Thailand recently announced that its once pristine Maya Bay will remain closed indefinitely to tourists. Ringed by cliffs, the turquoise waters and white sand beaches of the bay were immortalized in Leonardo DiCaprio’s film The Beach. But the price of fame meant up to 5,000 tourists visited the bay per day, and, unfortunately, the vast […]

Are we harming our kids by restricting the amount of free outdoor play that they enjoy? That’s the question that Angela Hanscom, a pediatric occupational therapist, explores in her book Balanced and Barefoot. Some have coined the term “risky play” to describe the unstructured play that Hanscom discusses. But, for me, this concept brought to […]

Pouting. Whining. Complaining. Sulking. Few behaviors bring the fun of family vacations to a screeching halt as quickly. Yet, during travels with children, these negative behaviors happen, especially when kids find themselves in unfamiliar surroundings and situations. When it comes to fun travel for kids, how can you move past these difficult moments? Check out […]

“Grit” marks the new buzzword of the parenting advice world. But what does it mean, and why do our kids need it? According to researcher Angela Duckworth, grit provides a better predictor of future success, earnings, and happiness than any other single factor. In fact, grit outperforms IQ, emotional intelligence, and talent. While the term […]

If you’ve been reading this blog for any amount of time, you know that I talk about the benefits of traveling with your kids A LOT. We’ve delved into the research, and we’ve considered how it makes children better global citizens. But there’s an even more fundamental reason why travel is the best gift you […]

What do you think of when you hear the word “tour”? Does your brain flash to crowds of people waiting in line to get back on the air-conditioned bus? If that’s your initial reaction, then it’s time to rethink group travel. A whole new world of small group tours for families has emerged, and they’re […]

Despite common misconceptions, the adventure doesn’t have to come to a screeching halt once you start a family. Post-family wanderlust can be even better with the right mindset and a little patience. While I’ve talked about the benefits of travel for children in previous blog posts, it’s time to address why traveling with children, although […]

Obtaining a Brazil tourist visa used to be a challenge. In fact, it deterred some travelers from visiting. Fortunately, the “land of palms” has expedited its visa process (effective January 25, 2018) for nationals of Australia, Canada, Japan, and the United States. This means the process of how to get a visa for Brazil is […]

Saving money for a trip doesn’t have to be a drag. And it doesn’t have to involve serious sacrifices. Whether it’s making your own coffee drinks or packing a lunch, small changes now lead to big adventure later. So, what are some simple ways to save money for family vacations? We’ve compiled a list of […]

In recent years, there’s been a lot of buzz about traveling like a local. And with good reason. It helps you learn about new cultures through observation and participation. It makes it easier to meet new people and find off-the-beaten-path treasures. But when it comes to travel with kids, how do you reap the benefits […]