
Our Favorite Pampered Chef Seasonings And Why You Need Them!
I know the word “obsessed” and “addicted” are overused these days and likely very much exaggerated 97.6% of the time. So please trust me when I say this is not…

Our Port Stop in Klaipėda, Lithuania
If you’re taking a Baltic cruise and find yourself with a port stop in Klaipėda, Lithuania, then this post is for you. Klaipėda is a charming and beautiful seaside port…

Exploring Poland: A Lovely Day in Gdańsk
During the summer of 2022, my family and I went on a Baltic cruise. While we didn’t love the cruise line we picked (you can read all about the drama…

15 of the Best Things to do in Prague with Kids
You’re in for a huge treat if you have Prague, Czech Republic on your radar. The city is overflowing with history, stunning architecture, and lip-smackingly scrumptious food (and don’t even…

Visiting the Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg
During the summer of 2022, my family and I went on a Baltic cruise. While we didn’t love the cruise line we picked (you can read all about the drama here),…

An Ultimate Packing List With all the Best Cruise Essentials You Need
There are tons of posts out there telling you all the cruise must-haves you have to buy, but this one is coming from a family of five that’s about to share the nitty gritty about which ones are the actual cruise essentials.

Our Fantastic Impromptu Family Trip to Tuscany
Spoiler alert: we weren’t actually supposed to go on a family trip to Tuscany; we were supposed to bask in Africa’s sunshine during a week-long trip to Morocco. But sometimes…

Lisbon Day Trip: See the Oldest Cork Tree in the World
So there we were, driving from Lisbon down to the Algarve. Two of our kids were passed out in the backseat—they fell asleep minutes after we left the city—and I…

Everything You Need to Know About Taking A Tuk-Tuk Tour in Lisbon
Going on a tuk-tuk tour in Lisbon was an absolute highlight of our entire trip, so much so that it makes me giddy just thinking about it again, and I…

13+ Fun Things to do in Lisbon with Kids
Heading to Portugal with your family and curious about what to do in Lisbon with kids? You’ve come to the right place. Visiting Lisbon with a family is a fantastic…

The Absolute Best Places to See Tulip Fields in the Netherlands
I’m pretty certain that there’s no better joy in the springtime than seeing rows and rows and rows and rows of brightly-colored tulip fields in Holland. If you’re looking for…

Things I miss About America
Whether you’ve lived away from the United States for one week, three years, or a decade+, finding yourself homesick and discovering things you miss about America is bound to happen…

What to Wear in Lapland: A Winter Family Packing List
I’ve packed for my fair share of trips before, but when we decided to go to Finland for a weekend I instantly panicked; I had no idea what to wear…

Our Family Trip to Finland: A Weekend in Lapland
As I type this, my son’s stuffed toy reindeer, dubbed “Finney,” is staring at me from across the table. Every time I see Finney she reminds me of our once-in-a-lifetime…

Glass Blowing in Prague: A Totally Fun Family Experience
I love finding fun and unique things to do when we’re in different cities. So when I heard about a family-friendly experience where you can do glass blowing in Prague,…

What it’s really like Visiting a Beer Spa with Kids in Prague
Did you do a double-take with that title? I promise it isn’t a typo. Sure, “visiting a beer spa with kids” may seem like an oxymoron, but I’m here to…

2022: Our Year of Travel!
Wow. Last year, 2022, ended up being much more than I could have imagined. When we knew/found out we were moving overseas we had grand plans of traveling…and that was…

An Awesome Eastern Europe Itinerary: 10-day Road Trip
If you’re itching to see a lot of great places like Prague and Budapest (among others), then this Eastern Europe itinerary, a 10-day road trip, is the perfect way to…

All About the 2022 Monschau Christmas Market in Germany
If you’re in the market (ha, see what I did there?) for a charming and smaller Christmas market in a quaint little German town—complete with a picturesque river running through…

Streckhof Frauenkirchen: A Family-Friendly Stay in Burgenland, Austria
If you find yourself (with your family in tow) in the picturesque province of Burgenland, Austria, Streckhof Frauenkirchen is exactly the place where you’ll want to stay for a little…

Ultimate Guide for the 2022 Cologne Christmas Market in Germany
Okay, I know I haven’t been to all the Christmas markets out there, but from the ones I have been to (more than a dozen), the Cologne Christmas market in…

Our Surprising Detour to Alburquerque, Spain
No, that’s not a typo in the title; I didn’t misspell Albuquerque. If you’re familiar with Albuquerque, a city in New Mexico, USA, you may be scratching your head at…

Helpful Christmas Market Tips For Your First Visit (2022)
Europen Christmas markets are straight-up magical, but if it’s your first time you may be wondering how they work. My hope is that after you read this post full of…

Top 5 Places To Make Macarons in Paris with Kids
If you’re looking for an unforgettable experience with your family during your trip to the City of Lights, then you’ve come to the right place. Learning to make macarons in…

A Weekend in Paris with Kids: Our Awesome Itinerary
I’m so excited to share our loose itinerary for spending a weekend in Paris with kids. I say “loose,” because when you’re traveling to Paris with kids, the number one…

2023 Disney Cruise Packing List: Extra Fun Things You Need
You’ve probably already spent a fortune on your 2023 Disney Cruise, and while you absolutely don’t need any of the stuff mentioned below (because Disney already excels at bringing the…

Review of Center Parcs De Haan in Belgium
When my in-laws said they were flying into Brussels on a Friday, we had the grand idea to turn that weekend into a mini holiday for our family. Since it…

Top Things You’ve Gotta do in Segovia, Spain
If you’re reading this post it’s likely that you already have plans for a day trip to Segovia, Spain. Maybe you’re planning on traipsing around this Spanish town for a…

Hansel and Gretel Pancake House Near Amsterdam
I’m just going to say it: Europe has way cooler stuff than America does. Take this seriously fantastic place to eat, the Hansel and Gretel Pancake House in the Netherlands….

