217: Scottsdale and Japan (Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka)

Kim took a last minute spring break trip to Ireland and Northern Ireland with her younger daughter and this week on the podcast, she tells us all about it!   She flew into Dublin and then stay at a country estate hotel in Northern Ireland before visiting Belfast, the Causeway Coast, Derry/Londonderry, and Galway before looping back to Dublin.   See Kim's articles on:    Ireland travel tips Ireland packing list 2 Days in Dublin    Ireland Trip Highlights:    Killeavy Estate in Northern Ireland Belfast - Titanic Belfast and city architecture Causeway Coast - Carrick-a-Rede bridge, Giant's Causeway, Dunluce Castle Bishop's Gate Hotel in Derry - walk the walls around the city Galway - Kim didn't love Galway and her stay at the G Hotel because it felt more like a conference center hotel then something great for families. It was also a long walk into the center city. (see where Tamara stayed at a bed and breakfast near Galway) Kylemore Abbey in Connemara &amp; Cliffs of Moher Clontarf Castle Hotel in Dublin suburbs Malahide Dublin - Trinity City Hotel and Trinity College / Book of Kells, shopping for Aran Sweaters 

Kim took a last minute spring break trip to Ireland and Northern Ireland with her younger daughter and this week on the podcast, she tells us all about it! She flew into Dublin and then stay at a country estate hotel in Northern Ireland before visiting Belfast, the Causeway Coast, Derry/Londonderry, and Galway before looping back to Dublin. See Kim's articles on: <ul> <li><a href="https://stuffedsuitcase.com/when-to-go-what-to-pack-what-to-see-in-ireland/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Ireland travel tips</a></li> <li><a href="https://stuffedsuitcase.com/ireland-packing-list-printable/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Ireland packing list</a></li> <li><a href="https://stuffedsuitcase.com/2-days-in-dublin/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">2 Days in Dublin</a></li> </ul> Ireland Trip Highlights: <ul> <li><a href="https://www.killeavycastle.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Killeavy Estate</a> in Northern Ireland</li> <li>Belfast - Titanic Belfast and city architecture</li> <li><a href="https://we3travel.com/causeway-coastal-route-northern-ireland/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Causeway Coast</a> - Carrick-a-Rede bridge, Giant's Causeway, Dunluce Castle</li> <li><a href="https://www.bishopsgatehotelderry.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Bishop's Gate Hotel</a> in Derry - walk the walls around the city</li> <li>Galway - Kim didn't love Galway and her stay at the G Hotel because it felt more like a conference center hotel then something great for families. It was also a long walk into the center city. (see where Tamara stayed at a <a href="https://we3travel.com/bed-and-breakfast-near-galway/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">bed and breakfast near Galway</a>)</li> <li><a href="https://www.kylemoreabbey.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Kylemore Abbey</a> in Connemara &amp; <a href="https://www.cliffsofmoher.ie/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Cliffs of Moher</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.clontarfcastle.ie/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Clontarf Castle Hotel</a> in Dublin suburbs</li> <li>Malahide</li> <li>Dublin - Trinity City Hotel and Trinity College / Book of Kells, shopping for <a href="https://www.aran.com/aran-sweater-market-dublin" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Aran Sweaters</a></li> </ul>

216: Ireland and Northern Ireland

Spring break is almost here and on this episode Kim and Tamara share their experience on a girls' trip in Oceanside, California and then their mother-daughter trip to Disneyland with their girls.  If you want some inspiration for a SoCal getaway, be sure to listen in!

Spring break is almost here and on this episode Kim and Tamara share their experience on a girls' trip in Oceanside, California and then their mother-daughter trip to Disneyland with their girls.  If you want some inspiration for a SoCal getaway, be sure to listen in!

215 Oceanside Disneyland California

Happy New Year! We are back and apologize for taking so long to release a new episode. Moving forward, we will strive to have one episode a month to share our travels and tips, as we continue to each put more time into our respective websites.   But first, Tamara has a big announcement and that is that she is hosting a women-only small group trip to Iceland in September 2023! You can get all the information on YourTimetoFly.com and she really hopes that some listeners will be able to join! Note that there is a discount of 15,000 ISK if you register by January 15, 2023.   Next Tamara tells us all about her two-week trip to Northern Italy! Some highlights include:    5 Days in Piedmont full of wine tasting, truffle hunting, and great food Her stay at La Villa Hotel in Piedmont A wine tour with Piedmont Food and Wine Tours Grand Hotel Tremezzo in Lake Como 2 days in Milan (highlights walking tour with LivTours) Hired DayTrips to visit Bergamo, Brescia, Sirmione on Lake Garda, and Borgo sul Mincio 2 days in Verona (mentioned Love in the Villa and Letters to Juliet movies), ½ day walking tour with LivTours 2 days in Bologna Cooking class in Bologna with Cesarine 2 days in Parma Day trip with Food Valley Travel Return to Milan 

Happy New Year! We are back and apologize for taking so long to release a new episode. Moving forward, we will strive to have one episode a month to share our travels and tips, as we continue to each put more time into our respective websites. But first, Tamara has a big announcement and that is that she is hosting a women-only small group trip to Iceland in September 2023! You can get all the information on <a href="https://yourtimetofly.com/iceland-group-girls-trip-for-2023/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">YourTimetoFly.com</a> and she really hopes that some listeners will be able to join! Note that there is a discount of 15,000 ISK if you register by January 15, 2023. Next Tamara tells us all about her two-week trip to Northern Italy! Some highlights include: <ul> <li>5 Days in Piedmont full of wine tasting, truffle hunting, and great food</li> <li>Her stay at <a href="https://lavillahotel.net/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">La Villa Hotel</a> in Piedmont</li> <li>A wine tour with <a href="https://www.piedmont-foodandwine.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Piedmont Food and Wine Tours</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.grandhoteltremezzo.com/en/home/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Grand Hotel Tremezzo</a> in Lake Como</li> <li><a href="https://we3travel.com/2-days-in-milan-itinerary/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">2 days in Milan</a> (highlights walking tour with LivTours)</li> <li>Hired <a href="https://www.mydaytrip.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">DayTrips</a> to visit Bergamo, Brescia, Sirmione on Lake Garda, and Borgo sul Mincio</li> <li><a href="https://we3travel.com/is-verona-worth-visiting/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">2 days in Verona</a> (mentioned Love in the Villa and Letters to Juliet movies), ½ day walking tour with LivTours</li> <li><a href="https://we3travel.com/what-to-see-in-bologna/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">2 days in Bologna</a></li> <li>Cooking class in Bologna with <a href="https://cesarine.com/en" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Cesarine</a></li> <li>2 days in Parma</li> <li>Day trip with <a href="https://www.foodvalleytravel.com/en/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Food Valley Travel</a></li> <li>Return to Milan</li> </ul>

214 Northern Italy + Big Announcement

This episode is sponsored by Glacier Country Tourism. All opinions are our own. This week, Tamara shares what it is like to visit Glacier Country, Montana on a girls' trip and Kim shares her thoughts on this scenic part of Northwestern Montana. From Missoula to Whitefish, Kalispell to Glacier National Park -- if Montana is on your bucket list, give this episode a listen! Read more: Adventurous Weekend Getaways to Western Montana- We3Travel Best Things to do in Glacier National Park - Stuffed Suitcase Things to do in Glacier Country, Montana  Glacier Country is a tourism region of Northwestern Montana that covers eight counties To get to Glacier Country you can fly into Missoula or Glacier Airport in Kalispell, both of which offer many direct flights, especially from the western USA You need to rent a car to visit this region and part of the experience is the scenic drives through the countryside To visit Glacier National Park, Tamara stayed at the Homewood Suites in Kalispell, which is about 45 minutes to the western entrance of Glacier National Park To visit Glacier National Park you need a reservation to drive the Going-to-the-Sun Road from when it opens in June through mid-September. Reservations open 120 days in advance and fill up in minutes.  Things in and around the park close by mid-September to early October. Kalispell and Whitefish are both good for exploring Glacier National Park if you can't get reservations in the park. Whitefish is a ski resort town that is very cute but also pricey. The road into the Many Glacier section and Two Medicine Lake are gravel and very rough road. Kim stayed in Under Canvas at Glacier National Park in West Glacier and the Isaac Walton Inn, which is an old train depot and you can stay in a train caboose. On her trip, Tamara stayed in a few different types of accommodations including:  The Lodge at Trout Creek -- B&amp;B lodge Bridge Street Cottages in Big Fork Laughing Horse Lodge Residence Inn Missoula   If you want to see wildlife, drive through the Bison Range not far from Missoula Other fun outdoor adventures are:  Kootenai Suspension Bridge &amp; Kootenai Falls Ross Creek Cedars Scenic Area Llama trekking with Swan Mountain Llama Treks Soak in the hot springs at Quinn's Hot Springs Kayaking Clearwater Trail into Seely Lake Sunset boat tour on Flathead Lake   Shoulder season in September was a great time to be  If you are visiting be sure to Recreate Responsibly:  Leave no trace Plan ahead and make reservations Be flexible as plans may need to change because of weather, fire, road closures, etc. Be mindful of wildlife and carry bear spray when hiking (buy it there but don't bring it on the plane)   

This episode is sponsored by Glacier Country Tourism. All opinions are our own. This week, Tamara shares what it is like to visit Glacier Country, Montana on a girls' trip and Kim shares her thoughts on this scenic part of Northwestern Montana. From Missoula to Whitefish, Kalispell to Glacier National Park -- if Montana is on your bucket list, give this episode a listen! Read more: <a href="https://we3travel.com/5-weekend-getaways-in-montana/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Adventurous Weekend Getaways to Western Montana- We3Travel</a> <a href="https://stuffedsuitcase.com/best-things-to-do-in-glacier-national-park-one-day-trips/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Best Things to do in Glacier National Park - Stuffed Suitcase</a> Things to do in Glacier Country, Montana <ul> <li>Glacier Country is a tourism region of Northwestern Montana that covers eight counties</li> <li>To get to Glacier Country you can fly into Missoula or Glacier Airport in Kalispell, both of which offer many direct flights, especially from the western USA</li> <li>You need to rent a car to visit this region and part of the experience is the scenic drives through the countryside</li> <li>To visit Glacier National Park, Tamara stayed at the Homewood Suites in Kalispell, which is about 45 minutes to the western entrance of Glacier National Park</li> <li>To visit Glacier National Park you need a reservation to drive the Going-to-the-Sun Road from when it opens in June through mid-September. Reservations open 120 days in advance and fill up in minutes. </li> <li>Things in and around the park close by mid-September to early October.</li> <li>Kalispell and Whitefish are both good for exploring Glacier National Park if you can't get reservations in the park. Whitefish is a ski resort town that is very cute but also pricey.</li> <li>The road into the Many Glacier section and Two Medicine Lake are gravel and very rough road.</li> <li>Kim stayed in Under Canvas at Glacier National Park in West Glacier and the Isaac Walton Inn, which is an old train depot and you can stay in a train caboose.</li> <li>On her trip, Tamara stayed in a few different types of accommodations including: <ul> <li>The Lodge at Trout Creek -- B&amp;B lodge</li> <li>Bridge Street Cottages in Big Fork</li> <li>Laughing Horse Lodge</li> <li>Residence Inn Missoula</li> </ul> </li> <li>If you want to see wildlife, drive through the Bison Range not far from Missoula</li> <li>Other fun outdoor adventures are: <ul> <li>Kootenai Suspension Bridge &amp; Kootenai Falls</li> <li>Ross Creek Cedars Scenic Area</li> <li>Llama trekking with Swan Mountain Llama Treks</li> <li>Soak in the hot springs at Quinn's Hot Springs</li> <li>Kayaking Clearwater Trail into Seely Lake</li> <li>Sunset boat tour on Flathead Lake</li> </ul> </li> <li>Shoulder season in September was a great time to be </li> <li>If you are visiting be sure to Recreate Responsibly: <ul> <li>Leave no trace</li> <li>Plan ahead and make reservations</li> <li>Be flexible as plans may need to change because of weather, fire, road closures, etc.</li> <li>Be mindful of wildlife and carry bear spray when hiking (buy it there but don't bring it on the plane)</li> </ul> </li> </ul>

213: Glacier Country, Montana

We are back from our summer travel and packed a whole lot into a one episode recap! We apologize in advance for some audio difficulties on this one, especially after taking so long to get it live. Thanks for hanging in there with us! On this episode we cover Tamara's summer trips to:  Nantucket (read her 3 days in Nantucket itinerary) New Brunswick, Canada (Road trip itinerary, places to stop on the Fundy Parkway, and tips for visiting Hopewell Rocks) Prince Edward Island, Canada (3 day PEI itinerary) Sailing on the Schooner Heritage Maine Windjammer Walking holiday on Hadrian's Wall Path  And Kim shares about her adventures:  Mediterranean cruise on Costa Cruise Lines (One Day in Rome Itinerary) Gorilla trekking in Uganda Alaskan cruise on Holland America Graduation trip to Disney World and Universal Orlando (How to Save Money at Disney World) 

We are back from our summer travel and packed a whole lot into a one episode recap! We apologize in advance for some audio difficulties on this one, especially after taking so long to get it live. Thanks for hanging in there with us! On this episode we cover Tamara's summer trips to: <ul> <li>Nantucket (read her <a href="https://yourtimetofly.com/3-day-nantucket-itinerary/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">3 days in Nantucket itinerary</a>)</li> <li>New Brunswick, Canada (<a href="https://we3travel.com/new-brunswick-road-trip-itinerary/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Road trip itinerary</a>, <a href="https://we3travel.com/fundy-trail-parkway-new-brunswick-canada/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">places to stop on the Fundy Parkway</a>, and <a href="https://we3travel.com/tips-for-visiting-hopewell-rocks-in-new-brunswick-canada/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">tips for visiting Hopewell Rocks</a>)</li> <li>Prince Edward Island, Canada (<a href="https://yourtimetofly.com/3-days-in-prince-edward-island-itinerary/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">3 day PEI itinerary</a>)</li> <li>Sailing on the <a href="https://yourtimetofly.com/sailing-in-maine-on-the-schooner-heritage-windjammer/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Schooner Heritage Maine Windjammer</a></li> <li><a href="https://we3travel.com/things-to-know-before-walking-hadrians-wall-path/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Walking holiday on Hadrian's Wall Path</a></li> </ul> And Kim shares about her adventures: <ul> <li>Mediterranean cruise on Costa Cruise Lines (<a href="https://stuffedsuitcase.com/one-day-in-rome/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">One Day in Rome Itinerary</a>)</li> <li>Gorilla trekking in Uganda</li> <li>Alaskan cruise on Holland America</li> <li>Graduation trip to Disney World and Universal Orlando (<a href="https://stuffedsuitcase.com/how-to-save-money-at-disney-world/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">How to Save Money at Disney World</a>)</li> </ul>

212: Summer Travel Catch Up

Cruise

We are still catching up about our spring break trips and this time Kim shares the ups and downs from a Norwegian Cruise Lines voyage from New York City to the Bahamas with stops in "Orlando" and Norwegian's private island. Listen in and see if you are ready to set sail.    In NYC, Kim stayed in the Hyatt Centric in Times Square for 2 nights before her cruise. The hotel was part of the American Express Fine Hotels Collection and she was able to get a $200 statement credits on her Amex Platinum Card. The hotel has a good location, but slow elevators and the rooftop bar is not open to minors. They flew into Newark and took the Airtrain to NJ Transit to Penn Station Kim was able to visit the Museum of Natural History, rent bikes and ride through Central Park, see a Broadway show, and explore NYC before the cruise. The cruise port terminal in NYC is very busy and it is hard to find the right spot to check in with very long lines. It took over three hours to complete check in for the cruise so if you are cruising out of NYC soon, be sure to pick an early check in time and expect to wait. Passengers has to show proof of vaccination and a negative COVID test, as well as a passport, in order to board. The ship seemed to be understaffed because there was a lot of waiting in line to disembark and wait for tenders for excursions. The ship didn't seem to be at capacity but that may be because there wasn't enough staff to fully open. Kim and her family cruised on the Getaway from Norwegian Cruise Lines. Her girls like the ropes course but they have recently changed the ropes course and moved things around. If you book a package that includes specialty dining, it is usually just for the first 2 people in a cabin and if you want to add the kids you need to pay extra. In the bathrooms they provide a pump of shampoo and body wash but not lotion or conditioner. The kids club was not open during her cruise and they instead offered a voucher towards the arcade. When docked at Port Canaveral, Kim and her family went to the Kennedy Space Center but they didn't have a lot of time to explore because the boat didn't dock until 1pm and they didn't get off the boat until 2:30 and the KSC closes at 6pm. At the Norwegian private island in the Caribbean you need to take a tender boat over to the island so getting on and off takes a long time. 

We are still catching up about our spring break trips and this time Kim shares the ups and downs from a Norwegian Cruise Lines voyage from New York City to the Bahamas with stops in "Orlando" and Norwegian's private island. Listen in and see if you are ready to set sail. <ul> <li>In NYC, Kim stayed in the Hyatt Centric in Times Square for 2 nights before her cruise. The hotel was part of the American Express Fine Hotels Collection and she was able to get a $200 statement credits on her Amex Platinum Card. The hotel has a good location, but slow elevators and the rooftop bar is not open to minors.</li> <li>They flew into Newark and took the Airtrain to NJ Transit to Penn Station</li> <li>Kim was able to visit the Museum of Natural History, rent bikes and ride through Central Park, see a Broadway show, and explore NYC before the cruise.</li> <li>The cruise port terminal in NYC is very busy and it is hard to find the right spot to check in with very long lines. It took over three hours to complete check in for the cruise so if you are cruising out of NYC soon, be sure to pick an early check in time and expect to wait.</li> <li>Passengers has to show proof of vaccination and a negative COVID test, as well as a passport, in order to board.</li> <li>The ship seemed to be understaffed because there was a lot of waiting in line to disembark and wait for tenders for excursions.</li> <li>The ship didn't seem to be at capacity but that may be because there wasn't enough staff to fully open.</li> <li>Kim and her family cruised on the Getaway from Norwegian Cruise Lines. Her girls like the ropes course but they have recently changed the ropes course and moved things around.</li> <li>If you book a package that includes specialty dining, it is usually just for the first 2 people in a cabin and if you want to add the kids you need to pay extra.</li> <li>In the bathrooms they provide a pump of shampoo and body wash but not lotion or conditioner.</li> <li>The kids club was not open during her cruise and they instead offered a voucher towards the arcade.</li> <li>When docked at Port Canaveral, Kim and her family went to the Kennedy Space Center but they didn't have a lot of time to explore because the boat didn't dock until 1pm and they didn't get off the boat until 2:30 and the KSC closes at 6pm.</li> <li>At the Norwegian private island in the Caribbean you need to take a tender boat over to the island so getting on and off takes a long time.</li> </ul>

211: NYC to Bahamas Cruise

After a long hiatus, we are back with an update! Unfortunately Tamara and Kim both came down with COVID after returning from their respective spring break trips, which has delayed getting a new episode out. But this week Tamara fills us in on her adventures (and misadventures) on spring break and shares some of the highlights and tips from her week in Paris.   Paris Trip Highlights   This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission. All opinions are our own.    Tamara and her family stayed at Le Relais Saint Germain in the 6th Arrondissement See her full 5 days in Paris itinerary Tamara's Paris trip planning timeline and checklist You can also see Tamara's Paris travel tips One of the highlights was seeing Monet's Water Lilies at the Musee d'la Orangerie, relaxing in the Tuileries Gardens, and an amazing tour of the Louvre The tour was "Mona Lisa at her Quietest" by Take Walks / Walks of France Tamara also recommend the Ultimate Food Tour of the Marais neighborhood with Devour Tours She recommends skipping a river cruise on the Seine, or do it at night when everything is lit up Tamara and her family also didn't enjoy going up the Eiffel Tower, but if you want to do it, make sure you book tickets well in advance for a timed entry Two food highlights were the chef's tasting dinner at Ze Kitchen Galerie and lunch with Hannah at Cafe Recruitment For Paris, Tamara recommends the Bandolier phone case and lanyard as the perfect travel companion for easy access to your phone for taking pictures, directions, etc. She also liked the packable travel backpack from Travelon 

After a long hiatus, we are back with an update! Unfortunately Tamara and Kim both came down with COVID after returning from their respective spring break trips, which has delayed getting a new episode out. But this week Tamara fills us in on her adventures (and misadventures) on spring break and shares some of the highlights and tips from her week in Paris. Paris Trip Highlights This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission. All opinions are our own. <ul> <li>Tamara and her family stayed at <a href="https://www.kqzyfj.com/click-7484453-11552042?sid=Paris-itin&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tripadvisor.com%2FHotel_Review-g187147-d194309-Reviews-Hotel_Relais_Saint_Germain-Paris_Ile_de_France.html" rel="noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow" target="_blank">Le Relais Saint Germain</a> in the 6th Arrondissement</li> <li>See her full <a href="https://we3travel.com/5-days-in-paris-itinerary/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">5 days in Paris itinerary</a></li> <li>Tamara's <a href="https://we3travel.com/planning-a-trip-to-paris-timeline/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Paris trip planning timeline and checklist</a></li> <li>You can also see Tamara's <a href="https://we3travel.com/paris-travel-tips/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Paris travel tips</a></li> <li>One of the highlights was seeing Monet's Water Lilies at the Musee d'la Orangerie, relaxing in the Tuileries Gardens, and an amazing tour of the Louvre</li> <li>The tour was "<a href="http://Closing%20Time%20At%20The%20Louvre%20The%20Mona%20Lisa%20At%20Her%20Most%20Peaceful%20-%20https:" rel="noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow" target="_blank">Mona Lisa at her Quietest</a>" by Take Walks / Walks of France</li> <li>Tamara also recommend the <a href="https://devourtours.com/tours/paris-ultimate-food-tour/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Ultimate Food Tour</a> of the Marais neighborhood with Devour Tours</li> <li>She recommends skipping a river cruise on the Seine, or do it at night when everything is lit up</li> <li>Tamara and her family also didn't enjoy going up the Eiffel Tower, but if you want to do it, make sure you book tickets well in advance for a timed entry</li> <li>Two food highlights were the chef's tasting dinner at Ze Kitchen Galerie and lunch with Hannah at Cafe Recruitment</li> <li>For Paris, Tamara recommends the <a href="https://amzn.to/3MK7DGJ" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Bandolier phone case</a> and lanyard as the perfect travel companion for easy access to your phone for taking pictures, directions, etc.</li> <li>She also liked the <a href="https://amzn.to/3vRVfgU" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">packable travel backpack</a> from Travelon</li> </ul>

