What to Know About Camping and Campervan Rentals in Iceland
We’re campers – we love camping, living outside, exploring nature. We bought a pop-up years ago and haven’t looked back. Yet camping in a different country was a totally new experience. We rented a campervan in Iceland and we loved it. I realize now how weary and close to burn-out
An 8-Day Itinerary of Iceland: The Ultimate “Best of” Iceland
Iceland: the land of fire and ice. It is a place popular right now with tourists (particularly Americans) and for a lot of great reasons. What appealed to us? Low airfare combined with a direct flight out of Dulles International Airport. We did this one without the kids. But (apart
Easy Ways to Love and Create More Peace in Your Life
This article was originally shared on a different site, but I still find the thoughts relevant to today’s world, so thought I’d take a moment to refresh it and share it again. Thanks for reading. xo, Mrs. Family Trip —– I lost the charm on my bracelet. Mr. Family Trip
The Best Travel Books to Read (Including Travel Book Classics and Newer Releases)
I read a lot – and by nature I read a lot of travel books. There are so many great travel books out there and many get overlooked. Below are over 20 yours truly has read and would recommend. But we have to start with the question: what makes a
Yogaville in Virginia: All About it, The Bizarre History, and What a Retreat is Like Today
The Christmas before COVID, my parents gifted me a certificate to stay at Yogaville in Virginia. A large ashram located just an hour outside of Charlottesville, in Buckingham, the idea of heading off into the peace of the Blue Ridge Mountains to do yoga was an intractable pull. I couldn’t
101 Things To Do in Charlottesville, VA
We love living in Charlottesville, VA and raising our kids here! There are so many things to do. And while Charlottesville is small enough to feel comfortable and easy to navigate, it is large enough to have plenty of opportunities. To help other families get the most out of this
Visiting Congaree National Park: Which Parks are “Worth” it?
It’s not the most glamorous national park. While people fly across the country to visit Redwood and Arches, visiting Congaree National Park doesn’t have the same allure. The numbers tell the story. Congaree National Park had 21,710 total recreational visits in April 2023 (the month we visited). Great Smoky Mountains
Why I Sleep with the Window Open (An Essay on Motherhood)
I get so tired of the whir of our nebulizer. I have spent countless hours, countless minutes, getting a secondhand inhalation of albuterol. Of course, the need to apply the treatment only comes in the wee hours. My 3 year old thrashes in bed, uncomfortable from what the doctors have
What to See & Do in Antigua Guatemala: A Quick Guide (with Lots of Pictures)
Antigua Guatemala was full of surprises, texture, warmth, and rest for Mr. Family Trip and me. This UNESCO world heritage city is small – with under 50,000 residents and the urban core covering under 50 hectares. Yet it packs a lot of interest into such a small area. This part
Top 5 Things to do in Puerto Rico: The Easiest Caribbean Vacation You Haven’t Taken
I’ve been to Puerto Rico twice. But the first time I wore my Lollapalooza T-shirt the entire time and had my nose buried in my required Norton Anthology reading for my college literature class. That’s how I rolled in the 90s as a 19-year-old traveling with my parents on a
How to Start – and Keep – a Hobby
As busy parents, it is easy to allow the time we set aside for ourselves be the first thing to slip away. But time for ourselves can be the most important investment we make. It helps us be the best parent, partner, and person we can be. Which is why
Ring of Kerry or Dingle Peninsula? Here’s Why We Did the Dingle Peninsula Drive
When planning a trip to Ireland, there is one big question every visitor has to answer: the Ring of Kerry or the Dingle Peninsula? These two beautiful circuit drives around Ireland are standalone adventures in their own right, but for most, one or the other has to be picked. They
Visiting the Hot Springs in Steamboat Springs, CO
When my siblings and I went to Colorado to ski Steamboat Springs, I knew part of my trip would involve soaking my ski-weary legs in a natural hot spring. Before leaving Virginia, I didn’t know where that was going to be, but I presumed Steamboat Springs received its name due
How to Spend a Day in Killarney, Ireland & Killarney National Park
If ever there was a town that bewitched us with its magical charm, Killarney would be it. After days of traveling to other spots in Ireland, including the big city, the craggy monastery, and the gigantic Cliffs of Moher, this was the place where all of the Irish experience came
My Favorite Go-To Cookbooks (The 5 Cookbooks You Should Own)
Cooking and meal preparation doesn’t have to be hard or complicated. I think that easy meals are lovely, I think meal planning helps a lot, and I also think that in order to be a success in the kitchen you do not have to go it alone. In an ideal
Are the Florida Keys a Good Family Vacation Spot?
Ah, the Florida Keys, the legend of Buffet songs, and the promise of a lazy day. Sun and sand and clear waters tease our imagination when we think of the Keys. Our family felt the temptation of this spit of land at the base of Florida, and by the lure
How to (and why) Go on a Solo “Mini”Retreat
Quiet. That was all I wanted – literal quiet. When you are a mom, in a busy life with a busy home, there is much to be grateful for. But moments of quiet are rare. Eventually, I got to a point where I felt overwhelmed by all the noise. The
The Famous Cliffs of Moher: Worth It?
