Wondering what it is like to visit one of the Florida theme parks during these COVID times? This week the Mavens chat with Rob Taylor from 2TravelDads to get his take on the safety protocols at Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando. Find out what you need to know to decide whether or not now is a good time to visit Orlando. ON THE PODCAST This podcast is sponsored by Moon Travel Guides. Learn more about The Open Road: 50 Best Road Trips in the USA. All opinions are our own. 00:30 - Talking with Kim and Tamara 04:10 - Talking with Rob Taylor 06:40 - Feeling comfortable with travel 12:40 - Transportation for the parks 15:25 - Social distancing on rides 21:15 - Available Passes 24:05 - Arriving at the park 26:45 - Food at the park 33:30 - Final tips 37:16 - Rob's Travel Gear 39:20 - Up next for Rob and his family ABOUT ROB TAYLOR Rob Taylor is the founder of 2TravelDads, the original LGBT Family Travel blog. Focusing on ecotourism and education, 2TravelDads inspires LGBT families (and traditional families also) to go beyond their usual getaways and use travel to learn about and be part of a bigger world. "Traveling the globe and giving the kids a broad worldview." Follow Rob on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. TIPS FOR VISITING DISNEY WORLD Visiting an amusement park may not be in your comfort zone yet, due to the pandemic. You should research the protocols in place carefully and see if travel is something your family feels comfortable with at this time. Shuttle, Monorail, moving walkways, and trams are all still operating (with limited capacity and social distancing). Though keep in mind that some of these may not be 100% enforced -- Disney is much better about enforcing protocols than Universal from what Rob has observed. Stay observant of your surroundings. If one area of the park is getting more packed than you are comfortable with, try to explore another area of the park. Each park is probably going to manage ride spacing differently. Disney ride lines have markers for where to stand and the zig-zag parts will have extra spacing so that you are not stopped directly next to someone, or plexiglass walls separating each zig-zag portion from the next. Just because there is reduced capacity at the parks doesn't mean ride lines will necessarily be shorter. In the case of Disney, they will frequently close down a ride in order to deep clean the seats and handles to help minimize any potential germ spread. You can still purchase Express Passes with your ticket at Universal Orlando, or receive them free if you are staying at one of their premium properties that includes Express Passes. Disney FastPass+ is not currently available. Disney is very good at enforcing the rule where you can take masks off to eat and drink, but only while you are stationary. Universal also has designated areas that you can take off your mask even if you are not eating or drinking. Indoor dining seems to be managed very well compared to the outdoor mobile order dining. Everyone's comfort level is going to be different. Do your research beforehand if you want to find out the specifics for what they are doing to keep social distance, but keep in mind that anywhere can make these rules and signage but what makes the big difference is how well a place is enforcing these rules. Keep in mind that if you are planning to visit these parks that means that you will be traveling into Florida. Florida does not make it mandatory to wear masks. They have left it up to individual business on what they want to enforce. If you are coming from a stricter state this may be surprising to you. While the Parks themselves are stricter the state of Florida is different. Think beyond the Theme Park for your visit! FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR Rob packs for travel based on the weather instead of focusing on any favorite items. He makes sure to add pieces that are colorful, to make for fun photos, and are comfortable. For shoes, he recommends shoes that are comfortable, versatile and NOT brand new! You should never break in shoes on a vacation. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST Moon Travel Guides Disney World in COVID Universal During Coronavirus Disney vs Universal with COVID Disney vs Universal During Normal Life

Vacation Mavens

177: Visiting Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando during COVID

Are you intrigued by the music, food, and culture of Cuba? Find out what it is like to travel to Cuba with kids as we speak to Deborah Haile, author of a series of children's books about traveling with kids. ON THE PODCAST This podcast is sponsored by Moon Travel Guides. Learn more about The Open Road: 50 Best Road Trips in the USA. All opinions are our own. 00:30 - Talking with Kim and Tamara 08:27 - Talking with Deborah 10:07 - Traveling to Cuba 17:28 - When to go 18:45 - How long to stay 23:19 - What to do 32:20 - Jonah’s Global Footprints book series 38:09 - Final Tips 42:11 - Deborah’s favorite travel gear 43:14 - Where she is heading next ABOUT DEBORAH HAILE Deborah Haile is the CEO of Tiny Global Footprints and the author of Jonah's Global Footprints book series. She holds a Master of Public Policy from George Mason University and a Bachelors of Arts in Sociology from University of Minnesota. Deborha loves traveling the world with her son Jonah, and sees a world where working moms have the tools they need to be able to make international travel with their children a priority and a possibility. She is originally from Eritrea, but grew up in Minnesota, lived in Virginia and recently moved to Miami. She is extremely passionate about exposing children to global cultures. Follow Deborah on Instagram. TIPS FOR VISITING CUBA If you would like to plan a trip to Cuba after places start to open up fully, you should know that you can no longer stop there on a cruise trip. You will need to get an Advance Visa. You can get this online or go in person to the Cuban Embassy.  This is only one of the ways that you can travel to Cuba. There are different categories for traveling to Cuba for Americans, which include: family visits; official business of the U.S. government, foreign governments, and certain intergovernmental organizations; journalistic activity; professional research and professional meetings; educational activities; religious activities; public performances, clinics, workshops, athletic and other competitions, and exhibitions; support for the Cuban people (obtaining a Visa, staying at a Casa and eating at local restaurants); humanitarian projects; activities of private foundations or research or educational institutes; exportation, importation, or transmission of information or information materials; and certain export transactions that may be considered for authorization under existing regulations and guidelines. The best time to visit Cuba is between December and May, which is after hurricane season. 7-10 days is a good amount of time to give yourself to explore and take in what some of Cuba has to offer. Start in Havana and then rent a car to travel to places like Vinales or Varadero to experience more of Cuba. Keep in mind that you will have limited access to WiFi when in Cuba. This is a great opportunity to disconnect and immerse yourself in the culture around you, but you also need to be prepared. English is not widely spoken so if you are not a fluent Spanish speaker, you may want to brush up before your trip and look into a language program to teach yourself some basics in order for you to get around easier. Be aware that not all U.S.-issued credit cards will work in Cuba. Be sure to bring along plenty of cash, because finding an ATM can also be challenging in parts of the country. Packing light will make getting around that much easier, and you won't need much while you are there. Be aware that those cool old cars you see around Havana don't have seat belts. Plan accordingly if you feel you will need a carseat for your child on longer drives. You should also do a lot of preplanning for your trip before you leave. Since you will not have easy Internet or phone access, you will want to bring printed maps and information for the places that you are staying. You might also want to think about bringing a Spanish-language dictionary or printing up some phrases to help you with your travels. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST Jonah's Global Footprints: The Search for Elephants in Thailand  

