Review: Don’t Go to Seven Springs Mountain Resort

I feel like travel bloggers always talk about the things they love so when I’m looking at a place they haven’t posted about, I always wonder if it’s because they just haven’t been there or if they didn’t enjoy the experience. So for the sake of honesty, I think it’s important to share the life-changing trips as well as the ones that I hope to never do again.

One of those was a last-minute getaway to Seven Springs Mountain Resort earlier this summer. The stay home orders had just lifted in my state and my company had recently announced that they would not be permitting us to roll over any unused PTO. So while I planned a few more detailed itineraries to national parks, I booked my husband and I a week at Seven Springs to decompress and hike a little before the fall chill set in.

About Seven Springs

Seven Springs Mountain Resort is a rustic ski resort in Southwestern Pennsylvania. It normally offers 414 hotel or lodge rooms, 20 cottages/chalets and 16 bars and restaurants and a variety of summer activities for adults, teens and children like pools, horseback riding, bowling, mini golf, stand up paddleboarding, basketball, bocce ball, and more.

The room

I’ll admit, after traveling to so many places, we have experienced a wide variety of lodging and have certainly built up some pretty high expectations. I bet when this place was built, it was an adorably rustic lodge that local families loved to frequent. But it doesn’t appear to have been updated in half a century. It wasn’t unclean, but when furnishings are particularly old, it’s difficult to get the grime and dust out of all of the crevices. Trust me, I own a 120-year-old home.

We booked a queen room with a balcony and it would have been fine in most circumstances because we spend most of our time traveling out and about exploring our locale. But considering the coronavirus pandemic, we ended up spending way too much time in our room and by the end of our trip, it felt like a prison.

Additionally, the internet was poor quality so we ended up hooking up our computers to our phone data plans so we could watch Netflix, browse the internet, and do a little work.

The food

When researching Seven Springs as an option, I saw on their website that they had 16 different bars and restaurants which was great because staying at the same resort and not venturing out much would mean we would have some variety. Unfortunately when we arrived, very few of those were actually open. We had a pizza place, a coffee shop, a bar with only appetizers, the pool bar, a nice restaurant only open for dinner that required advance reservations, and a restaurant that did have service for breakfast lunch and dinner.

I completely understand the need to close restaurants or sections of restaurants to accommodate social distancing. However, I expect that is reflected on the company's website so that travelers can decide if that will suit them and plan accordingly.

With the exception of Helen’s, which was exceptional, the rest of the food was school cafeteria at best. If you live in the area or are passing through, do make a point to enjoy the service, food and wine at Helen’s. Otherwise, don’t bother. We cheekily nicknamed the main restaurant available Slopside instead of Slopeside.

There is a lovely little market up the road from the resort that has sandwiches and groceries if you are staying somewhere with a kitchenette.

The activities

Again, as I was planning this vacation, I explored the Seven Springs website and found all sorts of activities that would be perfect for outdoors and socially distanced from others. Unfortunately, much of that was unavailable for one reason or another. There are two kayaks for the entire resort and you cannot reserve them in advance and they were always in use. There was a disc golf course but on three separate occasions the staff couldn't find the discs and didn’t bother to look or go purchase new ones. The hiking trails were barely that, really just the wash beside the road or through the backyards of the cabins on the resort property. The one section that was a trail had a great view of the massive junk yard. 

We did enjoy services at the spa and sitting by the outdoor pool, but those things couldn’t take up a week’s worth of time on their own.

The service

Check in was a breeze. That is because the woman at the front desk asked for our name, then handed us a key. She did not ask if we had been here before, provide us a map, offer suggestions for meals or activities, share any details about what was closed or available, or even point us to the elevator. As a resort, one would assume that you’re paying for and taking advantage of the amenities on the property, unlike a simple hotel.

We only learned later after walking by another employee checking in another guest that we should have been given a parking pass to hang in our car in order to avoid being towed.

Many of the employees seemed to not take their service jobs seriously, playing pranks on each other in front of the guests, and not having a clue how to help guests.

The first time we tried to kayak, the website and pamphlet said to visit the activity center so we did. That attendant told us to go back to the front desk, on the opposite side of the resort. Once there, that attendant told us we needed to go to the ski lift. Once there, the ski lift attendant told us we didn’t need to take the ski lift up there, but that we needed to go to the activity center. Round and round we went until we finally figured out that we could drive up to the lake and pay for the kayak rental there. A few miles off the resort, a sketchy dirt road and no parking later, we made it to the top only to discover that we’d have to wait in line for a couple hours until the kayaks would be available. How frustrating.

The cost

While the cost is one of the only redeeming qualities, the value isn’t there. We spent about $1,500 for the week on the room alone which means just under $200 per night with no additional inclusive amenities. You can spend much less to get a significantly better experience elsewhere. Meals and all activities cost extra.

Would I go back?

We had terrible circumstances considering the non-stop rain and the coronavirus restrictions, but I still won’t return to Seven Springs Mountain Resort.

If you have a gaggle of children and are looking for a place you can let them run wild, go ahead and try it. But I would not get them excited about any particular activity until you are sure you can do that thing, otherwise risk temper tantrums. Which I had plenty.

We aren’t skiers, so perhaps a winter stay is a much more positive experience. Have you ever been? Let me know and I’ll happily share.

The Mighty Five: Utah’s National Parks

2020 may have prohibited us from our international travel plans, but it didn’t keep us from exploring. When considering how to travel this year, we knew we wanted to visit more rural locales, and our national parks were an obvious choice.

Only 29 states have national parks, and Utah has five: Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion. Only Alaska and California have more with eight and nine respectively.

We flew into Las Vegas and were lucky to have only 15 people on our flight and to get upgraded to first class because of that so it wasn’t hard to socially distance on the way. Upon arrival we got an Instacart delivery and rented a car to make the drive to Southern Utah.

Arches National Park

Arches is one of the most accessible parks we’ve visited with a few difficult trails, a few moderate and plenty of easy trails or driveable overlooks. Depending on your pace you could visit all the sights in one day, but I definitely recommend two if you’re going to do any major hiking.

Delicate Arch is the main attraction in the park. If you are physically fit, you should take the challenging three-mile roundtrip hike right up to it. It’s mostly walking up a 30 degree rock face. Once you get to the top, you’ll traverse a wide cliff that will round the corner to the arch. At the base of the arch, the terrain doesn’t flatten out so proper footwear is imperative. However, if that’s not for you, there is a distant overlook with an easy trail that is just the length of a football field.

Delicate is a must if you haven’t seen it in person yet, however it wasn’t our favorite hike in this park. We loved the Double O Arch trail that begins at Devil’s Garden. On your way to Double O you have the opportunity for more than a half a dozen spur trails that will take you up close and personal with other arches like Navajo, Partition, Wall, Tunnel, Pine Tree, Landscape and more. But this trail isn’t about the end view. Cheesy, yes, but it’s about the hike itself. You start on a gravel and sand path for about a mile before scrambling some major rock faces. There were many occasions where the massive boulders we were on dropped 30+ feet on either side. A few times where we got to the end of the rock cliff and were sure that we made a mistake following the trail only to discover that we needed to keep going up an eight-foot cliff, down a five foot face, or hug the rocks around a corner to get to our destination. The mental attention required to navigate this one was immense and it made for an absolute blast!

This trail can be a loop or an out-and-back, and that significantly impacts your mileage. We did an out-and-back to Double O with all of the spurs except Dark Angel and it ended up about 6.5 miles. If we had made it a loop, it would have been closer to 8. But that additional section of the loop is a very primitive trail which we weren’t up for at the time. If we come back, we’ll definitely add it. This is not a trail for those afraid of heights or out of shape, but a top hike for sure. At a minimum, you should trek in far enough to see Landscape and Navajo arches, which would be just about 2.5 miles with only minor scrambling.

Other highlights of the park outside of those two hikes are The Windows, Balanced Rock, Double Arch, Turret Arch, Fiery Furnace (permit required), Broken Arch, Sand Dune Arch, Skyline Arch, and more.

Bryce Canyon National Park

Many people advise that you only need a day in Bryce and I’d agree. But there are plenty of ways to go deeper than the driveable overlooks to make that quite a chunky day. One example is to start at Sunset Point and take the Navajo Trail (take Wall Street if it’s open) to Peekaboo Loop. Once you finish that half of the figure eight, take Queen’s Garden back to Sunrise Point and then follow the rim back to Sunset. It gives a complete experience of everything in Bryce, seeing it from the top and from the bottom of the hoodoo-filed canyon. This eight-miler is tough with a lot of elevation changes, but every turn means new rock formations to admire, tunnels, views and switchbacks galore. There are even arches and windows in this park as well. This was my husband’s favorite hike of our trip because of the constantly changing views. It also didn’t hurt that there was a mini challenge to take photos at three of the checkpoints. He’ll do anything for a sticker.

The elevation ranges from 7,000 to 9,000 feet so that adds to the challenge. Take it slow and bring much more water than you think. It took us about 4.5 hours so snacks or a light lunch are important as well.

Other highlights included Natural Bridge and Ponderosa Canyon which are an easy drive with no hiking required.

Canyonlands National Park

We only spent an afternoon here and felt it was all the time we needed without going deep. There is a lovely little walk to Mesa Arch which is a beautiful arch with an impressive view on the other side. We also enjoyed Grand View Point Overlook and plan to hike Upheaval Dome and explore the southern half when we come back.

Capitol Reef National Park

We planned to visit Capitol Reef, but it’s a bit out of the way and we were feeling tired so we bailed. Next time we visit, we’ll be sure to hit a few of these recommendations from locals: Hickman Natural Bridge, Lower Calf Creek Falls, and the scenic byway 12 for a section called Hell’s backbone. While you’re there, you should plan to check out Goblin Valley State Park as well.

Zion National Park

Zion (rhymes with lion) is one of the most popular National Parks in the country bringing in hoards of tourists. There are a couple major hikes including Angel’s Landing that attract most of the visitors. However, in order to summit Angel’s Landing, there are narrow cliffsides to navigate using chains bolted to the rock. While that in itself is treacherous in the wind or dicey weather, it’s even more unsafe when you consider the crowds of hikers touching the same chains without sanitization. We determined that we would come back for this hike another time.

But our second choice wasn’t a let down at all. As one of the world’s top ten hikes, The Narrows was incredible! The “trail” starts off with a one-mile paved path that follows the Virgin River. At the end of that walk you step into the river itself and wander the riverbed for two to four miles, sometimes in waist deep water, and others traversing boulder-filled banks between 1,700-foot black, pink and and white rock walls. There are caves, waterfalls, and even a mini Horseshoe Bend. It’s magical.

