laughing at our stress about making sure we reached the palace by our ticketed entrance time. Or maybe at the time that it was all happening, I
Best Books (I Read) in 2021
I love books and I love talking about books and I love recommending books. So in line with tradition on this website, here are some thoughts looking back at my reading life last year. First thing to acknowledge: I read a lot of L.M Montgomery and Montgomery-related books. Given the
What to do with Kids in Lisbon – and Why Portugal is Trending
We were so exhausted we were nearing delirium. Rain was pouring down heavily on us as we walked unfamiliar cobblestone streets. We didn’t know the customs, the language, or where we were going. We just knew we had tired kids who needed food. We didn’t know what shape or form
What to See and Do on Prince Edward Island (and why you should visit this Canadian island!)
When my mom and I visited Prince Edward Island on my (self-created) yoga retreat, I knew the island was special, but I didn’t realize just how wonderful it was. I fell in love. The island has a coastal setting, but it is also lush with verdant wildflowers and abundant growth.
Going on a (self-created) Yoga Retreat on Prince Edward Island in Canada
Yoga is a passion and regular practice of mine for many reasons (I love it so much I sat for my 200-hour yoga certification) but, primarily, I feel it helps me stay centered through a wild and crazy daily life. I believe God has a presence in my minutes and
How to Cook and Eat Healthy Meals (Without Working Too Hard!)
I am taking a break from our travels (but stay tuned because we still have a lot to share!) to answer some great questions I’ve received on how we eat healthy at home so often, even with a busy schedule. It’s a great question! And since healthy living is a
Skiing & Enjoying Winter with the Family in Canaan Valley
Last winter, looking for a ski trip that wasn’t as far as Vail, we ended up taking the family to Canaan Valley Ski Resort. Skiing and hiking in Canaan Valley during winter’s fullest glory turned out to be a great decision. Snowy boughs begged to be skied under, snowbanks invited
An Honest Guide to Visiting Appomattox Historic Site & Holliday Lake State Park
When life felt a bit too overwhelming and the Delta variant a bit too invasive, we did what works for us and we escaped to the woods. Pulling out our pop-up camper, I found a last-minute availability in Holliday Lake State Park. While this particular park hadn’t been on our
What it Meant to Go Up in a Hot Air Balloon (& Other Thoughts on Redemption and Perseverance)
You may recall a deep-well of disappointment I fell into years ago. Gearing up for my 40th birthday, I had one goal. Yet the entire day was fraught with unmet expectations. The goal wasn’t met. It was a birthday remembered for what it wasn’t. Yet two years later, I finally
Staying in a C&O Canal Lockhouse
Sometimes, I don’t know how travel ideas become part of my daydreams. Sometimes, some trips, feel like they just pop up without warning then consume me until I book them. There is no clear recollection of deciding that the trip is a “bucket list” item – there is just a
Visiting the Redwood National Park: Why We Dream About This Place
The place where towering giants from dreams sway high up in the sky and ferns lifted from a prehistoric jungle fan out lushly at your feet… it’s the Redwoods National Park. Although we had already seen the Giants of the Woods in such a wonderful environment (no, not here, but
What I Learned When I Donated My Hair & How You Can Do It, Too.