176: Travel to Cuba with kids

Yosemite National Park is a popular destination for families during all seasons. This week we talk to Preethi Harbuck from Local Passport Family about her many trips to Yosemite. We cover the best places to stay, good hikes with kids, and fun things to do in Yosemite.  Tamara also fills us in on her most recent glamping experience at the KOA in Lincoln / Woodstock, New Hampshire and how it compared to her stay at the Huttopia glamping resort nearby. ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Talking with Tamara about her recent glamping trip 12:32 - Talking with Preethi about RVing 15:12 - What to keep in mind when visiting Yosemite 17:45 - Where to stay outside of the park 19:48 - How long to stay 21:50 - When to go 24:35 - Where to stay 26:40 - Activities and family-friendly hikes in Yosemite 29:55 - History of the Park 35:10 - Global Children’s Book Club 38:20 - Preethi’s Favorite Travel Gear 40:40 - What Preethi is doing now 41:20 - WINNER! ABOUT PREETHI HARBUCK Preethi is an exploring mom of 5 who writes about education and diversity in and through travel. She helps families recapture curiosity and connection by connecting with the world. Follow Preethi on her blog Local Passport Family, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. TIPS FOR VISITING YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK WITH KIDS Keep in mind that Yosemite National Park is popular and can get very, very busy. If you can you might want to plan your trip during off season. June, July, and August is peak season for the Park. Late May and September are ideal times to visit, but it can be very beautiful in the winter as well. If you are planning on camping in the park you will want to look into where you would like to go and make reservations far in advance. The Valley is the most popular camping area and you will need to make your reservations well in advance for your trip. Due to Covid restrictions you will now need to make reservations just to go into the park not just for camping. You will want to plan well in advance and avoid the disappointment of being turned away at the entrance. If you can’t get a reservation to stay and camp inside of the valley, you will be looking at a 45-60 minute drive to get there if you stay outside. Mariposa is one of the closest small towns to the Valley which has some hotels and even RV parks. If you want to take a trip and explore some of what Yosemite has to see, you will want to spend at least three days. You could make your trip longer and explore some more in Yosemite or you can travel a few more hours and visit a few other National Parks that are nearby. All four seasons in Yosemite are magical in their own way. But if you want to keep to the warmer weather, May or September are perfect! The park is going to be quieter than visiting in the main summer months but you will still have the beautiful weather. September will give you more dry weather to get out and explore, while in May the waterfalls will be big and the river flowing heavily, which is really incredible to see. The Upper Pines Campground is a great place to spend your time while visiting Yosemite. It is located in the Valley, right near the river and beautiful with tons of trees. From this campground you can access a lot of the Valley by bike. If you are willing to drive a little farther you can stay at the Rush Creek Lodge which is located right outside one of the entrances to the park. If you have young kids that may not be too into camping outside, this may be the place for you. They have a big game room, heated pool, playgrounds and every night they offer s'mores over the fire pit. Sentinel Dome Hike is a great hike to take with families. The hike is two miles and it doesn’t have a lot of elevation. The hike starts from Glacier Point Road, which unfortunately will be closed in 2021 for repairs. A great way to visit Mirror Lake is to bike up the trail. The ride is mostly flat making it great for families. You can rent bikes if you don’t have your own or don’t want to transport it. If you are interested in the history of Yosemite National Park you can visit the main visitors center that has an exhibit that takes about the Indigenous People who lived there. There is an old story called Two Bear Cubs that talks about the Miwok Native American People that lived on the land. This is a great book to read to your kids to help them learn more about the park's history. FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR Preethi loves her travel pants but she also loves to wear stretchy leggings with pockets on the sides so that she can store her phone. When she is hiking through water she loves her Chaco’s. ALSO MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST Global Children’s Book Club Ultimate Guide to Yosemite with Kids Yosemite Camping Tips with Kids One Day in Yosemite with Kids How to Get a Free 4th Grade National Parks Pass Best Kids Hiking Gear Our Family's Favorites FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Podcasts and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email at podcast@vacationmavens.com. You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcase and We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for listening!

175: Visiting Yosemite National Park with Kids

Whether you are a frequent camper or a newbie, our guest this week, Catherine from To and Fro Family, offers up some great tips on camping with kids. We talk about how to find campgrounds, packing tips, and great ideas for entertaining young kids at the campsite. ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Talking about Tamara’s Huttopia glamping trip 16:13 - Talking with Catherine 21:35 - How to choose your campground 30:30 - How to choose your campsite 32:55 - Camping in the Fall/Winter 35:20 - What to pack with Kids 42:15 - What to do at your campsite 46:55 - Planning for meals 52:27 - Catherine’s Favorite Gear 57:30 - Catherine’s Book 59:50 - Book Giveaway ABOUT CATHERINE RYAN GREGORY Catherine Ryan Gregory shares travel hacks and kid-friendly destinations to de-stress family travel. She founded the family travel website To & Fro Fam and is the author of Virtual Travel Activities for Kids. Follow Catherine on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. TIPS FOR CAMPING WITH KIDS The first thing you should do when picking your campground is figure out how far you want to drive. Next, think about the kind of terrain you want to camp at; in the mountains, by a lake/coast, or in the desert. Campgrounds offer different amenities and campsite locations. Some campgrounds are first-come-first-served. With first-come-first-serve campsites, the sooner you get there, the better chance you will be able to grab one of these spots. Going on a weekday can help with this since the weekends will usually fill up fast. Keep in mind that first-come-first-serve campgrounds have different rules/restrictions. Some have restrictions on how long you are allowed to stay at the site. Make sure to check this out if you are planning to get a spot at one of these campgrounds because some sites have a one-night limit! Before booking your campsite make sure to double check the amenities that the campground offers. This is especially important if you would like to have certain amenities and services. If you plan on taking a camping trip in the fall or winter months when it will be colder, you really want to make sure that you are checking the high and the low temperatures for the time you are going. Make sure that your sleeping bag is rated for the colder temperatures and you may also want to pack some more layers for the night time. No matter what time of year you are planning on taking a camping trip you want to check to see what the weather is supposed to be like and plan accordingly. If there is any chance it might rain when you are camping, you might want to think about bringing a kind of canopy so that you are not stuck completely inside your tent for the times that it rains. Less is more when it comes to clothes. You can always rewear if they are not too dirty. For kids you don’t need to change their clothes everytime they get dirty. Just let them go and be dirty! Minimizing the changes of clothes will help you downsize your packing. You are already bringing a lot of other supplies, you don’t need to bring a huge suitcase with clothes on top of that. One item that you don’t want to under pack on is wipes. Especially if you have younger kids having wipes to clean their feet and hand, and even their face, without having to make the trek to the bathroom that may not be all that close to your campsite to get clean. In regards to your meals, you might want to prep as much as you can before your trip. Depending on what you are eating that might just mean cutting up potatoes, vegetables and mixing them with seasoning and oil in a bag. Then for your meal you can pull the bag out of the cooler and using some foil pour some of this mix in with a burger or meat and heat it up. FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR Catherine loves all things REI. The quality of the items they have gotten from them have lasted them for years! Catherine loves to use her fanny packs but recently she has not needed to wear them because of the Alder Apparel pants that she has fallen in love with that have lots of pockets and are super comfortable. Along with that she loves Columbia and Eddie Bauer, that make up the majority of her summer clothing. This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST Tamara's Huttopia White Mountains review Fun family camping hacks The best way to pack a cooler for your camping trip Outdoor art projects for kids when camping Recreation.gov Hipcamp Tentrr Digital Courses during Covid  FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email at podcast@vacationmavens.com. You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcase and We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for listening!