We booked a tour through Zion Guru which provided us with a private shuttle, a personal guide, and all the appropriate gear. Being a winter visit, I was certainly nervous about being cold and wet, but with the dry pants, neoprene socks and made-for-water-hiking boots, we were perfectly comfortable. Don’t get me wrong, our feet were wet, but not as cold as I expected with 48 degree waters flowing at 45 cubic feet per second. Also, do not try this hike without a sturdy stick. Trekking poles wouldn’t work as well.

We had most of the river to ourselves with two other pairs hiking 100 feet or so away. However, they did not have a guide who helped navigate the river and coach us on how to negotiate each crossing. They ended up purposefully keeping distance behind us and following where our guide took us.

The intersection of Wall Street and Orderville Canyon, only five feet wide in some places, was the perfect spot to stop for lunch before returning to the trailhead. This is a must-do hike if you visit Utah and I’d love to do it again.

Other popular hikes in the park include The Grotto and Emerald Pools.

One note about Zion, March through November (and between Christmas and New Years) no private vehicles are permitted on the main road through the park. They offer an almost-free shuttle that you must book in advance. However the shuttle tickets are almost impossible to acquire so you should consider a private shuttle which might run you $40 or so roundtrip. There are other hikes not on this main road including Canyon Overlook which is a fun little two-miler and Kolob Canyon. There is also a great expert level hike called The Subway which requires a lottery permit. Be sure to also drive through the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel near the south entrance of the park. Very cool.

If Zion Narrows was our crossfit-style workout, Bryce Peekaboo was a marathon and Arches Double O was an obstacle course. We assumed we would be sick of looking at rocks for almost two weeks, but were surprised how unique and different each park was. If you have to skip any parks, Capitol Reef and Canyonlands are the two, but Arches, Bryce and Zion are must-visits.

I’ve been to just under a third of the National Parks and have always been impressed with the care taken of these lands. A huge shout out to the rangers and National Parks Service team. Our America the Beautiful annual pass is well worth the $80 if you plan to visit more than two in 12 months. These landscapes are incredible.

It should also be noted that we visited in the winter so on almost all of our trips we had the place to ourselves, even on those mornings we got a late start. The weather was clear and between 35 and 55 degrees. I’ll take plenty of parking and warm layers over crowds and 115 degree heat the summer months usually bring.

Honorable Mentions

Our itinerary actually included some time in Arizona, specifically to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, adding a fifth national park to our 12-day trip. Bright Angel Point and Cape Royal were favorite mini hikes and viewpoints before heading up to Balanced Rock, Lees Ferry, and Lonely Dell Ranch, all of which we had completely to ourselves. We also stopped by Glen Canyon Dam which is the second largest dam in the country behind Hoover which was closed for coronavirus, and Horseshoe Bend, which is a popular tourist spot, but while we were able to stay distanced and masked, we didn’t stay long.

Antelope Canyon was closed for coronavirus because it’s on Navajo land, so I searched for an alternative and I’m so glad I found Peekaboo Canyon in Kanab. It’s a four-mile off road drive to get to the entrance of the canyon so I highly recommend a private tour guide with an appropriate vehicle (and deep sand driving skills). Unlike our experience would have been in Antelope, we had the entire two-mile slot canyon to ourselves. Everything had a gorgeous red glow and was such a fun and unique experience, learning about flash floods, fossils, layered rock formations and more.

There are also a few other experiences worth mentioning including Toadstool Hoodoos, Kanarraville Falls, and Dead Horse State Park.

While traveling at all during this time is risky, I don’t regret this trip because it was easy for us to stay distanced from others and adventure outdoors. If you’re interested in planning some time away, I’m happy to help you research safe experiences for you and your travel partners.

What I learned cancelling 26 days of vacation: Travel Planning Amid a Pandemic

I’ve gotten lots of questions about planning new trips for this fall and I have to be honest, I have no idea what you should do. However, I can share what I’m doing and why, and I hope that’s helpful to you.

All airlines are treating this situation differently. Delta is not selling middle seats. Frontier is taking the temperatures of all passengers. Most are sanitizing the planes between each flight more than ever before. Some are offering low-risk or no-cancellation-fee flights to encourage folks to start moving around the world again.

But I’ve also heard stories of friends arriving at a busy airport, not many people wearing masks, full flights, and few terminal dining options open forcing folks even closer.

For me, it’s still too risky. Or at least in the way I have traditionally traveled.

Rewinding a bit…

Being responsible adults that we are, we thought after taking a three-week trip to Spain and Portugal in the fall of 2017 and then a three-week trip to Ireland and the United Kingdom in the summer of 2018, we should take a break for meaty international extravaganzas. So we spent 2019 exploring our own country (with a few trips to Canada sprinkled in as well).

Instead of a three-week trip, we ended up taking 15 long weekend trips. I convinced friends from two other cities to join me in New Orleans for my birthday; we explored both Portland, Oregon and Portland, Maine, Seattle, Prince Edward Island, Vancouver, Colorado Springs, Boston, Newport, Rhode Island, New York many times, and much more. It was the perfect “down time” for me while I planned Japan, Iceland, Italy and maybe Hawaii for 2020.

But of course that didn’t happen with the pandemic that hit us earlier this year.

So far, I’ve cancelled a three-and-a-half-week trip to Japan, a road trip to Dayton, a horseback riding expedition around Iceland, a trip to Montreal, and attendance at two weddings. And while I didn’t book flights to Italy, my opportunity for free lodging is lost now. Needless to say, it has taken a lot of retail therapy to get my credit card back to zero after all of these credits. (Any by retail therapy, I mean buying a house and outfitting it with new furniture and decor. Oops!)

While I’ve seen many friends and coworkers take their trips as planned or a few months delayed, I still feel it’s too risky to do the kind of traveling I planned and normally do. As I hear from my friends in San Francisco, Chicago and New York, the urban cityscapes just aren’t as appealing as they were 12 months ago. And international travel isn’t exactly a reliable choice either.

Why I’m not booking flights yet

Travel is such an emotional thing for me. It makes me feel alive; and experiencing other cultures and the scariness of the unknown is an adrenaline rush I don’t get in my everyday life. So many hours go into planning these trips to make them affordable and unique that cancelling them leaves me utterly heartbroken.

The trips I mentioned above were cancelled because the airlines and tour companies cancelled them. It wasn’t my choice. I’m grateful that choice was made for me, otherwise I might have gone anyway… I’m also grateful I got full refunds on everything I had booked. But I know that rebooking those trips right now might not end in the same result if I need to cancel again later.

Many are asking me when they can rebook. And my answer isn’t what they want to hear. While I’m tentatively planning 2021 as a complete redo of my 2020, same place, same time, same travel partners, I’m not actually booking anything. Standard travel insurance doesn’t cover these circumstances and if I rebook and things are technically open, but I don’t feel safe, I can’t cancel and get my credits back.

The risk of losing my money, the energy spent planning and booking, and the emotional drag of cancelling a second time isn’t worth it for me right now.

Traveling and travel planning should be so fun. Right now, with everything uncertain, it’s just not and I don’t want to force it.

What I’m doing instead

I get it; we’re all going a little stir crazy. Humans aren’t meant to live like this. But it’s important we are doing everything we can to not only prevent the spread to protect ourselves, but to protect our friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers.

My company isn’t allowing us to roll over vacation days or paying us out for any unused time come December. So what I would normally consider a healthy number of PTO days for a year, I now have to use in the last 6 months of 2020. Plus, for working so hard during the stay home orders, my employer was kind enough to gift us an #ExtraDayOff. With the self-imposed restrictions or no international and no flights, I’m trying to brainstorm what’s next for me.

• I’ve investigated the month-long road trip but I just don’t love driving that much, especially what I imagine is long, flat, nothing of the middle of our country in the heat of the summer.

• I’ve investigated AmTrak, but the timing of the stops are usually middle of the night so I’d want to purchase a sleeper ticket and a hotel room for the nights that we’d be in transit which doubles my costs.

• I’ve investigated just checking into an all-inclusive resort and hiding there until I drain my bank account but that might only get me a measly seven nights.

So while I thought 2019 was an interesting challenge in traveling only domestically, the second half of 2020 is taking it up a notch. Where to visit within driving distance of Columbus, Ohio where I feel comfortable wearing a mask, socially distanced from others, but still interesting enough to make taking PTO without coverage worth the effort?

So far, I’m thinking the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, the Poconos, Red River Gorge, Asheville, NC, and a white water rafting trip along the New or Gauley Rivers.

Any other favorites within a 500-mile radius of Ohio I should add to the list? I’ll share more as I finalize plans and begin to get excited about leaving my home again.

For now, you can find me still researching travel from my front porch. #StayHome still...

If you want help navigating this tricky situation, I’m happy to chat about your particular circumstances. It’s #FirstWorldProblems, I recognize, but it’s still sad and exhausting. I’m here with you.

Traveling with Teens: How We Enjoyed Europe with Three Teenagers

For the next post in our Traveling with Kids series, we are switching gears from babies to teenagers, both complex for their own reasons. Today’s post comes from Janine Robinson who, with her partner, took her 17-year-old son and his 13-year-old twin sisters to Europe in March of 2019. She is a brave woman and lived to tell us the tale.

Why Take Teens to Europe

When many people think of family vacations they think about relaxing on a beach with their feet in the sand, kids building castles, and playing in the surf. This certainly sounds amazing right now as winter in Ohio is quickly approaching, and our family does enjoy the beach house vacation where I read trashy romance novels and completely zone out in the sun. But sometimes I want something a little different from my vacations.

Every few years we go big and take a trip that creates unique life-long memories. Our most recent trip to Europe was certainly one of those adventures, one that had people asking me over and over: Why on earth would you take three teenagers to Europe?

The answer is simple: My husband and I believe our lives have been enriched by travel so why would we not believe the same for our children? Any travel, domestic or abroad, is a great opportunity to hone personality traits we hope will help our kids thrive as healthy adults that contribute to their communities: traits like curiosity, flexibility and compassion.

I think now is the perfect time to expose them to new things and uncomfortable situations, while my husband and I can help guide them when they get off track (even if they protest). Got on the wrong train? Laugh about it, get off at the next stop and get on another. Can’t read the menu? Look for clues in the words, Google ones you can’t figure out, and always try to read it aloud to your server, rather than just pointing. Can’t speak the language fluently? Try anyway. Locals will appreciate the attempt. Found yourself lost? Use your basic directional knowledge. Your hotel was north of the big church and you can see the steeple peeking above the buildings so head that way.

Going through experiences like these instills a mindset that things don’t always go as planned, sometimes there are challenges and you have the tools, ingenuity, and tenacity to work through them.

Prepping for Missing School

We decided to go in March because we could tack our trip onto the back end of the week long spring break the kids already had. Even still we knew they would miss about a week and a half worth of assignments. While some parents wouldn’t dream of doing something like this, and frankly some of teachers did not approve either, we knew that we could take advantage of off-peak deals and that our teens' minds would be expanded in so many ways during the trip. Ways that just cannot happen in the classroom. We also are blessed with three excellent students, so we knew that they would each catch up on missed assignments quickly.