Nature creates landscapes more stunning and beautiful than our imaginations could ever dream. If someone gave me playdough and said, “Make some landscapes that human beings would want to see,” it wouldn’t be anything close to what we saw in Ireland. Obviously. I can’t conceive of things on the scale
Visiting Biscayne National Park (Are Parks Now for the Elite?)
Florida has never really captured my heart, at least not compared to the way it seems to have a love affair with many other people. Maybe because we are “Non-Disney people.” Or maybe it is because of our time living at the beach (the beach lifestyle has lost its mystery).
Best Books I Read in 2022
I still have so many travel-related posts to write, but these book-related round-ups are some of my favorites, so here we are! The best books I read in 2022. Reading is a passion for me. Yes, I love to travel because it opens the world up – it makes us
Our Monthly Tips & Trips: December 2022
December always scares me with its demands and yet I also relish it. Days that are busy fly by and resolve into a quiet week of peace and restoration. The world here in Virginia goes quiet and gray. Our fireplace heats us all day and the Christmas cookies on the
An Honest Review of the Most Popular Planners
I love a good paper planner. I always have. While I will pop stuff on Google calendar so Mr. Family Trip and I can stay in sync, keeping my weekly life, commitments, to-do lists, goals, menus, and notes all in one book that goes everywhere with me has been a
The Best Classic Christmas Cookies to Make
Everyone has a different approach to holiday baking. Some love to gather with others and do one big afternoon of baking multiple recipes together. In our house, we take a different approach. We slowly bake our favorites from Thanksgiving onward, so we always have festive cookies available. I feel as
Travels Around Ireland: How Clonmacnoise Hurt My Knee, Visiting the Burren & Heavenly Lahinch
I know firsthand how adventures and travel are always just a slip away from injury and trauma. It really shouldn’t surprise me anymore when a moment’s misstep waylays a plan or an intention. This section of our family trip through Ireland was filled with awkwardness, irritation, and also beauty. Fortunately,
Our Monthly Tips & Trips: November 2022
This post was supposed to be easy to write – and written last week. But here we are. I find myself practicing more and more moments of grace in regard to myself this month. It is surprisingly hard. I have such expectations for myself and desire badly to live an
20 Fun Stocking Stuffers for Kids & Tweens
I love Christmas, and in particular, Christmas stockings! In my mind, stocking stuffers are where we have fun. We get a little ridiculous and silly and really enjoy it. Sure, I like to stick in some things that we “need” and I always include one thing to “read,” but the
Fun Things to Do in Dublin, Ireland for the Family
Dublin is a raw city, with a big history and a large underbelly chained to it forever. James Joyce writes with both nostalgia and darkness about this place, yet popular culture delivers jigs, leprechauns, and pubs. Which is the real Dublin? Both, of course. But I find myself in a
Visiting Lake Atitlan in Guatemala – and What Expats “Owe” a Community
It was an eerie feeling: to be dropped off by a shuttle bus driver in the middle of a town we didn’t know the name of, not really functional in the local language, over two hours away from our luggage and belongings. We had WhatsApp and the number of a
Our Monthly Tips and Trips: September and October 2022
The joys of fall, quick weekend jaunts, the best things I bought and the book that surprised me.
What to do in New York City During Christmas – How to Experience all the Holiday Magic
New York City at Christmas – it captures our imaginations, makes us feel like anything is possible, and encourages us to lean into the magic. The bustling crowds, the parties and shows, the evergreens and twinkling lights all over the city, and the millions of stories of connection and redemption
A 9-Day Family Itinerary Around Ireland (where to stay, what to see, and what to know about rental cars)
Ireland. The emerald island people dream about. In the U.S. we celebrate the culture: St. Patrick’s Day, leprechauns, Guinness, shepherd’s pie, sheep, rolling green hills, and tin flute music. We had to get there and see it for ourselves. This summer, a dream years in the making was filled and
Guide to Wineries (including the best and our favorites!) in Charlottesville, VA
We love living in the Charlottesville area. Between the fantastic hiking, the University and history, the nearby National Parks, the paddling, the hot air balloons, the access to so many other fun towns & cities nearby… what’s not to love?! Well, get ready for me to gush about another one
Super Easy Updates for Your Pop Up Camper
I love our pop up camper, Shirley Jean. But, truth be told, she was a bit outdated when we got her. Additionally, one of the previous owners had done some “repairs” and “upgrades” that were not well-thought and starting to fall apart. While I love Pop Up Princess and we
Our Monthly Tips & Trips: July & August 2022
I like to pretend that I am in control of things – all the time – it is the great lie I tell myself. And it is a beautiful lie. But it is a lie, nonetheless, as sometimes a month or a season comes in and tells you to sit
Best Places to Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP), or otherwise paddle, in Charlottesville, VA
A list, and reviews, of the best places to stand up paddleboard in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Best Places to Eat & Drink in Antigua Guatemala
Don’t worry, our time in Antigua Guatemala wasn’t all backpack food and CLIF bars. Antigua Guatemala is a place brimming with locally owned cafes, outdoor patios trimmed with lights, and delicious smells. It was basically our duty to try as many eateries as we could. And here, we thought we’d
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 2.0 – 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