210 Paris France

Travel is roaring back and before you jet off on spring break, here are a few things you need to know about flying. Tamara and Kim break down which airlines charge fees for baggage, carry on bags, seat assignments, and more. Be prepared and know what to expect before you book your next flight!  Airfares are pricey this year with increased demand and increase fuel prices When booking airfare, keep in mind that you have 24 hours to cancel from the time of booking with U.S. carriers with no change fees and for full refunds Pay attention to the type of airfare that you are buying so you know what the limitations of that fare might be (such as no changes, no carry on baggage, no seat assignment, etc) Always look at what the airlines charge for checked or carry on bags. Southwest is one of the only airlines that includes checked bags, unless you have airline status or an airline credit card For airlines that charge for checked bags, it can be hard to get your carry on bag on board if you are in a later boarding group. However, they can gate check your bag for free but often you will need to go to the baggage carousel to pick up your bag Some airlines offer a baggage guarantee that they will have your bag out within 20 minutes, which often it takes that long to get off the plane and to the baggage claim It is worth buying a luggage scale to make sure your bag is not overweight (usually 50 lbs for a checked bag but some budget airlines like Spirit and Frontier have a 40 lb maximum) When flying budget airlines, you should pay for your bags when you book the airfare because it gets increasingly more expensive later in the process Many budget airlines actually charge more for a carry on bag than a checked bag Some airlines like Easyjet let you buy additional weight for checked bags Most US airlines will include a carry on bag unless you book a restricted fare (usually labeled Basic) and all include a personal item that can fit under the seat in front of you Carry on bags do have size limits so you can't usually expand it or it won't fit in the sizer For some budget airlines, you can get a deal if you buy the ticket at the airport (in advance of the flight) Budget airlines also charge you to print a boarding pass so either use a mobile boarding pass or print it yourself at home Many airlines are charging for seat selection or at least charging for premium seating positions towards the front of the plane or aisle/window seats Especially for family travelers, if you want to sit together you should really purchase seat assignments, especially since so many flights are completely full these days and there is very limited options for switching seats You should definitely select seats at booking. If no seats are available together you can try to call the airline and see what they can do. Sometimes they reserve the back row for families You can usually upgrade to premium class seats that would have extra legroom and better location within the plane When you pay for seat assignments, that is per segment, which can really add up for a connecting flight Some airlines also offer early boarding upgrades. If you really need to get your carry on bag on board, it can be worth it to pay for early boarding. This is also usually a perk for those that have airline status or the airline credit card. Many times the premium seats (leg extra legroom seats) come with early boarding If you have a tight connection, it makes sense to pay for a seat close to the front of the plane If you don't have a carry on bag, then it makes sense to wait until the end to board, especially if you have an aisle seats Recently many airlines have gotten rid of change fees, but not all so make sure you look first before booking. Just keep in mind that they may not charge a fee for changing your flight but you do have to pay the difference between the two flights Cancelling flights usually means you are getting a credit with a certain amount of time to use it, you won't get your money back Usually you don't have to fly by the expiration date, you just need to book by that date (but double check the rules) Alaska, JetBlue, Delta, and sometimes Southwest are known for friendlier staff than United and American Many airlines offer in flight entertainment but you need to bring your own device. Some have seatback entertainment, like Jet Blue that has movies and live Direct TV, but they aren't reliable and you need to bring your own headphones, which sometimes need an adapter for the headphone jack There isn't always consistency between the in flight experience JetBlue gives a good snack selection. American only serves the Biscoff cookies. Some airlines offer snack boxes for sale Some airlines offer WiFi for a fee but it isn't reliable or strong enough for streaming and others offer free texting (like JetBlue or Southwest) Budget hotels do not provide entertainment and they also charge for all drinks or snacks, including water If you are able to achieve status on a particular airline you can get things like upgrades based on availability, lounge access or reduced charges for lounges, early seating, and free checked bags. There are usually levels that offer increased perks 

Travel is roaring back and before you jet off on spring break, here are a few things you need to know about flying. Tamara and Kim break down which airlines charge fees for baggage, carry on bags, seat assignments, and more. Be prepared and know what to expect before you book your next flight! <ul> <li>Airfares are pricey this year with increased demand and increase fuel prices</li> <li>When booking airfare, keep in mind that you have 24 hours to cancel from the time of booking with U.S. carriers with no change fees and for full refunds</li> <li>Pay attention to the type of airfare that you are buying so you know what the limitations of that fare might be (such as no changes, no carry on baggage, no seat assignment, etc)</li> <li>Always look at what the airlines charge for checked or carry on bags. Southwest is one of the only airlines that includes checked bags, unless you have airline status or an airline credit card</li> <li>For airlines that charge for checked bags, it can be hard to get your carry on bag on board if you are in a later boarding group. However, they can gate check your bag for free but often you will need to go to the baggage carousel to pick up your bag</li> <li>Some airlines offer a baggage guarantee that they will have your bag out within 20 minutes, which often it takes that long to get off the plane and to the baggage claim</li> <li>It is worth buying a luggage scale to make sure your bag is not overweight (usually 50 lbs for a checked bag but some budget airlines like Spirit and Frontier have a 40 lb maximum)</li> <li>When flying budget airlines, you should pay for your bags when you book the airfare because it gets increasingly more expensive later in the process</li> <li>Many budget airlines actually charge more for a carry on bag than a checked bag</li> <li>Some airlines like Easyjet let you buy additional weight for checked bags</li> <li>Most US airlines will include a carry on bag unless you book a restricted fare (usually labeled Basic) and all include a personal item that can fit under the seat in front of you</li> <li>Carry on bags do have size limits so you can't usually expand it or it won't fit in the sizer</li> <li>For some budget airlines, you can get a deal if you buy the ticket at the airport (in advance of the flight)</li> <li>Budget airlines also charge you to print a boarding pass so either use a mobile boarding pass or print it yourself at home</li> <li>Many airlines are charging for seat selection or at least charging for premium seating positions towards the front of the plane or aisle/window seats</li> <li>Especially for family travelers, if you want to sit together you should really purchase seat assignments, especially since so many flights are completely full these days and there is very limited options for switching seats</li> <li>You should definitely select seats at booking. If no seats are available together you can try to call the airline and see what they can do. Sometimes they reserve the back row for families</li> <li>You can usually upgrade to premium class seats that would have extra legroom and better location within the plane</li> <li>When you pay for seat assignments, that is per segment, which can really add up for a connecting flight</li> <li>Some airlines also offer early boarding upgrades. If you really need to get your carry on bag on board, it can be worth it to pay for early boarding. This is also usually a perk for those that have airline status or the airline credit card. Many times the premium seats (leg extra legroom seats) come with early boarding</li> <li>If you have a tight connection, it makes sense to pay for a seat close to the front of the plane</li> <li>If you don't have a carry on bag, then it makes sense to wait until the end to board, especially if you have an aisle seats</li> <li>Recently many airlines have gotten rid of change fees, but not all so make sure you look first before booking. Just keep in mind that they may not charge a fee for changing your flight but you do have to pay the difference between the two flights</li> <li>Cancelling flights usually means you are getting a credit with a certain amount of time to use it, you won't get your money back</li> <li>Usually you don't have to fly by the expiration date, you just need to book by that date (but double check the rules)</li> <li>Alaska, JetBlue, Delta, and sometimes Southwest are known for friendlier staff than United and American</li> <li>Many airlines offer in flight entertainment but you need to bring your own device. Some have seatback entertainment, like Jet Blue that has movies and live Direct TV, but they aren't reliable and you need to bring your own headphones, which sometimes need an adapter for the headphone jack</li> <li>There isn't always consistency between the in flight experience</li> <li>JetBlue gives a good snack selection. American only serves the Biscoff cookies. Some airlines offer snack boxes for sale</li> <li>Some airlines offer WiFi for a fee but it isn't reliable or strong enough for streaming and others offer free texting (like JetBlue or Southwest)</li> <li>Budget hotels do not provide entertainment and they also charge for all drinks or snacks, including water</li> <li>If you are able to achieve status on a particular airline you can get things like upgrades based on availability, lounge access or reduced charges for lounges, early seating, and free checked bags. There are usually levels that offer increased perks</li> </ul>

209: What to Know About Flying: Breaking Down the Airlines and Fees

208: Best Travel Credit Cards for Families

Vacation Mavens is a family travel podcast offering destination inspiration and travel tips for traveling with kids. Co-hosted by Family Travel bloggers, friends, and moms Kimberly Tate from Stuffed Suitcase and Tamara Gruber from We3Travel. Each week we chat about our recent travels and interview fellow parents and family travel experts about destinations or travel tips to provide the info you need to jumpstart family vacation planning and tips to get you out the door.

I always love hearing the wealth of information from these women and their interesting guests.

Solid Advice and Great Inspiration!

Fun, informative and adds things to my travel bucket list! Thanks girls!

Fun and inspirational

Vacation Mavens

NYC is a classic family travel trip. This week we talk about our top tips for visiting New York City with kids with travel expert Carol Cain from Girl Gone Travel, including where to stay, what to do and how to plan your trip. ON THE PODCAST 00:34 - Tamara and Kim talking about NYC 05:40 - Tamara’s tips on visiting NYC 10:10 - Talking with Carol about NYC 14:40 - Favorite neighborhoods to visit 17:30 - Airports to fly into New York 18:44 - More of Carol’s favorite neighborhoods 22:15 - Hotels Carol recommends 25:05 - Getting around the city 31:32 - Must dos for first time NYC visitors 34:37 - Food tours 36:50 - Favorite restaurants 42:57 - Money saving tips 45:43 - Best place to take a family photo 48:38 - Final tips for visiting NYC 49:50 - Favorite travel gear 54:11 - Favorite apps ABOUT CAROL CAIN Carol Cain is the writer and photographer behind the travel site GirlGoneTravel.com. She left a career in public relations before venturing into the world of travel blogging in 2008 and is often speaking on ways to improve brand and blogger relationships as well as raising awareness for increased diversity in media. Follow Carol on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and  LinkedIn. TIPS FOR VISITING NYC WITH KIDS  Using the subway is a great way to get around the city while saving money. New York City uses a Metro Card system which has a bunch of different packages that you can use. For families it would be a good idea to get a card with 10 rides on it, which you can use for multiple people by swiping the card at the turnstile and passing it back to your next family member! You can also get a subway map for free at one of the main kiosks. They are also starting to add in digital maps in the subway stops, that show the tracks and stops. For first time visitors that want to see the iconic parts of New York, you should visit Midtown Manhattan. You will see Central Park, Hell's kitchen, the Theater District, and more that are all in walking distance. A great way to start your first time in NYC would be to take a walking tour or just any type of tour. You will get a sense of where you are while learning some historic facts about the city. Right next to Penn Station is a new high end food court. This is a great idea if you have a family that like different things, the kids can get a sandwich or burger while you have say Japanese cuisine. If you are flexible with your time and the show  you can go to the TKTS booth in Times Square to get discounted Broadway show tickets.  BEST PLACE TO TAKE FAMILY PHOTO There is a park on Riverside Drive on the west side of Manhattan along the Hudson River that is a great spot. The sun sets there and the boat docks are really pretty. Another great spot is Top of the Rock, which offers a great view of the Empire State Building. You can also go online a schedule a time to go and just go right up without waiting. FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR Carol is very much a  Skechers girl. She also loves her Lands End cargo pants. APP(s) OF THE WEEK  Best Parking and Icon Parking are both a good way to save on parking. You can check and reserve spots in parking garages. Having a NYC Subway app is really helpful. History Here is an app by the History Channel that uses your location and give you a lot of historic insight into where you are. Eat St. Is an app that helps you find food trucks! MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST Local Fun in NYC on Girl Gone Travel  Don Peppe restaurant near JFK airport S’mac Discount Ticket Booth  NYC Tourist Apps - We3Travel FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on  iTunes, Stitcher, or  Google Play and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email or leave us a voicemail at +1.641.715.3900, ext. 926035# You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcase and We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for listening!

NYC is a classic family travel trip. This week we talk about our top tips for visiting New York City with kids with travel expert Carol Cain from Girl Gone Travel, including where to stay, what to do and how to plan your trip. ON THE PODCAST 00:34 - Tamara and Kim talking about NYC 05:40 - Tamara’s tips on visiting NYC 10:10 - Talking with Carol about NYC 14:40 - Favorite neighborhoods to visit 17:30 - Airports to fly into New York 18:44 - More of Carol’s favorite neighborhoods 22:15 - Hotels Carol recommends 25:05 - Getting around the city 31:32 - Must dos for first time NYC visitors 34:37 - Food tours 36:50 - Favorite restaurants 42:57 - Money saving tips 45:43 - Best place to take a family photo 48:38 - Final tips for visiting NYC 49:50 - Favorite travel gear 54:11 - Favorite apps ABOUT CAROL CAIN Carol Cain is the writer and photographer behind the travel site <a href="http://girlgonetravel.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">GirlGoneTravel.com</a>. She left a career in public relations before venturing into the world of travel blogging in 2008 and is often speaking on ways to improve brand and blogger relationships as well as raising awareness for increased diversity in media. Follow Carol on <a href="https://twitter.com/GirlGoneTravel" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GirlGoneTravel/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/girlgonetravel/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/profile/preview?locale=en_US&amp;trk=prof-0-sb-preview-primary-button" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> LinkedIn.</a> TIPS FOR VISITING NYC WITH KIDS <ul> <li>Using the subway is a great way to get around the city while saving money. New York City uses a Metro Card system which has a bunch of different packages that you can use. For families it would be a good idea to get a card with 10 rides on it, which you can use for multiple people by swiping the card at the turnstile and passing it back to your next family member!</li> <li>You can also get a subway map for free at one of the main kiosks. They are also starting to add in digital maps in the subway stops, that show the tracks and stops.</li> <li>For first time visitors that want to see the iconic parts of New York, you should visit Midtown Manhattan. You will see Central Park, Hell's kitchen, the Theater District, and more that are all in walking distance.</li> <li>A great way to start your first time in NYC would be to take a walking tour or just any type of tour. You will get a sense of where you are while learning some historic facts about the city.</li> <li>Right next to Penn Station is a new high end food court. This is a great idea if you have a family that like different things, the kids can get a sandwich or burger while you have say Japanese cuisine.</li> <li>If you are flexible with your time and the show  you can go to the TKTS booth in Times Square to get discounted Broadway show tickets.</li> </ul> BEST PLACE TO TAKE FAMILY PHOTO There is a park on Riverside Drive on the west side of Manhattan along the Hudson River that is a great spot. The sun sets there and the boat docks are really pretty. Another great spot is Top of the Rock, which offers a great view of the Empire State Building. You can also go online a schedule a time to go and just go right up without waiting. FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR Carol is very much a <a href="https://www.skechers.com/en-us/?gclid=Cj0KEQjwxPbHBRCdxJLF3qen3dYBEiQAMRyxSwe-unrZFZF9_OwuWDhcfaomHT0sMHV5ttfWtL8DZvIaAsR38P8HAQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Skechers</a> girl. She also loves her <a href="https://www.landsend.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lands End</a> cargo pants. APP(s) OF THE WEEK <a href="http://nyc.bestparking.com/?gclid=Cj0KEQjwxPbHBRCdxJLF3qen3dYBEiQAMRyxSxXUuCGh_SQIt1lbmmgIZtB9t7ztK5UnYbIuvLYsE-8aAt-88P8HAQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Best Parking</a> and <a href="https://iconparkingsystems.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Icon Parking</a> are both a good way to save on parking. You can check and reserve spots in parking garages. Having a NYC Subway app is really helpful. <a href="http://www.history.com/history-here" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">History Here</a> is an app by the History Channel that uses your location and give you a lot of historic insight into where you are. <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/eat-st/id425451799?mt=8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Eat St</a>. Is an app that helps you find food trucks! MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST <a href="http://girlgonetravel.com/category/local-fun/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Local Fun in NYC</a> on Girl Gone Travel <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Don-Peppes-Restaurant/258117474219660" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Don Peppe</a> restaurant near JFK airport <a href="http://www.smacnyc.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">S’mac</a> <a href="https://www.tdf.org/nyc/7/TKTS-ticket-booths" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Discount Ticket Booth</a> <a href="https://we3travel.com/travel-tip-tuesday-nyc-mobile-apps/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> NYC Tourist Apps - We3Travel</a> FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vacation-mavens/id1088732340" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> iTunes</a>, <a href="http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=84422&amp;refid=stpr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stitcher</a>, or <a href="https://play.google.com/music/m/Irqum22lymaujsl43iyps22vndu?t%3DVacation_Mavens_Family_Travel_Podcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Google Play</a> and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email or leave us a voicemail at +1.641.715.3900, ext. 926035# You can also follow our travels on <a href="http://stuffedsuitcase.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stuffed Suitcase</a> and <a href="http://we3travel.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">We3Travel</a>, or follow the Vacation Mavens on <a href="http://instagram.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a> or <a href="http://twitter.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. Thanks for listening!

054 NYC New York City Travel Tips

Utah hit the jackpot when it comes to National Parks...Bryce, Zion, Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef...but how can one see them all? Allison from Tips for Family Trips shares her sample itinerary for seeing all the parks in 10 days and her top tips for visiting Utah's National Parks. ON THE PODCAST :30 Kim is in Edmunton 6:10 Allison Laypath from Tips for Family Trips 8:38 Allison's top 5 parks in Utah 9:35 How long to spend in Utah 12:33 One week itinerary in Utah 13:02 Zion National Park 13:40 Bryce National Park 15:27 Capitol Reef National Park 17:27 Arches National Park 18:55 Canyonlands National Park 21:47 Lesser known gems to squeeze in if you have time 25:30 Best time to go to Utah 29:30 Best place to take a family photo 31:15 Allison's favorite travel gear 33:50 App of the week 36:30 Next week -- traveling with allergies ABOUT ALLISON LAYPATH Allison Laypath is the founder and co-editor of the family travel blog Tips for Family Trips at www.tipsforfamilytrips.com. She believes that travel makes families stronger, smarter and happier and strives to provide information and tools to help families become just that. Allison lives near Salt Lake City, Utah with her husband and two children - a twelve-year-old daughter and a nine-year-old son. They enjoy traveling just about anywhere, but national parks, road trips and adventures throughout their home state of Utah are what they do most. Allison has an MBA from the University of Utah. Follow Tips for Family Trips on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest. PLANNING A TRIP TO UTAH'S NATIONAL PARKS  Plan on staying at least 7-10 days if you want to hit all the National Parks (Bryce, Zion, Arches, Canyonlands and Capitol Reef), at least two weeks if you want to hit the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley Salt Lake City is the main airport hub to fly in and out of, but you can also fly out of St. George or Moab There is a 5-6 hour drive between the three triangle corners of Salt Lake City, Moab and St. George  You could do Arches and Canyonlands OR Zion and Bryce on individual weekends For a one week itinerary, start in Salt Lake City and spend the first day driving.  Day 2: Zion National Park Day 3: Bryce National Park (can do it in a ½ day) Day 4: Capitol Reef National Park (very diverse and not as crowded) Day 5: Arches National Park (the hike to the delicate arch is short but uphill and crowded so going off season is best) Day 6: Canyonlands National Park -- this park is in three different sections and the Island in the Sky district is perfect for families, especially the White Rim Overlook Day 7: Drive back to Salt Lake City   If you are just spending one day per park, you will just see the highlights and do one bigger hike Stargazing tourism is popular in Bryce and Capitol Reef National Parks Some lesser-known gems include Goblin Valley State Park, Snow Canyon State Park, Best Friends Animal Sanctuary Zion and Arches can get very crowded during the high season and it is best to go early. Those parks also get over 100 degrees in the late spring and summer January and February are great times to go to Canyonlands because they are dry and in the 40s during that time Fall break in Utah is in October on a Thursday and Friday so the parks will be very busy during those days Spring break is usually the last week of March or first week of April Parks are crowded from April - August If you want to camp inside the park, you should book at least a few months in advance  BEST PLACE TO TAKE FAMILY PHOTO The most iconic spot is at the end of the trail in Arches National Park that overlooks the Delicate Arch. Another great spot would be Bryce Canyon at sunrise. FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR When traveling in the National Parks, Allison uses a comfortable hiking boot and the EcoVessel water bottle. Allison also likes Dansko walking shoes for her other vacations. APP OF THE WEEK  Kim and Tamara both rely on Waze to navigate around traffic jams and other obstacles along the route. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST  Things to do in Utah     FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD!  If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email or leave us a voicemail at +1.641.715.3900, ext. 926035#   You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcase and We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for listening!    Pin this

Utah hit the jackpot when it comes to National Parks...Bryce, Zion, Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef...but how can one see them all? Allison from Tips for Family Trips shares her sample itinerary for seeing all the parks in 10 days and her top tips for visiting Utah's National Parks. ON THE PODCAST :30 Kim is in Edmunton 6:10 Allison Laypath from Tips for Family Trips 8:38 Allison's top 5 parks in Utah 9:35 How long to spend in Utah 12:33 One week itinerary in Utah 13:02 Zion National Park 13:40 Bryce National Park 15:27 Capitol Reef National Park 17:27 Arches National Park 18:55 Canyonlands National Park 21:47 Lesser known gems to squeeze in if you have time 25:30 Best time to go to Utah 29:30 Best place to take a family photo 31:15 Allison's favorite travel gear 33:50 App of the week 36:30 Next week -- traveling with allergies ABOUT ALLISON LAYPATH Allison Laypath is the founder and co-editor of the family travel blog Tips for Family Trips at <a href="http://www.tipsforfamilytrips.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.tipsforfamilytrips.com</a>. She believes that travel makes families stronger, smarter and happier and strives to provide information and tools to help families become just that. Allison lives near Salt Lake City, Utah with her husband and two children - a twelve-year-old daughter and a nine-year-old son. They enjoy traveling just about anywhere, but national parks, road trips and adventures throughout their home state of Utah are what they do most. Allison has an MBA from the University of Utah. Follow Tips for Family Trips on <a href="http://facebook.com/tipsforfamilytrips" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="http://instagram.com/tipsforfamilytrips" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/tips4familytrip" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a> and <a href="http://pinterest.com/tips4familytrip" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>. PLANNING A TRIP TO UTAH'S NATIONAL PARKS <ul> <li>Plan on staying at least 7-10 days if you want to hit all the National Parks (Bryce, Zion, Arches, Canyonlands and Capitol Reef), at least two weeks if you want to hit the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley</li> <li>Salt Lake City is the main airport hub to fly in and out of, but you can also fly out of St. George or Moab</li> <li>There is a 5-6 hour drive between the three triangle corners of Salt Lake City, Moab and St. George</li> <li> You could do Arches and Canyonlands OR Zion and Bryce on individual weekends</li> <li>For a one week itinerary, start in Salt Lake City and spend the first day driving. <ul> <li>Day 2: Zion National Park</li> <li>Day 3: Bryce National Park (can do it in a ½ day)</li> <li>Day 4: Capitol Reef National Park (very diverse and not as crowded)</li> <li>Day 5: Arches National Park (the hike to the delicate arch is short but uphill and crowded so going off season is best)</li> <li>Day 6: Canyonlands National Park -- this park is in three different sections and the Island in the Sky district is perfect for families, especially the White Rim Overlook</li> <li>Day 7: Drive back to Salt Lake City</li> </ul> </li> <li>If you are just spending one day per park, you will just see the highlights and do one bigger hike</li> <li>Stargazing tourism is popular in Bryce and Capitol Reef National Parks</li> <li>Some lesser-known gems include Goblin Valley State Park, Snow Canyon State Park, Best Friends Animal Sanctuary</li> <li>Zion and Arches can get very crowded during the high season and it is best to go early. Those parks also get over 100 degrees in the late spring and summer</li> <li>January and February are great times to go to Canyonlands because they are dry and in the 40s during that time</li> <li>Fall break in Utah is in October on a Thursday and Friday so the parks will be very busy during those days</li> <li>Spring break is usually the last week of March or first week of April</li> <li>Parks are crowded from April - August</li> <li>If you want to camp inside the park, you should book at least a few months in advance</li> </ul> BEST PLACE TO TAKE FAMILY PHOTO The most iconic spot is at the end of the trail in Arches National Park that overlooks the Delicate Arch. Another great spot would be Bryce Canyon at sunrise. FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR When traveling in the National Parks, Allison uses a comfortable hiking boot and the EcoVessel water bottle. Allison also likes Dansko walking shoes for her other vacations. APP OF THE WEEK  Kim and Tamara both rely on <a href="https://www.waze.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Waze</a> to navigate around traffic jams and other obstacles along the route. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST  <a href="http://tipsforfamilytrips.com/road-trips/things-to-do-in-utah" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Things to do in Utah</a>   FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vacation-mavens/id1088732340" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">iTunes</a>, <a href="http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=84422&amp;refid=stpr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stitcher</a>, or <a href="https://play.google.com/music/m/Irqum22lymaujsl43iyps22vndu?t%3DVacation_Mavens_Family_Travel_Podcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Google Play</a> and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an <a href="mailto:podcast@vacationmavens.com">email</a> or leave us a voicemail at +1.641.715.3900, ext. 926035#   You can also follow our travels on <a href="http://stuffedsuitcase.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stuffed Suitcase</a> and <a href="http://we3travel.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">We3Travel</a>, or follow the Vacation Mavens on <a href="http://instagram.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a> or <a href="http://twitter.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. Thanks for listening!   Pin this