Planning Our Adventure

Another question I often get is: How did you plan that big of a trip yourself with no travel planner? When we started planning this trip six months out, we knew we wanted to include the kids. After many conversations around the family dinner table, we decided we would let each teen choose one city and plan that part of our trip themselves. Doing it this way took some of the heavy lifting off my husband and me, and it empowered our kids to take ownership of their vacation. They researched where to stay, things to do, places to eat. They not only had a voice in the planning, but they each served as the cruise director in their chosen cities, navigating time changes, train maps, restaurant reservations, and activity tickets. Of course there was some parental guidance, encouraging them to include the traditional tourist spots like museums and cathedrals, but also to look for off-the-beaten-path ideas and consider what the locals do in the area. Additionally, we love to leave time for unplanned discoveries, some of which end up being the most memorable.

It was like having three personal travel agents, and because each of the kids sees things through a unique lens, each city’s itinerary was distinctly different. Some attractions where more traditional like our Eiffel Tower visit and a canal tour. Others were completely random and stumbled upon such as Horta’s life-sized labyrinth in Barcelona and the Fairy Garden at Malahide Castle outside of Dublin.

By breaking up the vacation planning in this way we gave our kids a measure of responsibility and ownership of their own experience, along with the ability to have pride in sharing their choices with the rest of the family.

Taking Off

With bags packed and everything booked, we headed off on our biggest family vacation yet. We ended up visiting Spain, France, Germany, Netherlands and Ireland, and traveled by plane, train, car and boat.

We leveraged this hodge podge of transportation means to move locations every 2-3 days and also experienced a 20-degree temperature swing from our first stop in Barcelona to our last in Dublin. Because of the transient nature of our travels we had to be very thoughtful about our packing choices (layer, layer, layer) and of course leaving room in our luggage for all the mementos we picked up along the way.

During our more than two weeks abroad we stayed in both hotels and Airbnbs. The later accommodations were where we felt the most at home and we got the most genuine experiences as many of our Airbnb locations were nestled in quaint neighborhoods rather than busy tourist areas. The locations of the Airbnb flats also put us in the center of some of the most amazing, and often cheapest, restaurant selections with some of the friendliest staff who would talk to us, ask the kids about their experiences, and give us inside tips and recommendations for the next day. For these, and many other reasons, we hands down vote for renting from locals when you travel if at all possible.

Looking back, our trip could not have been more perfect. I say this with full memory of a dinner in Spain when we ordered 20 different tapas items but only had a mild clue what half of them were, the complaints from my 4'10" tall daughter about the too-fast walking pace of my 6' tall son, and the style-hindering frustrations of my other daughter regarding our rule that everyone only have one piece of luggage. Heaven forbid each person also be responsible for hauling their own bags. Nothing ever goes completely as planned but that is what makes it fun, that’s where you learn about other people and the world around you. It is in these moments that you can grow as an individual and make memories that last a lifetime.

Traveling with Tots: Tips for how to see the world when you’ve got a little one in tow

In our last Traveling with Tots post, we chatted with Megan Ford, mother of 15-month-old Kelsey. Today, we are sharing more tips from Megan on how she has managed so many trips with an infant, turned toddler.

Let’s talk packing. Are you typically an overpacker or underpacker for yourself?

Pre-baby, I would say I was a borderline underpacker and now I’m for sure an underpacker for myself but an overpacker for Kelsey.

When we fly, we usually check two bags. My partner and I share one and Kelsey gets one all to herself. I understand this isn’t for everyone but we usually just bring all the diapers we need which basically fills Kelsey’s bag. I know I can buy diapers at our destination, but we haven’t tried that yet. Secretly, I don’t mind taking a suitcase full of diapers on the way there because it leaves plenty of room for wine and bourbon on the way home.

Do you bring toys with you or find new things along the way?

We usually bring her favorite lovie and some books, but lately I’ve implemented the trick to bring a new toy (a tip from lots of travel blogs/posts!). For our recent Maine trip, I held back one of her birthday gifts and introduced it on the plane to Boston so we didn’t have to buy anything new.

What tricks do you have for helping her survive long car rides?

At a bare minimum, I rotate toys and books in her lap during the ride. Sometimes I’ll sit in the back seat with her and talk and sing, practice letters, numbers etc. This uninterrupted time with her can be so lovely.

We also try to travel during nap times or at night so she can sleep through some of it too. She doesn’t always sleep in her carseat which is a blessing and a curse. Sometimes we time it over a nap hour and she just doesn’t sleep so it makes for an interesting first few hours at our destination.

What about plane rides?

Most airlines have a policy where children under two years old fly free, and the strollers and car seats are gate checked at no extra charge but you have to ask at the gate. We also always ask if the flight is full and sometimes even though we don’t pay for her seat, we can score a whole row to ourselves so we can bring her car seat and be a little more comfortable.

What lodging is best with children?

We have stayed at Airbnbs, VRBOs and hotels so far. We usually prefer home rentals versus hotels, just because you get a little more space and can have adult time after the kiddos go to sleep. In a hotel, you really have to plan out where the child will sleep if you and your partner don’t plan to turn out the lights at 7:30 p.m. We’ve occasionally put her bed in a large closet or even the bathroom so we can watch TV, chat quietly and enjoy adult time (read wine time).

Speaking of beds, do you bring your own or borrow from your accommodations?

At first, I was all about bringing our own bed for Kels, and we did for the first year. We had a little travel bassinet and pack and play. When we went to Maine, we just borrowed and I wiped it down with disinfectant wipes and moved on with my life. It was so easy and I’ll definitely plan to borrow again. Most hotels offer them for free. Just ask!

She also naps really well and can sleep just about everywhere. We try to maintain her nap and bedtime routines though so she has some consistency even if it’s not location or bed style.

I’m nervous about time zone changes, but we’ll tackle that next.

What about snacks and food for Kelsey?

We make sure we pack easy snacks for Kelsey in her checked bag - this usually includes an oatmeal supply, her little bowl and spoon, some fruit/veggie pouches and a crunchy snack. This saves us trying to hunt down these items at a store we when arrive. Of course, we make sure the carry on bag has plenty of snacks for her as well.

Is your daughter an open-minded eater?

Thankfully she is so far. I attribute that to baby-led weaning. She has always just eaten what we eat. We do have to be mindful of what restaurants we choose, but not because of the cuisine. Often patrons at nicer restaurants don’t want to dine next to a child. We’ve had people move tables because she was loud. YIKES!

How do you keep her calm with all of the disruption?

Fresh air always helps when she is unhappy. Or just getting up and walking around. But when you can't get that (like on an airplane), you just do whatever you can - offer snacks, any distraction - and just pray it ends soon!

It seems that most parents are empathetic when you’re having a tough go with your child. What would you want non-parents to do, say or understand in that moment?

As a non-parent it was really hard for me to understand what that parent with a difficult child was facing. My advice would just be to sympathize as much as possible and if you feel the urge, offer to help. Whether it’s picking up a napkin or being patient while they try to quell the screaming, it will be appreciated. And don’t give mean looks; we’re all just doing our best and don’t want to have to miss out on the experiences just because our kid is going bonkers.

Traveling with Tots: Setting Travel Goals and Expectations When a Newborn Changes Your Life

I’ve travelled extensively, but I’ll be the first to admit when I have knowledge gaps. So we’re starting a series where we cover travel with children. Today, I want to share an interview with my friend Megan Ford who has a 15-month-old daughter. Megan and her husband have taken Kelsey on many trips throughout her first year, starting when she was eight weeks old. So I asked her for not only tips, but about the emotional side of things, what expectations did she have and how did those change throughout her first few vacations with her newborn.

Before we get started, I need to add that Megan is an incredibly organized millennial woman who has a clear set or priorities and hasn’t let being a mom take away from her interests in running, wine nights with friends and most importantly, travel.

What expectations did you have about travel with a child?

Honestly, I was a little discouraged seeing many of my coworkers and friends stop traveling after having children. Most people put a pause on that hobby until their children are grown, but we just couldn’t imagine waiting 20 years before visiting Mexico, Europe or the Caribbean again. Before getting pregnant we travelled everywhere, taking at least three or four major trips a year. We even gift travel instead of physical presents for birthdays and anniversaries.

I decided to do a little research and discovered The Bucket List Family and #TravelWithKids on Instagram. I have also been inspired by our friends Alex and Lori who have continued to travel with their little one and started when she was very young. Through all of this, I was motivated to give it a shot and armed myself with tips and confidence to get on the road again.

I booked flights to Florida before Kelsey was even born. People (okay, mainly family) thought we were crazy, but we couldn’t pass up such a great deal on Southwest. Thankfully, I delivered a healthy baby and we then focused on planning the rest of the trip, but it’s that important to my family. Once we had the first road trip (at eight weeks old) and flight (at eleven weeks old), we knew we could do this and adapt as she grew.

Do you consider Kelsey an easy traveller?

Absolutely! Reality has been so much better than I expected and we’ve adapted to our new routine pretty quickly. I believe starting her out young is what made her this way. Kelsey has already knocked off 11 states and will take her first international trip before her second birthday. She doesn’t mind her car seat for long drives and can easily entertain herself with books, stuffed animals and other toys.

When she was younger, she slept most of the time, allowing my partner and I to adjust to the stress of a new travel routine without having to also deal with a crying, running or screaming child. Navigating the airport with our carry-ons, stroller, car seat and a small human for the first time is stressful enough without that small human wiggling and yelling.

Now we’re able to roll with the punches, like when there isn’t a changing table at the restaurant or the flight is delayed after we’ve already boarded.

Do you prefer to travel with just your partner and daughter or with family and friends?

We love traveling as our little family so we have full control over what we do and how we spend our time, but we also love traveling with friends and family so we can sneak away and have a meal without her. She’s an easy traveller but you can never predict when a toddler will have a meltdown in a restaurant and it’s nice to be able to order and know you can enjoy the moment instead of worry if she’s disrupting the other patrons. Luckily our friends and family equally enjoy their dates with Kelsey.

Does having her impact where you visit, how you get there and what activities you do?

Yes and no. It does impact where we go because we want it to be fun for all of us. We love Colorado, but we’re not ready to take her on all-day hikes just yet.

We’ve taken her on tours, into breweries and wineries, and she does well. But at this age, we can’t do anything adventurous like snorkel, ride camels or zipline. We’re excited to watch her grow and try those activities with us for the first time. We always find entertaining things to do wherever we go -- it's just different than pre-baby vacations.

How has travel changed since you had Kelsey?