174: Family Camping Tips

This week on the podcast, Kim fills us in on her summer family vacation to Olympic National Park and Mt. Rainier National Park in her home state of Washington. ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Talking with Kim about her recent vacation 02:50 - Olympic National Park 08:08 - Waterfall Hikes 10:45 - Where to stay 23:20 - Mount Rainier 29:38 - How long to spend 34:15 - National park pass 35:44 - Final tips TIPS FOR VISITING OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK & MT. RAINIER The main visitors' center for Olympic National Park is on the northern end of the park by Port Angeles. Since all of the visitor centers are closed due to the pandemic things are a bit different than they normally would be. They do however have park rangers there that have trail maps and Junior Ranger booklets, who are willing to answer any questions that you may have. Other National Parks may have different offerings so you may want to look that up before heading out. If you make this a longer trip you can even take a ferry into Victoria, Canada from Port Angeles. Unfortunately right now due to Covid they have canceled all sailings until November 30, 2020. If you are planning a trip after that, check out the website for Black Ball Ferry Line for updates on their status. If you like hikes and wild flowers you should definitely check out the Hurricane Ridge hike in Olympic National Park. When you get to the summit you can see great views of the mountains and you can actually see into Canada. Marymere Falls is another great waterfall hike and you can take a swim in Lake Crescent while you are there. Or if the water is too cold you can enjoy a nice lunch by the lake. The Woodland Inns is a great little place to stay while visiting the park. They also have a great contactless system setup for checking in/out. Since they are individual cabins they will give you a code to a key box and they will text you the code and make sure that you have everything you need before you get there. Visiting Mount Rainier has some great hikes but depending on the weather you might not see much of the mountain. The parking lots in Mount Rainier fill up really fast so if you plan on visiting you may want to get an early start. You should also keep in mind that there is not much in the way of food when you go to Mount Rainier so bring a lunch and snacks. Also make sure that you go in with a full tank of gas. Keep in mind that when you are planning a trip anywhere right now, you should think about also planning on food options and do some research on what places offer or if they are even open. This is one thing that you never really had to worry about before Covid but now it can cause you and your family some unnecessary stress. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST Hoh Rain Forest Walk Woodland Inns Tree of Life Lake Quinault Mount Rainier National Park Epic Olympic National Park Itinerary - Stuffed Suitcase How to get a National Park Pass - Stuffed Suitcase FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email at podcast@vacationmavens.com. You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcase and We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for listening!

173: Olympic National Park and Mt Ranier

Kim and Tamara both managed to pull off a socially-distanced, outdoor-focused vacation this summer not too far from home. Tune in this week to hear all about Tamara's summer vacation in the Adirondacks in New York and her cabin and hotel stays in Lake Placid and Saranac Lake. ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Talking with Kim and Tamara 01:50 - Tamara’s trip to Adirondacks 04:23 - Where they stayed 14:55 - Hiking in the Adirondacks 26:55 - Coming Next Week SUMMER VACATION IN THE ADIRONDACKS Be aware that if you would like to plan a trip to New York, the state has been very strict with what states are allowed in without quarantining. They also ask that you register with the state before traveling and follow the quarantine guidelines. If you do not register you could be subject to a fine. Due to the increased interest in house/cabin rentals, it may be very hard to find a cabin or lake house rental to visit the Adirondacks unless you plan ahead. Tamara stayed at Bear Cabin on Lake Colby near Saranac Lake, which is a two-bedroom cabin on a lake with access to canoes and kayaks. She found it on Airbnb (affiliate link.) An alternative to renting a cabin or house is to stay at a family-friendly resort, such as the Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort in Lake Placid. Tamara and her family stayed in a two-room suite with a fireplace overlooking the lake. The rooms are a bit dated but the location is perfect because you are right in town but have access to the lake, including free use of kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards. The downside is the crowded beach without much social distancing. Some good hikes in the area for intermediate hikers include: Mt. Van Hoevenberg, Mt. Jo, and St. Regis Mountain. If you want epic views without the hike, you can take the gondola at Whiteface Mountain or pay to drive the Whiteface Veterans Memorial Highway to the summit.   FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission. Tamara loves her new Black Diamond Hiking Poles, which fold up to fit into a backpack and offer great support on challenging hikes. FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email at podcast@vacationmavens.com. You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcase and We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for listening!  

172: Summer Vacation in the Adirondacks, NY

Have you ever considered renting a houseboat? This fun type of vacation rental is a great way to socially distance! Find out what it is like to stay on an "RV on the water" and get houseboat rental vacation tips from Jessica Averett, from Bring the Kids, on this week's episode. ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Talking with Kim and Tamara 05:25 - What’s happening with school 07:24 - Talking with Jessica 09:05 - Where to take a houseboat vacation 10:38 - What to expect 16:10 - What to look for in renting a houseboat 19:00 - Tips for planning your trip 21:50 - Price 23:45 - What is the water like 26:50 - What to pack 28:44 - Jessica’s Favorite Travel Gear ABOUT JESSICA AVERETT Jessica Averett is an adventure loving mom to 5 kids. She and her family have a serious case of wanderlust and are constantly exploring to find the best travel experiences for families. You can follow her writing and adventures at Bring The Kids. Follow Jessica on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. TIPS FOR RENTING A HOUSEBOAT It is really popular to have a houseboat vacation on large lakes. Most people will rent a houseboat through the local marina. Staying on a houseboat is like staying on a big RV on the water The houseboat moves at about 6 miles per hour on the water because they are so big, so don’t plan on traveling far if you have a short vacation time. A typical time on a boat is usually four days to a week. You can then spend your time stopping at a few places or just dropping anchor wherever. Surprisingly you do not need a boating license to rent a houseboat. Most places will just require you to be 21 years or older. It is fun to rent other boats or water toys to take along. This is so you can get to shore faster or just ride around off the houseboat. This could be anything in between floaties and kayaks or jet skies and a small craft. Since towing will make your houseboat go even slower, if renting a motor boat, it makes sense to have someone else drive it ahead of the houseboat when going to a different location. For smaller water toys like kayaks and floaties, the roof of the boat is flat so you can just tie them off up there for when you are moving around. If you are going with younger kids, you might really want to look into getting a houseboat that has a slide off of the roof. You will also need to think about how many people you want to sleep. A typical houseboat sleeps up to 8 or 12. Given that number if you are going with a larger group some of you can actually camp on shore in tents, while some stay on the boat for the night. One big tip for going on a houseboat vacation is to go with another family. This will make your trip more fun to hang out with friends. Plus if they have kids around the same age they can hang out together and have others to have fun with. This will also make it easier on the adults having a few more people to drive the boat. The price of renting a houseboat mostly varies on the kind and size of the boat that you are renting. For a three or four day trip you will probably be looking at around $2,000. Keep in mind that you can still get some choppy water on a lake depending on the size and the weather. Make sure you pack plenty of sunscreen and aloe because someone will end up with sunburn since you are spending all of your time on the water. You should also think about bringing a line or rope with clothespins, so that you will have an easier time drying all of your swim suits and towels. FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR Jessica loves her pair of Columbia pants along with a pair of Chaco sandals. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST House Boating Rentals SunBum FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email at podcast@vacationmavens.com. You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcase and We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for listening!