021 Planning a trip to Utah's National Parks

Do you dream of taking a trip to Italy? So do we! This week we are joined by Italian-native Angelo Carotenuto from LivItaly to get his tips on how to plan your first trip to Italy. We talk through all the fun ways to explore Rome, Florence, and Venice. Our presenting sponsor is LivItaly Tours. This family owned business offers over 140 tours and experiences all around Italy, and soon to come Spain. Dedicated to making travelers truly “live” the local culture, LivItaly keeps its groups small and intimate. Don’t just visit Italy, live it! ON THE PODCAST 00:32 - Talking with Kim and Tamara 02:25 - Talking with Kim about her girlfriend getaway 03:05 - Experience on a UTV 04:50 - Foodie trails in Arizona 06:10 - Segway tour through the desert 09:15 - Spa with the girlfriends 10:40 - Tips for Phoenix, AZ 13:20 - Arizona in the summer 15:10 - Talking with Angelo 16:52 - About LivItaly Tours 21:55 - Best times to visit Italy 25:00 - How long to stay 26:20 - Where else to go on a second trip 29:35 - Popular attractions in Rome 33:25 - Golf cart through Rome 35:35 - Florence with Kids 38:15 - Carrera marble quarries 40:18 - Angelo’s five favorite cities in Tuscany 41:32 - Exploring Venice 44:20 - Night in Venice 45:55 - The Islands of Venice 47:57 - The little towns of the peninsula 53:10 - Experience an Opera in Arena di Verona 54:50 - Where to take a family photo 56:00 - Favorite travel gear 59:20 - Contacting LivItlay 1:00:40 - Tip of the week ABOUT ANGELO CAROTENUTO Angelo Carotenuto is born in Italy from an American mother and a Neapolitan father. After attending public Italian school up until the age of 18, he moved to United States of America to attend Occidental College in Los Angeles. He pursued his BA in acting and also studied at the London Dramatic Arts perfectioning his art. He often loved to take his friends and family members around, proud of his cultural heritage and at ease in front of crowds. He got into the tour guiding job after singing and acting with an American cast in Mozart’s Magic Flute in Rome, at the majestic Courtyard of Sant’Ivo alla Sapienza. A few of the cast members decided to never go back to the States and together with Angelo they got into the tour guiding business. Angelo worked for companies of all sorts of shape and form, creating an outstanding CV and receiving thousands of 5-star reviews on TripAdvisor and other social channels. He then realized that there was a niche of tourism that needed more attention. A segment of people that were actually looking for authentic emotions and that valued their dream of coming to Italy as extraordinary and needed to pursue every aspect they had ever dreamt of: food, wine, art, culture, soccer, fashion, Ferrari, etc. He then founded LivItaly Tours with the intent of creating services that matched people’s dreams of Italy and that allowed them to authentically experience all of them, however and whenever they wanted, a la carte, throughout their vacation. Along with this, knowing that nobody dreamt about following a flag, in large groups, and having dirty headsets in their ears, he decided that even the most traditional of tours, needed to be an experience and opted to cap small group tours at max 6 people and offer private tours, all at competitive pricing. The mixture of the two ingredients: the quality of the tours and the variety of the offer, made LivItaly a leader in the Italian industry. With the help of Kristin, his wife, they brought LivItaly to be recognized internationally and partner and collaborate with the most infallible businesses of the world. LivItaly’s wide range of offerings include truly fantastic family tours and activities in almost every corner of the peninsula. Activities dedicated to provide entertainment to all family members, give the parents the ability to trust and relax while touring and making sure children go back with fond memories of their time in Italy. Follow LivItaly on Facebook and Twitter. PLANNING A TRIP TO ITALY (what you need to know):  If it is your first time visiting Italy, start off your adventures by spending 2-3 days in Venice, continuing to Florence for another 2 days with a possible day trip to the Tuscan Countryside, then round out your trip will 4 days in Rome. Since these are major cities to visit there is an abundance of travel options in between each. Going on a trip to Italy for the second time, some other great destinations would be to travel to the southern parts of Italy exploring Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast or Milan and Lake Como. The Vatican, the Colosseum, and the Catacombs are three must do spots to visit in Rome. If you are traveling with children and are worried that they get bored or seem uninterested in exploring these destinations in their entirety, then look for companies like LivItaly that offer these experiences with a scavenger/treasure hunt to keep your children interested. Traveling with teens there are options for virtual reality tours that really bring you into the world the tour guide is talking about. Recommended museums to visit with your kids in Florence would be the Uffizi and the Galleria dell’Accedemia that features the David. The Uffizi can get a little overwhelming, this museum is essentially like the Vatican without as much variety. Visiting the Carrera Marble quarries is a fantastic experience. The area is 19 miles of purily Carrera marble in mountains that have been dug for two thousand years. This is where Michelangelo got the marble he used for the sculpture of David. You can get a tour that will drive you around the site through man made caves and mountains that have been carved by both ancient Romans and modern machinery. You can also take a sculpting class to carve your initials into your piece of marble. In Venice, plan to tour St. Mark's Cathedral and the Doge's Palace. While the island of Murano is well known for its glass making factories and demonstrations, the island with beautiful-colored fishermens' homes is Burano. Burano is actually farther out on the lagoon and will take about an hour longer to get to than Murano.  BEST PLACE TO TAKE FAMILY PHOTO In Florence you can take a photo in front of a fake David statue in Piazza della Signoria. In Rome a wonderful spot will be at the top of the Castel Sant'Angelo under the bronze statue of the archangel. From there you can see the Dome of St. Peters and the rest of the view is amazing. FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR Angelo loves his Nike sneakers to walk all over the cities and explore the area. Keep in mind when you are packing that the rules for a lot of the churches are that your knees and shoulders must be covered. TIP OF THE WEEK If you are headed to Italy and also want to visit Tuscany, be sure to listen to our Tuscany episode.  Keep in mind that if you are staying in Tuscany you will really need a week because the rentals there are only booked for a Saturday to Saturday stay. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST Arena di Verona FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or  Google Play and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email or leave us a voicemail at +1.641.715.3900, ext. 926035# You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcase and We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for listening!

Do you dream of taking a trip to Italy? So do we! This week we are joined by Italian-native Angelo Carotenuto from LivItaly to get his tips on how to plan your first trip to Italy. We talk through all the fun ways to explore Rome, Florence, and Venice. Our presenting sponsor is <a href="http://livitaly.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">LivItaly Tours</a>. This family owned business offers over 140 tours and experiences all around Italy, and soon to come Spain. Dedicated to making travelers truly “live” the local culture, LivItaly keeps its groups small and intimate. Don’t just visit Italy, live it! ON THE PODCAST 00:32 - Talking with Kim and Tamara 02:25 - Talking with Kim about her girlfriend getaway 03:05 - Experience on a UTV 04:50 - Foodie trails in Arizona 06:10 - Segway tour through the desert 09:15 - Spa with the girlfriends 10:40 - Tips for Phoenix, AZ 13:20 - Arizona in the summer 15:10 - Talking with Angelo 16:52 - About LivItaly Tours 21:55 - Best times to visit Italy 25:00 - How long to stay 26:20 - Where else to go on a second trip 29:35 - Popular attractions in Rome 33:25 - Golf cart through Rome 35:35 - Florence with Kids 38:15 - Carrera marble quarries 40:18 - Angelo’s five favorite cities in Tuscany 41:32 - Exploring Venice 44:20 - Night in Venice 45:55 - The Islands of Venice 47:57 - The little towns of the peninsula 53:10 - Experience an Opera in Arena di Verona 54:50 - Where to take a family photo 56:00 - Favorite travel gear 59:20 - Contacting LivItlay 1:00:40 - Tip of the week ABOUT ANGELO CAROTENUTO Angelo Carotenuto is born in Italy from an American mother and a Neapolitan father. After attending public Italian school up until the age of 18, he moved to United States of America to attend Occidental College in Los Angeles. He pursued his BA in acting and also studied at the London Dramatic Arts perfectioning his art. He often loved to take his friends and family members around, proud of his cultural heritage and at ease in front of crowds. He got into the tour guiding job after singing and acting with an American cast in Mozart’s Magic Flute in Rome, at the majestic Courtyard of Sant’Ivo alla Sapienza. A few of the cast members decided to never go back to the States and together with Angelo they got into the tour guiding business. Angelo worked for companies of all sorts of shape and form, creating an outstanding CV and receiving thousands of 5-star reviews on TripAdvisor and other social channels. He then realized that there was a niche of tourism that needed more attention. A segment of people that were actually looking for authentic emotions and that valued their dream of coming to Italy as extraordinary and needed to pursue every aspect they had ever dreamt of: food, wine, art, culture, soccer, fashion, Ferrari, etc. He then founded <a href="http://livitaly.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">LivItaly Tours</a> with the intent of creating services that matched people’s dreams of Italy and that allowed them to authentically experience all of them, however and whenever they wanted, a la carte, throughout their vacation. Along with this, knowing that nobody dreamt about following a flag, in large groups, and having dirty headsets in their ears, he decided that even the most traditional of tours, needed to be an experience and opted to cap small group tours at max 6 people and offer private tours, all at competitive pricing. The mixture of the two ingredients: the quality of the tours and the variety of the offer, made LivItaly a leader in the Italian industry. With the help of Kristin, his wife, they brought <a href="https://www.livitaly.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">LivItaly</a> to be recognized internationally and partner and collaborate with the most infallible businesses of the world. LivItaly’s wide range of offerings include truly fantastic family tours and activities in almost every corner of the peninsula. Activities dedicated to provide entertainment to all family members, give the parents the ability to trust and relax while touring and making sure children go back with fond memories of their time in Italy. Follow LivItaly on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/livitaly/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/livitalytours?lang=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. PLANNING A TRIP TO ITALY (what you need to know): <ul> <li>If it is your first time visiting Italy, start off your adventures by spending 2-3 days in Venice, continuing to Florence for another 2 days with a possible day trip to the Tuscan Countryside, then round out your trip will 4 days in Rome. Since these are major cities to visit there is an abundance of travel options in between each.</li> <li>Going on a trip to Italy for the second time, some other great destinations would be to travel to the southern parts of Italy exploring Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast or Milan and Lake Como.</li> <li>The Vatican, the Colosseum, and the Catacombs are three must do spots to visit in Rome. If you are traveling with children and are worried that they get bored or seem uninterested in exploring these destinations in their entirety, then look for companies like LivItaly that offer these experiences with a scavenger/treasure hunt to keep your children interested. Traveling with teens there are options for virtual reality tours that really bring you into the world the tour guide is talking about.</li> <li>Recommended museums to visit with your kids in Florence would be the <a href="http://www.uffizi.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Uffizi</a> and the <a href="http://www.accademia.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Galleria dell’Accedemia</a> that features the David. The Uffizi can get a little overwhelming, this museum is essentially like the Vatican without as much variety.</li> <li>Visiting the Carrera Marble quarries is a fantastic experience. The area is 19 miles of purily Carrera marble in mountains that have been dug for two thousand years. This is where Michelangelo got the marble he used for the sculpture of David. You can get a tour that will drive you around the site through man made caves and mountains that have been carved by both ancient Romans and modern machinery. You can also take a sculpting class to carve your initials into your piece of marble.</li> <li>In Venice, plan to tour St. Mark's Cathedral and the Doge's Palace.</li> <li>While the island of Murano is well known for its glass making factories and demonstrations, the island with beautiful-colored fishermens' homes is Burano. Burano is actually farther out on the lagoon and will take about an hour longer to get to than Murano.</li> </ul> BEST PLACE TO TAKE FAMILY PHOTO In Florence you can take a photo in front of a fake David statue in Piazza della Signoria. In Rome a wonderful spot will be at the top of the Castel Sant'Angelo under the bronze statue of the archangel. From there you can see the Dome of St. Peters and the rest of the view is amazing. FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR Angelo loves his Nike sneakers to walk all over the cities and explore the area. Keep in mind when you are packing that the rules for a lot of the churches are that your knees and shoulders must be covered. TIP OF THE WEEK If you are headed to Italy and also want to visit Tuscany, be sure to listen to our <a href="http://vacationmavens.com/056/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tuscany episode</a>.  Keep in mind that if you<a href="http://vacationmavens.com/056/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> </a>are staying in Tuscany you will really need a week because the rentals there are only booked for a Saturday to Saturday stay. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST <a href="https://www.arena.it/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Arena di Verona</a> FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vacation-mavens/id1088732340" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">iTunes</a>, <a href="http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=84422&amp;refid=stpr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stitcher</a>, or <a href="https://play.google.com/music/m/Irqum22lymaujsl43iyps22vndu?t%3DVacation_Mavens_Family_Travel_Podcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Google Play</a> and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email or leave us a voicemail at +1.641.715.3900, ext. 926035# You can also follow our travels on <a href="http://stuffedsuitcase.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stuffed Suitcase</a> and <a href="http://we3travel.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">We3Travel</a>, or follow the Vacation Mavens on <a href="http://instagram.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a> or <a href="http://twitter.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. Thanks for listening!

084 Planning a First Trip to Italy

There is so much to know when visiting the Grand Canyon with kids and LiLand Pang from Trekaroo shares where to go, how long to stay and tips for your trip.   ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Tamara’s time in Italy 10:33 - Talking with LiLing Pang about her time at the Grand Canyon 14:38 - Road trip 15:42 - North Rim vs. South Rim 19:33 - Drive between both Rims 20:55 - Best time to go 22:07 - Lodging around the Canyon 25:00 - Mule ride down into the Canyon and other activities 30:40 - Grand Canyon in a day or spending more time!? 32:50 - Safety tips 35:10 - Family photo spot 35:26 - Horseshoe Bend 36:05 - Favorite gear 27:33 - App of the week 41:44 - Giveaway from National parks episode ABOUT LILING PANG LiLing Pang is the Founder and CEO of Trekaroo. The Trekaroo website and iOS App is powered by a community of real families sharing their inside scoop on kid-friendly adventures. Savvy traveling families use Trekaroo to connect, get honest recommendations, build custom trip guides, and store a record of their family’s adventures. Find out more on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. TIPS FOR VISITING THE GRAND CANYON WITH KIDS  There are two main areas for visiting the Grand Canyon -- the North Rim and the South Rim, and they are a few hours drive apart by car. Most families visit one or the other. Some of the sites you have seen pictures of are actually outside of the National Park For example, the iconic sky walk is actually just outside of the park. The North rim gets a fewer visitors because there aren't as many viewpoints or places to stay, and it is harder to get to. The South Rim a lot more popular, and the better choice for those who have not been before. The drive to the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas is about a six-hour drive, but you can also fly into Phoenix. Spring and the Fall are the most beautiful times to go to the Grand Canyon when considering the weather. Keep in mind when booking where to stay: a lot of the lodging options in the park don't have air conditioning. Hiking the Canyon is a great way to see the earth's history with the layers of different rocks and dirt. Make sure to come prepared with supplies like sunscreen, water, the right shoes, etc. The East and the West of the canyon are not run by the national park service, they actually rest on tribal lands.  BEST PLACE TO TAKE FAMILY PHOTO Yaki Point and an Mather Point are both popular places to take a family photo. FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR LiLing is a big fan of ‘Keen’ shoes, which she brings on every trip. APP OF THE WEEK If you have an iPhone you can download the Trekaroo app. Uber is not allowed in Italy so ‘App Taxi’ is a great app that operates just like Uber, but with official taxis. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST El Tovar Lodge  Bright Angel Lodge Trekaroo website FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email or leave us a voicemail at +1.641.715.3900, ext. 926035# You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcase and We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for listening!

There is so much to know when visiting the Grand Canyon with kids and LiLand Pang from Trekaroo shares where to go, how long to stay and tips for your trip.   ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Tamara’s time in Italy 10:33 - Talking with LiLing Pang about her time at the Grand Canyon 14:38 - Road trip 15:42 - North Rim vs. South Rim 19:33 - Drive between both Rims 20:55 - Best time to go 22:07 - Lodging around the Canyon 25:00 - Mule ride down into the Canyon and other activities 30:40 - Grand Canyon in a day or spending more time!? 32:50 - Safety tips 35:10 - Family photo spot 35:26 - Horseshoe Bend 36:05 - Favorite gear 27:33 - App of the week 41:44 - Giveaway from National parks episode ABOUT LILING PANG LiLing Pang is the Founder and CEO of Trekaroo. The <a href="http://trekaroo.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Trekaroo</a> website and iOS App is powered by a community of real families sharing their inside scoop on kid-friendly adventures. Savvy traveling families use Trekaroo to connect, get honest recommendations, build custom trip guides, and store a record of their family’s adventures. Find out more on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/trekaroo" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/trekaroo" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/trekaroo/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>. TIPS FOR VISITING THE GRAND CANYON WITH KIDS <ul> <li>There are two main areas for visiting the Grand Canyon -- the North Rim and the South Rim, and they are a few hours drive apart by car. Most families visit one or the other.</li> <li>Some of the sites you have seen pictures of are actually outside of the National Park For example, the iconic sky walk is actually just outside of the park.</li> <li>The North rim gets a fewer visitors because there aren't as many viewpoints or places to stay, and it is harder to get to.</li> <li>The South Rim a lot more popular, and the better choice for those who have not been before.</li> <li>The drive to the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas is about a six-hour drive, but you can also fly into Phoenix.</li> <li>Spring and the Fall are the most beautiful times to go to the Grand Canyon when considering the weather.</li> <li>Keep in mind when booking where to stay: a lot of the lodging options in the park don't have air conditioning.</li> <li>Hiking the Canyon is a great way to see the earth's history with the layers of different rocks and dirt.</li> <li>Make sure to come prepared with supplies like sunscreen, water, the right shoes, etc.</li> <li>The East and the West of the canyon are not run by the national park service, they actually rest on tribal lands.</li> </ul> BEST PLACE TO TAKE FAMILY PHOTO Yaki Point and an Mather Point are both popular places to take a family photo. FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR LiLing is a big fan of ‘Keen’ shoes, which she brings on every trip. APP OF THE WEEK If you have an iPhone you can download the <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/trekaroo-family-travel/id534657996?mt=8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Trekaroo app</a>. Uber is not allowed in Italy so ‘<a href="http://www.apptaxi.it" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">App Taxi</a>’ is a great app that operates just like Uber, but with official taxis. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST <a href="http://www.grandcanyonlodges.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">El Tovar Lodge</a> <a href="http://www.grandcanyonlodges.com/lodging/bright-angel/?gclid=CjwKEAjw-abABRDquOTJi8qdojwSJABt1S1OUnjAhir1OOGZbZAFlfNXQTSsEzyRyWW7STqxPUUQ2xoCxkHw_wcB" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Bright Angel Lodge</a> <a href="http://trekaroo.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Trekaroo</a> website FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vacation-mavens/id1088732340" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">iTunes</a>, <a href="http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=84422&amp;refid=stpr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stitcher</a>, or<a href="https://play.google.com/music/m/Irqum22lymaujsl43iyps22vndu?t%3DVacation_Mavens_Family_Travel_Podcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Google Play</a> and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email or leave us a voicemail at +1.641.715.3900, ext. 926035# You can also follow our travels on <a href="http://stuffedsuitcase.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stuffed Suitcase</a> and <a href="http://we3travel.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">We3Travel</a>, or follow the Vacation Mavens on <a href="http://instagram.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a> or <a href="http://twitter.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. Thanks for listening!

033 Visiting the Grand Canyon with Kids

Winter is quickly approaching in the U.S. and that has us thinking about warm weather destinations for winter breaks. This week we are chatting with Kirsten Maxwell from Kids are a Trip about her favorite all-inclusive resorts in Cabo San Lucas and Cancun, Mexico. See why these are great for an affordable, family-friendly vacation destination.   ON THE PODCAST 00:32 - Talking with Kim and Tamara about previous trips to Mexico 12:47 - What to watch out for when you get there 14:47 - Talking with Kirsten Maxwell 16:15 - Experiences in Cabo 24:12 - What to do outside the resorts 26:10 - Staying in Cancun 34:26 - Other areas of Mexico 36:35 - Areas recommended for families 38:25 - What to look for in an all-inclusive resort 42:40 - Kirsten’s favorite travel gear 45:55 - Tip of the week ABOUT KIRSTEN MAXWELL Kirsten is the founder of Kids Are A Trip, and writes for Travelocity. A former teacher, she truly believes travel is an education and feels fortunate she can teach her children about different cultures as the family has traveled to 30 countries and counting. A native Phoenician, Kirsten currently lives in Chicago with her husband and three boys. Follow Kirsten on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. ALL-INCLUSIVE RESORTS IN MEXICO  Be a smart traveler, and be aware of possible scammers when you get to the airport. Keep in mind when researching where to stay in Mexico, that most of Cabo does not have swimmable beaches. So if you are not going specifically for the beaches Cabo is a great place to vacation. Even though Cabo does not have many swimmable beaches, this is a great place for families to visit since there are so many other activities in close distance to the resorts. Cancun has other activities as well they are a lot further away and harder to get to and tends to be more kitschy. Cabo also has great wildlife. You can go whale watching, see sea turtles and if you are out on the water at the right time you can even see mobula rays jumping out of the water. If you have any questions when you are planning your trip, don’t be afraid to pick to pick up the phone any call. This way you can get all the correct information that may not be listed on a resort's website.  FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR Kirstens loves to wear her Yosi Samra ballet flats with her jeans and t-shirts. The flats fold in half so they are great to store in your luggage. TIP OF THE WEEK If you have Global Entry be sure to bring the card with you whenever you travel internationally. FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, orGoogle Playand leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email or leave us a voicemail at +1.641.715.3900, ext. 926035# You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcaseand We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebookor Twitter. Thanks for listening!

Winter is quickly approaching in the U.S. and that has us thinking about warm weather destinations for winter breaks. This week we are chatting with Kirsten Maxwell from Kids are a Trip about her favorite all-inclusive resorts in Cabo San Lucas and Cancun, Mexico. See why these are great for an affordable, family-friendly vacation destination.   ON THE PODCAST 00:32 - Talking with Kim and Tamara about previous trips to Mexico 12:47 - What to watch out for when you get there 14:47 - Talking with Kirsten Maxwell 16:15 - Experiences in Cabo 24:12 - What to do outside the resorts 26:10 - Staying in Cancun 34:26 - Other areas of Mexico 36:35 - Areas recommended for families 38:25 - What to look for in an all-inclusive resort 42:40 - Kirsten’s favorite travel gear 45:55 - Tip of the week ABOUT KIRSTEN MAXWELL Kirsten is the founder of <a href="https://kidsareatrip.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kids Are A Trip</a>, and writes for Travelocity. A former teacher, she truly believes travel is an education and feels fortunate she can teach her children about different cultures as the family has traveled to 30 countries and counting. A native Phoenician, Kirsten currently lives in Chicago with her husband and three boys. Follow Kirsten on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/travelingmom/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/travelingmom/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/travelingmoms" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, and <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/TravelingMoms/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>. ALL-INCLUSIVE RESORTS IN MEXICO <ul> <li>Be a smart traveler, and be aware of possible scammers when you get to the airport.</li> <li>Keep in mind when researching where to stay in Mexico, that most of Cabo does not have swimmable beaches. So if you are not going specifically for the beaches Cabo is a great place to vacation.</li> <li>Even though Cabo does not have many swimmable beaches, this is a great place for families to visit since there are so many other activities in close distance to the resorts.</li> <li>Cancun has other activities as well they are a lot further away and harder to get to and tends to be more kitschy.</li> <li>Cabo also has great wildlife. You can go whale watching, see sea turtles and if you are out on the water at the right time you can even see mobula rays jumping out of the water.</li> <li>If you have any questions when you are planning your trip, don’t be afraid to pick to pick up the phone any call. This way you can get all the correct information that may not be listed on a resort's website.</li> </ul> FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR Kirstens loves to wear her <a href="https://www.yosisamra.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Yosi Samra</a> ballet flats with her jeans and t-shirts. The flats fold in half so they are great to store in your luggage. TIP OF THE WEEK If you have Global Entry be sure to bring the card with you whenever you travel internationally. FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vacation-mavens/id1088732340" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">iTunes</a>, <a href="http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=84422&amp;refid=stpr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stitcher</a>, or<a href="https://play.google.com/music/m/Irqum22lymaujsl43iyps22vndu?t%3DVacation_Mavens_Family_Travel_Podcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Google Play</a>and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email or leave us a voicemail at +1.641.715.3900, ext. 926035# You can also follow our travels on <a href="http://stuffedsuitcase.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stuffed Suitcase</a>and <a href="http://we3travel.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">We3Travel</a>, or follow the Vacation Mavens on <a href="http://instagram.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a>or <a href="http://twitter.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. Thanks for listening!