Well, it obviously impacts our evenings, making them shorter, but we get up earlier and get going so we’re really not enjoying and fewer hours exploring, just shifted earlier in the day. We certainly do more day drinking and try to bring a bottle or two of wine back to our place so we can enjoy it on the patio once she’s gone to bed.

Are you interested in traveling without her?

Honestly, this has crossed my mind, but when it came down to booking the trip, I just want her there with me. She's only little once. We want her to experience as many places as she can and create memories as a family. We want her to see other parts of the state, country and world to shape her perspective of life. As soon as she is old enough, we’d love to take her on a mission trip of some sort to help people less fortunate than us.

What trip are you looking forward to next?

We recently booked Kelsey’s first international trip to Cancun. We’re going with our friends Lori and Alex, who also have a young child so it should be quite the adventure.

2019 Holiday Gift Guide for Travelers

Tis the season for stressing about what holiday presents you get everyone on your list. While I much prefer gifting to others than receiving, I still spend hours brainstorming the perfect ideas for each family member and friend. Experience gifts are my first preference, but some on my list don’t love receiving experience gifts and some are just difficult to excite. 

So below are a few things that you can use as inspiration for those you need to buy for this year, or ideas to share with your own family and friends to gift to you. I know a few of these are on my list too.

Travel art: Do they have a scratch off map of all the places they’ve been? Are they smitten with a particular location that you can collect little bobbles from and display for them? What about a local artist’s piece and a bottle of local wine from that destination?

Travel consumables: As a big fan of gift baskets, it would be thoughtful to give someone a basket of goodies related to their upcoming vacation. Granola bars for the plane, mini cosmetics and toiletries, and no one has too many pairs of fuzzy plane socks.

Travel luxuries: Sometimes it’s nice to nap with a fancy silk eye mask. A solar-charged power bank for their phone or computer, a stylish luggage tag, a cute passport cover, and packing cubes can also be great options. You should check to see if they have these things before purchasing them so you don’t purchase duplicates, but if it comes up in conversation that they don’t have these things, or don’t love the version they have, it might be the perfect gift. 

Travel pillows: This gets its own category because there are so many options out there (pellet-filled, inflatable, foam, etc.). The only I’m currently pining for is called Trtl and it has a plastic and fabric support system that is supposed to not give you the kink in your neck.

Services while they’re away: Do they have a pet that they always take to the local kennel? Will they need someone to check their mail and water their plants? What about a fancy car ride to and from the airport if you can’t do it yourself? 

Currency: I recently gifted someone a travel guide and destination currency for their upcoming trip and I think it was a simple way to say “I hope you enjoy your time away” without going overboard or getting too personal.

Lodging or airline gift cards: Help them pay for the trip itself with gift cards to Airbnb or Delta. While gift cards can feel impersonal, we all know that’s what we really want to receive. One way to make gift cards feel more thoughtful is to research a really lovely restaurant or activities in their destination and purchase a gift certificate for that. When I left my job and moved to San Francisco, one of the many thoughtful gifts I received from my coworkers was a gift certificate to a fancy restaurant in San Francisco that my partner and I could use for our anniversary dinner the week after we moved.

Carbon offsets: Let’s be honest, travel isn’t great for the environment. So every year around this time, I recount all of the flights I took throughout the year and purchase carbon offsets in an attempt to counter all of the damage I’ve done throughout the year. Native Energy and TerraPass are two great options. This isn’t cheap, but it’s so important to me to reinvest in sustainability projects. I think assisting someone with this burden would be a thoughtful gift in that you would be showing that you care about what they care about: travel and the environment.

What is on your wishlist this year related to travel? Are there any travel gifts you received that you truly appreciated?

Let’s Just Pretend We’re Dancing in the Street in Barcelona

Have you ever been someplace and just felt “This is for me.” It’s only happened a few times so far. Once in San Francisco, which after a long weekend visit ended up with me moving there a couple years later. And again in Barcelona.

There are lots of easy comparisons between the two cities which might be why I love them both so dearly. I always say Barcelona is to San Francisco as Madrid is to NYC. All four fabulous places to visit, but there is something magical about the first two.

They are weird and quirky and have more art and culture jam packed into them than any other place I’ve been. They are relaxed and friendly. Incredible food and music.

We only visited Barcelona for four days, and we have a rule of always trying somewhere new instead of rehashing the same old haunts, but Barcelona is definitely on the top of my visit again list. Here’s why:

The architecture.

Google Gaudi and tell me you don’t want to explore any of his creations. They are pure art. From La Sagrada Familia to Park Guell, Casa Batllo to Casa Milo, they are playful and unique and worth the stroll by to admire the outside, even if you don’t pay the ticket price to get inside. I do recommend going in Park Guell and La Sagrada Familia if you have time. La Sagrada is actually unfinished. It’s been under construction for about 138 years but they have plans to finish it by 2026. 

The food.

I could eat tapas and pintxos every meal of my life. Something about having my cake and eating it too with all the options. Patatas bravas, croquettes, and this creation called the Barcelona Bomb. It’s a mashed potato ball surrounded by meatball breaded and deep fried, then covered in tomato sauce. I haven’t found anywhere in the States that makes them and I’ve certainly looked. It’s an obvious recommendation from me because I love markets, but Mercado de la Boqueria is spectacular as well. Do not miss getting churros and chocolate either. And the jamon!

The museums.

Speaking of jamon, there is a Museum of Jamon and it’s awesome! At the Museu de la Xocolata your ticket is a chocolate bar. No further explanation needed.

Did you know that Picasso lived much of his childhood in Barcelona and much of his early work is incredibly realistic in contrast to the work we know and love from him later in life? At the Picasso Museum in Barcelona, I saw a quote that I just fell in love with (paraphrased): As a child I was forced to paint like an adult, so as an adult I chose to paint like a child. This museum focuses on his early work, while most of his later work is in France where he spent a good bit of his adulthood. Definitely worth the visit, but go early in the day before the school children arrive by the bus load.

You should also visit the Palau de la Música Catalana for a bit of Catalonian culture unique to this part of Spain.

The bars.

There is almost always a free appertif before your tapas or a digestif after your meal, but there are a few standout bars I want to mention.

First, IceBarcelona. It’s one of those establishments made entirely out of ice like you’d see in Scandinavia. But it’s on the beach in Barcelona instead. You pay a small cover charge and they give you a coat and gloves to enter. This particular bar was Star Wars-themed so my partner had a blast. The drinks were ice-themed, served in ice glasses, the bar was ice, the benches were ice, the art was ice, the dance floor was ice. I’m all for something quirky and this certainly fit the bill.

Second, La Xampanyeria. This place was a spontaneous find that I am so grateful for. It’s a cava (Spanish sparkling wine) and tapas bar, heavy on the cava. It’s still some of the best cava I’ve had in my life and it was only three Euros a bottle. We arrived late at night and it was a bumping little divey joint with loads of young people like us, crammed shoulder to shoulder yelling at the guy behind the counter what kind of croquettes we wanted. Unfortunately we just missed the opportunity to buy the cava by the bottle, but it was so good we decided to come back in the morning and stock up for the rest of our trip and for a souvenir. When we arrived the next morning, it was a very different scene: construction workers on break with a coupe of wine and a handful of pintxos. Clearly a local favorite and now one of mine.

The people.

So I told you we were in Barcelona for four days, but what I did not share is that for that entire four days we were an hour behind. Late to everything. We visited over U.S. Daylight Savings and Google did not get the time correct on our phones. Timed tickets to a museum? No problem. Dinner reservations? No problem. Closing down a bar? No problem. No one even mentioned to us that we were late so we had no idea. How often do you look at a clock that isn’t your phone these days? We only noticed when we missed our train to Madrid as we were leaving Barcelona. Again, no problem. The kind agent just rebooked us on the next hourly train. Everyone in Barcelona was so kind and laid back and it is so appreciated when you’re in a new place. Yay humanity!

If you can’t tell, Barcelona makes me giddy. What cities make you giddy?

P.S. The title is from Ed Sheeran. Credit where credit is due.

10 Secrets to Finding Cheap Flights

Besides lodging, transportation can be one of the most expensive parts of your vacation. And while Google Flights is great, it’s not comprehensive. It doesn’t display all airlines (Southwest is notorious for not allowing API integrations with flight aggregators), and it usually only displays single airline or airline network tickets.

I won’t sugarcoat it; my way is time consuming and takes a lot of work. But it’s how I’ve gotten to travel around the world so affordably.

1. Subscribe to airline emails. At this point, I’m subscribed to most of the major airlines, but when I decide where I’m going next, I always subscribe to the local airlines. They most often share sales and new route info with email subscribers. That’s how all those cool travel websites get all their info. So consider all the wasted time between them seeing that email, writing an article about it, emailing you and then you seeing it. You’ll be able to move much more quickly on a deal (scoring better seat options) if you see it first. 

2. Subscribe to airline deal aggregators. Scott’s Cheap Flights, Fare Compare and Airfare Watchdog are great for scoping out averages for cheap airline costs, but I haven’t had much luck actually booking using those tools. Based on what I said earlier, you usually have only about 24 hours to purchase a flight if you see it through those alerts.

3. Ask around. Do you have a friend of a friend who just visited your destination? Ask if they’d be willing to share how much they spent in airfare and make it a goal to beat their cost.

4. Do the Google Flights search. It’s a great place to start and I use it throughout my research. I just don’t use it as my only option. You can use the cheapest fare listed here as another benchmark for the goal fare you’re looking to best.

5. Search in an incognito browser. I’ve heard rumors that airlines are sophisticated enough to track your cookies and increase fares on the second or third time you search for the same route, but I haven’t seen this happen. Better to be safe than sorry though, so I usually do all my travel research in an incognito browser window.

6. Start research early, but don’t buy yet. As soon as I decide where I’m going and when, I do a quick search. I almost never buy at this time though unless I’m booking fairly last minute travel. Some people will try to make a recommendation of how far out you should book based on the average data, but these recommendations are exactly that: averages. You aren’t going to find the super cheap fares this way.

7. Don’t wait until the last minute. Occasionally, I’ve found a great last minute deal, but that is usually a wholly spontaneous trip where we have a free weekend and I’m looking for somewhere to go. My friend Rachel and I flew to NYC for the weekend after finding $160 round trip flights on a Thursday (set to leave the following day). Consider who flies last minute: business travelers. Business travelers are less cost sensitive since usually their company is footing the bill. If they have to be in Vegas for a client meeting, they will usually pick the fastest direct flight and airlines know that so they don’t usually drop fares for last minute until the day or two before. This kind of adventure can certainly be fun, it’s just not how I usually operate for a planned trip.

8. Weigh time versus cost. Sometimes the cheapest flight will be a huge pain. Three layovers and 24 hours of travel that would take you 5 as a direct non-stop, fork over the cash to save the headache. 

