Ashley

Get a local’s insights on Nashville’s best parks and playgrounds! Ideal for families seeking free outdoor activities, this guide provides locations, amenities, and specific features of various parks across neighborhoods, from popular …

Driving in Playa del Carmen offers flexibility and control for travelers, despite initial concerns about navigating unfamiliar roads and customs. While local traffic laws and conditions can be challenging, proper precautions like …

Let me share with you a list of our favorite free or inexpensive things to do with kids in Playa del Carmen! I value working smarter, not harder. I also have to …

We’ve all seen it: the traveler going full Karen meltdown mode at hotel staff over things completely out of their control. Traveling is unpredictable, but here is my hot take: how you …

Visiting Chicago with kids? Then you need some free and fun activities to do with them! Here is our list of the BEST parks and playgrounds in Chicago.

Lincoln Park in Chicago offers numerous free activities ideal for families, such as the Lincoln Park Zoo, the Conservatory with its tropical plants, and the scenic Nature Boardwalk. Spanning over 1,200 acres, …

Chicago may be my new favorite city to visit. It’s a cheap, short flight to two different airports or an easy 7-8 hour drive from Nashville. It’s big (2.7 million) without being …

South Bend, Indiana, offers a charming family-friendly destination with a scenic university campus, affordable dining, and the impressive Howard Park playground. While not thrilling, it provides a relaxing day trip showcasing Midwest …

Gatton Park at Town Branch is the best playground in Lexington, featuring a vast, beautifully landscaped area with a variety of play structures, including water play, ropes, and interactive games. Parents appreciate …

Unexpected changes can lead to new adventures! Read Alex’s travel mishap and learn how he embraced the situation.

Sometimes we end up visiting places we would not have intentionally sought out because we say yes to the unexpected, whether it’s to visit friends and family or to take advantage of …

During a month-long stay in Playa del Carmen, the author took a weekend trip to Valladolid and Ek Balam. They explored the colonial town’s vibrant culture, unique architectural sites, and local Yucatecan …

I will admit it: my expectations for Legoland Florida were low.  I dont know why I felt this way, to be honest. I did read some mixed reviews of Legoland parks in …

You might not believe when I say this, but you CAN have an amazing vacation at Legoland on a budget. In 2025, we took our Lego-obsessed child down to Legoland Florida for …

I do the same thing before every single trip: I create a Google Map. That’s it. The end. That’s the one thing I always do when planning a trip. But that’s not …

Intentional Wandering is a flexible travel planning method that encourages selecting a daily “anchor” destination while allowing for spontaneous exploration along the way. It minimizes stress by blending pre-trip research with real-time …

We didn’t have much big travel this past year (check out my 2025 Travel Recap post), only traveling domestically, usually for fast overnight mini-adventures. This was the case for two big reasons: …

Southeastern South Dakota offers a charming vacation alternative to its well-known attractions. The area, particularly Harrisburg, blends modernity with history, making it perfect for family trips. Visitors should explore local parks, community …

A lot of people say that “traveling with kids” is really just “parenting in other cities”, citing it as a reason for not going to the places they want to go.  But …

Home Exchange 101: What is home exchange? Will I like swapping my house? You sleep in other people’s beds? And other burning questions you have about home exchange. We started home exchanging …