109 All-Inclusive Mexico Resorts in Cabo and Cancun

Have you ever thought of a trip to Disney World could be relaxing and luxurious? Listen in as Robin Hutson from Luxe Recess shares her secrets on a relaxing Disney World trip. We dish about luxury hotels, fine dining, VIP tours and everything luxury Disney. ON THE PODCAST :30 Kim and Tamara talk about their recent trips to Disney 9:50 Robin Hutson from Luxe Recess 17:24 Luxury experiences at Disney 23:45 Favorite luxury hotels in Orlando 29:47 Favorite food experiences 32:40 Top tips for visiting Disney 33:35 Best place for a family photo 34:24 Favorite travel gear 40:15 App of the week - OpenTable 41:15 Tell a friend! ABOUT ROBIN HUTSON FROM LUXE RECESS Robin Hutson publishes Luxe Recess, an online magazine that features luxury hotels and their family experience. Because of Orlando’s popularity as a family destination, Robin has experienced every luxury hotel and good restaurant she could find to help guide luxury travelers to their own magical place within Disney World. You can follow Robin on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. LUXURY DISNEY EXPERIENCES  VIP Tours -- there are private tours or you can book through Disney A VIP tour will ask what you want to see and do and then create an itinerary to maximize your time at the park Fine dining in Orlando Eco-tour at the Grand Lakes at the Ritz Carlton and J.W. Marriott  FAVORITE LUXURY HOTELS  Four Seasons Orlando -- one of the strongest Four Seasons for families -- they have a five acre exterior pool complex but it never feels crowded Waldorf Astoria -- offers amazing service Villas at Grand Cypress -- has units that expand in size and offer full kitchens Villa properties through the Disney Vacation Club -- not for theme but the best on-site properties in terms of hotel luxury B Resort -- is a good off-site value hotel that still has a luxury feel Art of Animation on property value resort -- click through to find the Little Mermaid standard rooms  FAVORITE FOOD EXPERIENCES  Sunday Brunch at the California Grill at Disney's Contemporary Resort Capa on top of the Four Seasons -- great fireworks viewing Plancha at the Four Seasons -- easy drive up  DISNEY WORLD TIPS  Only visit one to two parks per trip Choose Magic Kingdom and one other park Do one park per day and include downtime in the afternoon or evening Pick a resort that has other activities and a beautiful pool so you can enjoy time at the hotel Rent a stroller! A neutral trip planner / VIP tour guide can help bring together extended family groups Leave time to enjoy the rest of the Disney World Resort  BEST PLACE TO TAKE FAMILY PHOTO There is a stationary Dumbo elephant outside of the Dumbo ride in Magic Kingdom that makes a perfect family shot. FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR Robin likes to wear something that she feels comfortable in but something that looks nice in pictures. She typically wears summer weight jeans and a dark colored shirt. Her favorite flats are from Crocs and are perfect for theme parks. APP OF THE WEEK If you are looking for good restaurants while traveling, use OpenTable.com or the OpenTable app to easily research restaurant options and book reservations. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST Luxury Disney World Resources Luxury Disney World Facebook group My VIP Tour     FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD!  If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email or leave us a voicemail at +1.641.715.3900, ext. 926035#   You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcase and We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for listening!

Have you ever thought of a trip to Disney World could be relaxing and luxurious? Listen in as Robin Hutson from Luxe Recess shares her secrets on a relaxing Disney World trip. We dish about luxury hotels, fine dining, VIP tours and everything luxury Disney. ON THE PODCAST :30 Kim and Tamara talk about their recent trips to Disney 9:50 Robin Hutson from Luxe Recess 17:24 Luxury experiences at Disney 23:45 Favorite luxury hotels in Orlando 29:47 Favorite food experiences 32:40 Top tips for visiting Disney 33:35 Best place for a family photo 34:24 Favorite travel gear 40:15 App of the week - OpenTable 41:15 Tell a friend! ABOUT ROBIN HUTSON FROM LUXE RECESS Robin Hutson publishes <a href="http://luxerecess.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Luxe Recess</a>, an online magazine that features luxury hotels and their family experience. Because of Orlando’s popularity as a family destination, Robin has experienced every luxury hotel and good restaurant she could find to help guide luxury travelers to their own magical place within Disney World. You can follow Robin on <a href="http://facebook.com/luxerecess" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/luxerecess" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a> and <a href="http://instagram.com/luxerecess" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>. LUXURY DISNEY EXPERIENCES <ul> <li>VIP Tours -- there are private tours or you can book through Disney</li> <li>A VIP tour will ask what you want to see and do and then create an itinerary to maximize your time at the park</li> <li>Fine dining in Orlando</li> <li>Eco-tour at the Grand Lakes at the Ritz Carlton and J.W. Marriott</li> </ul> FAVORITE LUXURY HOTELS <ul> <li>Four Seasons Orlando -- one of the strongest Four Seasons for families -- they have a five acre exterior pool complex but it never feels crowded</li> <li>Waldorf Astoria -- offers amazing service</li> <li>Villas at Grand Cypress -- has units that expand in size and offer full kitchens</li> <li>Villa properties through the Disney Vacation Club -- not for theme but the best on-site properties in terms of hotel luxury</li> <li>B Resort -- is a good off-site value hotel that still has a luxury feel</li> <li>Art of Animation on property value resort -- click through to find the Little Mermaid standard rooms</li> </ul> FAVORITE FOOD EXPERIENCES <ul> <li>Sunday Brunch at the California Grill at Disney's Contemporary Resort</li> <li>Capa on top of the Four Seasons -- great fireworks viewing</li> <li>Plancha at the Four Seasons -- easy drive up</li> </ul> DISNEY WORLD TIPS <ul> <li>Only visit one to two parks per trip</li> <li>Choose Magic Kingdom and one other park</li> <li>Do one park per day and include downtime in the afternoon or evening</li> <li>Pick a resort that has other activities and a beautiful pool so you can enjoy time at the hotel</li> <li>Rent a stroller!</li> <li>A neutral trip planner / VIP tour guide can help bring together extended family groups</li> <li>Leave time to enjoy the rest of the Disney World Resort</li> </ul> BEST PLACE TO TAKE FAMILY PHOTO There is a stationary Dumbo elephant outside of the Dumbo ride in Magic Kingdom that makes a perfect family shot. FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR Robin likes to wear something that she feels comfortable in but something that looks nice in pictures. She typically wears summer weight jeans and a dark colored shirt. Her favorite flats are from <a href="http://amzn.to/2afCnlX" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Crocs</a> and are perfect for theme parks. APP OF THE WEEK If you are looking for good restaurants while traveling, use <a href="http://opentable.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">OpenTable.com</a> or the OpenTable app to easily research restaurant options and book reservations. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST <a href="https://luxerecess.com/category/luxury-disney/luxury-disney-world/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Luxury Disney World</a> Resources <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1207678562578075/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Luxury Disney World Facebook group</a> <a href="http://www.myviptour.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">My VIP Tour</a>   FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vacation-mavens/id1088732340" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">iTunes</a>, <a href="http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=84422&amp;refid=stpr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stitcher</a>, or <a href="https://play.google.com/music/m/Irqum22lymaujsl43iyps22vndu?t%3DVacation_Mavens_Family_Travel_Podcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Google Play</a> and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an <a href="mailto:podcast@vacationmavens.com">email</a> or leave us a voicemail at +1.641.715.3900, ext. 926035#   You can also follow our travels on <a href="http://stuffedsuitcase.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stuffed Suitcase</a> and <a href="http://we3travel.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">We3Travel</a>, or follow the Vacation Mavens on <a href="http://instagram.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a> or <a href="http://twitter.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. Thanks for listening!

023 Luxury Disney World

It is time for another summer catch up! This week, Kim shares about her experience visiting Yellowstone and Montana with Adventures by Disney. And Tamara fills us in on her 3,600 mile mother-daughter road trip through eight states in fourteen days! ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Presenting Sponsor The Family Backpack 01:04 - Talking with Kim and Tamara 01:43 - Kim’s trip to Yellowstone with Adventures by Disney 03:50 - Adventure guides 05:05 - Getting to Yellowstone 06:12 - Mammoth Hot Springs 07:30 - Lamar Valley 10:13 - Stagecoach lunch 11:41 - Luggage with Adventures by Disney 13:06 - Grand Canyon of Yellowstone 13:53 - Under Canvas 16:03 - Junior Adventures Program 18:18 - West Yellowstone 19:15 - White water river rafting 19:45 - 320 Guest Ranch 25:21 - Zipline adventures 26:51 - Tamara’s midwest road trip 29:52 - Time in Milwaukee 35:29 - Art in Minneapolis 39:11 - Minnehaha falls and Mall of America 43:10 - Long drive to North Dakota 47:33 - Theodore Roosevelt National Park 51:47 - Motorcycles in South Dakota 53:03 - City of Omaha 58:19 - Iowa State Fair 1:00:55 - Drive to Chicago 1:01:44 - Hamilton in Chicago 1:03:18 - Using the Chicago CityPass 1:05:26 - Kim and Tamara’s favorite travel gear 1:11:03 - Contact Vacation Mavens if you are interested in being on their show ABOUT FAMILY BACKPACK Our presenting sponsor is The Family Backpack, a time-and stress-saving tool for parents researching and planning family vacations. The Family Backpack has researched and curated over 2,000 posts from over 200 blogs to provide parents the best of family travel content from over 600 destinations worldwide – all in one easily searchable place. Whether trekking around your own city, road tripping with your kids or flying around the world, visit TheFamilyBackpack.comfor itineraries, tips, packing lists, tons of travel inspiration and more! FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR Tamara has recently found that she love to wear her  ‘Prana’skort as well as other skorts. She also made really great use of her daypack sling bag. While Kim loves her ‘Eddie Bauer’ jacket. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST Adventures by Disney Guy taunting Bison Under Canvas 320 Guest Ranch Amble Inn Gwen Hotel Eataly Chicago  Prana  Eddie Bauer FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, orGoogle Playand leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email or leave us a voicemail at +1.641.715.3900, ext. 926035# You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcaseand We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebookor Twitter. Thanks for listening!

It is time for another summer catch up! This week, Kim shares about her experience visiting Yellowstone and Montana with Adventures by Disney. And Tamara fills us in on her 3,600 mile mother-daughter road trip through eight states in fourteen days! ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Presenting Sponsor The Family Backpack 01:04 - Talking with Kim and Tamara 01:43 - Kim’s trip to Yellowstone with Adventures by Disney 03:50 - Adventure guides 05:05 - Getting to Yellowstone 06:12 - Mammoth Hot Springs 07:30 - Lamar Valley 10:13 - Stagecoach lunch 11:41 - Luggage with Adventures by Disney 13:06 - Grand Canyon of Yellowstone 13:53 - Under Canvas 16:03 - Junior Adventures Program 18:18 - West Yellowstone 19:15 - White water river rafting 19:45 - 320 Guest Ranch 25:21 - Zipline adventures 26:51 - Tamara’s midwest road trip 29:52 - Time in Milwaukee 35:29 - Art in Minneapolis 39:11 - Minnehaha falls and Mall of America 43:10 - Long drive to North Dakota 47:33 - Theodore Roosevelt National Park 51:47 - Motorcycles in South Dakota 53:03 - City of Omaha 58:19 - Iowa State Fair 1:00:55 - Drive to Chicago 1:01:44 - Hamilton in Chicago 1:03:18 - Using the Chicago CityPass 1:05:26 - Kim and Tamara’s favorite travel gear 1:11:03 - Contact Vacation Mavens if you are interested in being on their show ABOUT FAMILY BACKPACK Our presenting sponsor is The Family Backpack, a time-and stress-saving tool for parents researching and planning family vacations. The Family Backpack has researched and curated over 2,000 posts from over 200 blogs to provide parents the best of family travel content from over 600 destinations worldwide – all in one easily searchable place. Whether trekking around your own city, road tripping with your kids or flying around the world, visit <a href="https://thefamilybackpack.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">TheFamilyBackpack.com</a>for itineraries, tips, packing lists, tons of travel inspiration and more! FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR Tamara has recently found that she love to wear her <a href="https://www.prana.com/women/dresses-skirts.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjwquTbBRCSARIsADzW88xJmRhF7i38fs1yt_e0jQysqDrNGcCz8uE7npI-61faAPoD2ibPhX0aAnw7EALw_wcB" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> ‘Prana’</a>skort as well as other skorts. She also made really great use of her daypack sling bag. While Kim loves her ‘<a href="http://www.eddiebauer.com/browse/blazers---jackets/women/_/N-278t?tab=women" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Eddie Bauer</a>’ jacket. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST <a href="https://www.adventuresbydisney.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Adventures by Disney</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiECHvdLSQk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Guy taunting Bison</a> <a href="https://www.undercanvas.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Under Canvas</a> <a href="https://www.320ranch.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">320 Guest Ranch</a> <a href="http://www.ambleinnmedora.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amble Inn</a> <a href="http://www.thegwenchicago.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gwen Hotel</a> <a href="https://www.eataly.com/us_en/stores/chicago/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Eataly Chicago</a> <a href="https://www.prana.com/women/dresses-skirts.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjwquTbBRCSARIsADzW88xJmRhF7i38fs1yt_e0jQysqDrNGcCz8uE7npI-61faAPoD2ibPhX0aAnw7EALw_wcB" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Prana</a> <a href="http://www.eddiebauer.com/browse/blazers---jackets/women/_/N-278t?tab=women" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Eddie Bauer</a> FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vacation-mavens/id1088732340" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">iTunes</a>, <a href="http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=84422&amp;refid=stpr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stitcher</a>, or<a href="https://play.google.com/music/m/Irqum22lymaujsl43iyps22vndu?t%3DVacation_Mavens_Family_Travel_Podcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Google Play</a>and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email or leave us a voicemail at +1.641.715.3900, ext. 926035# You can also follow our travels on <a href="http://stuffedsuitcase.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stuffed Suitcase</a>and <a href="http://we3travel.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">We3Travel</a>, or follow the Vacation Mavens on <a href="http://instagram.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a>or <a href="http://twitter.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. Thanks for listening!

103 Summer Travels Montana Yellowstone Midwest Road Trip

Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Maine...there is nothing quite like fall in New England. This is the time when the foliage is at its peak, the air is crisp and the apples are crisper. What a perfect time to visit for hikes, festivals, and scenic drives. Get the inside scoop with Vermonter Dana Freeman from Dana Freeman Travels.   ON THE PODCAST 00:40- Tamara’s trip to Cape Cod 06:10- Marriott Hotels partnering with Ted Talks  11:55- About Dana Freeman 14:50- Best time to go to Vermont 16:36- Fall Festivals  20:15- What is New England anyway? 21:10- Sightseeing suggestions 30:00- Avoiding the major crowds  32:07- Best place to take a family photo 33:40- Apple to iPods 34:15- Favorite Travel Gear 41:10- SHOUT OUTS  ABOUT DANA FREEMAN Dana Freeman is an entrepreneur, freelance journalist, and the editor behind Dana Freeman Travels. On her blog she provides reviews of destinations and hotels around the world. Dana specializes in Vermont, Skiing, Family Travel, Luxury Travel and Adventure Travel. You can follow Dana on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.  ENJOYING FALL IN NEW ENGLAND  Best time to travel to Vermont is mid-September to mid-October during peak foliage season. November in Vermont is known as ‘Stick Season’ because the leaves are gone and there isn't any  snow yet. Fall Festivals start in the beginning or middle of September.  The Keene Pumpkin Festival is on October 22nd, they light up hundreds of pumpkins. Rhode Island also offers the ‘Jack O'Lantern Spectacular’ at the Roger Williams Zoo in Providence. Take advantage of events that are at different ski resorts. They have mountain coasters, ziplining, gondolas, mountain biking, etc.   Stowe Pinnacle trail in Vermont is a great spot for hiking. The summit is an amazing view, you can see Mount Mansfield, the Waterbury Reservoir and the Worcester Range. If you have little kids Mount Philo is a great trail to hike, located in Charlotte, Vermont. It has a road that all the way to the top, so if you have a stroller you can go up that way. Check out the Happy Vermont site for scenic roads to travel on.  BEST PLACE TO TAKE FAMILY PHOTO If you want beautiful scenery and lots of color, the best place for a family photo is from the top of a mountain. Whether you take a hike or get up some other way, you can have the colorful mountains behind you as a backdrop. FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR If you are heading to Vermont, Dana recommends Clarks shoes and Darn Tough socks, which are made in Vermont and last forever! TIP OF THE WEEK AAA is good for more than just discounts. Members get free maps, tour books and customized route plans, which are so fun for kids to flip through and track your roadtrip in the car. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST Find and Go Seek Vermont Happy Vermont  Fall Fun Harvest Festivals  Annual Fall Foliage Festival  Events In Vermont's Northeast Kingdom Cape Codder Resort Review  10 Ways to Enjoy Fall Foliage in the Northeast  Scenic Routes in Vermont Apples to Ipods Event in Vermont  Red Jacket Mountain View Resort FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email or leave us a voicemail at +1.641.715.3900, ext. 926035# You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcase and We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for listening!

Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Maine...there is nothing quite like fall in New England. This is the time when the foliage is at its peak, the air is crisp and the apples are crisper. What a perfect time to visit for hikes, festivals, and scenic drives. Get the inside scoop with Vermonter Dana Freeman from Dana Freeman Travels.   ON THE PODCAST 00:40- Tamara’s trip to Cape Cod 06:10- Marriott Hotels partnering with Ted Talks  11:55- About Dana Freeman 14:50- Best time to go to Vermont 16:36- Fall Festivals  20:15- What is New England anyway? 21:10- Sightseeing suggestions 30:00- Avoiding the major crowds  32:07- Best place to take a family photo 33:40- Apple to iPods 34:15- Favorite Travel Gear 41:10- SHOUT OUTS  ABOUT DANA FREEMAN Dana Freeman is an entrepreneur, freelance journalist, and the editor behind <a href="http://www.danahfreeman.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dana Freeman Travels</a>. On her blog she provides reviews of destinations and hotels around the world. Dana specializes in Vermont, Skiing, Family Travel, Luxury Travel and Adventure Travel. You can follow Dana on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/danahfreeman/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/danahfreeman" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/danahfreeman/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a>.  ENJOYING FALL IN NEW ENGLAND <ul> <li>Best time to travel to Vermont is mid-September to mid-October during peak foliage season. November in Vermont is known as ‘Stick Season’ because the leaves are gone and there isn't any  snow yet.</li> <li>Fall Festivals start in the beginning or middle of September. </li> <li>The <a href="http://www.thekeenepumpkinfestival.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Keene Pumpkin Festival</a> is on October 22nd, they light up hundreds of pumpkins. Rhode Island also offers the ‘Jack O'Lantern Spectacular’ at the Roger Williams Zoo in Providence.</li> <li>Take advantage of events that are at different ski resorts. They have mountain coasters, ziplining, gondolas, mountain biking, etc.  </li> <li>Stowe Pinnacle trail in Vermont is a great spot for hiking. The summit is an amazing view, you can see Mount Mansfield, the Waterbury Reservoir and the Worcester Range.</li> <li>If you have little kids Mount Philo is a great trail to hike, located in Charlotte, Vermont. It has a road that all the way to the top, so if you have a stroller you can go up that way.</li> <li>Check out the <a href="http://www.happyvermont.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Happy Vermont</a> site for scenic roads to travel on.</li> </ul> BEST PLACE TO TAKE FAMILY PHOTO If you want beautiful scenery and lots of color, the best place for a family photo is from the top of a mountain. Whether you take a hike or get up some other way, you can have the colorful mountains behind you as a backdrop. FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR If you are heading to Vermont, Dana recommends <a href="http://amzn.to/2cAffxF" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Clarks shoes</a> and <a href="http://amzn.to/2d3oRSn" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Darn Tough</a> socks, which are made in Vermont and last forever! TIP OF THE WEEK AAA is good for more than just discounts. Members get free maps, tour books and customized route plans, which are so fun for kids to flip through and track your roadtrip in the car. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST <a href="http://www.findandgoseek.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Find and Go Seek Vermont</a> <a href="http://www.happyvermont.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Happy Vermont</a> <a href="http://www.findandgoseek.net/category/fall-fun-harvest-festivals" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Fall Fun Harvest Festivals</a> <a href="https://www.nekchamber.com//media/2016-nek-fall-foliag.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Annual Fall Foliage Festival</a> <a href="http://www.travelthekingdom.com/events.php#!/80095-fall-foliage-in-the-northeast-kingdom" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Events In Vermont's Northeast Kingdom</a> <a href="http://we3travel.com/cape-codder-resort-review/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cape Codder Resort Review</a> <a href="http://we3travel.com/10-ways-enjoy-fall-foliage-northeast/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> 10 Ways to Enjoy Fall Foliage in the Northeast</a> <a href="http://www.happyvermont.com/2015/09/10/vermont-scenic-drive-alternatives-to-route-100/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Scenic Routes in Vermont</a> <a href="https://www.vermontvacation.com/apples-to-ipods" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Apples to Ipods Event in Vermont</a> <a href="http://we3travel.com/red-jacket-mountain-view-resort-review/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Red Jacket Mountain View Resort</a> FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vacation-mavens/id1088732340" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">iTunes</a>, <a href="http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=84422&amp;refid=stpr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stitcher</a>, or<a href="https://play.google.com/music/m/Irqum22lymaujsl43iyps22vndu?t%3DVacation_Mavens_Family_Travel_Podcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Google Play</a> and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email or leave us a voicemail at +1.641.715.3900, ext. 926035# You can also follow our travels on <a href="http://stuffedsuitcase.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stuffed Suitcase</a> and <a href="http://we3travel.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">We3Travel</a>, or follow the Vacation Mavens on <a href="http://instagram.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a> or <a href="http://twitter.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. Thanks for listening!

029 Fall in New England

At the end of every year we like to look back at some of our favorite travel experiences, destinations, hotels, and products and share those with our listeners. So settle in and listen up as we share our favorites for 2019! At the end of every year we like to look back at some of our favorite travel experiences, destinations, hotels, and products and share those with our listeners. So settle in and listen up as we share our favorites for 2019! ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Sponsor 01:09 - Talking with Kim and Tamara 04:13 - Favorite hotels 18:50 - Favorite Experiences 32:58 - Surprise Destinations 38:36 - Favorite Travel Gear 51:28 - Favorite trip of the year Favorite Things of 2019  Favorite hotels  Tamara enjoyed her stay at L’ma Lodge in Morocco. The property was spacious and had a bunch of little hangout places under palm trees. Plus there was a really great view from the roof and the stay was not too expensive. She also had fun at the Margaritaville Resort in Orlando, Florida, which has a beach feel and a really great pool. In the surrounding area there is a waterpark along with shops and other activities. Her stay at Les Carrasses in France, was very elegant and affordable. The Mount Juliet Estate she stayed at in Ireland has a lot of character which made for a great stay. Tamara’s last favorite hotel was the Riad Fes in Morocco. This Riad had a really unique atmosphere with its large doors and tile work that made you feel like you were in a palace. Kim loved her stay at the Moon Palace in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. This was an all-inclusive resort that made for a very relaxing stay where she didn’t have to worry about the price tag of food and activities. She loves the  Paradise Pier Hotel at Disneyland, where you can get a theme park view room. It is farthest from the entrances so that may be a downside for some. She also likes the Disneyland Hotel,which has light-up headboards and though you still have to walk to the entrances, you walk through downtown Disney which makes it a more fun walk. The  Grand Californian Hotel in Disneyland is definitely the closest to the park and will be more luxurious than the others. The Presidio Lodge in San Francisco is close to the Golden Gate Bridge. The Lodge is on an old army barracks type property that has two hotels, a restaurant and the Walt Disney Family Museum. If you are a big Disney fan you might want to check it out. The Lodge is very beautifully done and spacious. They also serve a cocktail hour with wine for adults and lemonade for kids.     Favorite experiences/excursions  One of Tamara’s favorite experiences was when she was able to camp in the desert in Morocco with her family. They rode camels in and were able to try sand boarding the next day. Her experience with Souk Cuisine and their cooking class in Marrakech. They took you to the market and helped you pick out what you need for the meal you were going to make than you were welcomed in to someone's home, where they helped you cook the meal. The Via Ferrata in Banff was such a great experience to have with her daughter. Jasper Food Tours gave a very unique with their Peak-Nik. You would hike up a mountain with all of your supplies and then learn how to cook a bunch of different items and enjoy the view while you eat. Tamara’s wine tasting experience on Canal du Midi barge. Lastly was the great experience of seeing the Northern Lights and feeding an arctic fox in Iceland! Kim loved her experience skiing in Keystone. Since she first learned how to ski there it was great to be able to bring her kids there. The food tour in Key West was a great experience to have with a friend. Gulf Hagas hike in Maine may have been a hard hike, you had a great feeling of accomplishment when you reach the end. California Road Trip was a really neat experience, being able to spend a day or two a bunch of different places. The Rocky Mountaineer train ride was a bucket list experience with its scenery and relaxation. Northern Ireland Causeway Coast (Carrick a Rede Bridge) was a really wonderful experience and makes you want to stay explore in every direction. Being able to walk across the Golden Gate Bridge was a really fun experience. Royal BC Museum in Victoria was a really impressive experience. Being able to see the Hubbard Glacier from a cruise ship had some really great views to see nature at work.     Destination that surprised you  Tamara felt that Belfast had a really great food and views. This surprised her because of everything she kept hearing about the location from others in the past, built up this image that was a lot different than the amazing experience that she had. Kim’s first experience with Jamaica ended up being really overwhelming with all of the people at each cruise port bombarding you with things to buy. Her recent trip there at an all inclusive resort made for a much better experience and left you to relax and enjoy your time rather than worry about little things.     Favorite new gear  Tamara has found some new gear this past year like Taos shoes that have some great style options but have really great arch support. Delsey Paris Chatelet Air tote bag is a great addition to her luggage with a nicer look to it than caring around a backpack. Plus it also has a strap that you can put over you rolling so that you don’t have to carry it on your shoulder all of the time. She also found this new brand of jeans called Fatface, which is a UK brand and they are very comfortable and stretchy. Kim found Forsake Boots for her trip to Ireland that are really great hiking boots. She has also found that she loves wearing wireless headphones especially when she is on a plane. Compression socks that are a little looser than medical ones are less claustrophobic for Kim when she is wearing them. Columbia has an  Anytime Bootcut pants that are extremely comfortable and look a little more professional.     Favorite trip of the year  Tamara loved her time in the Canadian Rockies that she took with her daughter. There was a lot of great views and places to see. Kim loved her time in Ireland she was just blown away at the beauty and the ease of getting around.    FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or  Google Play and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email at podcast@vacationmavens.com. You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcase and We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for listening!