Years ago now, right before turning 40 (which was fraught, it turns out, with a lot of drama), I decided to donate my hair. I am not sure when the decision happened. I had never consciously determined to grow my hair long for the purpose of donation. I usually keep
A Romantic Weekend in Abingdon, VA
Mr. Family Trip and I recently celebrated 15 years of marriage. With two kids, four homes, two dogs, one cat, one hamster, two fish, and two states conquered together, we felt it was worth celebrating this milestone in a special way. Alas, due to COVID, traveling overseas wasn’t something we
How (& Why) To Host an Old-Fashioned Block Party
Pre-COVID, after uprooting our lives from our dream house near the beach to an older home in the mountains of the Blue Ridge, we decided we wanted to start off on the right foot with our neighbors. We wanted them to know that we had an open door. We were
Humboldt Redwoods State Park & The Avenue of the Giants: Where the REAL Ones Are
This was the day it happened: we left Route 1. I would pretend like we were sad or looked back, but Route 1 has a way of beating you down so that, finally, at the very end you are READY. It’s much like a mama bird chasing the babies from
Visiting Mendocino: The Place We Almost Didn’t Stop (That We Loved)
Our visit to Mendocino (said Mendo-SCENE-o, not Mendo-CH-ino) was happenstance and one made of necessity. We knew we needed somewhere to stop along California’s coast to break up the drive to the Redwoods. Bodega Bay was on our radar screen but ultimately we decided on Mendocino. This meant we knew
Beyond the Comfort Zone: When to Decide NOT to Excel
If you follow us on Instagram, you might know that I love Stand Up Paddleboarding, or SUP. When we lived at the beach, I rented a paddleboard with a friend and was immediately hooked. I went and rented many more times and even tried SUP yoga classes. Then, knowing me
Coyotes? Reveille? A Comprehensive Guide to Camping at First Landing State Park
When I booked our campsite at First Landing State Park, a park frequently listed as one of the most beautiful in Virginia, I had no idea that it would be so exciting and memorable. With gale force winds, near-freezing temperatures, and coyotes howling in the distance in the middle of
What to Buy at Trader Joe’s
Trader Joe’s is not the place where we do our regular grocery shopping, but having one nearby has been fantastic. Over the past few years, they have fueled our camping trips perfectly, and we have come to rely on them for go-to-freezer foods. Yet not all things at Trader Joe’s
Point Reyes National Seashore: Fun at the End of the World
There are so many beautiful things to do in California, especially on its rugged coast, that it was hard to decide where to spend our limited time. But after many recommendations and research, I knew that Point Reyes was high on my list. I am glad we went – even
Beyond the Comfort Zone: Heading Back to a Dance Class
Always an overachiever, I decided to start this challenge with the scariest thing I could imagine: heading back to a dance class after nearly 7 years dance-less. One rainy night as September turned into October I found myself inside a dance studio with four other smiling adults. The space was
Why You Need to See Muir Woods – & Then Keep Going
When we left San Francisco, as I mentioned, we were ready to get out of the urban and experience some nature. We were ready for the wild and untamed part of California (although, admittedly, Haight-Ashbury was fairly wild and untamed). Our first stop driving up Route 1 was Muir Woods.
Tips for Visiting Colonial Williamsburg with Kids
We spend a lot of time in America, it seems, celebrating and memorializing the Revolutionary War. We memorialize our Founding Fathers and we pay a lot of money to see a Broadway rap version of the early days of the nation. But what was America like BEFORE it became… well…
Visiting San Francisco with Kids: Golden Gate Bridge & Where to Go
San Francisco is a city whose legend and reputation precede it. It is a place that has made America and revolutions. It is mixing bowl of progressive arts and astonishing outdoor beauty. It was the wild frontier at one point yet today is known for exquisite culinary talent and steep
How to Repair, Restore and Care for a Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP)
This post is all about how to take care of your stand up paddleboard (or SUP). I know this article won’t be of interest to all of The Trip community. But the way I create content for this website is such – when I look for articles on the Internet
How to Visit Alcatraz with Kids
Nature reclaims her own, time and again. She heals, restores and, eventually, makes whole that which is broken. It is why we go into the woods when we feel overwhelmed beyond help. It is why Walden appeals. It is why one of the top ways to stay mentally healthy is
Surprising Things You Need for the Campsite
You can find camping essentials lists all over the Internet (this one here is particularly great). We love those and highly recommend them. BUT, there are a few things we’ve learned over the past couple of years of camping with the kids that make our time at the campsite easier
What We’ve Learned: To Take a Helping Hand
This post, written by Mrs. Family Trip, originally appeared on Recreation.gov. As my sweaty, salty face looked up at my husband’s, dangling at least 5 feet above me, offering me his hand, I couldn’t help but laugh. I seriously thought I was going to do this alone?! I never would