9. Calculate fees. On that note, consider that the cheapest ticket might not be the cheapest based on all the extra fees. Some of the budget airlines charge for carry-on baggage, non-alcoholic drinks and snacks while in the air and sitting with your travel partners. Once you add in all your necessities, is it still the cheapest?

10. Start with your destination. Here’s the real secret. I almost always start with my destination. Is your destination flexible? If you’re doing Paris, London and Rome, is it cheaper to fly into Paris than London or Rome? Start there. If your destination isn’t flexible, does that city have multiple airports? Investigate which might have more options. Then I research (using Google Flights) which airlines fly in and out of those airports, even if they don’t fly to my home airport. Here’s an example. I was researching flights to Barcelona a few years ago. I found that TAP Portugal flew into Barcelona pretty affordably from many cities in the United States, but not my home city. So I matched up a TAP flight from Boston, Newark and Miami with the corresponding Delta flight from my hometown to those cities. Then I compared those totals with my other established baselines and found that if I used two different airlines and separated my round trip ticket into one way tickets, I would save a few hundred dollars. This is what takes time. This is what takes scratch paper to keep track of it all. But this is how I saved a coworker $3,000 last summer. 

If this kind of shopping around sounds fun to you, I’d love to chat about other strategies with you. If it doesn’t, let me do the hard work and save you the money and headache. Shoot me a note with where you’re heading and when and I’ll get started for you.

15 Ways To Stay Safe While Traveling

Sirens blared, the crowd roared and a stampede of rioters raced toward the market we were planning to visit for lunch in Boston yesterday.

Luckily the Lyft driver we chatted with that morning told us there was a protest (and counter protest) happening in Boston while we were there so it was on my mind as we wandered through the Back Bay and Downtown Crossing neighborhoods.

As the riot escalated, my husband and I immediately turned around and ran the opposite direction. Knowing what signs to watch for and what to do in a dangerous situation can make your vacation safer and more pleasant. And hey, we visited the market today instead.

Here are a few things to remember to give you peace of mind.

1. Talk to locals. Sure, they can share great restaurants and things to do, but they can also alert you to other things going on in the city like major events.

2. Be cautious in crowds. While crowds aren’t always a bad sign, large gathering places like shopping centers, stadiums and festivals are easy targets for criminals whether that’s pick pocketing, groping or an active shooter situation.

3. Respond, don’t react. When you hear or see something that doesn’t feel quite right, stop and think before acting. Taking a moment to analyze the situation and thinking through your options will help you make the best decision on what to do next.

4. If you do get stuck in something awful, call the authorities to get help. In the United States, 911 is drilled into our brains since toddlerhood, but be sure to check the emergency phone number in the country you’re visiting and even write it down in your itinerary for urgent access.

5. Take photos of your driver’s license and passport. Plus leave copies of your itinerary in your checked bags and with someone at home.

6. Stay connected with someone back home. If something happens in the city you’re in, you can certainly mark yourself safe on Facebook, but staying in touch with friends and family back home can help them worry less when they first see the news.

7. Sign up for STEP. If you’re traveling internationally, know where the embassies are, plus the U.S. has a great program called the Safe Traveler Enrollment Program where you can let the government know where you are traveling in case something does happen. They also send you security information and travel advisories before and during your trip. We found it incredibly helpful when we visited Barcelona during the Catalonian independence crisis.

8. Talk like a local. In my itinerary docs, I always learn a few important words in the local language in case they aren’t comfortable or don’t know English. Hello, goodbye, please, thank you, yes, no, do you speak English, where can I find, how much does this cost, where is the toilet, I would like, I’m sorry, pardon me, and cheers are a good place to start. I also like this picture book for when you really get stuck.

9. It’s okay to bail. As an experienced traveller and urban dweller, I feel comfortable in most situations. But there is no shame in revising your plans to avoid a potentially dangerous situation. Vacation is supposed to be relaxing and if you’re constantly looking over your shoulder, that will be hard. Trip insurance may help your recoup some of your sunk costs, but the airline change fees and hotel or Airbnb cancelation fees will be worth a smoother trip.

10. Wash fruits and vegetables. Visiting markets is one of my favorite ways to try local food, but don’t forget the general safety precautions you take at home.

11. Stay hydrated. You are most likely walking more than you normally do so be sure to drink lots of water. Before you leave on your trip, research if Americans can drink tap water safely in your destination. Additionally, your lodging may provide some information about water safety while you’re there. There are so many other things to consider if the water is unsafe: brushing your teeth, ice in your cocktail, and washing your fruit. No one wants to get an upset stomach on vacation.

12. Wear sunscreen. Mineral sunscreen is better for the oceans and some destinations prohibit chemical sunscreen. Also consider bug and animal safety as well as ocean and water safety.

13. Zip it up. I’m a big fan of packing a zippered crossbody bag over a backpack, but I also keep my hand over the closed zipper when I’m out and about as one more level of security. And with a crossbody bag, keep it on you at all times, no need to take it off like a backpack.

14. Protect your credit cards. RFID wallets can help protect your debit and credit cards from criminals swiping your information on the go.

15. If you can, look at your map and figure out your directions before you leave and don’t just stare at your phone as you navigate. You’ll look less like a tourist target for criminals, but you’ll also get to see more of your destination.

I can help you plan a unique and safe vacation or even just validate your choices as you plan your own. Reach out if you wanna talk about how to stay safe, or how to convince your mom that you will stay safe on your trip. Been there, done that.

The Best Indian Food in the United Kingdom is in Glasgow, Scotland

For many travelers, Dublin, Ireland and Edinburgh, Scotland top their bucket lists. While those are certainly great cities to visit, I want to give you a list of reasons to add Glasgow, Scotland to that same trip.

1. Easy flights in and out of GLA. Surprisingly there are quite a few traditional American airlines that fly in and out of Glasgow. For that reason, it’s a great place to start and end your trip.

2. The authentic gritty vibe. There’s something inspiring about a city with stories told through graffiti. A little grunge never hurt anyone.

3. Great parks. I love cities and somehow feel most relaxed in urban environments over suburban ones, but green spaces are an important part of the cityscape. Glasgow Green with the People’s Palace and Kelvingrove Park are great options.

4. Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is beautiful inside and out. The wide variety of history and art requires at least three hours to get through and is definitely worth the time spent.

5. Mother India. I’m a big fan of Anthony Bourdain and have never been let down with one of his restaurant recommendations. This restaurant did not disappoint and is probably in my top 25 restaurants on the planet.

6. Great beer. Tennent’s Brewery has a great tour and Drygate, Blackfriar and Inn Deep have great brews too. Also worth noting is the BrewDog is headquartered in Scotland so there are a couple locations in Glasgow.

7. Celtic Football Club Stadium. Touring this stadium is a great way to learn about soccer, a huge pastime of locals.

8. Close to Loch Ness. Loch Ness is a fun little day trip from Glasgow. When you get there, be sure to take a boat cruise on the lake.

Bonus: It’s on my list to go back to Glasgow and hike the West Highland Way. It’s 90 miles of mostly flat pasture with bed and breakfasts every mile or so. Apparently it’s easy to do in about a week and I’m all for a big hike.

I think much of our experience can be determined by our expectations. I had fairly low expectations when I visited Glasgow and was so absolutely surprised by how much I loved it. Let me know if you need help planning your next trip to Glasgow, Scotland or anywhere else.

Cruising the Wrong Way: How to get on your ship before it leaves

Have you ever been on a cruise? Did you know you should always plan to arrive in your embarkation city the day before you depart? Back in the day when I first started traveling, I did not, and boy did I learn that lesson quickly.

The Situation

Like most broke post grads, the years after college graduation can be tough. Trying to find a new routine, how to ask for PTO, the best way to use it since you have so little. One of the very first trips I took with my now husband was the winter after I graduated. We were travel newbies and booked ourselves a cruise to the Bahamas using the points he’d racked up traveling for work. Ohio winters can be dreadful and we needed a little vitamin D.

We planned to fly out of Columbus on the first flight out and arrive by noon, the earliest we could board our boat.

The Stumble

Unfortunately, 6 a.m. is pretty early for showing up to work after a night of drinking. As the minutes counted down closer to our boarding time, the desk agent announced that the flight crew hadn’t arrived yet so we would be delayed until their arrival. Not worried yet, we had a 90-minute layover in Chicago so we were good.

When the pilot and his crew finally arrived to our gate, he openly apologized to the gate agent for their tardiness because he “took the gang out drinking last night” and they were “pretty hungover.” What?! Did I just hear the pilot say he’s hungover and I’m supposed to climb in a giant metal death trap with him in the driver’s seat? It’ll be fine, I kept telling myself. It’ll be fine. 

Luckily we got there in one piece, but it was a bad sign for what was to come. After dealing with the delays getting started and some weather in the air, we were now cutting it close to make our connection in Chicago. After grabbing our carry-on bags and running to the gate, we found that we did, in fact, miss our connection. So we spoke with the gate agent and she said that the only other flight from Chicago to Orlando was later that evening, well after our ship left Port Canaveral. She worked some magic and said that she could get us to Memphis and then to Orlando by about 2 p.m. (leaving us an hour to get from MCO to Port Canaveral, an hour before the boat leaves at 4 p.m.).

Feeling a little nervous at this point, I called the cruise company hoping to explain the situation and ask for any advice they might have. They were kind and said to keep them posted. She also explained that since this was just a four-night cruise and the first port was a private island with no airport, we would have to meet up with the ship at our own expense at the last port of call (and pay for lodging until then), missing almost the entire cruise.

Of course, we were delayed in Memphis, and then because we were booked last minute, we had whatever the last boarding zone is and were forced to check our bags at the gate. Even after pleading with the gate agent, she still sent our bags to baggage claim in Orlando.

We were now pushing a 3 p.m. arrival at MCO, and had to wait for our bags at baggage claim, and had now missed the shuttle we paid for in advance.

I called the cruise lady’s direct line she gave me when we landed and stayed on the phone with her indefinitely. She wanted to keep tabs on our location as the minutes ticked closer to the cruise ship leaving port.

Baggage claim felt like forever and then we ran to the taxi area to find a line 35 people long. It was now 3:15 p.m. The boat was leaving us in 45 minutes, but we were not giving up just yet. Desperate to make it before the ship left, we frantically explained our situation to the lovely folks waiting in line and they let us cut to the front, despite the taxi area manager’s dismay.

When we got in the next taxi, the driver sweetly asked where we were headed and explained that this was her second day driving a taxi and that she didn’t know the city well so be patient with her. Seriously? How did we get so unlucky.

My husband explained that we were heading to Port Canaveral and that he would pay her whatever she wanted to drive as fast as she was willing. So with the cruise ship lady giving us directions by phone and my husband on cop watch, this wonderful taxi driver drove 110 miles per hour the entire way. What usually takes an hour took about half that.