At the end of every year we like to look back at some of our favorite travel experiences, destinations, hotels, and products and share those with our listeners. So settle in and listen up as we share our favorites for 2019! At the end of every year we like to look back at some of our favorite travel experiences, destinations, hotels, and products and share those with our listeners. So settle in and listen up as we share our favorites for 2019! ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Sponsor 01:09 - Talking with Kim and Tamara 04:13 - Favorite hotels 18:50 - Favorite Experiences 32:58 - Surprise Destinations 38:36 - Favorite Travel Gear 51:28 - Favorite trip of the year Favorite Things of 2019 <ul> <li>Favorite hotels <ul> <li>Tamara enjoyed her stay at <a href="https://we3travel.com/ouarzazate-morocco/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">L’ma Lodge in Morocco</a>. The property was spacious and had a bunch of little hangout places under palm trees. Plus there was a really great view from the roof and the stay was not too expensive.</li> <li>She also had fun at the <a href="https://we3travel.com/margaritaville-resort-orlando-review/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Margaritaville Resort</a> in Orlando, Florida, which has a beach feel and a really great pool. In the surrounding area there is a waterpark along with shops and other activities.</li> <li>Her stay at <a href="https://www.lescarrasses.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Les Carrasses</a> in France, was very elegant and affordable.</li> <li>The <a href="https://we3travel.com/mount-juliet-hotel-near-kilkenny/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Mount Juliet Estate</a> she stayed at in Ireland has a lot of character which made for a great stay.</li> <li>Tamara’s last favorite hotel was the <a href="https://we3travel.com/things-to-do-in-fes-morocco/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Riad Fes</a> in Morocco. This Riad had a really unique atmosphere with its large doors and tile work that made you feel like you were in a palace.</li> <li>Kim loved her stay at the <a href="https://jamaica.moonpalace.com/en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Moon Palace</a> in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. This was an all-inclusive resort that made for a very relaxing stay where she didn’t have to worry about the price tag of food and activities.</li> <li>She loves the <a href="https://disneyland.disney.go.com/hotels/paradise-pier-hotel/?CMP=OKC-dlr_lodging_gmap_334394" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Paradise Pier Hotel</a> at Disneyland, where you can get a theme park view room. It is farthest from the entrances so that may be a downside for some.</li> <li>She also likes the <a href="https://disneyland.disney.go.com/hotels/disneyland-hotel/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Disneyland Hotel,</a>which has light-up headboards and though you still have to walk to the entrances, you walk through downtown Disney which makes it a more fun walk.</li> <li>The <a href="https://disneyland.disney.go.com/hotels/grand-californian-hotel/?CMP=OKC-dlr_lodging_gmap_33" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Grand Californian Hotel</a> in Disneyland is definitely the closest to the park and will be more luxurious than the others.</li> <li>The <a href="https://www.presidiolodging.com/lodge-at-the-presidio/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Presidio Lodge</a> in San Francisco is close to the Golden Gate Bridge. The Lodge is on an old army barracks type property that has two hotels, a restaurant and the <a href="https://www.waltdisney.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Walt Disney Family Museum</a>. If you are a big Disney fan you might want to check it out. The Lodge is very beautifully done and spacious. They also serve a cocktail hour with wine for adults and lemonade for kids.</li> </ul> </li> </ul> <ul> <li>Favorite experiences/excursions <ul> <li>One of Tamara’s favorite experiences was when she was able to <a href="https://we3travel.com/morocco-desert-camp/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">camp in the desert</a> in Morocco with her family. They rode camels in and were able to try sand boarding the next day.</li> <li>Her experience with <a href="https://www.soukcuisine.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Souk Cuisine</a> and their cooking class in Marrakech. They took you to the market and helped you pick out what you need for the meal you were going to make than you were welcomed in to someone's home, where they helped you cook the meal.</li> <li>The <a href="https://we3travel.com/mt-norquay-via-ferrata-banff/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Via Ferrata in Banff</a> was such a great experience to have with her daughter.</li> <li><a href="https://we3travel.com/things-to-do-in-jasper/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Jasper Food Tours</a> gave a very unique with their Peak-Nik. You would hike up a mountain with all of your supplies and then learn how to cook a bunch of different items and enjoy the view while you eat.</li> <li>Tamara’s <a href="https://we3travel.com/languedoc-wine-tour/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">wine tasting experience</a> on Canal du Midi barge.</li> <li>Lastly was the great experience of seeing the Northern Lights and feeding an arctic fox in <a href="https://we3travel.com/4-days-in-the-westfjords-iceland/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Iceland</a>!</li> <li>Kim loved her experience skiing in <a href="https://www.keystoneresort.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Keystone</a>. Since she first learned how to ski there it was great to be able to bring her kids there.</li> <li>The <a href="https://we3travel.com/florida-keys-roadtrip/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">food tour in Key West</a> was a great experience to have with a friend.</li> <li><a href="https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/maine/gulf-hagas-trail" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gulf Hagas hike</a> in Maine may have been a hard hike, you had a great feeling of accomplishment when you reach the end.</li> <li>California Road Trip was a really neat experience, being able to spend a day or two a bunch of different places.</li> <li>The <a href="https://www.rockymountaineer.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rocky Mountaineer</a> train ride was a bucket list experience with its scenery and relaxation.</li> <li>Northern Ireland <a href="https://www.causewaycoastalroute.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Causeway Coast</a> (Carrick a Rede Bridge) was a really wonderful experience and makes you want to stay explore in every direction.</li> <li>Being able to walk across the Golden Gate Bridge was a really fun experience.</li> <li><a href="https://royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Royal BC Museum</a> in Victoria was a really impressive experience.</li> <li>Being able to see the Hubbard Glacier from a cruise ship had some really great views to see nature at work.</li> </ul> </li> </ul> <ul> <li>Destination that surprised you <ul> <li>Tamara felt that Belfast had a really great food and views. This surprised her because of everything she kept hearing about the location from others in the past, built up this image that was a lot different than the amazing experience that she had.</li> <li>Kim’s first experience with Jamaica ended up being really overwhelming with all of the people at each cruise port bombarding you with things to buy. Her recent trip there at an all inclusive resort made for a much better experience and left you to relax and enjoy your time rather than worry about little things.</li> </ul> </li> </ul> <ul> <li>Favorite new gear <ul> <li>Tamara has found some new gear this past year like Taos shoes that have some great style options but have really great arch support. Delsey Paris Chatelet Air tote bag is a great addition to her luggage with a nicer look to it than caring around a backpack. Plus it also has a strap that you can put over you rolling so that you don’t have to carry it on your shoulder all of the time. She also found this new brand of jeans called <a href="https://us.fatface.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Fatface</a>, which is a UK brand and they are very comfortable and stretchy.</li> <li>Kim found <a href="https://forsake.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Forsake Boots</a> for her trip to Ireland that are really great hiking boots. She has also found that she loves wearing wireless headphones especially when she is on a plane. Compression socks that are a little looser than medical ones are less claustrophobic for Kim when she is wearing them. Columbia has an <a href="https://www.columbia.com/womens-anytime-outdoor-boot-cut-pant-AL8088.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Anytime Bootcut</a> pants that are extremely comfortable and look a little more professional.</li> </ul> </li> </ul> <ul> <li>Favorite trip of the year <ul> <li>Tamara loved her time in the Canadian Rockies that she took with her daughter. There was a lot of great views and places to see.</li> <li>Kim loved her time in Ireland she was just blown away at the beauty and the ease of getting around.</li> </ul> </li> </ul> FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vacation-mavens/id1088732340" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">iTunes</a>, <a href="http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=84422&amp;refid=stpr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stitcher</a>, or <a href="https://play.google.com/music/m/Irqum22lymaujsl43iyps22vndu?t%3DVacation_Mavens_Family_Travel_Podcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Google Play</a> and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email at podcast@vacationmavens.com. You can also follow our travels on <a href="http://stuffedsuitcase.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stuffed Suitcase</a> and <a href="http://we3travel.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">We3Travel</a>, or follow the Vacation Mavens on <a href="http://instagram.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a> or <a href="http://twitter.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. Thanks for listening!

148 Our Travel Favorites of 2019

This week, Kim and Tamara chat about one of the United States' prettiest white sand beaches (that most people don't know about!) Find out why the Alabama beaches should be on your family vacation radar. ON THE PODCAST 00:33 - Talking with Kim and Tamara about white sand beaches in Alabama 02:07 - Towns along the coast 03:57 - Differences between the two beaches 08:06 - Adventurous experiences 11:38 - Tamara’s dolphin and sunset cruise 15:25 - Ziplining experience 16:13 - Bike riding in Gulf State Park 17:00 - GolfQuest Maritime Museum 18:55 - Favorite food places 32:45 - Tip of the week TIPS FOR VISITING THE ALABAMA BEACHES  Orange Beach and Gulf Shores Alabama have beautiful white sand beaches and are not well known outside of the south. Dauphin Island is another one of the popular beaches in the area. Orange Beach has more high rise rental properties and a lot of restaurants. Gulf Shores is more laid back with surf shops, mini golf and other things like that. Sunset cruises are better when you are trying to see dolphins. They are more active in the evening and during the day, the sun light makes it hard to see them and get good photos. GulfQuest Maritime Museum is a bit far from the beach areas, but if you are looking for a indoor activity to do if it's raining or you just need to get out of the sun for a day, this is a great place to go. The museum itself is laid out similarly to an actual ship. Instead of being called floor one, floor two, est. they are named deck one, deck two, etc.  TIP OF THE WEEK Laura’s Vacation Rentals and Young's Suncoast Rentals are the rental agencies that we have used to find great places to stay in the Alabama beach areas. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST Sail Wild Hearts GulfQuest Maritime Museum Laura’s Vacation Rentals Young's Suncoast Rentals We3 Travel Alabama Posts Stuffed Suitcase Alabama Posts FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or  Google Play and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email or leave us a voicemail at +1.641.715.3900, ext. 926035# You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcase and We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for listening!

This week, Kim and Tamara chat about one of the United States' prettiest white sand beaches (that most people don't know about!) Find out why the Alabama beaches should be on your family vacation radar. ON THE PODCAST 00:33 - Talking with Kim and Tamara about white sand beaches in Alabama 02:07 - Towns along the coast 03:57 - Differences between the two beaches 08:06 - Adventurous experiences 11:38 - Tamara’s dolphin and sunset cruise 15:25 - Ziplining experience 16:13 - Bike riding in Gulf State Park 17:00 - GolfQuest Maritime Museum 18:55 - Favorite food places 32:45 - Tip of the week TIPS FOR VISITING THE ALABAMA BEACHES <ul> <li>Orange Beach and Gulf Shores Alabama have beautiful white sand beaches and are not well known outside of the south.</li> <li>Dauphin Island is another one of the popular beaches in the area.</li> <li>Orange Beach has more high rise rental properties and a lot of restaurants. Gulf Shores is more laid back with surf shops, mini golf and other things like that.</li> <li>Sunset cruises are better when you are trying to see dolphins. They are more active in the evening and during the day, the sun light makes it hard to see them and get good photos.</li> <li><a href="http://www.gulfquest.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">GulfQuest Maritime Museum</a> is a bit far from the beach areas, but if you are looking for a indoor activity to do if it's raining or you just need to get out of the sun for a day, this is a great place to go. The museum itself is laid out similarly to an actual ship. Instead of being called floor one, floor two, est. they are named deck one, deck two, etc.</li> </ul> TIP OF THE WEEK <a href="http://www.laurasvacationrentals.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Laura’s Vacation Rentals</a> and <a href="http://www.youngssuncoast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Young's Suncoast Rentals</a> are the rental agencies that we have used to find great places to stay in the Alabama beach areas. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST <a href="http://sailwildhearts.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sail Wild Hearts</a> <a href="http://www.gulfquest.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">GulfQuest Maritime Museum</a> <a href="http://www.laurasvacationrentals.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Laura’s Vacation Rentals</a> <a href="http://www.youngssuncoast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Young's Suncoast Rentals</a> <a href="https://we3travel.com/?s=Alabama" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">We3 Travel Alabama Posts</a> <a href="https://stuffedsuitcase.com/?s=Alabama" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stuffed Suitcase Alabama Posts</a> FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vacation-mavens/id1088732340" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">iTunes</a>, <a href="http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=84422&amp;refid=stpr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stitcher</a>, or <a href="https://play.google.com/music/m/Irqum22lymaujsl43iyps22vndu?t%3DVacation_Mavens_Family_Travel_Podcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Google Play</a> and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email or leave us a voicemail at +1.641.715.3900, ext. 926035# You can also follow our travels on <a href="http://stuffedsuitcase.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stuffed Suitcase</a> and <a href="http://we3travel.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">We3Travel</a>, or follow the Vacation Mavens on <a href="http://instagram.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a> or <a href="http://twitter.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. Thanks for listening!

069 Alabama Beaches Gulf Shores

Slip on your wellies, don your kilt, and grab a Scotch because this week we are chatting with Moon Travel Guides author Sally Coffey about Scotland. Sally fills us in on things to do with kids in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and the Isle of Skye. About our Sponsor Moon Travel Guides If you’ve traveled the Americas, then you already know Moon Travel Guides are the go-to guidebooks for truly immersive experiences. Now with expanded coverage of Europe, your family can enjoy everything you love about Moon—honest local insight, strategic planning advice, and the opportunity to support unique and vibrant communities just by having fun—in extraordinary European regions from Prague's fairy-tale architecture to the ruggedly picturesque Isle of Skye. Wherever your wanderlust may lead, there’s a Moon guide for you. Visit moon.com or your favorite bookseller to grab your guide.   ON THE PODCAST 00:31 - About this week's sponsor 01:10 - Using Moon Travel Guides to plan your travel 03:51 - Talking with Sally Coffey 05:43 - Must see places in Scotland 07:44 - When to go and how long to spend 14:50 - Areas to stay in Edinburgh 15:40 - Getting around 16:36 - Glasgow 20:02 - Transportation 22:23 - Isle of Skye 30:16 - What to know before visiting Scotland 32:57 - Sally’s favorite travel gear 35:13 - What’s coming up ABOUT SALLY COFFEY Sally Coffey is a freelance journalist specializing in Scottish and British travel. Her first travel guidebook Moon Edinburgh, Glasgow and the Isle of Skye is out now and she is currently editor of Scotland Magazine. Follow Sally Coffey on Instagram and Twitter or see what she's up to on her website sallycoffeywrites.com. TIPS FOR VISITING SCOTLAND  Edinburgh is a must see when visiting Scotland. The West Coast of Scotland is another great area to visit, with the Isle of Skye being the most dramatic. Scotland can get quite crowded in the summer months, but the weather is also the nicest. Places like the Isle of Skye is best to visit in the summer, whereas Edinburgh you can enjoy year round. If you are visiting Edinburgh in August, keep in mind that you will be competing for hotel rooms and in lines for attractions with those attending the Fringe Festival.  Keep that in mind when you are planning your trip. Edinburgh is the ideal spot to start your trip. The city has lot to offer, with a medieval feel and cobblestone roads of Old Town, as well the gardens and buildings of New Town. Plan on spending at least three days in Edinburgh. The shoulder seasons of spring and fall are the ideal time to visit to avoid the crowds. New Town in Edinburgh has a lot of museums and galleries that you can explore. If you like J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books, there are quite a few locations in Old Town that seem to have inspired characters/locations of the books. Including the Greyfriars Kirkyard which is a graveyard where some of the characters may have been inspired from. Edinburgh is very walkable and pretty. There are taxis and other transportation, but that can get pretty expensive. Glasgow offers loads of great museums and a lot of outdoor areas, which comes in handy if you have younger kids that like to run around outside. The  Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is really great and right outside there is a nice green area to have a picnic after exploring the museum. Traveling by train is a great way to get around Scotland and it is not too expensive.  The Jacobite steam train is the train that the train in the Harry Potter films was based off of along with the track it takes. If you can get a ride on that train you will see some really fantastic views. The Isle of Skye has really fantastic views and natural beauty. You can take a train there but then you will need to rent a car to explore. The island has some great hikes where you can walk for a long time without seeing anyone. If you would like, you can catch a short boat trip to see dolphins or even to the other smaller islands nearby. You should really spend at least 3 days on the Isle of Skye or you might miss things if you are rushing around trying to see everything. If you can, you should try to stay a week to really get to explore the whole island. There are some areas that you will need exact change when you are buying anything so do exchange some dollars for British pounds. Don’t be afraid to talk to locals. They can have some really great insight into spots to visit. Keep an open mind and don't be afraid to take a look at some suggestions.  FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR Sally loves to wear jeans along with her hiking boots. She also likes to keep a waterproof jacket handy for when she is walking around outside in Scotland! MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST Moon Travel Guides Camera Obscura &amp; World of Illusions The National Museum of Scotland Gallery of Modern Art Greyfriars Kirkyard - Harry Potter Balmoral Hotel Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum The Raeburn Stein Inn Alison Guesthouse Alamo Guesthouse FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or  Google Play and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email or leave us a voicemail at +1.641.715.3900, ext. 926035#. You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcase and We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for listening!

Slip on your wellies, don your kilt, and grab a Scotch because this week we are chatting with Moon Travel Guides author Sally Coffey about Scotland. Sally fills us in on things to do with kids in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and the Isle of Skye. About our Sponsor Moon Travel Guides If you’ve traveled the Americas, then you already know Moon Travel Guides are the go-to guidebooks for truly immersive experiences. Now with expanded coverage of Europe, your family can enjoy everything you love about Moon—honest local insight, strategic planning advice, and the opportunity to support unique and vibrant communities just by having fun—in extraordinary European regions from Prague's fairy-tale architecture to the ruggedly picturesque Isle of Skye. Wherever your wanderlust may lead, there’s a Moon guide for you. Visit <a href="http://moon.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">moon.com</a> or your favorite bookseller to grab your guide.   ON THE PODCAST 00:31 - About this week's sponsor 01:10 - Using Moon Travel Guides to plan your travel 03:51 - Talking with Sally Coffey 05:43 - Must see places in Scotland 07:44 - When to go and how long to spend 14:50 - Areas to stay in Edinburgh 15:40 - Getting around 16:36 - Glasgow 20:02 - Transportation 22:23 - Isle of Skye 30:16 - What to know before visiting Scotland 32:57 - Sally’s favorite travel gear 35:13 - What’s coming up ABOUT SALLY COFFEY Sally Coffey is a freelance journalist specializing in Scottish and British travel. Her first travel guidebook Moon Edinburgh, Glasgow and the Isle of Skye is out now and she is currently editor of Scotland Magazine. Follow Sally Coffey on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sallycoffeywrites/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/SallyCwrites" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a> or see what she's up to on her website <a href="http://sallycoffeywrites.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">sallycoffeywrites.com</a>. TIPS FOR VISITING SCOTLAND <ul> <li>Edinburgh is a must see when visiting Scotland.</li> <li>The West Coast of Scotland is another great area to visit, with the Isle of Skye being the most dramatic.</li> <li>Scotland can get quite crowded in the summer months, but the weather is also the nicest. Places like the Isle of Skye is best to visit in the summer, whereas Edinburgh you can enjoy year round. If you are visiting Edinburgh in August, keep in mind that you will be competing for hotel rooms and in lines for attractions with those attending the Fringe Festival.  Keep that in mind when you are planning your trip.</li> <li>Edinburgh is the ideal spot to start your trip. The city has lot to offer, with a medieval feel and cobblestone roads of Old Town, as well the gardens and buildings of New Town.</li> <li>Plan on spending at least three days in Edinburgh. The shoulder seasons of spring and fall are the ideal time to visit to avoid the crowds.</li> <li>New Town in Edinburgh has a lot of museums and galleries that you can explore.</li> <li>If you like J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books, there are quite a few locations in Old Town that seem to have inspired characters/locations of the books. Including the <a href="https://greyfriarskirk.com/visit/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Greyfriars Kirkyard</a> which is a graveyard where some of the characters may have been inspired from.</li> <li>Edinburgh is very walkable and pretty. There are taxis and other transportation, but that can get pretty expensive.</li> <li>Glasgow offers loads of great museums and a lot of outdoor areas, which comes in handy if you have younger kids that like to run around outside.</li> <li>The <a href="https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/museums/venues/kelvingrove-art-gallery-and-museum" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum</a> is really great and right outside there is a nice green area to have a picnic after exploring the museum.</li> <li>Traveling by train is a great way to get around Scotland and it is not too expensive. <a href="https://westcoastrailways.co.uk/jacobite/dates-times-prices-jacobite-steam-train.cfm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> The Jacobite</a> steam train is the train that the train in the Harry Potter films was based off of along with the track it takes. If you can get a ride on that train you will see some really fantastic views.</li> <li>The Isle of Skye has really fantastic views and natural beauty. You can take a train there but then you will need to rent a car to explore.</li> <li>The island has some great hikes where you can walk for a long time without seeing anyone. If you would like, you can catch a short boat trip to see dolphins or even to the other smaller islands nearby.</li> <li>You should really spend at least 3 days on the Isle of Skye or you might miss things if you are rushing around trying to see everything. If you can, you should try to stay a week to really get to explore the whole island.</li> <li>There are some areas that you will need exact change when you are buying anything so do exchange some dollars for British pounds.</li> <li>Don’t be afraid to talk to locals. They can have some really great insight into spots to visit. Keep an open mind and don't be afraid to take a look at some suggestions.</li> </ul> FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR Sally loves to wear jeans along with her hiking boots. She also likes to keep a waterproof jacket handy for when she is walking around outside in Scotland! MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST <a href="https://www.moon.com/imprint/perseus/avalon-travel/moon-travel/page/europe-with-moon-travel-guides/?utm_source=vacationmavens&amp;utm_medium=paidsocial&amp;utm_campaign=europe&amp;utm_content=scotland" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Moon Travel Guides</a> <a href="https://www.camera-obscura.co.uk/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Camera Obscura &amp; World of Illusions</a> <a href="https://www.nms.ac.uk/national-museum-of-scotland/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">The National Museum of Scotland</a> <a href="https://www.nationalgalleries.org/visit/scottish-national-gallery-modern-art" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Gallery of Modern Art</a> <a href="https://greyfriarskirk.com/visit/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Greyfriars Kirkyard - Harry Potter</a> <a href="https://www.roccofortehotels.com/hotels-and-resorts/the-balmoral-hotel/?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=local&amp;utm_campaign=the_balmoral" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Balmoral Hotel</a> <a href="https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/museums/venues/kelvingrove-art-gallery-and-museum" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum</a> <a href="https://www.theraeburn.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">The Raeburn</a> <a href="https://www.stein-inn.co.uk/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Stein Inn</a> <a href="http://www.thealison.co.uk/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Alison Guesthouse</a> <a href="https://www.alamoguesthouse.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Alamo Guesthouse</a> FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vacation-mavens/id1088732340" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">iTunes</a>, <a href="http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=84422&amp;refid=stpr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stitcher</a>, or <a href="https://play.google.com/music/m/Irqum22lymaujsl43iyps22vndu?t%3DVacation_Mavens_Family_Travel_Podcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Google Play</a> and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email or leave us a voicemail at +1.641.715.3900, ext. 926035#. You can also follow our travels on <a href="http://stuffedsuitcase.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stuffed Suitcase</a> and <a href="http://we3travel.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">We3Travel</a>, or follow the Vacation Mavens on <a href="http://instagram.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a> or <a href="http://twitter.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. Thanks for listening!

