Travel entry:April 2025 Hey Reader, Planning a trip to Niagara Falls? You might be about to make the same mistakes we did on our first visit. Spoiler alert: We did almost everything wrong 🤦♀️ After learning the hard way (and then going back to do it right), I put together a guide covering the 4 biggest Niagara Falls mistakes to avoid - plus exactly what to do instead. Inside, you'll discover: Which side of the falls has the complete view (hint: it's not the obvious one) The secret to actually...
9 days ago • 1 min read
Travel entry:October 2025 Hey Reader, I hope you're enjoying glorious fall weather no matter where you are! We've been having a warm spell here in the midwest but we're starting to see some beautiful foliage. I've mostly been enjoying it from my porch while I work through all of the cool things I learned about at my recent work meetup in Washington. One of the most interesting things about this line of work I've chosen is the wide-ranging skill set it forces me to acquire... writer,...
12 days ago • 2 min read
Travel entry:October 2025 Hey Reader, Hey there! Quick heads up if you're looking for a last-minute fall getaway — San Diego's amazing "Kids Free in October" promotion is happening RIGHT NOW. We're talking free admission for kids at the San Diego Zoo, Safari Park, USS Midway Museum, and a ton of other attractions throughout the month. It's honestly one of the best deals you'll find all year for a San Diego family trip. I pulled together our complete guide to the best things to do in San Diego...
16 days ago • 1 min read
Travel entry:October 2025 Hey Reader, You know how dining out can demolish your travel budget? I just discovered InKind, and it's been a game-changer for saving on family meals out. Here's how it works: InKind partners with thousands of restaurants across the US. Unlike gift cards that lock you into one spot, you can use InKind at any participating restaurant in their network. You have two ways to save with InKind: Option 1: Buy discounted credit in advance - Get 10-30% off restaurant credit....
18 days ago • 1 min read
Travel entry:September 2025 Hey Reader, Sure, we all love "free" flights and hotels - but I recently realized there are four other reasons I'm completely obsessed with award travel that go beyond the immediate savings. Honestly, these benefits weren't even on my radar when we started this journey, but now they're a big part of the reason I can't imagine traveling any other way. One completely changed how I think about booking flights (goodbye, change fees!). Another opened up experiences we...
20 days ago • 1 min read
Travel entry:September 2025 Hey Reader, First off, I want to wish a happy, healthy and sweet new year to all those who celebrated this week! Second, to make you a little jealous I want to share a photo of my current writing location: beautiful Lake Washington! I'm up here for a blogging retreat over the next few days but can't wait to come back with the family. Not bad, eh? That's a no-filter straight-from-the-phone picture. Speaking of pictures, a couple of weeks ago a fellow family travel...
24 days ago • 1 min read
Travel entry:September 2025 Hey Reader, I've basically never sent emails two days in a row, but there are some great time-sensitive deals I wanted to put in front of you. I hope these help you save money and travel better! WAYB Pico If you travel with a kiddo who's 2-4 years old, you've probably seen or heard of the WAYB Pico folding car seat. We bring one for our niece when we travel together and it's really a game-changer in terms of portability. This car seat is "fits under the bed on a...
29 days ago • 7 min read
Travel entry:September 2025 Hey Reader, Fall break is sneaking up fast, and if you're anything like me, you're probably scrambling to figure out where to take the family without spending your kid's college fund. Confession: I've booked and cancelled three different places so far! Good news – I just refreshed our 15 Awesome Fall Break Destinations for Families with some seriously good options that work for different budgets, energy levels and starting points. We're talking everything from:...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Travel entry:September 2025 Hey Reader, I know this isn't my typical email, but I wanted to try something new and see what you think. This week there have been so many awesome deals for travel lovers coming through my inbox that I want to round them all up for you in one place - if you like this format, let me know and I'll do it again! Flytographer Have you ever looked back on photos from your trips and wished you had better ones? Or maybe you're going back through pics afterward and realize...
about 1 month ago • 5 min read