Surviving a long flight can be a major feat. We love exploring new destinations, but getting there can present a list of challenges. In spite of the challenges, I try to keep the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson in mind: "Life is a journey, not a destination." The following tips will help you prepare for a long flight so that your journey can be as enjoyable as possible on the way to your destination.

Traveling with kids is not like traveling before (or without) kids. Kids are prone to the same tantrums, meltdowns, big big feelings, and picky eating while traveling as they are at home. But while traveling with your kids may not be effortless and it may look much different than traveling before kids, there are ways to alleviate the added stress that exhaustion and frustration from travel may cause.

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?

* 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. 

One of my favorite travel experiences to date was teaching English in Chengdu, China, to students aged twelve to eighteen years. I was in college in an English education major. I co-taught with a fellow student, and we had students in an intermediary English level class. Our students were amazing! They were eager to learn and eager to please. Their families took us out to eat and made us feel so welcome in their country. And although this was a volunteer opportunity, the school administrators provided on-campus housing and took us site-seeing on the weekends, including to the Panda Preserve there in Chengdu and to the Giant Buddha in Leshan.

Teaching English overseas is a great opportunity to see the world while earning a little money. It also offers an amazing opportunity to meet wonderful people, really learn about the people and culture of the country in which you teach, pick up some of the local language, and make a difference in the lives of young people.

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.

I read a meme recently that said, "Traveling with kids isn't a vacation. It's just taking care of your kids in a different place." I laughed because of course there is some truth to that. But as parents we do not travel just to go on a nice, relaxing vacation. As kids get older and more self-sufficient, there will of course be times you will be able to relax and enjoy your vacation, but travel should be more than just lying around on a beach. Many of the reasons Marvin and I love to travel - for education, for cultural awareness, for personal growth, and for just a general change of scenery - are also reasons we want to travel with Emmett.

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.