144 Visiting Edinburgh, Glasgow, and the Isle of Skye in Scotland

The Florida Keys is a perfect road trip destination for families, or friends. This week Kim and Tamara talk all about their recent trip to the Florida Keys and Key West, with stops in Key Largo and Key West. ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Talking with Kim and Tamara about their time in the Florida Keys 02:31 - Getting to and around the Keys 10:45 - Key Largo - Baker’s Cay Resort 17:35 - Playa Largo Resort 23:00 - Islamorada 30:45 - Driving to Key West 38:20 - Stock Island 42:44 - Places to eat 50:58 - Food Tour and Boat Tour 58:15 - Sunset Celebration 1:02:00 - Island Adventure Tour 1:09:30 - Coming up next TIPS FOR VISITING THE FLORIDA KEYS  Keep in mind when you are planning your trip to the Keys that you are going to be driving down through different Keys, you will run into quite a bit of traffic since you will mostly be driving through one lane roads and small beach towns with lights and little shops. The  Baker’s Cay Resortin Key Largo is a great resort for families or friends. They have great views and while the beach and pool are not close to each other to enable you to easily go back and forth, they are both very nice. This resort offers a complimentary glass of champagne at sunset every night, nicely decorated public spaces, and offers water sport adventures that you can easily access on their dock.  Playa Largo Resortbeach seems to be a bit narrower and part of this you can only access they water by a set of stairs. They also offer a special treat of marshmallows you can roast on bonfires at sunset. The resort pool is nicer than Baker's Cay and right on the beach. If you are at all interested in feeding fish, a great area to visit is Robbies on Islamorada. They have a restaurant is called Hunger Tarpon and you can pay a fee to go out on the docks and buy a bucket of fish to feed the tarpon. Just go early because the parking lot gets very full. Robbies also offers a bunch of different water sports. Driving from Key Largo to Key West will probably take you about five hours with a few stops, including lunch. The Perry Hotel on Stock Island is a bit outside of downtown Key West, but offers free parking and a shuttle downtown. You can also rent scooters and you will find that you will be able to find decent parking with them. Parking in Key West is challenging. For a car, you will find that there are a lot of residential only parking spot that you could get ticketed if you there. The lot parking can also get a bit expensive as well. Key West Food Toursprovided a fabulous tour around the area. The tour guide Rose was fantastic! Mallory Square offers a sunset celebration that starts about an hour before sunset and they have performers to watch as well as bars you can go and have a drink that are all right around the square. You should keep in mind that people will stake out spots to see the sunset early on, so you may want to get there early and do the same otherwise you will be behind a crowd and you will need to hold your camera up over others to get good shots. The Fury Island Adventure Touroffers a fantastic experience where you can snorkel, walk around a sandbar, kayaking, and even paddle board. This tour offers a great variation of activities all in one great boat trip.  MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST Planning a Trip to the Florida Keys with Kids - Episode 122  Baker’s Cay Resort by Hilton  Calusa Restaurant at Baker’s Cay  Playa Largo Resort La Marea at Playa Largo Hunger Tarpon Bahia Honda State Park Reef Friendly Sunscreens  No Name Pub Perry Hotel Matt’s Stock Island Kitchen First Flight Island Restaurant and Brewery Kermit’s Key Lime Pie Shoppe Blue Heaven Bagatelle Key West Food Tours Sebago Watersports Mallory Square Hogs Breath Saloon Island Adventure Tour FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, orGoogle Playand leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email or leave us a voicemail at +1.641.715.3900, ext. 926035#. You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcaseand We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebookor Twitter. Thanks for listening!

The Florida Keys is a perfect road trip destination for families, or friends. This week Kim and Tamara talk all about their recent trip to the <a href="https://fla-keys.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Florida Keys and Key West</a>, with stops in Key Largo and Key West. ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Talking with Kim and Tamara about their time in the Florida Keys 02:31 - Getting to and around the Keys 10:45 - Key Largo - Baker’s Cay Resort 17:35 - Playa Largo Resort 23:00 - Islamorada 30:45 - Driving to Key West 38:20 - Stock Island 42:44 - Places to eat 50:58 - Food Tour and Boat Tour 58:15 - Sunset Celebration 1:02:00 - Island Adventure Tour 1:09:30 - Coming up next TIPS FOR VISITING THE FLORIDA KEYS <ul> <li>Keep in mind when you are planning your trip to the Keys that you are going to be driving down through different Keys, you will run into quite a bit of traffic since you will mostly be driving through one lane roads and small beach towns with lights and little shops.</li> <li>The <a href="https://curiocollection3.hilton.com/en/hotels/florida/bakers-cay-resort-key-largo-curio-collection-by-hilton-KYLCUQQ/index.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Baker’s Cay Resort</a>in Key Largo is a great resort for families or friends. They have great views and while the beach and pool are not close to each other to enable you to easily go back and forth, they are both very nice. This resort offers a complimentary glass of champagne at sunset every night, nicely decorated public spaces, and offers water sport adventures that you can easily access on their dock.</li> <li><a href="https://playalargoresort.com/?scid=bb1a189a-fec3-4d19-a255-54ba596febe2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Playa Largo Resort</a>beach seems to be a bit narrower and part of this you can only access they water by a set of stairs. They also offer a special treat of marshmallows you can roast on bonfires at sunset. The resort pool is nicer than Baker's Cay and right on the beach.</li> <li>If you are at all interested in feeding fish, a great area to visit is Robbies on Islamorada. They have a restaurant is called <a href="http://places.singleplatform.com/hungry-tarpon/menu?ref=google" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hunger Tarpon</a> and you can pay a fee to go out on the docks and buy a bucket of fish to feed the tarpon. Just go early because the parking lot gets very full. Robbies also offers a bunch of different water sports.</li> <li>Driving from Key Largo to Key West will probably take you about five hours with a few stops, including lunch.</li> <li>The Perry Hotel on Stock Island is a bit outside of downtown Key West, but offers free parking and a shuttle downtown. You can also rent scooters and you will find that you will be able to find decent parking with them.</li> <li>Parking in Key West is challenging. For a car, you will find that there are a lot of residential only parking spot that you could get ticketed if you there. The lot parking can also get a bit expensive as well.</li> <li><a href="https://www.keywestfoodtours.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Key West Food Tours</a>provided a fabulous tour around the area. The tour guide Rose was fantastic!</li> <li>Mallory Square offers a sunset celebration that starts about an hour before sunset and they have performers to watch as well as bars you can go and have a drink that are all right around the square. You should keep in mind that people will stake out spots to see the sunset early on, so you may want to get there early and do the same otherwise you will be behind a crowd and you will need to hold your camera up over others to get good shots.</li> <li><a href="https://www.furycat.com/key-west/kayaking-sunset-cruise" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Fury Island Adventure Tour</a>offers a fantastic experience where you can snorkel, walk around a sandbar, kayaking, and even paddle board. This tour offers a great variation of activities all in one great boat trip.</li> </ul> MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST <a href="https://vacationmavens.com/122-florida-keys-with-kids/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Planning a Trip to the Florida Keys with Kids - Episode 122</a> <a href="https://curiocollection3.hilton.com/en/hotels/florida/bakers-cay-resort-key-largo-curio-collection-by-hilton-KYLCUQQ/index.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Baker’s Cay Resort by Hilton</a> <a href="https://www.opentable.com/r/calusa-at-bakers-cay-resort-key-largo" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Calusa Restaurant at Baker’s Cay</a> <a href="https://playalargoresort.com/?scid=bb1a189a-fec3-4d19-a255-54ba596febe2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Playa Largo Resort</a> <a href="https://playalargoresort.com/food-spirits#lamarea" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">La Marea at Playa Largo</a> <a href="http://places.singleplatform.com/hungry-tarpon/menu?ref=google" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hunger Tarpon</a> <a href="https://bahiahondapark.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bahia Honda State Park</a> <a href="https://bahiahondapark.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Reef Friendly Sunscreens</a> <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g34085-d514067-Reviews-No_Name_Pub-Big_Pine_Key_Florida_Keys_Florida.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> No Name Pub</a> <a href="https://www.perrykeywest.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Perry Hotel</a> <a href="https://www.perrykeywest.com/eat-and-drink/matts-stock-island" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Matt’s Stock Island Kitchen</a> <a href="http://www.firstflightkw.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">First Flight Island Restaurant and Brewery</a> <a href="https://www.keylimeshop.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kermit’s Key Lime Pie Shoppe</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/blueheavenkw/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Blue Heaven</a> <a href="https://bagatellekw.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bagatelle</a> <a href="https://www.keywestfoodtours.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Key West Food Tours</a> <a href="https://keywestsebago.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sebago Watersports</a> <a href="https://www.mallorysquare.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mallory Square</a> <a href="https://www.hogsbreath.com/keywest/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hogs Breath Saloon</a> <a href="https://www.furycat.com/key-west/kayaking-sunset-cruise" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Island Adventure Tour</a> FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vacation-mavens/id1088732340" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">iTunes</a>, <a href="http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=84422&amp;refid=stpr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stitcher</a>, or<a href="https://play.google.com/music/m/Irqum22lymaujsl43iyps22vndu?t%3DVacation_Mavens_Family_Travel_Podcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Google Play</a>and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email or leave us a voicemail at +1.641.715.3900, ext. 926035#. You can also follow our travels on <a href="http://stuffedsuitcase.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stuffed Suitcase</a>and <a href="http://we3travel.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">We3Travel</a>, or follow the Vacation Mavens on <a href="http://instagram.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a>or <a href="http://twitter.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. Thanks for listening!

136 Florida Keys Girls Trip to Key Largo Key West

If you are getting ready to plan your next trip, be sure to check out these recommendations on the best travel apps and planning sites first! ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Talking with Kim about Disneyland 11:50 - Talking with Shellie 15:27 - Apps for airfare 20:28 - Deals on hotels 22:59 - Sites like Airbnb 31:48 - Deals on car rentals 34:55 - Apps for saving on tours 39:55 - Putting together a trip itinerary 41:59 - Apps for road trips 46:32 - Favorite travel gear 48:24 - Upcoming trips for Shellie ABOUT SHELLIE BAILEY-SHAH Shellie Bailey-Shah is the founder and editor of KidTripster, an online family travel magazine that provides information and inspiration to families traveling anywhere in the world.  Shellie and her family do a fair amount of traveling themselves. They've been to countries on six continents with plans to go to Antarctica this coming December!  They're also national park enthusiasts with the goal of visiting every single one. Their current count: 44. Follow Shellie on Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. BEST TRAVEL APPS &amp; SITES  A recent study found that buying your flight tickets online on a Sunday is when you tend to find the cheapest fares. It is also great to use other sites or apps to research prices but if the price is the same on the airline site you may be better off just getting you ticket there in case there are any issues it may help if you are able to contact the airline directly instead on through a third party seller. Booking on Cyber Monday can also get you great deals that are only for that day! DOSH is a great app to book hotels because you recieve money back to your account and you can then either use that money through the app or you can transfer it to your bank account. This app will also let you know of restaurants nearby that are affiliated with DOSH. Hostels have come a long way. The site Hostel World is great because they give ratings and have a detailed listing of what each place offers. It may seem like it is only for one or two people to just grab a bed for the night. But now this may be a great option for you family. Autoslash is a great site to book a car rental. One great reason to use this site is because the site will alert you if there was a price drop and then you can rebook the car and save some money. The money you save may just pay for a dinner out! You can save your phone battery from draining so quickly if you download offline maps of the area before you are out there that way you can use wifi to download and you won't have to use up your battery by using the location and map apps on your phone.  FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR Shellie likes to wear her Kuhl cargo pants that way she has plenty of pockets to keep things. There must be at least one zipper pocket though that way she can keep her license or passport and her phone safely tucked away. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST Saving on Airfare Momondo Skyscanner Google Flights (only to use mapping feature) Saving on Hotels DOSH (app) Alternatives to Traditional Hotels  Trusted Housesitters Camp in My Garden Hostel World Saving on Rental Cars Autoslash Saving on Family-friendly City Tours Free Tours by Foot (you pay want you think it was worth) Sandleman's New Europe (you pay want you think it was worth) Big Apple Greeter (really free, NYC) With Locals  iExit app (for road trips) Roadtrippers Mobile Road Trip apps  Best Days to Buy and Fly Travel Tips  Saving Money on Airfare Travel tips  Top 10 Family Destinations for 2018  Little-known apps &amp; websites for saving money on family travel  Saving thousands of dollars on your family travel for 2018  Top 10 travel gifts for the holidays  10 Reasons to hire a Disney travel agent to book your vacation  Why I love small ship cruises for families FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or  Google Play and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email or leave us a voicemail at +1.641.715.3900, ext. 926035# You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcase and We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for listening!

If you are getting ready to plan your next trip, be sure to check out these recommendations on the best travel apps and planning sites first! ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Talking with Kim about Disneyland 11:50 - Talking with Shellie 15:27 - Apps for airfare 20:28 - Deals on hotels 22:59 - Sites like Airbnb 31:48 - Deals on car rentals 34:55 - Apps for saving on tours 39:55 - Putting together a trip itinerary 41:59 - Apps for road trips 46:32 - Favorite travel gear 48:24 - Upcoming trips for Shellie ABOUT SHELLIE BAILEY-SHAH Shellie Bailey-Shah is the founder and editor of <a href="https://www.kidtripster.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">KidTripster</a>, an online family travel magazine that provides information and inspiration to families traveling anywhere in the world.  Shellie and her family do a fair amount of traveling themselves. They've been to countries on six continents with plans to go to Antarctica this coming December!  They're also national park enthusiasts with the goal of visiting every single one. Their current count: 44. Follow Shellie on <a href="https://twitter.com/KidTripster" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/kidtripster/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KidTripster/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdTkcDHMe-8Khy5tzilyYew" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">YouTube</a>, and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kidtripster/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>. BEST TRAVEL APPS &amp; SITES <ul> <li>A recent study found that buying your flight tickets online on a Sunday is when you tend to find the cheapest fares. It is also great to use other sites or apps to research prices but if the price is the same on the airline site you may be better off just getting you ticket there in case there are any issues it may help if you are able to contact the airline directly instead on through a third party seller.</li> <li>Booking on Cyber Monday can also get you great deals that are only for that day!</li> <li><a href="https://www.dosh.cash/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">DOSH</a> is a great app to book hotels because you recieve money back to your account and you can then either use that money through the app or you can transfer it to your bank account. This app will also let you know of restaurants nearby that are affiliated with DOSH.</li> <li>Hostels have come a long way. The site <a href="https://www.hostelworld.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hostel World</a> is great because they give ratings and have a detailed listing of what each place offers. It may seem like it is only for one or two people to just grab a bed for the night. But now this may be a great option for you family.</li> <li><a href="https://www.autoslash.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Autoslash</a> is a great site to book a car rental. One great reason to use this site is because the site will alert you if there was a price drop and then you can rebook the car and save some money. The money you save may just pay for a dinner out!</li> <li>You can save your phone battery from draining so quickly if you download offline maps of the area before you are out there that way you can use wifi to download and you won't have to use up your battery by using the location and map apps on your phone.</li> </ul> FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR Shellie likes to wear her <a href="http://www.kuhl.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kuhl</a> cargo pants that way she has plenty of pockets to keep things. There must be at least one zipper pocket though that way she can keep her license or passport and her phone safely tucked away. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST Saving on Airfare <a href="https://www.momondo.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Momondo</a> <a href="https://www.skyscanner.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Skyscanner</a> <a href="https://www.google.com/flights/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Google Flights</a> (only to use mapping feature) Saving on Hotels <a href="https://www.dosh.cash/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">DOSH</a> (app) Alternatives to Traditional Hotels <a href="https://www.trustedhousesitters.com/house-and-pet-sitting-assignments/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Trusted Housesitters</a> <a href="http://campinmygarden.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Camp in My Garden</a> <a href="https://www.hostelworld.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hostel World</a> Saving on Rental Cars <a href="https://www.autoslash.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Autoslash</a> Saving on Family-friendly City Tours <a href="http://www.freetoursbyfoot.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Free Tours by Foot</a> (you pay want you think it was worth) <a href="http://www.neweuropetours.eu/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sandleman's New Europe</a> (you pay want you think it was worth) <a href="https://bigapplegreeter.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Big Apple Greeter</a> (really free, NYC) <a href="https://www.withlocals.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">With Locals</a> <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/iexit-interstate-exit-guide/id401746066?mt=8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> iExit app</a> (for road trips) <a href="https://roadtrippers.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Roadtrippers</a> <a href="https://we3travel.com/best-mobile-apps-for-road-trips/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mobile Road Trip apps</a> <a href="https://www.kidtripster.com/stories/best-days-to-buy-and-fly-travel-tips" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Best Days to Buy and Fly Travel Tips</a> <a href="https://www.kidtripster.com/stories/saving-money-on-airfare-travel-tips" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Saving Money on Airfare Travel tips</a> <a href="https://www.kidtripster.com/st%20ories/top-family-destinations-%20for-2018-travel-tips" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Top 10 Family Destinations for 2018</a> <a href="https://www.kidtripster.com/st%20ories/undiscovered-apps-and-we%20bsites-travel-tips" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Little-known apps &amp; websites for saving money on family travel</a> <a href="https://www.kidtripster.com/stories/expected-travel-deals-on-black-friday-cyber-monday-2017" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Saving thousands of dollars on your family travel for 2018</a> <a href="https://www.kidtripster.com/stories/10-fun-functional-travel-gifts-travel-tips" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Top 10 travel gifts for the holidays</a> <a href="https://www.kidtripster.com/stories/hiring-a-travel-agent-to-book-your-disney-vacation-travel-tips" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> 10 Reasons to hire a Disney travel agent to book your vacation</a> <a href="https://www.kidtripster.com/stories/small-ship-cruising-with-families" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Why I love small ship cruises for families</a> FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vacation-mavens/id1088732340" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">iTunes</a>, <a href="http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=84422&amp;refid=stpr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stitcher</a>, or <a href="https://play.google.com/music/m/Irqum22lymaujsl43iyps22vndu?t%3DVacation_Mavens_Family_Travel_Podcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Google Play</a> and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email or leave us a voicemail at +1.641.715.3900, ext. 926035# You can also follow our travels on <a href="http://stuffedsuitcase.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stuffed Suitcase</a> and <a href="http://we3travel.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">We3Travel</a>, or follow the Vacation Mavens on <a href="http://instagram.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a> or <a href="http://twitter.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. Thanks for listening!

090 Best Travel Apps

Nashville is one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States. It may be the home of country music but there is so much more to see and do (and eat!) This week we chat with Tennessean Kristin Luna to get the inside scoop on what to do in Nashville with kids. ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Update on Tamara and Kim's travels 01:25 - Talking with Kristen Luna 08:00 - How long to spend in Nashville 09:07 - What to do 12:05 - Seeing a show 14:22 - River that separates Nashville 17:25 - Broadway after dark 21:18 - Other places to visit 27:47 - Country Christmas 28:47 - Hotel in downtown Nashville 33:48 - Where to eat in Nashville 40:15 - Money saving tips 42:42 - Best place to take a family photo 45:47 - Favorite Travel Gear 48:24 - App of the week ABOUT KRISTIN LUNA Kristin Luna is a Nashville-based journalist who has written for more than 50 magazines, including Newsweek, Travel + Leisure, Parade and Southern Living. She shares the behind-the-scenes of her travels via her 10-year-old blog Camels &amp; Chocolate. Follow Kristin on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. PLACES TO VISIT IN NASHVILLE WITH KIDS  Country Music Hall of Fame is a great museum for anyone -- even if you are not a big country music fan. The museum is attached to the Omni Nashville Hotel, which is fairly large and has one of the only outdoor pools in Nashville. The hotel in in the central part of Nashville, making it easy to walk to different places. Hatch Show Print is a letterpress print shop that has been around for over a hundred years. You can watch the printing through big windows in the front and take workshops. You should check out the Ryman Auditorium, which is known as the Mother Church of Country Music, but more than just country musicians play there. Riverfront Park is a great place to visit if you have young kids that need to have some play time. The Parthenon is a cool place to visit and you need to take about a half hour out of your day. It is a full scale replica of the Greek Parthenon and on weekends there are a lot of festivals and food trucks there. This is also a great place to have a picnic with your family. The Grand Ole Opry is a fantastic piece of Nashville's history and a must do when in Nashville. If you really want to try Nashville Hot Chicken one of the most famous places would be Hattie B’s. This is a great family place and has the ability to order online and has two locations now.  BEST PLACE TO TAKE FAMILY PHOTO Most photos are taken in front of ‘I believe in Nashville’ mural. 12th South has a few great colorful murals. If you want the skyline, taking a photo in front of the Bridge building has a great view looking over the river. FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR Kristin loves to wear sundresses from LOFT, Gap, and Old Navy. APP OF THE WEEK Lyft is a competitor to Uber, but it allows you to schedule a ride and leave your tip through the app. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST Omni Nashville Hotel Behind the scenes at the Grand Ole Opry Union Station Hotel Airbnb referral link: www.airbnb.com/c/tgruber2 Lyft: TAMARA49894 referral code Best Murals of Nashville FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or  Google Play and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email or leave us a voicemail at +1.641.715.3900, ext. 926035# You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcase and We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for listening! Photos courtesy of Kristin Luna. This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase/booking, we may make a small commission to cover our podcasting costs.

Nashville is one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States. It may be the home of country music but there is so much more to see and do (and eat!) This week we chat with Tennessean Kristin Luna to get the inside scoop on what to do in Nashville with kids. ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Update on Tamara and Kim's travels 01:25 - Talking with Kristen Luna 08:00 - How long to spend in Nashville 09:07 - What to do 12:05 - Seeing a show 14:22 - River that separates Nashville 17:25 - Broadway after dark 21:18 - Other places to visit 27:47 - Country Christmas 28:47 - Hotel in downtown Nashville 33:48 - Where to eat in Nashville 40:15 - Money saving tips 42:42 - Best place to take a family photo 45:47 - Favorite Travel Gear 48:24 - App of the week ABOUT KRISTIN LUNA Kristin Luna is a Nashville-based journalist who has written for more than 50 magazines, including Newsweek, Travel + Leisure, Parade and Southern Living. She shares the behind-the-scenes of her travels via her 10-year-old blog Camels &amp; Chocolate. Follow Kristin on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/camelsandchocolate" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/lunaticatlarge/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lunaticatlarge/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, and <a href="https://twitter.com/lunaticatlarge" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. PLACES TO VISIT IN NASHVILLE WITH KIDS <ul> <li>Country Music Hall of Fame is a great museum for anyone -- even if you are not a big country music fan.</li> <li>The museum is attached to the Omni Nashville Hotel, which is fairly large and has one of the only outdoor pools in Nashville. The hotel in in the central part of Nashville, making it easy to walk to different places.</li> <li><a href="http://hatchshowprint.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hatch Show Print</a> is a letterpress print shop that has been around for over a hundred years. You can watch the printing through big windows in the front and take workshops.</li> <li>You should check out the <a href="https://ryman.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ryman Auditorium</a>, which is known as the Mother Church of Country Music, but more than just country musicians play there.</li> <li>Riverfront Park is a great place to visit if you have young kids that need to have some play time.</li> <li><a href="http://www.nashville.gov/Parks-and-Recreation/Parthenon.aspx" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Parthenon</a> is a cool place to visit and you need to take about a half hour out of your day. It is a full scale replica of the Greek Parthenon and on weekends there are a lot of festivals and food trucks there. This is also a great place to have a picnic with your family.</li> <li><a href="https://www.opry.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Grand Ole Opry</a> is a fantastic piece of Nashville's history and a must do when in Nashville.</li> <li>If you really want to try Nashville Hot Chicken one of the most famous places would be <a href="http://hattieb.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hattie B’s</a>. This is a great family place and has the ability to order online and has two locations now.</li> </ul> BEST PLACE TO TAKE FAMILY PHOTO Most photos are taken in front of ‘I believe in Nashville’ mural. 12th South has a few great colorful murals. If you want the skyline, taking a photo in front of the Bridge building has a great view looking over the river. FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR Kristin loves to wear sundresses from LOFT, Gap, and Old Navy. APP OF THE WEEK <a href="https://www.lyft.com" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Lyft</a> is a competitor to Uber, but it allows you to schedule a ride and leave your tip through the app. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST <a href="http://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/8028595/type/dlg/sid/nashville/https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g55229-d4551733-Reviews-Omni_Nashville_Hotel-Nashville_Davidson_County_Tennessee.html" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Omni Nashville Hotel</a> <a href="https://we3travel.com/grand-ole-opry-backstage-tour-review/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Behind the scenes at the Grand Ole Opry</a> <a href="http://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/8028595/type/dlg/sid/nashville/https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g55229-d98234-Reviews-Union_Station_Hotel_Autograph_Collection-Nashville_Davidson_County_Tennessee.html" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Union Station Hotel</a> Airbnb referral link: <a href="http://www.airbnb.com/c/tgruber2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.airbnb.com/c/tgruber2</a> Lyft: TAMARA49894 referral code <a href="http://www.camelsandchocolate.com/2017/08/nashville-murals/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Best Murals of Nashville</a> FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vacation-mavens/id1088732340" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">iTunes</a>, <a href="http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=84422&amp;refid=stpr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stitcher</a>, or <a href="https://play.google.com/music/m/Irqum22lymaujsl43iyps22vndu?t%3DVacation_Mavens_Family_Travel_Podcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Google Play</a> and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email or leave us a voicemail at +1.641.715.3900, ext. 926035# You can also follow our travels on <a href="http://stuffedsuitcase.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stuffed Suitcase</a> and <a href="http://we3travel.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">We3Travel</a>, or follow the Vacation Mavens on <a href="http://instagram.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a> or <a href="http://twitter.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. Thanks for listening! Photos courtesy of Kristin Luna. This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase/booking, we may make a small commission to cover our podcasting costs.