As we neared the port parking lot we could see the boat hadn’t left yet, just as the lady on the phone hoped for us. She instructed me to have our cab driver drive through the pay booths (which were opened for us), pass all the normal drop off areas and come directly to the door of the boat with all the queue lines.

She neared dock and of course her credit card machine wasn’t working so she had to find a pen and take down our credit card information so she could do it later. She hadn’t even pulled to a complete stop before a crew of four cruise crew members threw open the car doors and the trunk to grab us and our bags.

“RUN!” they screamed! “We’ll get your bags, just RUN!”

So with all the adrenaline building up all day, we sprinted. There were other crew members who had cleared the queue lines for us and were directing our race to the boat.

Someone must have been watching or radioing the captain because the very moment my foot landed on the red carpet of that ship, the horn sounded and the boat started moving. At 4:02 p.m.

We made it! 

No one checked our IDs, passports, inspected our luggage or even asked our names. They just got us on the boat before it left.

The Save

The crew took our bags to our cabin and sent us to the bar to recover with a drink.

I was a cocktail of emotions that only a tiki cocktail would fix:

• Grateful to the customer service woman who spent so much time and energy on the phone with me that day, and to the entire team who helped us get there

• Stressed out beyond imagination

• Exhausted from the physical and emotional adventure we just went on

• And most of all relieved that we then got to relax for the next few days

After crying out all my feelings and downing a drink, we went to our cabin to freshen up for dinner. We were so embarrassed by the whole thing, we swore that we wouldn’t mention the trip to anyone else on the boat, but the first thing our new table mates asked after introductions at dinner that evening was: “Did you hear we left a little late because there was this couple who was delayed arriving?”

My husband and I couldn’t help but smirk at each other and own up to our shenanigans. We told the story in visceral detail since it was so fresh and laughed it off with our new friends. We weren’t about to let that stress haunt our first cruise. But let me tell you, I will always recommend arriving the day before you leave to avoid another one of those misadventures.

A Weekend Away From It All: Geneva, Ohio

A snapshot from the 1950s, Geneva-on-the-Lake offers the quintessential small town diners and arcades perfect for a weekend away from all the hustle and bustle of a big city.

While I may be biased because it’s where I grew up, it took me a long time to appreciate my hometown.

I definitely recommend only visiting between Memorial Day and Halloween as most of the areas of interest are closed for the winter. There aren’t very many things to do here so expect a lot of rest and relaxation by the beach but here are a few highlights.

• The Strip: This is the colloquial term for  Lake Road between State Route 534 and Austin Road. While some “attractions” like the fun house, water slides and tilt-a-whirl have come and gone, there are plenty of diners and arcades to entertain yourself for an afternoon.

• Eddie’s Grill: While you’re on The Strip, be sure to stop here for a cheeseburger, fries and a root beer. They still have jukeboxes on each table and the fry cooks wear white t-shirts like you’d imagine back in the 1950s. In many local families, it’s a traditional first job in high school; my mother worked at the Dairy Queen inside and my brother worked the grill. (I worked at the 1950s-style diner one block down called Mary’s Kitchen.)

• The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake: If you’re looking for somewhere to stay overnight, the best spot is The Lodge. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s a clean hotel with great Lake Erie views.

• Geneva State Park Beach: After you stroll along The Strip, head over to the beach for a little bit of sun. There is beach access from different restaurants along Lake Road, but if you’re looking for sand, the state park is closest.

• Wine: It may be hard to believe, but Geneva is Ohio’s wine country. This region is home to more than half of the acreage dedicated to wine in the state of Ohio. Growing uncommon varietals like concord and catawba, Geneva is known for ice wine which is made by letting the grapes frost on the vine before harvesting, creating a sweeter, more viscous treat. You can certainly visit most wineries all year round, it’s best to visit in the summer and fall when you can enjoy the plentiful patios and live music at M Cellars, South River Winery or Hundley Cellars.

• Other indulgences: Not into wine? Try Cellar Rats Brewing at Debonne or Red Eagle Distillery next door to South River Winery. The whiskey at Red Eagle will surprise you.

• Harpersfield Covered Bridge: On your way back to The Lodge, be sure to stop off at the Harpersfield Covered Bridge, one of 19 in Ashtabula County. Our county is also home to the longest and the shortest covered bridges in the country. 

Honorable mention:

Luvin Lavender Farms: While this gem isn’t technically in Geneva or Harpersfield, it’s worth adding to the list. The quaint little family farm offers homemade beauty products and you-pick bouquets perfect for gifting or drying out and saving for later. If you face the rows of flora, you can almost imagine you’re in France and not Ohio.

This Or That: Backpacks Or Roller Bags

There’s a time and a place for everything. In our This Or That series, we’ll share pros and cons of different choices in travel-related decisions. Today, it’s all about luggage. While I almost never recommend checking your bag, you still have a couple options for that carry-on-sized luggage.

Pros of a roller bag

• Wheels. No need to carry your heavy clothing and shoes when you’re walking on smooth surfaces.

• Hard cases. The hard outer shell of your roller bag can protect fragile belongings from getting squooshed while you’re cramming it in the overhead bin or crushed under other people’s bags in the trunk of your Lyft.

Cons of a roller bag

• Stairs. Even with top and side handles, lugging a roller bag up and down stairs to the subway and along cobblestone streets can be awkward at best.

• Hardware. Unless you have extremely high-end luggage, you may find that the boxing match your bag goes through on a trip may put quite a bit of wear and tear on it. I’ve been on trips when my bag just couldn’t take the hits and the handle busted or a wheel gave out on me. It definitely made for a less than pleasant trip carrying my bag instead of rolling it.

When to use a roller bag: Road trips or any trip when you won’t be walking or taking public transportation much.

Pros of a backpack

• Look Ma! No hands! I love having my hands free to navigate around my vacation. Honestly even a simple task of going through security can be difficult with one hand holding your roller bag handle.

• Sneaky size. I feel like I can get away with a bigger bag in backpack form. Because it’s less rigid and can be molded to fit into the required space, I am able to bring slightly more with me than with a roller bag. Additionally, without the hard inner frame of the wheels and handle, I have more internal space to organize my belongings.

• Weight. Do some comparison on your own, but I often find that empty roller bags weigh more than empty backpacks. There is more flexibility in ultralight travel gear in backpacks than in roller bag.

• Pockets. I usually recommend packing cubes and any extra way to organize my belongings is a pro in my book. 

Cons of a backpack

• Access. Backpacks typically don’t open fully and have a bottom third that doesn’t have open access other that from the top. You can look for backpacks that offer a bottom zipper as well.

• Fit. You need to make sure you backpack fits you properly and that the majority of the weight sits on yours hips rather than your shoulders. 

• Crowds. On a crowded subway, it’s important to not leave your backpack on your shoulders. You must remove it and put it between your legs to be respectful of others on the train.

• Safety. The nature of a backpack is that it’s out of sight so you and your travel buddy need to generally keep an eye on each others’ bags and make sure they are securely zipped to avoid pick-pocketers.

When to use a backpack: Any trip where you’ll be visiting multiple cities or won’t have a car. Hiking.

One last note: I’m always a fan of expandable luggage. You can find great roller bags and backpacks that offer an extra two inches of space that can be zipped away when not needed. Both my roller bag and my backpack have this feature. I use it for packing alcohol and checking my bag on my way home.

Packing: More Than Basics

For experienced travelers, the obvious fold versus roll clothes packing debate is old news. But for those new to longer trips or further distances, here are a few tips to make your next vacation easy and stress-free.

What to Pack

1. Plan out what you pack in advance of the actual packing so you don’t accidentally wear something you want to pack the day before you leave and have to do an emergency load of laundry.

2. Bring only clothing you can wear with every other piece. It’s called a capsule wardrobe and you can apply those same principles to your trip fashion. You can do this by style or by color. I like packing this way so I can mix and match based on how I’m feeling that morning or what our activities will be.

3. For longer trips, don’t forget that you can wash your clothing so you can bring less. If I plan to do laundry while I’m away, I make sure that the lodging about half way through the trip offers a machine or services. If you’re in Europe though, double check if they offer a dryer (most don’t). Even then, plan do wash your clothes a few days before you leave that destination because the dryers really just wring out your clothes instead of actually dry them. You’ll most likely need to let them hang dry before you pack in your suitcase to avoid mildew and wrinkles. Another side note: be sure to check the machine settings before hitting start. Been there, ruined that entire backpack of my favorite clothing…

4. And on that note, don’t bring your favorite clothing. I know we all want to take vacation photos in our favorite outfits, but it’s not always worth the risk of ruining your favorite new shirt. Red skirt washed with my favorite new white shirt means I now have a pink stained shirt hanging in my closet because I can’t bring myself to toss it. Any tips for this situation?

5. Choose fabrics that are wrinkle resistant. Spending time ironing in the morning before heading out to explore San Francisco eats into your vacation time. 

6. Even if you’re skiing in Colorado, it’s a good idea to coordinate your outfits in layers. Weather can be unpredictable outside, but who knows if you’ll be too cold or too hot indoors as well. Packing that bulky sweater may be cute, but sitting by the fire at the ski lodge after sweating down the mountains won’t be.

7. Bring fewer shoes. I know this is a hard one and one most people struggle with it. Unless you have an insanely comfortable pair of heels and have a dinner reservation or plan to go clubbing, leave the pumps at home. For most urban exploring trips you can get away with a pair of comfy flats and a pair of tennis shoes, one of which you can wear, the other you pack. Obviously, if you’re adventuring outdoors, prioritize your Tevas and hiking boots. If you’re going to the beach, bring sandals. Almost anywhere you go, you can probably get away with wearing one pair and packing the other. If you don’t believe me, try it for a short weekend trip and see how truly not painful it is to pack fewer shoes.

8. Opposite of my shoes advice, always bring more underwear than you need. Do I have to explain why?

9. If you’re traveling internationally, you should still bring a blue or black pen for filling out your customs forms. The flight attendants will have a few spares, but it’s best to bring your own.

10. Another item on your list for international travel is an electrical outlet converter for your destination. I like this one on Amazon because it has almost everything you could need and you won’t need to buy or bring more than one. My husband and I actually share just one and coordinate when we each get to charge our electronics.

11. An empty water bottle will help you avoid purchasing disposable water bottles saving you money and the planet. Make sure it fits inside your day bag, whatever that is. My husband liked to keep his water bottle in the mesh pocket on the outside of his backpack until one time when it fell out on a Parisian train station escalator and it hit three people. PARDON!

12. Speaking of your day bag, my recommendation is a crossbody bag. I know this mostly works for women, but it’s truly the best way to protect your belongings while having easy access to them. With a backpack, you have to take it off to pay for your croissant and it protrudes from your back so you can’t have eyes on it at all times. Plus you’ll need to take it off and set it on the floor between your legs on crowded subway cars. Your bag should also have a zipper. When you’re in crowded touristy locations you should keep it zipped with your hand over the zipper too. But safety tips are a whole other post.