171: Houseboat Rental Vacation Tips

Vacation home rentals are soaring this summer and for good reason. Renting a vacation home -- whether or it is a cabin in the woods or a beach house -- is a great way to socially distance. Listen to our tips on what to look for when renting a vacation home, plus our suggestions on what to pack to supply your vacation home. ON THE PODCAST 00:35 - Talking with Kim and Tamara 02:30 - How to determine what house to rent 03:40 - Extra fees 05:15 - Guest responsibilities 10:10 - Cooking your own food 12:45 - What to pack 28:26 - Entertainment 36:18 - Traveling during Covid-19 40:18 - Up Next TIPS FOR VACATION HOME RENTALS Make sure to thoroughly read reviews for any house you are considering and look for statements about WiFi, cleanliness, location, responsiveness, etc. This will help you weed through the options you have and maybe even answer some questions that were going to ask. This is a great thing to do for hotel/motel stays and house rentals too! You will also need to keep in mind that when you are renting a house you also need to find out what the cleaning fees will be. This is not usually something that is built into the price of your stay. Right now because of Covid-19 some house rentals are also leaving a full 24 hour in between guest stays. Depending on where you are booking your house through you will also need to keep an eye out for different service fees that will get added on to your per night fee that you thought you were paying. The sticker price almost never includes these extra fees. When you rent a house you will also need to make sure that you know what is expected of you as the guest to do before you leave. You may be required to strip the beds, take out the garbage, or even make sure certain things are turned off. This might mean that you have to make sure you have time to do these things before you leave/check out. Plan for when you can check into the house that you rented. You can’t leave your bags like if you were to stay at a hotel so if you wanted to go somewhere right away do you feel comfortable leaving all of your stuff and/or food in a possibly hot car! The main upside of renting a house is so that you can cook your own food and have left over space. When looking for a house you might want to look into where the closest grocery store is. Even if it is a small one for little things you can map out a bigger one that is on the way and store before you get to the house. Keep in mind that supplies may be limited at the local grocery store and cost more than at home so ideally try to bring as much as you can from home. You really want to make sure that you are reading what is offered at your house. Kitchen utilities, bedding, pillows, soap, towels, sponge, spices; some house rentals will not supply everything that you would want. If things are not listed you can always message the owner about them or even just get a clarification of an item on the list. For example, coffee makers. What kind of coffee maker is it? Do you need to bring filters? If the house has a washer and dryer and you think that you will end up using it, you might want to bring your own detergent and dryer sheets. You also might want to think about bringing detergent pods since they pack a lot easier. Some places might have a few games and puzzles but you might want to think about bringing at least a deck of cards or other card games. If you are staying for a week the weather can change and you might get a rainy day where you are stuck inside. Outlets in houses might be tricky. You might want to look into getting a longer cord or even a small power strip can be useful when you need to charge different devices. You may want to think about bringing your own hand sanitizer. A lot of places will not provide hand sanitizer for your stay. Especially if you have younger kids you will want to try and make sure that they are getting into the habit of washing their hands every time they come inside the house. You may also want to look into getting disposable masks if you are able to buy them. They come in handy for doing outdoor activities since they tend to be a bit more breathable than reusable ones make out of different clothes. FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email at podcast@vacationmavens.com. You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcase and We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for listening!