071 Nashville with Kids

Kim and Tamara cover their recommendations for the best family travel destinations for 2017. Where are you headed this year? Leave us a comment below and we will give you a shout out!   ON THE PODCAST 0:32 Happy New Year! 04:27 - Kim’s Top Destination of 2016 08:57 - Kim’s Second Destination 11:54 - Kim’s Third Destination 14:35 - Kim’s Fourth Destination 17:58 - Kim’s Fifth Destination 19:07 - Tamara’s Top Destination for 2016 20:57 - Tamara’s Second Destination 24:45 - Tamara’s Third Destination 27:00 - Tamara’s Fourth Destination 23:48 - Tamara’s Fifth Destination Best Family Travel Destinations for 2017 Kim’s Top Five Locations   Horseback riding in Southwest Montana is a great experience, where there was no one else around just you and nature. Road trip from Seattle to California was a trip that had so much to see. Allow yourself some time to enjoy the view. You will want to stop for everything. Maui, Hawaii has a lot of vacation rentals, but a downside is that the groceries are expensive. Western Canada because they have so many amazing National Parks, which will be free for all of 2017. There is a lot to see in Arizona in the Phoenix area from the Cactus Leagues to great resorts and restaurants. Horseback Riding is different than Montana but still fun.  Tamara’s Top Five Locations  Iceland is such an amazing destination. It's a popular location for travel right now so you have to plan way ahead and is also on the pricy side. But once you are there it is worth every penny. Parts of Europe that are off the beaten path. It is a good time to travel there because the airfare is low right now and the exchange rate for the euro is very close to the dollar. Montreal and Quebec city in Canada gives you a little taste of Europe without having to go overseas. Plus the exchange rate is great. Smoky Mountain National Park and Gatlinburg recently had some bad forest fires, so it is important to support the community by visiting and enjoying the hiking and the most visited national park. Your dollar goes along way in Mexico. You can find some great deals at there all inclusive resorts.    MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST  Southwest Montana  Seattle to California Canada 2017 Podcast  Phoenix, Arizona Iceland with Kids Montreal  Quebec Winter Carnival Mexico FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email or leave us a voicemail at +1.641.715.3900, ext. 926035# You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcase and We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for listening!

Kim and Tamara cover their recommendations for the best family travel destinations for 2017. Where are you headed this year? Leave us a comment below and we will give you a shout out!   ON THE PODCAST 0:32 Happy New Year! 04:27 - Kim’s Top Destination of 2016 08:57 - Kim’s Second Destination 11:54 - Kim’s Third Destination 14:35 - Kim’s Fourth Destination 17:58 - Kim’s Fifth Destination 19:07 - Tamara’s Top Destination for 2016 20:57 - Tamara’s Second Destination 24:45 - Tamara’s Third Destination 27:00 - Tamara’s Fourth Destination 23:48 - Tamara’s Fifth Destination Best Family Travel Destinations for 2017 Kim’s Top Five Locations  <ul> <li>Horseback riding in Southwest Montana is a great experience, where there was no one else around just you and nature.</li> <li>Road trip from Seattle to California was a trip that had so much to see. Allow yourself some time to enjoy the view. You will want to stop for everything.</li> <li>Maui, Hawaii has a lot of vacation rentals, but a downside is that the groceries are expensive.</li> <li>Western Canada because they have so many amazing National Parks, which will be free for all of 2017.</li> <li>There is a lot to see in Arizona in the Phoenix area from the Cactus Leagues to great resorts and restaurants. Horseback Riding is different than Montana but still fun.</li> </ul> Tamara’s Top Five Locations <ul> <li>Iceland is such an amazing destination. It's a popular location for travel right now so you have to plan way ahead and is also on the pricy side. But once you are there it is worth every penny.</li> <li>Parts of Europe that are off the beaten path. It is a good time to travel there because the airfare is low right now and the exchange rate for the euro is very close to the dollar.</li> <li>Montreal and Quebec city in Canada gives you a little taste of Europe without having to go overseas. Plus the exchange rate is great.</li> <li>Smoky Mountain National Park and Gatlinburg recently had some bad forest fires, so it is important to support the community by visiting and enjoying the hiking and the most visited national park.</li> <li>Your dollar goes along way in Mexico. You can find some great deals at there all inclusive resorts.</li> </ul>   MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST <a href="http://stuffedsuitcase.com/one-week-itinerary-to-southwest-montana/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Southwest Montana</a> <a href="http://stuffedsuitcase.com/redwoods-bridges-and-teacups-seattle-california-road-trip/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Seattle to California</a> <a href="http://vacationmavens.com/visit-canada-in-2017/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Canada 2017 Podcast</a> <a href="http://stuffedsuitcase.com/a-day-full-of-food-at-phoenix-restaurants/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Phoenix, Arizona</a> <a href="http://we3travel.com/iceland-with-kids/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Iceland with Kids</a> <a href="http://we3travel.com/canadian-roadtrip-last-stop-montreal/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Montreal</a> <a href="http://we3travel.com/10-reasons-to-take-the-family-to-the-quebec-winter-carnival/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Quebec Winter Carnival</a> <a href="http://we3travel.com/grand-velas-riviera-maya-review/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mexico</a> FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vacation-mavens/id1088732340" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">iTunes</a>, <a href="http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=84422&amp;refid=stpr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stitcher</a>, or<a href="https://play.google.com/music/m/Irqum22lymaujsl43iyps22vndu?t%3DVacation_Mavens_Family_Travel_Podcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Google Play</a> and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email or leave us a voicemail at +1.641.715.3900, ext. 926035# You can also follow our travels on <a href="http://stuffedsuitcase.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stuffed Suitcase</a> and <a href="http://we3travel.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">We3Travel</a>, or follow the Vacation Mavens on <a href="http://instagram.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a> or <a href="http://twitter.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. Thanks for listening!

041 Best Family Travel Destinations in 2017

It is National Parks Week April 16-24, 2016 and all U.S. National Parks are offering free admission. Join us as we talk about our favorite National Parks and chat with author and former Park Ranger Erin Peabody to get the inside scoop about planning a visit to Yellowstone National Park. ON THE PODCAST0:32 National Parks Week is April 16-24, 2016 2:54 National Park Passport 3:29 Junior Ranger Program 5:00 100th Anniversary Badge 6:55 Kim's visit to Yellowstone National Park 7:49 Welcome Erin Peabody, author of A Weird and Wild Beauty: The Story of Yellowstone, the World's First National Park 12:23 Junior Ranger program at Yellowstone National Park 16:04 Artists in Yellowstone 17:15 Travel journals for kids 17:30 Intro to A Weird and Wild Beauty: The Story of Yellowstone, the World's First National Park and a history of Yellowstone 21:15 How long should you spend in Yellowstone 22:45 Must do experiences in Yellowstone 28:55 What to wear in Yellowstone 31:00 Where to stay in the park 33:15 Best place to take a family photo 34:05 Erin's favorite travel gear 35:33 Book giveaway!! 36:10 App of the Week -- National Parks by REI 37:18 Thanks to Jessie for the review on Stitcher! 37:40 Join us next week as we talk about Bucket List Travel with Eric Stoen from Travel BabboABOUT ERIN PEABODYErin Peabody is a mother, author and former park ranger. Her latest book, A Weird and Wild Beauty: The Story of Yellowstone, the World's First National Park, is written for readers 12 and up and tells the exciting story of how Yellowstone became our first national park. This uplifting American story should delight lovers of nature, adventure and travel, and debuts just in time for the National Parks' 100th birthday. You can learn more at erinpeabody.com. Erin has an eight year-old daughter and lives with her and her husband in Ohio. Erin and her husband have both been Park Rangers and met in Yellowstone. She worked as an interpreter or educator in Yellowstone, giving Park Ranger programs at the Visitor Center.  TIPS FOR VISITING YELLOWSTONE Plan to spend at least 4-5 days in Yellowstone Know that you will be driving around 45 mph and may get stuck in traffic jams when animals cross the road Plan your accommodations well in advance (6 - 12 months to stay in the park) Erin's favorite places to stay are Old Faithful Inn and the Lake Hotel Ask where the best places to see wildlife are Visit in the early morning and evening to see wildlife Bring binoculars for wildlife viewing Wear a good hat and sunglasses (corded are great) Wear comfortable boots, layers, and a good, all-weather shell Don't forget your bug spray!MUST DO EXPERIENCES IN YELLOWSTONE Geysers, mud pots, sulphur cauldrons and other thermal features with the most famous being Old Faithful Grand Canyon of Yellowstone along with the two waterfalls and hikes along the rim Climb into the canyon Yellowstone Lake Norris Geyser Basin Mammoth Hot Springs (also where the largest elk population lives) Hayden Valley and Lamar Valley see wildlifeBEST PLACE TO TAKE FAMILY PHOTOErin recommends Artist's Point near the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and other overlooks by the Grand Canyon area. She also likes the color at the hot springs like Mammoth Springs. Just don't pose in front of a wild animal!FAVORITE TRAVEL GEARErin likes layering breathable, water wicking fabrics including her favorite shell from REI (who also happens to be a corporate sponsor of the National Parks.)WIN A COPY OF THE BOOK! a Rafflecopter giveawayAPP OF THE WEEKTamara recommends the National Parks app from REI because you can choose your park and look at all the different hiking trails within the park, including a special section for family-friendly hikes.MENTIONED ON THE PODCASTNational Parks Week &amp; Free Entrance Days Planning a Valley Forge National Historical Park with Kids Junior Ranger Program  Free kid travel journal printable from We3TravelFollow Along and Spread the Word!Thank you to Jessie for leaving us a review on Stitcher!! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher or the podcast app of your choice and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email or leave us a voicemail at +1.641.715.3900, ext. 926035# You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcase and We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for listening!

It is National Parks Week April 16-24, 2016 and all U.S. National Parks are offering free admission. Join us as we talk about our favorite National Parks and chat with author and former Park Ranger Erin Peabody to get the inside scoop about planning a visit to Yellowstone National Park. <a href="http://vacationmavens.com/?attachment_id=133" rel="attachment wp-att-133 nofollow" target="_blank"></a>ON THE PODCAST 0:32 National Parks Week is April 16-24, 2016 2:54 National Park Passport 3:29 Junior Ranger Program 5:00 100th Anniversary Badge 6:55 Kim's visit to Yellowstone National Park 7:49 Welcome Erin Peabody, author of A Weird and Wild Beauty: The Story of Yellowstone, the World's First National Park 12:23 Junior Ranger program at Yellowstone National Park 16:04 Artists in Yellowstone 17:15 Travel journals for kids 17:30 Intro to A Weird and Wild Beauty: The Story of Yellowstone, the World's First National Park and a history of Yellowstone 21:15 How long should you spend in Yellowstone 22:45 Must do experiences in Yellowstone 28:55 What to wear in Yellowstone 31:00 Where to stay in the park 33:15 Best place to take a family photo 34:05 Erin's favorite travel gear 35:33 Book giveaway!! 36:10 App of the Week -- National Parks by REI 37:18 Thanks to Jessie for the review on Stitcher! 37:40 Join us next week as we talk about Bucket List Travel with Eric Stoen from Travel BabboABOUT ERIN PEABODY Erin Peabody is a mother, author and former park ranger. Her latest book, A Weird and Wild Beauty: The Story of Yellowstone, the World's First National Park, is written for readers 12 and up and tells the exciting story of how Yellowstone became our first national park. This uplifting American story should delight lovers of nature, adventure and travel, and debuts just in time for the National Parks' 100th birthday. You can learn more at <a href="http://erinpeabody.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">erinpeabody.com</a>. Erin has an eight year-old daughter and lives with her and her husband in Ohio. Erin and her husband have both been Park Rangers and met in Yellowstone. She worked as an interpreter or educator in Yellowstone, giving Park Ranger programs at the Visitor Center. <a href="http://vacationmavens.com/?attachment_id=136" rel="attachment wp-att-136 nofollow" target="_blank"></a> TIPS FOR VISITING YELLOWSTONE <ul> <li>Plan to spend at least 4-5 days in Yellowstone</li> <li>Know that you will be driving around 45 mph and may get stuck in traffic jams when animals cross the road</li> <li>Plan your accommodations well in advance (6 - 12 months to stay in the park)</li> <li>Erin's favorite places to stay are Old Faithful Inn and the Lake Hotel</li> <li>Ask where the best places to see wildlife are</li> <li>Visit in the early morning and evening to see wildlife</li> <li>Bring binoculars for wildlife viewing</li> <li>Wear a good hat and sunglasses (corded are great)</li> <li>Wear comfortable boots, layers, and a good, all-weather shell</li> <li>Don't forget your bug spray!</li></ul>MUST DO EXPERIENCES IN YELLOWSTONE <ul> <li>Geysers, mud pots, sulphur cauldrons and other thermal features with the most famous being Old Faithful</li> <li>Grand Canyon of Yellowstone along with the two waterfalls and hikes along the rim</li> <li>Climb into the canyon</li> <li>Yellowstone Lake</li> <li>Norris Geyser Basin</li> <li>Mammoth Hot Springs (also where the largest elk population lives)</li> <li>Hayden Valley and Lamar Valley see wildlife</li></ul>BEST PLACE TO TAKE FAMILY PHOTO Erin recommends Artist's Point near the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and other overlooks by the Grand Canyon area. She also likes the color at the hot springs like Mammoth Springs. Just don't pose in front of a wild animal! FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR Erin likes layering breathable, water wicking fabrics including her favorite shell from REI (who also happens to be a corporate sponsor of the National Parks.) WIN A COPY OF THE BOOK!   <a href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/ecb954a17/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>APP OF THE WEEK Tamara recommends the <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/rei-national-parks-guide-maps/id1031987936?mt=8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">National Parks app from REI</a> because you can choose your park and look at all the different hiking trails within the park, including a special section for family-friendly hikes. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST <a href="https://www.nps.gov/findapark/national-park-week.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">National Parks Week</a> &amp; <a href="https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/fee-free-parks.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Free Entrance Days</a> <a href="http://we3travel.com/visiting-valley-forge-national-park-kids" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Planning a Valley Forge National Historical Park with Kids</a> <a href="https://www.nps.gov/glac/learn/kidsyouth/beajuniorranger.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Junior Ranger Program</a> <a href="http://vacationmavens.com/?attachment_id=258" rel="attachment wp-att-258 nofollow" target="_blank"></a> <a href="http://we3travel.com/free-kid-travel-journal-printable/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Free kid travel journal printable from We3Travel</a> Follow Along and Spread the Word! Thank you to Jessie for leaving us a review on Stitcher!!   If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vacation-mavens/id1088732340" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">iTunes</a>, <a href="http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=84422&amp;refid=stpr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stitcher</a> or the podcast app of your choice and leave us a review!   Have a question or comment? Send us an <a href="mailto:podcast@vacationmavens.com">email</a> or leave us a voicemail at +1.641.715.3900, ext. 926035#   You can also follow our travels on <a href="http://stuffedsuitcase.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stuffed Suitcase</a> and <a href="http://we3travel.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">We3Travel</a>, or follow the Vacation Mavens on <a href="http://instagram.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a> or <a href="http://twitter.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. Thanks for listening!

009 Visiting Yellowstone and National Parks Week

Disney Aulani

Did you know that Disney has a resort in Hawaii? Find out everything you need to know about booking at Disney Aulani vacation from insider experts Kristi Marcelle and Kimberly Tate. ON THE PODCAST 00:32 - Talking with Kim about her recent Southern California trip 12:30 - About Kristi Marcelle 15:22 - Accommodations at Aulani Resort 21:55 - Pools and Beaches 26:10 - Activities for kids 34:50 - Character times 37:50 - Favorite foods 41:13 - Money saving tips 46:20 - Places to see outside of the resort 49:24 - Kristi’s favorite travel gear 49:55 - Favorite airline 52:33 - App of the week ABOUT KRISTI MARCELLE Kristi Marcelle is a Travel Advisor with Ciao Bambino and mom of two. She loves an interesting destination, a good glass of wine &amp; Green Bay Packers. You can also find her writing on MiniTime, Ciao Bambino &amp; CBSLA. Follow Kristi on Twitter and Instagram. DISNEY AULANI TIPS  Outside of your regular rooms, the Disney Aulani has 1, 2, and 3 room villas that have a washer and dryer as well as a kitchen. Just note that villas book up very quickly. The Disney Aulani also has Disney Vacation Club units, but those are rarely available to non-owners. Head to the pool early to snag a chair, but at the beach you will also find chairs as well as attendants that you can order drinks and snacks from. If you do get up early and grab some chairs, keep an eye on your chairs. The chair attendants constantly walk around and if there is a towel on the chair they will fold it and put it on the back of the chair. This is a type of signal and timer. If you don’t move it they will eventually take the towel, opening up the chair for other guests. Kids clubs at Aulani is very similar to the kids clubs that are offered on Disney cruises. They provide a daily planner that will list all of the events and tell you if certain ones need to be registered for. Some activities need to be booked in advance or first thing in the morning. Make dinner reservations in advance, especially for character meals. Adventuring off the property is a great idea to experience some of the real island. Also not far is a beach where you will see turtles hanging around.  FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR Kristi loves to wear her Lulu Lemon leggings along with a long sleeve cardigan and a pair of tennis shoes. APPS OF THE WEEK Snapseed and VSCO are some great photo editing apps to use on your family vacation photos. These apps are a little on the professional side but with some video tutorials it can help you out a bit. Diptic is also a great app that can help you create collages to post on Instagram or other places. Word Swag is a great app to use if you would like to add words onto your photos. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST Food at the Aulani Hawaiian Culture at the Aulani FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or  Google Play and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email or leave us a voicemail at +1.641.715.3900, ext. 926035# You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcase and We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for listening!

Did you know that Disney has a resort in Hawaii? Find out everything you need to know about booking at Disney Aulani vacation from insider experts Kristi Marcelle and Kimberly Tate. ON THE PODCAST 00:32 - Talking with Kim about her recent Southern California trip 12:30 - About Kristi Marcelle 15:22 - Accommodations at Aulani Resort 21:55 - Pools and Beaches 26:10 - Activities for kids 34:50 - Character times 37:50 - Favorite foods 41:13 - Money saving tips 46:20 - Places to see outside of the resort 49:24 - Kristi’s favorite travel gear 49:55 - Favorite airline 52:33 - App of the week ABOUT KRISTI MARCELLE Kristi Marcelle is a Travel Advisor with <a href="http://ciaobambino.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ciao Bambino</a> and mom of two. She loves an interesting destination, a good glass of wine &amp; Green Bay Packers. You can also find her writing on MiniTime, Ciao Bambino &amp; CBSLA. Follow Kristi on <a href="https://twitter.com/kristimarcelle?lang=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kristimarcelle/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>. DISNEY AULANI TIPS <ul> <li>Outside of your regular rooms, the Disney Aulani has 1, 2, and 3 room villas that have a washer and dryer as well as a kitchen. Just note that villas book up very quickly.</li> <li>The Disney Aulani also has Disney Vacation Club units, but those are rarely available to non-owners.</li> <li>Head to the pool early to snag a chair, but at the beach you will also find chairs as well as attendants that you can order drinks and snacks from. If you do get up early and grab some chairs, keep an eye on your chairs. The chair attendants constantly walk around and if there is a towel on the chair they will fold it and put it on the back of the chair. This is a type of signal and timer. If you don’t move it they will eventually take the towel, opening up the chair for other guests.</li> <li>Kids clubs at Aulani is very similar to the kids clubs that are offered on Disney cruises. They provide a daily planner that will list all of the events and tell you if certain ones need to be registered for.</li> <li>Some activities need to be booked in advance or first thing in the morning.</li> <li>Make dinner reservations in advance, especially for character meals.</li> <li>Adventuring off the property is a great idea to experience some of the real island. Also not far is a beach where you will see turtles hanging around.</li> </ul> FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR Kristi loves to wear her <a href="https://shop.lululemon.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lulu Lemon</a> leggings along with a long sleeve cardigan and a pair of tennis shoes. APPS OF THE WEEK <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/snapseed/id439438619?mt=8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Snapseed</a> and <a href="http://vsco.co/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">VSCO</a> are some great photo editing apps to use on your family vacation photos. These apps are a little on the professional side but with some video tutorials it can help you out a bit. <a href="http://www.dipticapp.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Diptic</a> is also a great app that can help you create collages to post on Instagram or other places. <a href="http://wordswag.co/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Word Swag</a> is a great app to use if you would like to add words onto your photos. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST <a href="https://www.travelingmom.com/top-destinations-disney/food-at-aulani-from-character-meals-to-fine-dining/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Food at the Aulani</a> <a href="https://www.travelingmom.com/family-vacations/hawaii-family-vacations/hawaiian-culture-aulani-disney-luxury-resort/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Hawaiian Culture at the Aulani</a> FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vacation-mavens/id1088732340" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">iTunes</a>, <a href="http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=84422&amp;refid=stpr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stitcher</a>, or <a href="https://play.google.com/music/m/Irqum22lymaujsl43iyps22vndu?t%3DVacation_Mavens_Family_Travel_Podcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Google Play</a> and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email or leave us a voicemail at +1.641.715.3900, ext. 926035# You can also follow our travels on <a href="http://stuffedsuitcase.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stuffed Suitcase</a> and <a href="http://we3travel.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">We3Travel</a>, or follow the Vacation Mavens on <a href="http://instagram.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a> or <a href="http://twitter.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. Thanks for listening!