13. A little advance research can help you determine if you need to bring toiletries. Does your hotel provide a hair dryer? Don’t bring your own. Do they have a supply of high quality shampoo and conditioner? Don’t bring your own. Even if they don’t, you can usually find a cheap, small bottle of local products to use while you’re there, then you don’t have to carry it with you. I can usually get away with the basics and I don’t wear a ton of makeup to begin with, but pare it down to just the essentials. I also have a mini combo hair straightener and curling iron for trips I where I need to look my best.

14. One last thing not to bring: books, magazines and entertainment. I’m a huge reader and my husband and I love games, but I’m not about to bring all that with me on vacation. Instead, I download books to my Kindle and Audible accounts, and loads of music on my Spotify account. He usually brings his Nintendo Switch so there is plenty of entertainment for us. And then if it’s a long trip with lots of down time, I may bring a very small game like a deck of cards or SET. Bananagrams was a big hit on our cruise a few years ago because I was nervous about wind blowing the cards around on the pool deck.

How to Pack

1. Roll your clothes instead of folding them. I can’t prove anything, but I feel like it enables me to fit more stuff and helps prevent wrinkles.

2. The real MVP here is packing cubes. You can get a set of 6 for $20 on Amazon. Yes, it sounds like you are fitting more stuff in your suitcase in an effort to fit more, but it’s not about fitting more stuff. It’s about organization. Unless you are going to one location and are planning to unpack your belongings into the dresser or wardrobe, your luggage is going to be a mess. There are three ways you can use packing cubes to keep yourself neat: organize by clean and dirty, sort by clothing type (undergarments, shirts, pants, etc.), or pack by full outfits or days. The latter is my preferred for trips where you’ll be changing destinations every couple days because you can pack everything you’ll need for Barcelona in one cube, and everything for London in another without having to unpack and repack your whole backpack. Yes, rolling still works in the packing cubes.

3. The placement of your items in your bag matters too. Regardless of if you’re using a hard-sided rolling suitcase or a hiking backpack, you should pack your heaviest items toward the bottom and closest to your back or the handle side of the suitcase. Lighter stuff goes in the opposite corner. Even if you’re using packing cubes, you can pack smaller items like socks inside shoes and other crannies to fill the otherwise unused space.

4. All of this can help you fit more stuff in a smaller bag, enabling you to be more nimble and quick when moving through the airport or European train stations. I once traveled to Arizona for three nights with just a personal item. We camped, hiked, and rode horses. It’s possible!

5. Do. Not. Check. Your. Bag. (on the way to your destination). I cannot stress this enough. The risk of losing your bag or it not arriving on time, plus the hassle of having to wait for it at baggage claim and then wait in lines for transportation upon arrival is not worth being able to bring more stuff (read: lug more stuff around). Fit it into your carry on and personal item or leave it at home and buy it when you get there. This rule is, however, null and void on your very last flight. I usually load up on alcohol from my destination as my souvenir and pack it inside giant Ziploc bags, then rolled in my thickest clothing. On my first trip to Europe, my husband and I brought home a serious stash of nine bottles, some of which we’re still saving for a special occasion. Not bringing home alcohol? It’s still nice to not carry your bag on your flight home after being exhausted from adventuring.

What you bring with you on your trip can surprisingly impact how much fun you have. Do you have any other tips to share?

When everyone else loves a thing that stinks: Red Rocks Amphitheatre

When we see all those gorgeous photos on social media it’s hard not to assume that everyone always has perfect, issue-free vacations. But that’s not real life. There are usually surprises that can impact your trip. As long as you take a beat and think through a plan, it’s easy for those little hang ups to lead to just a funny anecdote instead of a ruined trip.

The Situation

The first time I visited Colorado was a trip to Denver for my husband’s birthday. We visited the Red Rocks Amphitheatre but since it was January, there were no bands playing. We always said we’d go back so when I saw that one of our favorite bands was playing this summer, we decided to buy the tickets.

We had friends come in from Greeley to join us at the show too, so the day of the show we got dinner and then headed over. The tickets said 6:30 so using all our usual concert logic, we knew that if the tickets said 6:30 then that meant that doors open at 6:30 and the first band (the one we were excited about) would go on around 7 or 7:30. Planning to tailgate for 30 minutes before doors, we showed up at 6.

Unfortunately, we got separated from our friends when we entered the venue and ended up parking at opposite corners. Not having enough time to find each other before we wanted to head in, we decided to just go get in line. As we headed up the 400 stairs to the closest entrance, we realized we forgot our water bottle. My husband volunteered to go back down to the car to get it and while I found a plug to charge my phone a bit. I did see a 4 foot rattlesnake on my way up which was scary, but I also found an outlet so I could ensure I could take photos of the show without my battery dying. Navigating our trip means my phone dies more quickly than my travel companions’.

The Stumble

When my husband came back with the water bottle he accidentally went to a different entrance than the one we went up the first time, the one I was waiting at. I had all four tickets, the one for my husband and the two for our friends on my phone so he couldn’t just go in the entrance he was at. We tried texting and calling a few times but service is spotty in the mountains so we were having a difficult time connecting. Meanwhile the music began to play and we were missing it. 

We finally got through and I told him to drop a location pin and I would just come to him. When I got to the gate, I explained the situation to the woman and she said I should enter at this gate and then go let my friends in at the gates they were near. Sounded like a predictable answer, I just wanted to double check.

I finally made my way over to the gate where my husband was waiting and the woman at this gate explained that the tickets I have are no longer valid and that everyone must enter at the same gate at the same time. She berated us, but finally gave in and let my husband in the show. Now to do this all over again when we met up with our friends. Then we got a text saying that our friend fell on her way in and was heading to first aid. Luckily the paramedics didn’t give them trouble about getting into the venue but we were stuck on the other side of the stage from first aid.

The only way to get there was to go up the left side of the entire stadium around the back and down the right side. After all the stairs we had just climbed getting in here, I was not about to do that. So I hatched a plan to ask security if there was another way over there and gave my most convincing puppy eyes. The security guard gave into my plea and personally escorted us backstage, underground, and directly beneath the band playing through to the other side, no stairs required.

When we got to our friends, and found out that they were okay, just needed cleaned up a bit, we decided to go out and watch the last 15 minutes of the show. But when I pulled up our tickets, instead of seeing the row and seat numbers that I purchased, they said general admission instead, meaning we did not have actual seats and were going to have to fend for ourselves in this stadium madhouse.

Apparently most people knew to come early because there was an email sent at 9 a.m. that morning with all the details, but it ended up in my spam folder. These folks had been here since the 9 a.m. yoga class and stayed there squatting on seats. More seats than they paid for mind you. As we surveyed our options, we could see that most people were taking up about a seat and a half of the marked bleacher seats and even then, it was jam packed. Thousands of people were already standing along the steps, the top of the stadium, and everywhere you could see. Incredibly frustrated, we decided we would just stand along the steps and enjoy the last few songs. Until the security guards came over and asked everyone to move off the stairs.

Feeling defeated, we went back to first aid to meet up with our friends. They weren’t feeling great and we were mostly there for the first band, not the second.

The Save

Instead of trying to go back into the swarm of summer concert-goers to listen to a band we weren’t that into, we strategized a new plan.

Just leave.

We found a board game bar that was open for another hour and ordered ourselves some boozy milkshakes to get the stink off. While we certainly spent 15 minutes whining about the evening’s experience, we decided to put it behind us and move on.

Every single person I have known to visit Red Rocks had an amazing time, but we did not. Instead of letting it ruin our night or even our trip, we laughed it off and tried something else instead. It can be easy to let the frustration get the better of you, but it’s important to keep your emotions in check so you can think of a new plan in the moment.

I’ll share more travel nightmares in the coming weeks, but in the meantime, what was your worst travel experience and how did you recover?

A Splendid Adventure for Mothers and Daughters: Prince Edward Island, Canada

Whether you just spent the last year reading the Anne of Green Gables series at bedtime with your 9-year-old, or are just looking for a way to relax and reconnect with your adult daughter, the birthplace and inspiration for Lucy Maud Montgomery is the perfect vacation.

While there are dozens of attractions to visit related to Montgomery’s novels and poetry, there are also many things to enjoy if you haven’t read the books. If you’re looking to visit more than one of the Anne destinations, investigate if the package with the Anne and Gilbert musical package might save you some money.

The Anne things:

• Anne of Green Gables or Anne and Gilbert musical: If you need a refresh on all things Anne, start your trip with a showing of one of the two musicals featuring her story. They are surprisingly well done and the music is so catchy, it had me singing it all weekend long to the annoyance of my mom. A word of warning, buying front row center seats at The Guild may not be what you expect. You’ll feel a breeze from the whirling skirts of the dancers, the children in the schoolhouse may sit on your shoes and you’ll end up being fully immersed in the show due to the closeness of the actors. But don’t worry, everyone has fresh breath. Not into that? Buy second or third row seats instead.

• Green Gables Heritage Place: This newly modernized park is a replica of the Cuthbert home from the Anne series. You can tour the home built in the 1800s and hike in the Haunted Wood. Be sure to catch the charming video about Montgomery’s life, and don’t be afraid to ask for it in English because they’ll likely offer the French version first.

• Anne Museum: The Campbell home where Montgomery wrote many of her novels and poetry. The museum tells a wonderful story of her life and celebrates the Canadian national treasure that she was. The main draw of this spot is the private carriage rides along the beautiful rolling hills of the estate and then along the beach. It’s a magical experience that adults and kids would both enjoy. They even provide wool lap blankets.

• Lucy Maud Montgomery birthplace: If you’re a super fan, you may find it interesting to pop into the little corner home where Montgomery was born. This area certainly exploits all they can from Montgomery’s popularity and particularly cater to international tourists from Asia as Anne of Green Gables is required reading in Japanese schools. If you’re passing by, stop in to have the docent tell her version of Montgomery’s story and see the small room where she was born.

The non-Anne things:

• There are gobs of cottages to rent in Cavendish, but I’m a sucker for the unusual. This Airbnb is more than just an interesting round home. It slowly rotates so all four spacious apartments get ocean views. It’s an absolutely incredible stay with modern amenities and local treats. I’d consider going back to PEI just to stay here again. We even had a cozy night in because of a thunderstorm and the owner brought down some of his personal board games for us to enjoy. If you’re going to PEI, stay here. It’s central, it’s affordable, it’s like nowhere else you’ll ever sleep.

• Cows Ice Cream: Yes it’s a chain but it’s a Canadian treasure with it’s home in PEI. While the ice cream is good, it’s actually the souvenirs that really make the experience. Cow-themed parody t-shirts and trinkets galore make it worth a visit to your nearest location.

