- Awareness, Culture, Family Travel, Life Management, Lifestyle, Love, Parenting, Photography, Plan, Play, Relationships, Slideshow, Spotlight, Travel
An Unexpected Journey in Hobbiton – The Land of Fantasy and Magic in New Zealand
In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.. Written by Kaitlin Murray Beyond the rolling green hills of the North Island lies Hobbiton, the famous movie set for the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings trilogies in New Zealand. As one of my favorite experiences during our entire trip, Hobbiton is a place that transports you into another world of fantasy and dreams, where you can leave behind the real world for awhile. Our long awaited adventure began as we arrived at the Shire’s Rest, a cafe, shop, and gateway to the movie set. There you can find all sorts of great trinkets, gifts, and fun memorabilia! To…
- Awareness, Creativity, Culture, Family Travel, Kids, Lifestyle, Love, Parenting, Play, Relationships, Slideshow, Travel, Writing
How a Travel Journal Became My Daughter’s Greatest Treasure
Have you ever bought a journal and promised yourself to write in it EVERYDAY, only to have days, weeks, and months go by without even opening it? Are you one of those people who has a library of partly filled beautiful journals gathering dust on a shelf? If so, then like you, I have always had a fascination with journals – especially ones I bring on a trip with great intentions to fill it with vivid details of a fabulous adventure. Yet, after the first few days of beautifully written journal entries, I begin to lose interest and think, “Oh, I’ll just write in it later.” I write in the…
- Awareness, Crafts, Creativity, Culture, DIY, Family Travel, Get Organized, Kids, Laugh, Plan, Play, Slideshow, Travel, Writing
Summer Fun :: Family Vacation Tips
Are you planning on taking a family trip this summer? Do the kids love car rides or are they always asking “are we there yet?” Two summers ago we drove up to Tahoe and my daughter wore a shirt that said “Road Trip” and on the back it said “Are We There Yet?” She was a pretty good traveler but I wish that I had this Vacation Journal that my friend Colleen created. I love all the fun activities the kids can do prior to the trip, during the car ride and even after you are back home. Here are some ideas to make your trip enjoyable for all! …
- Awareness, Culture, Family Travel, Lifestyle, Love, Parenting, Play, Reflections, Relationships, Slideshow, Travel
Creating Childhood Memories – Invest in Experiences, Not Things
What do you remember most about your childhood? What experiences stand out the most? Have you ever seen, heard, smelled, or felt something as an adult that brought you back in time – a memory so vivid that you could swear you were a child again, if only for an instant? For me, the fondest and most vivid memories of my childhood were created during years of camping trips with my family. I can remember in great detail the excitement of packing up the van and trailer, my dad, free from his work clothes and stress, laughing and joking as he drove, and the sounds of “Take Me Home,…
- Awareness, Culture, Family Travel, Lifestyle, Love, Parenting, Play, Relationships, Slideshow, Travel
Important Life Skills Kids (and Parents!) Learn While Traveling – Part 2
Hello Again! As I sit in Israel enjoying my family’s 7th week exploring the Middle East and our 21st month of traveling around the world, I am bursting with hundreds of memories, stories, tips, and ideas I would love to share with you. That’s why I am so thrilled to have the chance to share our adventures here as the Travel Contributor/Traveling Mama! Here is a continuation of my last post, Part 1, on the incredible skills kids and parents learn while traveling. COMMUNICATION This is a biggie! Effective communication skills are essential for success in all areas of life. While traveling, kids meet new people everyday, hear new languages,…