075 Disney Aulani

There may not be a more family-friendly, all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean than Beaches Turks and Caicos. This week we dig into the nitty-gritty details with Sarah Pittard at Solo Mom Takes Flight. Learn everything you ever wanted to know about Beaches Turks and Caicos. ON THE PODCAST 00:32 - Talking about last week's episode 02:58 - Talking with Sarah 04:33 - Sarah’s visits to Turks and Caicos 06:04 - Layout of property 10:10 - Kim’s time at the resort 11:36 - Renting homes 13:34 - Tamara’s experience 15:38 - Night activities 16:44 - Butler service/concierge level 20:24 - Pricing 23:40 - Activities/services available 30:35 - Sesame Street paid activities 36:20 - Food options 48:40 - Welcoming 51:44 - Sarah’s favorite travel gear 53:51 - Where she is going next 55:32 - Thank you!! ABOUT SARAH PITTARD Sarah Pittard is a mom first, and travel writer second. She has a knack for finding adult themed adventure trips and tailoring them to include her children. Lately, they have driven through the state of Alaska and spend weekends hiking in Banff National Park. She what she has been up to on her travel blog Solo Mom Takes Flight. Follow Sarah on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. WHAT TO EXPECT AT BEACHES TURKS &amp; CAICOS  The resort is laid out across four villages: Caribbean, French, Italian, and Key West. The Caribbean Village pools are very active with older kids due to the volleyball nets and places to eat all around. Plus, if you have younger kids as well the pool area is located right by the infant daycare. The Italian village is the most popular spot for families. The pool is located at the center of the resort, which houses a big swim up bar and activities, as well as teams of people to come and  play with the older kids and organize activities. They also have a great night life which includes movies by the pool. The Key West Village is located more on the outside of the resort and has a bit of a slower pace. The French Village is also closest to the waterpark and Sesame Street stage. This village may not be beachside like the rest, but since its recent renovations the village houses a large pool. Beaches is expensive and if you are looking to save some money on your booking, you should definitely sign up for their emails because every few months the prices will dip down; for instance booking your trip on Black Friday! Unlike other resorts, there is no tipping allowed on the property! This is a strictly enforced policy of the resort. The only place this is allowed in at the spa. They are very accommodating when it comes to food allergies. They will go out of there way to make sure your child’s allergies do not get overlooked! Keep in mind that there have been some issues recently with cab pricing and safety in some locations. The resort is makes sure there are employees there to greet you when you get through customs and take care of your travel to the resort.  FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR Sarah loves to wear anything made by Lululemonfor all of her long travels and also loves her Conversesneakers! MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST TAUCK Backroads touring FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, orGoogle Playand leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email or leave us a voicemail at +1.641.715.3900, ext. 926035# You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcaseand We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebookor Twitter. Thanks for listening!

There may not be a more family-friendly, all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean than Beaches Turks and Caicos. This week we dig into the nitty-gritty details with Sarah Pittard at Solo Mom Takes Flight. Learn everything you ever wanted to know about Beaches Turks and Caicos. ON THE PODCAST 00:32 - Talking about last week's episode 02:58 - Talking with Sarah 04:33 - Sarah’s visits to Turks and Caicos 06:04 - Layout of property 10:10 - Kim’s time at the resort 11:36 - Renting homes 13:34 - Tamara’s experience 15:38 - Night activities 16:44 - Butler service/concierge level 20:24 - Pricing 23:40 - Activities/services available 30:35 - Sesame Street paid activities 36:20 - Food options 48:40 - Welcoming 51:44 - Sarah’s favorite travel gear 53:51 - Where she is going next 55:32 - Thank you!! ABOUT SARAH PITTARD Sarah Pittard is a mom first, and travel writer second. She has a knack for finding adult themed adventure trips and tailoring them to include her children. Lately, they have driven through the state of Alaska and spend weekends hiking in Banff National Park. She what she has been up to on her travel blog <a href="http://solomomtakesflight.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Solo Mom Takes Flight</a>. Follow Sarah on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/solomomtakesflight/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/solomomtakesflight" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/solomomtravel" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, and <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/solomomtravel/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>. WHAT TO EXPECT AT BEACHES TURKS &amp; CAICOS <ul> <li>The resort is laid out across four villages: Caribbean, French, Italian, and Key West.</li> <li>The Caribbean Village pools are very active with older kids due to the volleyball nets and places to eat all around. Plus, if you have younger kids as well the pool area is located right by the infant daycare.</li> <li>The Italian village is the most popular spot for families. The pool is located at the center of the resort, which houses a big swim up bar and activities, as well as teams of people to come and  play with the older kids and organize activities. They also have a great night life which includes movies by the pool.</li> <li>The Key West Village is located more on the outside of the resort and has a bit of a slower pace.</li> <li>The French Village is also closest to the waterpark and Sesame Street stage. This village may not be beachside like the rest, but since its recent renovations the village houses a large pool.</li> <li>Beaches is expensive and if you are looking to save some money on your booking, you should definitely sign up for their emails because every few months the prices will dip down; for instance booking your trip on Black Friday!</li> <li>Unlike other resorts, there is no tipping allowed on the property! This is a strictly enforced policy of the resort. The only place this is allowed in at the spa.</li> <li>They are very accommodating when it comes to food allergies. They will go out of there way to make sure your child’s allergies do not get overlooked!</li> <li>Keep in mind that there have been some issues recently with cab pricing and safety in some locations. The resort is makes sure there are employees there to greet you when you get through customs and take care of your travel to the resort.</li> </ul> FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR Sarah loves to wear anything made by <a href="https://shop.lululemon.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lululemon</a>for all of her long travels and also loves her <a href="https://www.converse.com/us/en_us/c/converse" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Converse</a>sneakers! MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST <a href="http://www.tauck.com/family-travel.aspx" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">TAUCK</a> <a href="https://www.backroads.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Backroads touring</a> FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vacation-mavens/id1088732340" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">iTunes</a>, <a href="http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=84422&amp;refid=stpr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stitcher</a>, or<a href="https://play.google.com/music/m/Irqum22lymaujsl43iyps22vndu?t%3DVacation_Mavens_Family_Travel_Podcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Google Play</a>and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email or leave us a voicemail at +1.641.715.3900, ext. 926035# You can also follow our travels on <a href="http://stuffedsuitcase.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stuffed Suitcase</a>and <a href="http://we3travel.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">We3Travel</a>, or follow the Vacation Mavens on <a href="http://instagram.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a>or <a href="http://twitter.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. Thanks for listening!

111 Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort

Happy New Year! Kim and Tamara are catching up on New Year's resolutions and Tamara shares an update on her trip to London and best tips for visiting London with kids. ON THE PODCAST 00:32 - Talking with Kim and Tamara 03:18 - Holiday football fan rivalry 06:57 - Hamilton in London 07:35 - Flight experience for London 09:23 - Royal Garden Hotel 10:33 - Princess Diana 12:58 - Athenaeum Hotel 15:13 - Things to do in London 18:33 - High tea experience 19:37 - Warner Brothers - Making of Harry Potter 22:47 - Tour of the British Museum 25:19 - Car and driver tour 26:58 - Holidays in London 29:35 - Favorite food spots 33:35 - Tip of the week 35:30 - Giveaway Winner announcement!! WHAT TO DO IN LONDON WITH KIDS  Seeing the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace is a unique experience. The ceremony takes place at 11:00 on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, weather permitting. Then in the summer the ceremony is performed daily. Keep in mind that you should get there early in order to get a good spot to watch the ceremony. You can save a little bit of money if you get tickets in advance for the London Eye. The tickets are for a certain time, but you can skip the line. If you are a Harry Potter fan you should make some time to visit the The Making of Harry Potter at the Warner Brothers Studio. This is the location where a lot of the sets still reside from shooting. You can also learn about how things were done. This is definitely a full day adventure and the tickets can sell out a few months in advance. There are also different tours you can take in London and see different locations that were in the movies. Enjoying a meal at a local pub is a must do in London. Though keep in mind if you are traveling with kids it may be best to go during the day. The pubs get packed with the after work crowds. Turning the pub into more of a bar scene with the patrons drinking and smoking. Not to say that there won't be drinking and smoking during the day, but less so, it is a pub after all!  TIP OF THE WEEK This week's tip is related to London. You should definitely look into purchasing an  Oyster Card.  These cards are what you use for the Tube and you can load it when you order the card. Then if you need to add more to the card for you transportation you can do this at any newsstand or even in the station. These cards max out a 6 pounds a day so even if you travel past that 6 pounds you will not be charged more for that day. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST Glam Rock Tea The Making of Harry Potter British Museum British Tours Dishoom Visiting England Podcast - episode 30 FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or  Google Play and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email or leave us a voicemail at +1.641.715.3900, ext. 926035# You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcase and We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for listening!

Happy New Year! Kim and Tamara are catching up on New Year's resolutions and Tamara shares an update on her trip to London and best tips for visiting London with kids. ON THE PODCAST 00:32 - Talking with Kim and Tamara 03:18 - Holiday football fan rivalry 06:57 - Hamilton in London 07:35 - Flight experience for London 09:23 - Royal Garden Hotel 10:33 - Princess Diana 12:58 - Athenaeum Hotel 15:13 - Things to do in London 18:33 - High tea experience 19:37 - Warner Brothers - Making of Harry Potter 22:47 - Tour of the British Museum 25:19 - Car and driver tour 26:58 - Holidays in London 29:35 - Favorite food spots 33:35 - Tip of the week 35:30 - Giveaway Winner announcement!! WHAT TO DO IN LONDON WITH KIDS <ul> <li>Seeing the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace is a unique experience. The ceremony takes place at 11:00 on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, weather permitting. Then in the summer the ceremony is performed daily. Keep in mind that you should get there early in order to get a good spot to watch the ceremony.</li> <li>You can save a little bit of money if you get tickets in advance for the London Eye. The tickets are for a certain time, but you can skip the line.</li> <li>If you are a Harry Potter fan you should make some time to visit the <a href="https://www.wbstudiotour.co.uk/home" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Making of Harry Potter</a> at the Warner Brothers Studio. This is the location where a lot of the sets still reside from shooting. You can also learn about how things were done. This is definitely a full day adventure and the tickets can sell out a few months in advance. There are also different tours you can take in London and see different locations that were in the movies.</li> <li>Enjoying a meal at a local pub is a must do in London. Though keep in mind if you are traveling with kids it may be best to go during the day. The pubs get packed with the after work crowds. Turning the pub into more of a bar scene with the patrons drinking and smoking. Not to say that there won't be drinking and smoking during the day, but less so, it is a pub after all!</li> </ul> TIP OF THE WEEK This week's tip is related to London. You should definitely look into purchasing an <a href="https://tfl.gov.uk/travel-information/visiting-london/visitor-oyster-card" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Oyster Card.</a>  These cards are what you use for the Tube and you can load it when you order the card. Then if you need to add more to the card for you transportation you can do this at any newsstand or even in the station. These cards max out a 6 pounds a day so even if you travel past that 6 pounds you will not be charged more for that day. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST <a href="https://we3travel.com/themed-afternoon-tea-london/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Glam Rock Tea</a> <a href="https://www.wbstudiotour.co.uk/home" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Making of Harry Potter</a> <a href="http://www.britishmuseum.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">British Museum</a> <a href="https://www.britishtours.com/uk-tours" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">British Tours</a> <a href="http://www.dishoom.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dishoom</a> <a href="http://vacationmavens.com/030-visiting-england-with-kids/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Visiting England Podcast - episode 30</a> FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vacation-mavens/id1088732340" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">iTunes</a>, <a href="http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=84422&amp;refid=stpr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stitcher</a>, or <a href="https://play.google.com/music/m/Irqum22lymaujsl43iyps22vndu?t%3DVacation_Mavens_Family_Travel_Podcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Google Play</a> and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email or leave us a voicemail at +1.641.715.3900, ext. 926035# You can also follow our travels on <a href="http://stuffedsuitcase.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stuffed Suitcase</a> and <a href="http://we3travel.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">We3Travel</a>, or follow the Vacation Mavens on <a href="http://instagram.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a> or <a href="http://twitter.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. Thanks for listening!

082 London England

Do you have a Percy Jackson fan in the family? Even if you don't, if you have been dreaming of a trip to Greece, Dawn from 5 Lost Together shares her tips on planning a family trip to Athens, Greece and the surrounding areas. Plus, find out where Kim and Tamara were hanging out together last week! ON THE PODCAST 00:32 - Talking with Kim and Tamara about their time in NYC 03:25 - Kim’s plans for her west coast road trip 09:10 - Tamara’s Canada trip ideas 13:40 - Talking with Dawn 16:05 - First trip to Greece 18:13 - How long to visit and when 19:42 - What time of year to visit Greece 22:17 - Things to see in Athens 28:22 - Driving other places from Athens 34:05 - Tips for visiting 39:40 - Getting around 40:20 - Dawn’s favorite travel gear 42:26 - Where Dawn is going next ABOUT DAWN NICHOLSON Dawn is a Canadian mum who loves blogging about her adventures traveling with kids and expat life at 5 Lost Together. She eats, sleeps and breathes travel and wants to inspire other families to take epic trips with their kids. Follow Dawn on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitterand Instagram. TIPS FOR VISITING ATHENS, GREECE WITH KIDS  If you are planning a trip to Greece, you should think about spending at least ten days there but it would be best to be able to spend two full weeks. You will be able to see a lot in ten days but you may feel like it is a little bit short. Two full weeks would be the optimal amount of time, especially if you have never been before. Traveling to Greece in the summer time is very hot, especially in August! Plus this is also peak season to travel there, so the cost will be higher and it will be very crowded. May/June would be a good time to go as well as September/October when it will still be warm but budgetwise your money will go a bit farther and you will be able to do more. If you are really worried about budget you could also book your trip in the winter time and get some incredible deals on accommodations. When you travel to Athens you should make sure to see:  Acropolis of Athens- which has the remains of many ancient buildings with historic significance and great architecture. You will get a lot more out of your visit if you go with a guide. There is also a museum at the bottom that is fairly new and they have great models made out of Legos of the buildings, along with scavenger hunt activities, so your kids will love it. The Parthenon(probably Greece’s most important historical sight) - located in the center. If you are into trying new foods you should think about taking a food tour. If you don’t want to do a tour there some markets you can go to that have food as well.  Changing of the Guardis also a great sight to see and is very different from the Changing of the Guard in England. They have very elaborate uniforms and this happens every hour at Syntagma Square.  Mount Lycabettushas great views of Athens as the only real high point of the area. You take a funicular, which is a mountain cable car that goes up at about a 45º angle. The track is 689 feet long but the journey only takes about 3 minutes.   Renting a car a driving to some other areas can give you some great sights. For instance there is the Corinth Canalwhich was built so that ships could go through instead of going around a big chunk of land. If you are into experiencing an adrenaline rush you can even bungee jump off the canal. If not it may be a great spot for you and your family to get out and stretch your legs while you watch the jumpers. If you are planning to travel outside of Athens, you may want to take a trip to Olympiawhich is the birthplace of the Olympics! There isn’t much left of the structure but open greenery and some seating. Another place to visit is Delphiwhich is one of the most important greek sights. This was the place people would come to visit an oracle and is featured heavily in the Percy Jackson books. This sight also has some great views of the area. As a day trip from the more central part of Athens you can visit the Temple of Poseidonin Sounio. This is also featured heavily in the Percy Jackson books and has some great views of the ocean since it was built on hill right by the edge of the ocean. People in Greece are very friendly and helpful. Just what you would think with their greek hospitality! Renting a car can be a bit overwhelming and the price to rent a car is a bit expensive but if you have a larger family or are traveling with a larger group compared to paying for public transportation costs and just the freedom of having the car this may be worth it for you. But if you are planning to stay in one general area it may not be worth the price. Be aware that there are actual quite a few toll roads when you are driving that you may not expect and they are all cash so be aware of this before taking off on a long drive and plan accordingly with cash. Tipping is not really customary, but you can always round up a bit on your bill. All the food is very reasonable priced and the main dishes are quite large so you may only need to order a few dishes with a family of five and share between everyone. Be careful with taxis, you may come across a situation were you can get ripped off. Taxis have meters so make sure that your driver is using the meter and if there isn’t one you may want to get out of the taxi. They are also quick particular with the amount of people they take saying they are only allowed to take four people and if you have five in your family they will possibly bargain with you on a price and not give you change.  FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR Dawn loves to wear her Toad &amp; Co dress paired with a scarf and her entire family loves to wear their Keenshoes. Her husband is very particular about his shorts and he loves his  Quicksilver Waterman shorts. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST The New York Times Travel Show Visit California Martinelli’s DIY Percy Jackson Greece Trip Athens with Kids  Athens Food on Foot Review  Mythology Tour with Greeking.me Acropolis of Athens The Parthenon Rick Steves Audio Tours  Mount Lycabettus Nafplio - a small fishing town  Epidaurus Theater Olympia FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, orGoogle Playand leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email or leave us a voicemail at +1.641.715.3900, ext. 926035#. You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcaseand We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebookor Twitter. Thanks for listening!

Do you have a Percy Jackson fan in the family? Even if you don't, if you have been dreaming of a trip to Greece, Dawn from 5 Lost Together shares her tips on planning a family trip to Athens, Greece and the surrounding areas. Plus, find out where Kim and Tamara were hanging out together last week! ON THE PODCAST 00:32 - Talking with Kim and Tamara about their time in NYC 03:25 - Kim’s plans for her west coast road trip 09:10 - Tamara’s Canada trip ideas 13:40 - Talking with Dawn 16:05 - First trip to Greece 18:13 - How long to visit and when 19:42 - What time of year to visit Greece 22:17 - Things to see in Athens 28:22 - Driving other places from Athens 34:05 - Tips for visiting 39:40 - Getting around 40:20 - Dawn’s favorite travel gear 42:26 - Where Dawn is going next ABOUT DAWN NICHOLSON Dawn is a Canadian mum who loves blogging about her adventures traveling with kids and expat life at <a href="http://www.5losttogether.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">5 Lost Together</a>. She eats, sleeps and breathes travel and wants to inspire other families to take epic trips with their kids. Follow Dawn on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/5losttogether/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.pinterest.ca/5losttogether/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/5losttogether" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a>and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/5losttogether/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>. TIPS FOR VISITING ATHENS, GREECE WITH KIDS <ul> <li>If you are planning a trip to Greece, you should think about spending at least ten days there but it would be best to be able to spend two full weeks. You will be able to see a lot in ten days but you may feel like it is a little bit short. Two full weeks would be the optimal amount of time, especially if you have never been before.</li> <li>Traveling to Greece in the summer time is very hot, especially in August! Plus this is also peak season to travel there, so the cost will be higher and it will be very crowded. May/June would be a good time to go as well as September/October when it will still be warm but budgetwise your money will go a bit farther and you will be able to do more.</li> <li>If you are really worried about budget you could also book your trip in the winter time and get some incredible deals on accommodations.</li> <li>When you travel to Athens you should make sure to see: <ul> <li><a href="http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/3/eh351.jsp?obj_id=2384" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Acropolis of Athens</a>- which has the remains of many ancient buildings with historic significance and great architecture. You will get a lot more out of your visit if you go with a guide. There is also a museum at the bottom that is fairly new and they have great models made out of Legos of the buildings, along with scavenger hunt activities, so your kids will love it.</li> <li><a href="http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/2/eh251.jsp?obj_id=912" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Parthenon</a>(probably Greece’s most important historical sight) - located in the center.</li> <li>If you are into trying new foods you should think about taking a food tour. If you don’t want to do a tour there some markets you can go to that have food as well.</li> <li><a href="https://www.greeka.com/attica/athens/athens-excursions/changing-of-guards.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Changing of the Guard</a>is also a great sight to see and is very different from the Changing of the Guard in England. They have very elaborate uniforms and this happens every hour at Syntagma Square.</li> <li><a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g189400-d245989-Reviews-Mount_Lycabettus-Athens_Attica.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Mount Lycabettus</a>has great views of Athens as the only real high point of the area. You take a funicular, which is a mountain cable car that goes up at about a 45º angle. The track is 689 feet long but the journey only takes about 3 minutes.</li> </ul> </li> <li>Renting a car a driving to some other areas can give you some great sights. For instance there is the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corinth_Canal" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Corinth Canal</a>which was built so that ships could go through instead of going around a big chunk of land. If you are into experiencing an adrenaline rush you can even bungee jump off the canal. If not it may be a great spot for you and your family to get out and stretch your legs while you watch the jumpers.</li> <li>If you are planning to travel outside of Athens, you may want to take a trip to <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Olympia-ancient-site-Greece" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Olympia</a>which is the birthplace of the Olympics! There isn’t much left of the structure but open greenery and some seating.</li> <li>Another place to visit is <a href="http://www.visitgreece.gr/en/culture/world_heritage_sites/delphi" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Delphi</a>which is one of the most important greek sights. This was the place people would come to visit an oracle and is featured heavily in the Percy Jackson books. This sight also has some great views of the area.</li> <li>As a day trip from the more central part of Athens you can visit the <a href="https://www.athensguide.com/sounion/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Temple of Poseidon</a>in Sounio. This is also featured heavily in the Percy Jackson books and has some great views of the ocean since it was built on hill right by the edge of the ocean.</li> <li>People in Greece are very friendly and helpful. Just what you would think with their greek hospitality!</li> <li>Renting a car can be a bit overwhelming and the price to rent a car is a bit expensive but if you have a larger family or are traveling with a larger group compared to paying for public transportation costs and just the freedom of having the car this may be worth it for you. But if you are planning to stay in one general area it may not be worth the price.</li> <li>Be aware that there are actual quite a few toll roads when you are driving that you may not expect and they are all cash so be aware of this before taking off on a long drive and plan accordingly with cash.</li> <li>Tipping is not really customary, but you can always round up a bit on your bill.</li> <li>All the food is very reasonable priced and the main dishes are quite large so you may only need to order a few dishes with a family of five and share between everyone.</li> <li>Be careful with taxis, you may come across a situation were you can get ripped off. Taxis have meters so make sure that your driver is using the meter and if there isn’t one you may want to get out of the taxi. They are also quick particular with the amount of people they take saying they are only allowed to take four people and if you have five in your family they will possibly bargain with you on a price and not give you change.</li> </ul> FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR Dawn loves to wear her <a href="http://https//amzn.to/2UEAmSf" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Toad &amp; Co</a> dress paired with a scarf and her entire family loves to wear their <a href="https://www.keenfootwear.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Keen</a>shoes. Her husband is very particular about his shorts and he loves his <a href="https://www.quiksilver.com/waterman-shorts/?gclid=CjwKCAiAv9riBRANEiwA9Dqv1d3oKeDPNKZUGTE2ffPV3UeBcoqAH8kiP3S4Wt35eK-BOKgXfQwM_hoCUSkQAvD_BwE&amp;ef_id=CjwKCAiAv9riBRANEiwA9Dqv1d3oKeDPNKZUGTE2ffPV3UeBcoqAH8kiP3S4Wt35eK-BOKgXfQwM_hoCUSkQAvD_BwE:G:s&amp;camp=ppc_qs_us-en_e_google_brand-product-waterman-exact" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Quicksilver Waterman</a> shorts. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST <a href="https://nyttravelshow.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The New York Times Travel Show</a> <a href="https://www.visitcalifornia.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Visit California</a> <a href="https://www.martinellis.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Martinelli’s</a> <a href="https://www.5losttogether.com/our-diy-percy-jackson-greece-trip/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">DIY Percy Jackson Greece Trip</a> <a href="https://www.5losttogether.com/our-guide-to-athens-with-kids/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Athens with Kids</a> <a href="https://www.5losttogether.com/food-tour-athens-food-on-foot-review/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Athens Food on Foot Review</a> <a href="https://www.5losttogether.com/mythology-tour-of-the-acropolis-with-greeking-me/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Mythology Tour with Greeking.me</a> <a href="http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/3/eh351.jsp?obj_id=2384" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Acropolis of Athens</a> <a href="http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/2/eh251.jsp?obj_id=912" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Parthenon</a> <a href="https://www.ricksteves.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rick Steves Audio Tours</a> <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g189400-d245989-Reviews-Mount_Lycabettus-Athens_Attica.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Mount Lycabettus</a> <a href="https://www.greecetravel.com/nafplio/tour.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nafplio - a small fishing town</a> <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g815573-d198893-Reviews-Epidaurus_Theater-Epidavros_Argolis_Region_Peloponnese.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Epidaurus Theater</a> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Olympia-ancient-site-Greece" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Olympia</a> FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vacation-mavens/id1088732340" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">iTunes</a>, <a href="http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=84422&amp;refid=stpr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stitcher</a>, or<a href="https://play.google.com/music/m/Irqum22lymaujsl43iyps22vndu?t%3DVacation_Mavens_Family_Travel_Podcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Google Play</a>and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email or leave us a voicemail at +1.641.715.3900, ext. 926035#. You can also follow our travels on <a href="http://stuffedsuitcase.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stuffed Suitcase</a>and <a href="http://we3travel.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">We3Travel</a>, or follow the Vacation Mavens on <a href="http://instagram.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a>or <a href="http://twitter.com/vacationmavens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. Thanks for listening!

118 Athens Greece

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