If you have followed me for long or you know me personally, you know I am a big book nerd. I love to read, and I especially love to read books that are set in other countries - books where I can be transported to far-off places as I lose myself in their pages. For those of you like me, who enjoy both reading and traveling, this is the article for you.

Updated 02/04/2023
Though we were able to take a few short trips - San Antonio, New Orleans, Tampa, and Brenham - and two longer trips to Croatia and Scotland in 2022, we did not make it to all the places we had hoped we would. For 2023, we have set some tenacious travel goals. Will we be able to make it happen?

For the past year and a half, we've been saying that "once the weather was nice," which in Texas is about 6 days in the fall and about 6 days in the spring, we would go tent camping with the new tent I bought Marvin for his first Father's Day. Finally, this past weekend, we headed to Fredericksburg, TX, to break out the new tent and spend some time outdoors.

* Written by guest blogger Leslie Campos, of Well Parents.

​Going on vacation is a fun and exciting way to try something new. Going alone comes with both challenges and benefits. If you plan to trek out on your own, consider these six tips to help you make the most of your trip and stay safe during the process. 

Having lived in Clearwater for three years during my college years, I have spent quite a bit of time on the beaches around the Tampa Bay area. With my brother still living in the area, I have returned dozens of times to visit. Tampa is one of my favorite U.S. cities to visit with Emmett, as it is full of fun things to do with kids!

It's no secret that I'm a fan of Alice in Wonderland. I have the animated 1951 Disney film practically memorized front to back. I love the live action remakes with Mia Wasikowska and Johnny Depp. I even love the animated 1988 Burbank Films Australia version of Alice in Wonderland.

If you're like me, you may wonder where you can find Alice in Wonderland-themed statues, restaurants, and shops.

My parents, Mark and Cindy, recently celebrated their 40th anniversary with a cross-country trip on Amtrak. They purchased Amtrak's USA Rail Pass and made several stops during their cross-country adventure, visiting friends and family and seeing some of the country's sites.

Let's start right off by defining what this article is not. This is not an article for seasoned travelers. If you already know what you're doing and have no worries when it comes to travel, you do not need this article. This is also not an article for people who have no desire to travel. Some people are homebodies, and that's totally cool. If you are content at home with all your creature comforts, this article is not aimed at you. And this is not an article for those who love to travel but are simply limited by budget or time constraints.

However, if you are a beginner traveler, and you want to travel but feel overwhelmed when you even start thinking about maybe trying to plan a family vacation, this is for you. You are not alone. Others feel the same worry and even dread when it comes to planning and executing a family trip. But this post is full of tips to help you set yourself up for vacation success.