170: Tips for Renting a Vacation Home + Packing Tips

Can you just picture yourself relaxing under a palm tree on a beautiful beach with a tropical drink in your hand? When you are ready to plan a vacation to the Caribbean, get ideas on the best islands and resorts from Caribbean Expert Sarah Gabbadon Greaves. Just keep in mind that some reopening plans have changed or rolled back for Americans since we recorded this episode. Please always check the latest regulations before planning a trip -- this is a good time to use a travel agent that is up to date on travel restrictions. ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Talking with Tamara about her Florida trip 12:45 - Talking with Sarah 15:00 - Open Islands and regulations 21:25 - Islands to visit 27:38 - Visiting from a cruise 30:50 - Beaches for families 34:43 - Active adventures 40:58 - Getting out 44:30 - Places to stay 52:50 - Final Tips 57:32 - Sarah’s Favorite Travel Gear ABOUT SARAH GREAVES-GABBADON Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon (aka JetSetSarah) is a travel writer, on-screen host and self-described “Carivangelist,” who goes to the beach and beyond to share the culture, lifestyle and personalities of the Caribbean with the world. Based in Miami, she creates content for outlets including Travel + Leisure; Islands.com; AARP; Essence magazine; the U.K.’s Telegraph and Canada’s Globe and Mail newspapers. Sarah is also jetsetter-in-chief at JetSetSarah.com where her passions – travel, style and fitness – meet. Follow Sarah on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter. TIPS FOR VISITING THE CARIBBEAN ISLANDS The Caribbean has surprised the world with how well it is doing with respect to the virus. As of June there have only been 16,000 cases. The islands of Anguilla, Saint Barts and Nevis have all been declared Covid free. The islands of Saint John, Saint Croix, Saint Lucia, Jamaica, Antigua and Saint Barts are all open. They are expecting to open the islands of the Bahamas, Grenada, the Dominican Republic, Aruba, Puerto Rico and Turks and Caicos soon. (Although some have since been closed to Americans -- please check updates!) Each island that is open has different regulations in terms of safety. There was a time when one could just hop on a flight and explore a different island on a whim. Now you will need to plan ahead and find out exactly what is needed for each specific island. Some might need proof of a negative test that was done within three days while others say that they will test you as soon as you arrive, or even both. If you are planning a trip soon to the Caribbean make sure to budget extra money if you end up in a situation where you need to quarantine for 14 days. Though quarantining in the Caribbean may not be so bad. Certain islands have quarantine hotels where you can’t leave the hotel, but you are allowed to go from your room to the beach! You should also keep in mind that if you have to get tested at an island it will cost you roughly $100 each person. They can not afford to test for free. When it comes to choosing an island, if you are looking for the total package, Jamaica is the island for you. Great food, great people and direct flights onto the island, especially if you are coming from the East Coast of the US. The Grand Cayman may not have any all inclusive resort, but they do have some great hotels. This is a really great family island to visit. They have very pristine waters and it is actually where scuba diving was invented. They don’t expect cruise ships to start visiting the Caribbean until possibly the fall. Even when they do start the ships will be at 50-75% capacity. They will also most likely be shorter, three to four night cruises and include stops on private islands. Cruising can be a great way to see a few islands in one trip and then decide on places you want to go back and explore more fully off the cruise. Doctor’s Cave Beach in Jamaica is really beautiful and well maintained. On Turks and Caicos there is a beach called Bambarra Beach that may seem a bit tricky to get to since you have to take a ferry and drive a bit. But when you get there you will realize it was worth the travel. The water is crystal clear and stays about knee deep for about a quarter mile out! There are no places to eat on this beach so you need to pack a picnic, which may be the only downside for some. On Grand Cayman there is a beach called Smiths Cove that is about a twenty minute drive from Seven Mile Beach. It is pretty small, but very relaxing. Jamaica has some really great mountain biking trails in the Blue Mountains. Dunn’s River Falls is a must do for visiting Jamaica. You will take a hike with a group that leads you to the top of a 600 foot high waterfall. Not recommended for children under seven. Saint Lucia has great hiking on a volcano called Gros Piton. You can also tour the drive-in volcano, which collapsed long ago. Your guide will tell you all about it. Right next door there are sulphuric mud pits that are supposed to be very healing. If you are staying at an all inclusive resort don't be afraid to get out and really take in the culture. If you are not sure where to go it is always helpful to ask the front desk or your driver, but a really great person to ask is someone on the house keeping staff. They seem to have really great recommendations and they are coming from their own experiences not just off a list they may be paid to promote. Staying on a private island is not cheap but so relaxing! If you have the money to splurge on a vacation a private island stay may be for you. There are so many islands in the Caribbean, all with different languages, music, culture and more. If you have never been, look around and find one to visit! If you have been to an island, don’t think that you have been there, done that. Find a different one to explore and enjoy! December through April tends to be the busiest for travel. So if you can, try to plan your trip just outside of these months. Like the US tipping is expected and though you don’t really need to worry about exchanging money or credit cards too much it is good practice to keep some cash handy for tipping. FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR Sarah loves her style and fashion. Her travel uniform is a pair of G-Star jeans along with a graphic T and her Adidastrack jacket. Then she will pair that with a pair of Adidas sneakers. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST Caribbean Travel Atlantis Submarines Atlantis Bahamas Baha Mar Grand Cayman Ritz Carlton  Petit St Vincent - Private island resort Fowl Cay Villas - Private island resort Compass Cay Marina - Private island resort What to pack in your carry on   FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email at podcast@vacationmavens.com. You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcase and We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for listening!  

169: Where to go in the Caribbean

If you are ready to hit the beach, head to Virginia Beach, where there is something for everyone. This week we chat with Brianna Simmons, from The Casual Travelist, about her hometown of Virginia Beach and all it has to offer families. ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Talking with Kim and Tamara about the beach 06:20 - Tamara’s upcoming trip 12:20 - Talking with Brianna 14:25 - How Virginia is doing with Covid-19 15:57 - Different sections of the beach 18:06 - Hotel vs. Beach House 19:45 - Activities 22:29 - Favorite Restaurants 24:40 - When to go 25:36 - Where Brianna wants to go next 26:48 - Brianna’s Favorite Travel Gear 28:20 - Coming up Next ABOUT BRIANNA SIMMONS Brianna Simmons is a travel blogger at the Casual Travelist where she balances her love for travel with a full time career as a physical therapist. Whether you’re getting away for 2 days or 2 weeks she aims to show you how to make the most of your vacation days. Follow Brianna on Facebook and Instagram. TIPS FOR VISITING VIRGINIA BEACH Virginia Beach has a beach experience for just about everyone. The main area is a resort area, which has a three-mile long boardwalk, making it a very family-friendly place to visit. During the summer they usually have music acts and a lot of other activities going on. This is also the area where you can find most of the hotels. If you are looking for a place quiet, you can always visit the Chesapeake Bay area, which is great and has calmer waters. Sandbridge is another area that is relaxing, located at the very northern tip on the Outer Banks. Depending on how long you are staying and where, renting a beach house is a great way to vacation at Virginia Beach. Going to the beach may be the main reason why you are visiting the area but there are definitely some other activities that you can do on your trip. For instance there is a really great Aquarium that also offers dolphin wildlife cruises during the summer months. They also offer whale watching cruises during the winter months. If you want to stay outdoors there are some different state parks you can explore and even camp if you are feeling adventurous. In Chesapeake Bay there is First Landing State Park that has some great wooded or water trails and also offers some camping areas. Around Sandbridge there is False Cape State Park, but you will have to hike or bike there since you can not drive to the park. Holiday weekends are usually very busy. Make sure to check the weather when you are planning your trip, as the days get closer you want to prepare yourself if it ends up being rainy. Being that the beach is on the East Coast you want to keep in mind the chance of hurricanes. FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR Brianna loves to wear her comfortable clothes, which includes a pair of leggings from American Giant paired with a Marine Layer t-shirt. As another layer she loves to wear her Daisy Wrap from Eddie Bauer that goes with everything. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST Where to Eat in Virginia Beach Beach Packing List - Stuffed Suitcase Hilton Garden Inn - Virginia Beach The Cavalier Hotel Virginia Aquarium  Commune Restaurant Bay Local Eatery Lolly’s Creamery Casual Foodist FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email at podcast@vacationmavens.com. You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcase and We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for listening!