Everything You Need for a Trip to Center Parcs + Packing List
Just thinking about a trip to Center Parcs makes me giddy. It’s so much fun for all ages, not just for kids. But thinking about what to pack for Center…

Our (Negative) Experience on a Norwegian Cruise
I’ve been avoiding writing about the Baltic Cruise we went on this summer (2022). Not because the places we visited weren’t great (they were wonderful), but because we hated the…

A Quick Look at Schloss Schwerin
Seeing Schloss Schwerin in real life was another one of those pinch-me-please moments. I saw it floating around Pinterest before we even arrived in Germany, and thought how cool it…

An Ultimate Guide for Taking Kids to the Balloon Fiesta
Every October the skies in Albuquerque, New Mexico, are dotted with hundreds of colorful balloons. And if you’re wondering what there is for kids at the balloon fiesta, I’ve got…

Everything You Need to Know About Moving to Alamogordo, NM
Did you just find out that you’re moving to Holloman AFB soon? If you did, I bet you’re wondering about things to do in Alamogordo and all the things about…

Fun Things to do With One Day in Ghent
If you’re looking for a town full of charm that’s not too big and not too small, then Ghent, Belgium, fits that bill. And don’t worry: if you only have…

The Best Spain and Portugal Itinerary: 14-Day Road Trip
With this Spain and Portugal itinerary, 14 days is the perfect way to get your feet wet by exploring two amazing countries. The best part is that this guide is…

Find Dinosaur Footprints in Algarve, Portugal
As I was searching for things to do in the southern part of Portugal during our two-week Spain and Portugal road trip, I discovered something pretty darn cool: there are…

HUNTING GIANT TROLLS IN BELGIUM
Trolls in Belgium, you say? Oh yes, there are GIANT trolls (seven, to be exact) in Belgium, and they’re waiting for you to go find them. Save this post and…

Visiting Mount Etna on Your Own with Kids
If you’re heading to Sicily, Italy, with your family, one of your must-visit spots has to be Mount Etna: the iconic and massive active volcano. This post will help you…

Let’s Cruise Together in 2023!
I am SO excited to invite you on a family-friendly cruise Mediterranean vacay with me and my crew. No family? No problem. Whether you’re single, traveling with friends, or going…

Ultimate Guide for 4 Days in Sicily with Kids
I’m excited to share exactly how we spent our recent family holiday in Sicily, Italy. Visiting Sicily with kids is totally doable, and I’ll walk you through our trip so…

#DutyStationSpotlight on PCSing to RAF Lakenheath
If your family just got word that you’re PCSing to RAF Lakenheath in England, you’ve come to the right place. But this isn’t your run-of-the-mill guide. You won’t discover what…

Explore Burg Satzvey in Germany
Burg Satzvey was one of the cutest little castles that we’ve seen in Germany, and it’s less than an hour from two popular cities, Bonn and Cologne, making it a…

Visiting the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam
When my mom came out to visit us in the fall of 2021 there were three things she wanted to do: experience visiting the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, see…

7 Helpful Passport Tips You’ve Gotta Know About
Whether you’re daydreaming about jetting off around the world or you’re ready to bite the bullet and book some tickets, the first thing you need is a passport. Before you…

Our Favorite Easy Chili Recipe
First I need to apologize, because this meal—this super easy chili recipe—is one of our favorites, and I’ve never officially posted it on here before now. When I say it’s…

#DutyStationSpotlight: Moving to Anchorage, Alaska
If your family just got word that you’re moving to Anchorage, Alaska, and getting stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, you’ve come to the right place. But this isn’t your run-of-the-mill…

Ultimate Guide for Finding Family-Friendly Hotels in Europe
Kinderhotels in Europe are like magical unicorns for traveling families and unlike anything else. But finding and narrowing down family-friendly hotels in Europe can feel harder than spotting an actual…

5 Fun Things to do on a Day Trip to Burano, Italy
I totally understand why there’s a lot of hype and excitement about traipsing around Venice. It is gorgeous, and it’s full of hidden treasures around nook and cranny. But when…

Alpenrose Familux Resort Review | Tyrol, Austria
We closed out 2021 and welcomed in 2022 with the most delightful, family-friendly and all-inclusive holiday at the Alpenrose Familux Resort in Tyrol, Austria, and I can’t wait to tell…

The Best of 2021
True story: I typed “The Best of 2020” twice before finally getting it right. Whoops. I won’t lie and say 2021 was all peaches and cream, because it was more…