Greg

Liberty is something that has been a theme of our USA travels lately. It’s not something I had consciously planned. But when you let go of the need to plan and control so much of your life, you’ll find the Universe has a way of guiding you to the experiences it most wants you to have in order to become the best version of yourself. I’m not sure why I’ve been lead to explore liberty through experiences like the Civil Rights Trail, the Boston Freedom Trail and Gettysburg? But I have, and it has lead me to reflect on freedom – how lucky we are to have it, the choices and privilege that comes with it, and how much we take that privilege for granted. It was no surprise then that this travel theme came together on our visit to Liberty Island in New York Harbor to see the statue that represents truth, equality and liberty. I had no interest to visit Statue of Liberty before this trip to New York City. Perhaps I was not ready for it. To be honest, I kind of turn my nose up at it as being crowded kitschy touristy stuff. But, my parents …

Reflecting on Freedom and How to Visit Statue of Liberty Read More »

I don’t see my role as a parent to push my children down certain paths, like going to Harvard University or any college. My role is more to open up doors of possibility and help them uncover for themselves which is the right door for them to eventually walk through. It’s why I love to travel with them, and why I continue to do so despite it being so hard. I often think of quitting and putting them back into school, so badly do I need a break and some sort of separation and individuality. But then we get these results from the standardized homeschooling tests. And then I think about the box I’d be putting them back into and how much they’d lose from not traveling and experiencing these many different doors of possibility. Travel shows them all the different paths that are available to them. You only know what you know right? Travel helps them to uncover who they truly are. Harvard University is one of the most prestigious colleges in the world. Of course you have heard of it. On our recent trip to Boston, I did not want to leave without seeing it for myself and …

Interesting Harvard University Tour – Opening my girls eyes up to possibilities Read More »

I don’t think there was a movie that negatively affected me more than Jaws. So much so that when Kalyra asked to watch it last summer on a camping trip to Lake Kerr in North Carolina with friends, I vehemently said, “No. That is not a good idea. Trust me, it will ruin your enjoyment of the beach for the rest of your life.” Well she didn’t listen to me and watched it and thought it was the lamest movie ever (insert eye roll). “How could you let that scare you Mum? It was so fake.” “Back in our days love, when we had no high tech special effects in movies, that was as real as the snake crawling past your tent right now.” I’m pretty sure the next day when we went tubing on the lake, she asked if there were sharks in the lake. Jaws made you afraid to swim anywhere you couldn’t see the bottom. Martha’s Vineyard Massachusetts (MVY) is the fictional place of Amity, which Jaws terrorized back in 1975. Martha’s Vineyard, more specifically the town of Edgartown, was taken over by Spielberg and his cast and crew to film what turned out to be the …

How to Spend 3 Days in Martha’s Vineyard – Things to do and where to stay! Read More »

Mobile is the 4th destination we have visited in Alabama so far, and the more we explore this state the more we enjoy it’s history, culture and people. After spending time in Huntsville for a conference, exploring Montgomery and relaxing at the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach we were excited to see what the city of Mobile had to offer. I’ve always liked port cities, and interestingly back in the 1800s Mobile was known as the Paris of the South when Mobile was the 10th wealthiest city in the United States, thanks to the port and the cotton trade. Today Mobile is the twelfth busiest port in the country and said to be the hub of the entire Gulf Coast. Where is Mobile, Alabama? The city of Mobile is conveniently located just two hours east of New Orleans and one hour north of the beautiful Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. It’s easily accessible east/west on Interstate 10 and north/south on Interstate 65. We arrived in town after a few relaxing days at the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach and soon discovered that Mobile also offers a fabulous local foodie scene, plus interesting history, culture and arts. There’s a wide variety …

Fun & Interesting Things to Do in Mobile, Alabama Read More »

Looking for tips on the best places to visit in Southern California? Are you ready for a Southern California vacation on a West Coast road trip? We’ve got you covered! Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, San Diego In this 10 day Southern California road trip itinerary we’re talking about outdoor adventures, delicious food, gorgeous scenery, family fun and sunny weather. Just so you are clear, Southern California (SoCal) is typically the region from San Diego up to San Luis Obispo (just north of Santa Barbara). Not only does it include the gorgeous coastline, but also the growing wine region of Temecula, beautiful mountain regions and desert areas like Palm Springs and Joshua Tree National Park. There are so many amazing places to visit in California and SoCal offers a different experience to Northern California. Sunset at Pacific Beach in San Diego SoCal is the perfect destination for a short USA road trip. Los Angeles is about in the middle of Southern California with only a 3 hour drive to the northern border and two to the southern. When you think of Southern California attractions, of course Disneyland Resort comes to mind. We didn’t do theme parks on this trip, but …

10 Day Itinerary – Places to Visit in Southern California (beyond Disneyland) Read More »

I wasn’t expecting to be laughing on the Boston Freedom Trail tour, which was recommended to us as one of the best things to do in Boston. I knew it would be inspiring and informative as you follow and learn so many monumental and historical events that helped America gain its Independence from Great Britain. But, I wasn’t expecting humor. Our guide, Isiah Thomas, (played by Rob Crean) was dressed in 18th-century clothes – stockings, cloak, three-cornered hat – and was hilarious. He had the kind of dry sense of humor that us Australians relate so well to. I’m pretty sure that my Dad was the person laughing the most on the tour. Even when it wasn’t out loud, I could tell he was laughing so hard on the inside at Isiah’s off handed comments that said so much. The stories he told were quite serious but it’s all about the delivery. He delivered with such entertainment that we were all disappointed when it ended. The stories seemed that crazy and were so funny, I wasn’t sure if he was just making them all up. One thing is for sure, I learned a lot about Boston, the Revolutionary War and …

Walking the Historic and Hilarious Boston Freedom Trail Tour Read More »

Where is Ventura County? And what are the best things to do in Ventura County California? We knew nothing about Ventura County before our Southern California road trip last month, not even where it was located. I had only ever heard of Ventura Boulevard in a few song lyrics and that thoroughfare is in LA. Ventura County, California is about an hour north of LA and 30-minutes south of Santa Barbara. Be sure to leave your pretense and busyness on the highway out of LA, because it doesn’t belong in Ventura County. It’s slower paced and less crowded. I’m glad we know about Ventura County Ca now and can share with you the many amazing things to do in Ventura with kids. It’s full of unexpected surprises and adventures. Ventura was the last stop on our family road trip from San Diego to Ventura, via Orange County. We stopped here for three days to enjoy the coastal living, and one of the main tourist attractions in Ventura, the Channel Islands National Park. We visited on a paid partnership with Visit California and Ventura County Coast on the Kidifornia Adventures campaign. Keep reading down below for all our best tips on Ventura, …

17 Amazing Things to do in Ventura County California With Kids Read More »