Making Memories Without Losing Your Mind!

When you think about traveling with your kids, does it make you feel a sense of dread? Is the thought of researching things to do, packing for ALL the things, and figuring out the logistics of making it happen make you feel like you just might lose it? You are NOT alone!

Every time I look at my kids, I feel the time passing by so quickly. I want to cram in all the meaningful moments and experiences that I can in order to make some lasting memories. So I decided to start traveling with my wild crew! Was it easy the first time we went on a family vacation? No! My youngest got sick in the car within the first 30 minutes! That was most definitely not on my agenda of fun. That first trip though was what sparked their love of travel and discovering new places.

After that trip (we took them to the beach for the first time), we decided to start fulfilling some of our own childhood dreams with our kids. We took them to Universal Orlando the next year, and it was life changing! I spent more hours than I can even count researching every aspect of that place, it was months of research. I learned about each resort, each park, each ride, and all the little details in between. We watched every family friendly YouTube blogger that specialized in Universal. I planned out the drive, including where we would stop to stay (it was an 18 hour drive) and all the interesting places along the way. I packed EVERYTHING! We were ready for the adventure of a lifetime.

We stayed at a signature resort that included express passes for the rides, which allowed us to skip almost every line. I knew we would need to be strategic about how to manage cranky kids, and long lines weren’t going to cut it! The kids were young (6 and 4), but I was determined to make it happen without a stroller. Day 1 in the parks, we were up and in the parks for early entry! We went hard all day, and when we finally sat down in a restaurant at 2 PM, James (the 4 year old) fell asleep at the table while eating his bacon!

It was pure magic to both the kids and the adults. We were hooked for life! Those months of research paid off as we walked through the arches of Jurassic Park, took in the Hogwarts Castle, and danced with Branch and Poppy! The joy on my kids faces the first time they saw the dragon in Diagon Alley breathe fire became lifelong memories.

It’s magical moments like those that I want every parent to experience, to hold close while their kids grow up and head off on their own.

Knowing where to even start planning something like that is where most people stop and say, “Maybe next year when I have more time to plan.” Don’t put it off until next year, because it will continue to get pushed. Our lives are not going to slow down as our kids get older. If anything, it gets busier!

That’s where I come in. Those magical memories are why I became a travel advisor. I have already done the research, and put in the hours. You don’t have to let the stress and overwhelming details keep you from making those memories. I’m here to keep you from losing your mind!

So don’t put it off any longer. Let’s start planning your next family adventure, and build memories that will last a lifetime!