168: Visiting Virginia Beach

This summer is definitely bringing back the great American road trip and one of the most beautiful is an Oregon Coast road trip. On the podcast, we talk with Jessica Baker from Boundless Bakers, about the time she spent on the Oregon Coast and she fills us in on the best places to stop, must see towns, and side trips to take along the way. ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Talking about future road trips 07:20 - Talking with Jessica Baker 09:25 - How long to spend in Oregon 10:20 - Where to fly into and out of 11:30 - Where to stop 22:20 - Where to stay 25:40 - Day trip locations 27:25 - Driving around 29:20 - Final tips 31:00 - Jessica’s Favorite Travel Gear 32:50 - What's next for Jessica and her family 33:45 - Coming up next on Vacation Mavens ABOUT JESSICA BAKER Jessica Baker is a full-time mom, wife, and RVer. She and her husband, two young kids, and three cats have been traveling North America full-time for the last year and a half. Jessica has contributed to RV travel blogs such as CampingWorld.com and DoItYourselfRV.com. Follow Jessica on Facebook and Instagram. TIPS FOR PLANNING AN OREGON COAST ROAD TRIP You can spend anywhere between a long weekend and a full week exploring what the Oregon Coast has to offer. If you are coming from the East Coast or even just farther than a drive away from Oregon’s coast, then fly into Portland and rent a car. You can then either fly back out of Eugene, or make the return loop via the highway. The natural beauty of the Oregon coast is what draws visitors to explore. As you are making your way down the coast here is a list of cute towns and attractions to visit along the way. Cannon Beach - is a little touristy that has a great food and if you are a Goonies fan this town should definitely be on your list. Depoe Bay - this town is known for whale watching. It may be tiny but it is a lot of fun. Newport - has great seafood and harbor. If you are interested, this is a great place to do your own fishing. You need a license but it is not expensive to purchase. Florence - is also a fishing town and is north of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, which covers forty miles of dunes. You can rent equipment and ride around the dunes! Hug Point is a really great location to visit, but you have to keep in mind when high and low tide are since you could potentially get stuck where you don’t want to be. It is a great spot for exploring the tide pools and water caves that are along the point. Devil's Punch Bowl is another area where you need to watch the tide times. If you are adventurous, during low tide you can hike down into the bowl and explore the inside before the tide comes back in. Cobble Beach is made up of little black volcanic rocks and when the water runs over it, it makes a really unique and beautiful sound. It is highly recommended that you make this a camping road trip and even rent an RV if you want. If not you can stay in Cannon Beach, which has a bunch of little hotels. You can also try Newport as that is a bit larger and has a number of different places to stay. There are a few places within four hours of the coast that can make a great day trip: Tillamook has a lot of dairy farms and it is a great place to visit and try some different cheeses and ice cream. Crater Lake is a gorgeous sight to see, and if you have time to explore it, you should add this into your itinerary. The Columbia River Gorge is another great area to visit whether you make it a day trip or spend a few days there. It is close to Portland and could be a good stop to make before you make your way to the coast. Driving around Oregon is not too difficult, especially if you stay on Highway 101. You will feel comfortable driving even if you are towing or driving an RV. Just don't be surprised if you lose cell service from time to time. FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR Jessica recommends wearing plenty of layers when visiting Oregon. She loves her Columbia windbreaker as an outer layer. She also likes to wear a pair of convertible hiking pants. That way she can unzip them into shorts if she gets too hot. She also likes to pair this with a pair of Keen shoes. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST Boundless Bakers Our Top 5 Oregon Coast RV Parks ($50 off RV rentals button on this page) Northern Oregon Coast RV Rentals (coupon here too) FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email at podcast@vacationmavens.com. You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcase and We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for listening!

167: Oregon Coast Road Trip

If your vacation budget is being squeezed, you are not alone. This week we tackle the topic of affordable vacation destinations (that you can hopefully take this year or in the near future) with Tim Leffel, author of "The World's Cheapest Destinations." Plus, we share some of our favorite black family travel content creators and commit to bringing more diverse voices onto the podcast.   ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Recommended black family travel bloggers 05:17 - Talking with Tim Leffel 07:20 - What makes a cheap destination 09:10 - US budget destinations 14:05 - Covid cases in other countries 15:35 - Budget places in other countries 20:50 - Tips for saving money 25:30 - Thoughts of what is to come 27:50 - Where Tim wants to go first 29:53 - Tim’s Favorite Travel Gear 33:20 - What’s next for Vacation Mavens ABOUT TIM LEFFEL Tim Leffel is an award-winning travel writer, editor, and blogger. He publishes five online magazines and blogs including Perceptive Travel, the Cheapest Destinations Blog, and Hotel Scoop. He is the author of several books including Travel Writing 2.0, A Better Life for Half the Price, and The World's Cheapest Destinations, now in its fifth edition. He is a member of NATJA and SATW and is North American Conference Director of the Travel Bloggers Exhange Conference (TBEX). Follow Tim on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. TIPS FOR TRAVELING ON A BUDGET Visiting a place where the cost of living is cheaper ends up being a bit cheaper if you are going to take a vacation there. If the cost of living is cheaper that means dinners, admission prices and even room costs tend to be lower than your home country or city. Just checking out smaller cities in the US rather than going to a big city like NYC or Chicago can help save you on the budget. There is still a lot to offer in smaller cities including museums, waterparks, aquariums, etc. Smaller cities are also usually easier to get around being that they are not as crowded. In other countries there are different regions that are budget friendly for families In Europe there are two great budget areas; one in Eastern Europe and one in the Balkans. The Southeast Asian countries are pretty close together and easy to get to, making this area a backpacker favorite. South America also has some great budget friendly areas to visit. Malaysia is one of these budget areas that doesn’t get thought about often, but it holds a lot to explore. The roads are easy to travel, the food is cheap and good and you don’t have to worry about the water, it is safe to drink. There are some destinations like Iceland or Canada that if you have had them on your bucket list some places are offering cheaper prices than normal and the exchange rate is really good. You should definitely look into these destinations if you have wanted to go there at all, this might be your opportunity to take that trip at a lower price that you could have before. (Just keep in mind that the Canadian border is closed until at least the end of July and, while Iceland is reopening on June 15th, you need to get tested either before you arrive or on arrival or be subject to a 14-day quarantine.) It may be tougher for families but the more you leave yourself open the options of making the trip trip cheaper increases. Travel dates are a big cost change if you are more flexible. Having kids in school makes this harder to do but it is definitely something to keep an eye on when your kids are younger and you are more capable to pull them out of school. You also want to think about high travel times for different destinations. Peak season for travel is going to be different in different countries and destinations. This will make your trip cheaper if you are able to go at a non-peak time. Other kinds of accommodations and travel options can make a big difference in your budget. FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR Tim loves to wear either ExOffico or CragHoppers clothing. He has tried out a bunch of different brands of gear and loves how well these brands have held up over the years. He will also almost always choose something that is quick dry and he can wash it in the sink if he has to. He has recently been wearing some Prana items because he likes the comfort and how they look. If he is going anywhere that he thinks might be busy, he will wear pick-pocket proof pants to keep his items safe. As for socks, he loves his Darn Tough socks that are very durable and comfortable to wear and are made in the USA. For shoes he likes a lot of different kinds but Sanuk’s are the best for compact travel. They are comfortable and they are also easily compressed and can fit nicely in your bag for travel, no matter what kind of bag you have. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST Travelers to follow: Heather Greenwood Davis on Instagram Montoya from The Spring Break Family Blog Monet from The Traveling Child Blog Karen from The Mom Trotter Blog Tim’s Travel Books Stuffed Suitcase - Budget Vacation Worksheet Stuffed Suitcase - Budget Planner FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email at podcast@vacationmavens.com. You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcase and We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for listening!