• Local breweries: Looking for a place to imbibe? Prince Edward Island Brewing Company and The Gahan House are good places to start. Stop by the fridge on your way out of Gahan to get some of the raspberry sour to take to home.

• Brackley Drive-In: There aren’t many old fashioned drive-ins left so this is a nice add to your laid back holiday in Canada. Pro tip: Show up way earlier than you normally would. It’s a very popular destination and we almost didn’t get a spot an hour before the show. Also, because you’re likely renting a car, be sure to investigate how to keep your radio on with your headlights off. We all probably know how to do this in our own vehicles, but in a Canadian rental, we had to dig out the owner’s manual to double check.

• Kayak the coves: If you’re visiting in the summer or fall, take a tour of the North Rustico Bay to see the beautiful red rock cliffs and beaches. Pack warm though because the intense Atlantic winds and spring rains can make for a less than fun time on the water if you’re not dressed appropriately. 

• Canadian Potato Museum: More than a celebration of the delicious spud, this museum serves as a time machine of potato harvesting through the years. The best part? They have a kitchen! Read this menu and tell me your mouth isn’t watering. My strategy would be to go for lunch then visit the museum and eat again before you leave.

A note on the weather: It’s easy to forget that even though Prince Edward Island doesn’t look that far on the map, it’s still an island on the northern coast of the Atlantic Ocean so it’s much chillier than we experience in the Midwest. Even in June the weather can imitate the early spring weather we’re used to, like 35 degrees and rainy. Pack layers and rain gear so you won’t be stuck inside in this beautiful Canadian province.

Looking for help planning your mother-daughter trip elsewhere? Just holler!

City Brag: 13 interesting things to do in San Francisco

While most tourists are quick to add visiting the sea lions at Fisherman’s Wharf, Lombard Street, and Ghirardelli Square to their itineraries, those are a couple of things I would skip to make time for other more locally loved sights.

1. Spend time in Golden Gate Park. It may be an obvious choice, but the park offers so many things to enjoy. Designed by the same engineer, it’s actually 20 percent larger than Central Park. My favorite highlights are the Bison Paddock (yes, a live bison herd), the roller skaters at Skatin’ Place, the Japanese Tea Garden, The California Academy of Sciences and of course the de Young Museum. I love the de Young for the art exhibitions, but also for a little-known gem that is the Hamon Observation Tower. Free to the public during museum hours, the glass walled tower offers 360-degree views of the city, shore to shore.

2. Take a trapeze class at Circus Center. Is there a circus school in your hometown? Here, you can not only fly high on the trapeze (or in my case fall into the net over and over and over again), learn to juggle, clown, or even contort. Not up for a sweat? See one of their spectacular shows instead.

3. Looking for a quieter, more romantic view of the Golden Gate Bridge? Try Baker Beach. But beware if you’re bringing children, the north end of the beach can be frequented by clothing-optional beach-goers. And you thought nude beaches were only in Europe!

4. Maybe someone can take the kiddos to the Walt Disney Family Museum while you’re enjoying the breeze on your bare bum. It’s fairly priced and gives a ton of behind the scenes and historic insight to the titular gentleman’s genius. You can get through it easily in 2.5 hours, but plan a little extra for getting to and from since there isn’t many rideshares or public transportation options in the Presidio neighborhood.

5. Missed your cross-fit workout this morning? Hit up the Lyon Street Steps and you won’t be alone in getting your endorphin fix. For normal folks, make sure you visit from the corner of Broadway and Lyon so you start at the top and make your way down. Feeling energetic? Start at Green and Lyon instead.

6. Looking for pretty steps, just not as many? Head over to Moraga and 16th Streets for a beautiful mosaic community art piece. The bottom starts with the depths of the ocean and as you climb, you move to land, the clouds, and even the starry sky.

7. Tired of all that climbing? How about a good old fashioned slide. The Seward Mini Park boasts a concrete slide. The trick is to bring a cardboard box to ride like a sled. First, grab a handful of sand then get yourself ready to go. Just before you push yourself off, throw your handful of sand ahead of you to make it a smooth ride all the way down.

8. You know those wooden rope swings over a cliff you always see on Instagram? Get those incredible photos for yourself at Billy Goat Hill. Definitely not safe for children and as far as swings go, it’s pretty scary and totally worth the little hike up the hill. Phenomenal views of the city.

9. Feeling high after Billy Goat Hill? Now you can go get high in another way at Dolores Park. Usually packed to the brim with hula hoopers, jugglers, and partiers. Two words of warning though: A. The park closes for a month or two in the winter so don’t plan to visit then. B. Don’t buy anything from the peddlers if you aren’t up for a wild afternoon. You don’t know what is in those sweet treats.

10. Visiting a friend in town? The best place to get a bouquet is the San Francisco Flower Mart. It’s where the wholesalers get their stock each morning, and at 10 a.m., it’s open to the public. But be quick since they usually close up shop shortly after. You’ll find all sorts of flora you never knew existed.

11. The Cable Car Museum is unique to San Francisco too. Not only can you see how the old cable cars operated all over the city, but you can see the working cables as they power the trolleys around the city today. Not bad for a free pit stop.

12. One of the only places outside of Asia to get dragon’s beard candy is called Dragon Papa in Chinatown. It’s not only interesting flavors and textures, but they make it in the front of the shop so you can watch the talented artists make it too. While you’re there, pop over to the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory to sample a fresh strawberry or chocolate flavored cookie flat and watch the employees speedily fold the cookies one-handed around your paper fortune.

13. Museum of Ice Cream is a social media influencer haven. While it’ll be full of basic bitches taking thousands of selfies, it’s still a fun little spot to take a break and enjoy a chilly treat.

Less exciting, more touristy attractions include:

• The Painted Ladies from the Full House opening credits

• Coit Tower

• Ferry Building

Of course check out the places San Francisco is known for, but don’t be afraid to get a little weird here too. It’s a bizarre and wonderful place to live and visit.

5 ways to double your vacation days

We all wish we could quit our jobs and travel the world, don’t we? But for most of us, that’s not the best choice with our financial and familial responsibilities. So how do we make the most of our paid time off when we do take it.

1. Plan trips around company holidays. Travel can be more expensive around the high summer holidays of Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day, but other times of the year like Martin Luther King, Jr. Day can offer an extra day of vacation without the premium flight/hotel bookings. Plus, does your company usually offer early release the day before holidays? Consider taking advantage of that discreetly too.

2. Can you perform your job remotely? Perhaps there is work you can do while you’re sitting at the airport or even on the plane. Aircraft wifi may be worth the cost if you can get a few hours of work done while you travel. Then you won’t need to take that day as PTO. Of course you should always run all of this by your manager to make sure you are meeting expectations about your work while you are away from your desk. They’ll be able to guide you through what is appropriate at your particular office and what isn’t.

3. Plan to leave immediately after work. This works well for travel times less than four or five hours. Pack your bags the evening before and throw the morning toiletries in before you leave for the office. If you can get the flight or long drive out of the way between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m., you’ll get to wake up in your destination and start exploring immediately instead of wasting the morning traveling and then the evening recouping from your travel.

4. Nap in the middle of the day (yes, like toddlers). Be a narcoleptic weirdo like me. Get up early and hit the sights by 7 or 8 a.m. Do your thing and then when you’re tired, come back to your Airbnb and take a nap. Then freshen up and head out for the evening. You’ll find that allowing yourself to take a break in the middle of the day helps you get up earlier and stay out later, giving you significantly more hours than if you started your day about 10 a.m. and ended it right after dinner. Now, I know not everyone is so lucky to be able to fall asleep in the middle of broad daylight within five minutes like me, but that downtime in the afternoon can still give you a refresh to keep dancing long into the night so you don’t have to leave the local concert before the encore. Plus you may even beat the heat of the day if you’re traveling somewhere warm.

5. Sleep before and after your trip. Try not to stay up late packing or cleaning your home before you leave. Make sure you leave for your trip well rested. It’ll improve your mood and make the whole thing a more positive experience. I think it’s okay to lose a little sleep to add in a few extra activities while you’re away. You can catch up when you return home and there aren’t as many new and exciting sights to see.

Everyone’s idea of what travel is supposed to be is a little bit different so take all this with a grain of salt when tackling your own trip plans.

Vacation: How to Decide Where to Go

Deciding how to spend your PTO next year can be an overwhelming feat. Perhaps you’ve always dreamed of the great American road trip with your spouse, taking your daughter to Bordeaux, or treating the family to a resort vacation in Jamaica. But if you don’t have something in mind, here are a few ideas to get you started.

1. Find a globe, spin it and stop it with your hand. Visit wherever your index finger lands. Just kidding! Although wouldn’t that be kind of fun to try just once? Odds are you’ll end up in the ocean, but hey, just choose the nearest island.

2. I keep a list of destinations on my Trello board so I can add things when I find myself considering the locale so I can recall it when I begin my next planning session.

3. Ask friends you trust where they have visited and loved. But also ask them where they didn’t enjoy as much so you can keep that in mind when someone else recommends it. My favorite way to take advantage of their recommendations is to mark them as Google Maps flags. You can mark places as gold stars, want-to-go, or favorites. I started my Google tagging before want-to-go and favorites were options so most of mine are just stars. It works the same way. I use this for planning later too.

4. Pay attention to daily conversations. People will recommend different things if you outright ask, but make notes when they mention things in casual conversations. If someone mentions they loved the restaurant they patroned this weekend, I’ll mark it. Random mermaid themed bar in the middle of Montana? I’m not headed there soon, but someday I’ll be glad I saved that quirky little spot. 

5. Decide what kind of trip you want this to be: relaxing or adventurous? Who will join you: your spouse and children or just your sisters? These answers can help narrow down what might be exciting for the group.

6. Check review sites, but don’t take them too seriously. They can be great for the basics, but how do you know if you have the same tastes as those weirdos from the internet? Usually the recommendations from friends float to the top of the Trip Advisor lists, but not always so it’s great to have that validation. Also I’m pretty averse to crowds and often get stressed out when I’m forced into one. So while the top restaurants on Yelp are probably delicious, they are also probably packed and you won’t be able to get a quiet table anyway. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve waited in line for three hours waiting for New Orleans’ best fried chicken at Willie Mae’s Scotch House, but I knew what I was getting into before I planned to eat there. Sometimes it’s totally worth it. But Junior’s in Times Square? Not so much. Sure, it’s convenient and everyone will recommend it, but it’s not worth the crowds and wait. There are hundreds of other options that will serve you better food, better service and fewer sweaty tourists.

If how you spend your paid time off from work is important to you, consider vacation planning an ongoing part of your week. If it’s not and you’d rather just get excited and board the plane, I’m happy to help.