166: Affordable Vacation Destinations

With states across the U.S. entering some phase of reopening, Kim and Tamara tackle the  topic of summer travel. What will be open, what should you expect if you travel, and what are the best trips to think about right now? Tune in. ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Talking with Kim and Tamara 01:15 - Finding travel information 02:00 - Florida 11:08 - Flying 16:00 - States that are doing well 20:08 - Rentals 24:02 - International travel 29:20 - Reopening plans 31:50 - What to do locally TIPS FOR NAVIGATING REOPENING TRAVEL The information coming to you today is current as of May 27th. Location changes and regulations for travel are changing daily. Keep in mind that some locations have 14-day quarantine requirements for visitors coming from other states. Some states are state specific for these quarantines. For instance Florida is checking license plates specifically for New York and New Jersey. If you are planning to take a trip outside of your state for the summer, you may need to do a lot more research to make the trip happen. With information changing almost daily you may want to think about keeping to your own state in regards to summer plans for this year. As states are opening up, restaurants, hotels, beaches, etc. are limiting capacity. Some hotels and restaurants will only be opening at 50% capacity. Keep in mind that if you plan on flying somewhere some airlines are blocking the middle seat and having to change their schedules around a lot more than usual. You will need to be a bit more flexible than you normally would. You can also expect new procedures and long lines at the airport as more people start traveling. Flexibility with airline cancellations is coming to a close. Some airlines that were previously offering free cancellation or changes have stopped as of May 31st. So you need to keep this in mind when you are planning to take a flight somewhere. You may not be able to get your money back if you decide against the trip or find out new information regarding the place you are going that you don’t want to risk. Listen to more information about National Parks on our previous episode 164. In this episode you will get some useful information regarding what is happening with different parks and where to find the most updated information as places are being reopened. If you plan on renting a house somewhere, make sure you bring a good amount of supplies with you. You don’t know what you will be able to find when you get there. The grocery stores might not be as replenished as you would think. You will also be buying up supplies that the locals need as well. International travel will be more difficult. Some areas may be opening for tourists but only allowing certain countries to come in. You will need to make sure to do a lot of research on where you could be allowed and what their regulations for quarantine are. A lot of things are still up in the air and are changing almost daily. If you have a specific state that you would like to go to you can try googling what that state's reopening plans are. Some states have sites dedicated to what they are doing about reopening and maybe even dates for when things are happening. Keep in mind that though some states may be reopening for their citizens that does not mean that they are allowing travelers from out of state. Take this opportunity to explore the area around your house or town. You may not have known that there was a great hiking trail a mile from your house. Or maybe even a drive in theater in the next town over. You can use this time to explore around your own area, maybe even find some new regular places to visit. Tamara also wrote a post about where to go this summer and some safe travel tips. FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email at podcast@vacationmavens.com. You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcase and We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for listening!  

What does reopening mean for travel in 2020?

Wondering what is in store for the National Parks this summer? The Vacation Mavens chat with John Tillison, a former park ranger and publisher of the Park Ranger John website, to get his take on planning a visit to the National Parks in 2020 and what to expect. Plus we talk about virtual Junior Ranger programs that you can do at home. ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Sponsors - COMRAD Socks and Moon Travel Guides 00:56 - Talking with Kim and Tamara about summer plans 03:40 - Talking with John Tillison 04:30 - What is happening with National Parks right now 06:30 - What to expect this summer 11:55 - Junior Ranger Program 19:30 - Virtual Tours 23:05 - Parks to visit 29:55 - Where John wants to go first 30:35 - John’s Favorite Travel Gear 33:20 - Coming up next ABOUT MOON TRAVEL GUIDES This episode is sponsored by Moon Travel Guides. What’s the best way to explore the world’s greatest cities like a local? On foot! Leave the tourist traps behind and discover local favorite spots in cities like Paris, Rome, New York, and Amsterdam with the City Walks series from Moon Travel Guides, which now includes a brand-new guide to Tokyo! As the pocket-sized companion to Moon Japan, Moon Tokyo Walks is the ultimate way to experience Tokyo’s infectious energy and futuristic charm at your own pace, without missing a beat. Visit moon.com or your favorite bookseller to grab your guide. ABOUT COMRAD SOCKS This episode is also sponsored by Comrad Socks. Comrad compression socks are an essential no serious traveler should board a flight without — at least on LA-NY or transoceanic segments — and makes a major difference in how your legs and feet feel during the flight, upon arrival, and the next day. Their aim is to make the best, most stylish, comfortable version of what’s traditionally been a boring but useful product—and that’s why travel customers that already know and wear compression are getting excited about. Receive 20% off your first using discount code VACATIONMAVENS. ABOUT JOHN TILLISON John was a Law Enforcement Park Ranger for 20 years before starting Park Ranger John. The goal of Park Ranger John is to share the things I learned while working and living in parks. I want our readers to have the best experiences possible in the parks they visit. Follow John on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. TIPS FOR VISITING NATIONAL PARKS As the National parks start to open you may see different rules and regulations for each park depending on the crowds that they are getting. Some parks may only be available for scheduled visits rather than just showing up. Crowd control has always been a top priority for National Parks and you will see that this is still a fact as the parks are slowly re-opening. Make sure that you are contacting the right people to find out what each park is offering as they start to open up again, whether it is a visitors center or the local Park Rangers. Facebook and Twitter have been a really up to date source of information for what is going on for each of the parks. The Junior Ranger Programs are a really great source of learning for a bunch of different age groups. The way the program works is that you would find a ranger at a visitors center or contact station and ask about the program. They will give you a booklet and throughout the day you will go through the visitors center and learn some of the history of the park. Then you will go out into the park and do some activities. Once you do the worksheets in the booklet you will take it into the ranger and take a pledge and receive a Junior Ranger Badge. This is not something that you can do in five minutes. You will need to make sure that you are getting the booklet as soon as you get there if this is something that you want to do for your visit. You can also earn a Junior Ranger Badge virtually. Different parks are offering some other virtual learning tools right now that kids can take advantage of. Just visit John’s site for information on the Junior Ranger Programs so that you can learn at home. You can look up National Park webcams and just look around at different parks at home. The average National Park visits is about 3 - 4 hours, usually between the hours of 9am and 4pm. So if you want to visit at a less busy time you should keep that in mind when planning your visit. The first couple weeks of June or the very end of August also tend to be less crowded due to school openings and closings. Unfortunately that won't necessarily be the case for this year! FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR John loves his Zamberlan boots because if his feet aren't happy he is not happy! He also likes to wear layers because it is easy to dress up or down, and clothes that dry quickly. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST Junior Ranger Programs “Virtual” Parks National Park webcams 2019 Least Visited National Parks FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email at podcast@vacationmavens.com. You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcase and We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for listening!

Tips for Visiting National Parks in 2020

We have reached the point in staying at home when we are really missing travel. To get the experience of traveling at home and fighting back boredom, this week Kim and Tamara interview two tour operators and a winery owner about the virtual experiences they offer. Angelo from LivItaly shares the innovative and engaging ways his tour guides are sharing their subject matter expertise (and humor!), while Rachel from Devour Tours talks about her company's free and paid cooking demonstrations and classes. And we chat wine and virtual wine tasting with Chris from Benziger Family Winery. ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Sponsor - Comrad Socks 00:50 - Talking with Kim and Tamara 08:20 - Talking with Angelo from LivItaly 11:35 - LivTalks 20:50 - Where Angelo is heading first 23:30 - Talking with Rachel from Devour Tours 30:50 - What’s going on in Spain 32:15 - Where Rachel is heading first 33:33 - Talking with Chris from Benziger Family Winery 37:47 - Wine Wednesday 40:10 - Private Happy Hour 43:50 - Where Chris is heading first 45:17 - Up next for Vacation Mavens ABOUT OUR SPONSOR This episode is sponsored by Comrad Socks. Comrad compression socks are an essential no serious traveler should board a flight without — at least on LA-NY or transoceanic segments — and makes a major difference in how your legs and feet feel during the flight, upon arrival, and the next day. Their aim is to make the best, most stylish, comfortable version of what’s traditionally been a boring but useful product—and that’s why travel customers that already know and wear compression are getting excited about. Receive 20% off your first using discount code VACATIONMAVENS. ABOUT ANGELO CAROTENUTO FROM LIVTOURS Angelo Carotenuto is born in Italy from an American mother and a Neapolitan father. After attending public Italian school up until the age of 18, he moved to the United States of America to attend Occidental College in Los Angeles. He pursued his BA in acting and also studied at the London Dramatic Arts perfectioning his art. He often loved to take his friends and family members around, proud of his cultural heritage and at ease in front of crowds. Angelo worked for companies of all sorts of shape and form, creating an outstanding CV and receiving thousands of 5-star reviews on TripAdvisor and other social channels. He then realized that there was a niche of tourism that needed more attention. A segment of people that were actually looking for authentic emotions and that valued their dream of coming to Italy as extraordinary and needed to pursue every aspect they had ever dreamt of: food, wine, art, culture, soccer, fashion, ferrari, etc. He then founded LivItaly Tours with the intent of creating services that matched people’s dreams of Italy and that allowed them to authentically experience all of them, however and whenever they wanted, a la carte, throughout their vacation. Along with this, knowing that nobody dreamt about following a flag, in large groups, and having dirty headsets in their ears, he decided that even the most traditional of tours, needed to be an experience and opted to cap small group tours at max 6 people and offer private tours, all at competitive pricing. The mixture of the two ingredients: the quality of the tours and the variety of the offer, made LivItaly a leader in the Italian industry. With the help of Kristin, his wife, they brought LivItaly to be recognized internationally and partner and collaborate with the most infallible businesses of the world. LivItaly’s wide range of offers also include truly fantastic family tours and activities in almost every corner of the peninsula. Activities dedicated to provide entertainment to all family members, give the parents the ability to trust and relax while touring and making sure children go back with fond memories of their time in Italy. After years of providing excellent service to clients in Italy, LivItaly recently expanded to Paris, London, and Spain under the LivTours umbrella. Follow Angelo on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. LIVTALKS The LivTours team has recently revealed LivTalks, a series of online events that bring the world to "visitors", even when we can't travel. Each session lasts approximately 45 minus and starts with an interactive and entertaining discussion between Angelo and a local guide, followed by questions and answered. Upcoming topics include: Best moments in Italian soccer Ostia, the cradle of an empire World War II: Facism, Jewish Persecution, and how Italians saved them Climbing the Dome of St. Peters from home Michelangelo and the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel ABOUT RACHEL SCHNEIDMILL FROM DEVOUR TOURS Originally from New York, Rachel also called Washington DC her home for eight years where she worked in marketing roles across a variety of industries before moving to Spain two years ago. She has a serious (but fun!) interest in wine and is currently enrolled in the Spanish Wine Scholar program. Rachel has been working at Devour Tours for the last eight months and loves everything about her company; from its mission to help connect local culture to tourists, to the amazing group of people who work there. Devour Tours is based in Madrid and operates across eight cities in Europe, offering food and wine tours that represent each city. Follow Rachel on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. DEVOUR TOURS Devour Tours offers a number of different free and paid Online Experiences from Facebook Live cooking sessions to virtual cooking classes. Devour Tours has also put together a virtual Cookbook from their favorite guides. Upcoming online experiences include: Pair wine and cheese like a Parisian Cook pasta like a Roman Discover England's history through 10 dishes Cook a Medieval recipe Discover Portugal's history through 10 dishes ABOUT CHRIS BENZIGER FROM BENZIGER FAMILY WINERY Still in high school when the Benziger family moved from White Plains, Chris finished his senior year in wine country. He went on to earn a degree in marketing from the University of San Francisco while spending summers, weekends and every spare moment working at the winery. He officially joined the Benziger Family Winery in 1993 as a Brand Manager. In addition to sales responsibilities, Chris also oversees the home ranch and its many farm related duties, i.e. shepherding the Benziger flock of sheep and cows, tending to the estate vegetable and fruit trees, and producing the Biodynamic preparations for all our vineyards. Chris feels that the only way to communicate the quality of the wines he promotes is by having the soil from the vineyard in which he’s endorsing under his nails. The best impression a winemaker can leave on his wines are his footprints in the vineyards. Follow Chris on Facebook and Instagram. BENZIGER WINERY Since visitors can come to the winery right now, Benziger and their sister winery, Imagery Winery, have introduced Wine Wednesdays every Wednesday on Instagram Live at 4pm PDT. Join in to learn or taste along by getting your wine for Wine Wednesdays from Benziger. Upcoming Wine Tastings include the following: FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email at podcast@vacationmavens.com. You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcase and We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for listening!

163 Virtual Travel Tours and Experiences

Vacation Mavens is a family travel podcast offering destination inspiration and travel tips for traveling with kids. Co-hosted by Family Travel bloggers, friends, and moms Kimberly Tate from Stuffed Suitcase and Tamara Gruber from We3Travel. Each week we chat about our recent travels and interview fellow parents and family travel experts about destinations or travel tips to provide the info you need to jumpstart family vacation planning and tips to get you out the door.

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Vacation Mavens

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