DESTINATIONS
“A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.”
John A. Shedd
We have enjoyed the thrill of travel for years. Before we set out on travel adventures with our kiddos, we had visited about a dozen states in the U.S., England, Germany, Belgium, Iceland, South Korea, Japan and China. Since adding our kids to the mix, we’ve traveled as a family to multiple destinations, including U.S. states, England, Wales, New Zealand, Australia, Denmark, Sweden, Italy, Croatia, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Thailand, and counting!
Below you will find a running list of destinations our family of four has explored together on our extended trip around the world which officially kicked off in September 2019. If you have any questions about these destinations, please reach out! We’d love to hear from you!
Some of Our Favorite Accommodation
When a rental property or hotel really impresses us, we just have to share it! To read about some of our favorites, click here.
Destinations we have visited on our extended trip, (in chronological order!)
1. Maryland, USA
2. Bologna, Italy
3. Cervia, Italy
4. Split, Croatia
5. Munich, Germany
6. Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
7. Innsbruck, Austria
8. Budapest, Hungary
9. Chester, England
10. Colwyn Bay, Wales
11. Hinckley, England
12. Plauen, Germany
13. Chiang Mai, Thailand
14. Margaret River, Australia
15. Perth, Australia
16. Denmark, Australia
17. Coral Coast Road Trip, Australia
18. Florida, USA
Maryland, USA
September 7 - September 12, 2019
We officially kicked off our trip around the world! We left San Antonio, Texas on September 7th (emotional day to say the least) and headed to Maryland for a week to spend some time with Christi’s father and brother. The kids got to spend time playing with Grandpa and Uncle Kyle, while we finalized a few travel details and wrapped up last minute logistics.
From switching our home insurance to cover renters, ensuring our dogs (and we) received vaccines, booking flights, accommodation and transport from one country to the next, health/travel insurance, packing up our home, packing for the actual trip and much more, there really is quite a lot to think about before committing to a 12 month trip around the world! We are quite confident we forgot something, but we will figure it out as we go!
Bologna, Italy
September 13 - September 18, 2019
We decided to begin our extended travels in Bologna purely by practical necessity. Jay was registered for the Ironman race in Cervia, Italy, and a quick internet search told us right away that we would need to fly into Bologna and then catch a train to Cervia. Knowing that we would all be exhausted after our transatlantic flight from Washington D.C., we decided to linger in Bologna for five nights to let our body clocks adjust and take in some bonus sightseeing. We are happy to report that Bologna did not disappoint.
Blog Post: Bologna, with Kids: A Five Day Guide
Cervia, Italy
September 18 - September 25, 2019
Our trip to Cervia was all about Jay competing in the Italy Ironman race, for which he had been training for 12 months. Jay’s mother and brother made the trip from England to cheer him on which made for a wonderful family experience and an opportunity for Chloe and Camden to spend some time with their Nanny and Uncle Simon!
Located in the Emilia Romagna region in north east Italy, Cervia is a lovely beach town on the Adriatic Sea. With soft sandy beaches, several play parks, wild flamingos, a local fishing village, and mostly calm seas, we certainly see how this town is a hit with families during the summer months.
We visited in mid September, and it was very clear that the Ironman was the final event of the season. Within a couple of days after the race, most shops and restaurants were closed for the season. Despite the shortage of open restaurants, we still managed to experience some of the local cuisine, even though the owner of one restaurant was wearing a shirt that read “Locals Only” in English!
Blog Post : IRONMAN Experience, Italy 2019
Split, Croatia
September 26 - October 3, 2019
Split is a striking city anchored by Diocletian’s Palace, an ancient Roman palace built as a military fortress in the 4th century. Marble, limestone, grand archways, Egyptian sphinxes, wide paths intended for military formations and narrow alleys built for quick hideaways all make for a majestic and wondrous place to explore.
Today the palace is bustling with restaurants, bars, residences, shops, and market stalls.
Besides meandering through the palace, we visited the nearby Bacvice Beach for some sandy family fun, and we ventured out to Krka National Park to stroll amid a network of beautiful waterfalls.
We were welcomed by locals everywhere we went, and our kiddos loved walking along the harbor, playing at our little neighborhood park, and greeting birds on the small balcony of our apartment.
Our neighbors, Deni and Katie were extremely welcoming and we enjoyed hearing their stories of years gone by having lived in Split for over 50 years!
We really enjoyed our time in Croatia and look forward to one day visiting one of the many other beautiful cities.
Youtube Video – Krka National Park
Munich, Germany
October 3 - October 15, 2019
Our time in Munich began with Oktoberfest, the famous annual festival dedicated to celebrating German beer, food, and culture. The beer halls were astounding, the carnival rides were abundant, and of course the beer, food, and atmosphere were first-rate. Chloe loved the rides and the huge pretzels! And although Christi fell ill for several days with an awful stomach bug, Oktoberfest was the perfect welcome to our time in Bavaria.
Munich continued to impress us with its beautiful, sprawling English Garden complete with playgrounds and surfers. We also frequented Marienplatz, Munich’s central square since 1158 and home to the famous Rathaus-Glockenspiel which chimes twice daily and showcases life-size Bavarian figures. We enjoyed snacking at the outdoor food market, Viktualienmarkt, and exploring our diverse neighborhood.
On October 13th, Christi ran the Munich Half Marathon! The mostly flat course offered a wonderful tour of Munich and ended in the beautiful Olympiapark which was constructed for the 1972 Summer Olympics. Jay, Chloe, and Camden were at the finish line, full of cheers and wildly waving noisemakers.
On our last day in Munich, Christi’s father, (aka, Grandpa), joined us. We had a lovely dinner together at Augustiner-Keller, and the next morning we all boarded our train to Garmisch-Partenkirchen! Thank you, Munich!
Youtube Video – Oktoberfest
Youtube Video – Christi Munich Half Marathon
Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
October 15 - November 15, 2019
This was our longest stay to date! And one of our favorite destinations. Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a beautiful ski town in Bavaria, southern Germany. The two towns were combined in 1935 ahead of hosting the 1936 Winter Olympics, and outdoor activities still rein supreme here. Nestled among stunning scenery including rolling, lush fields with cows and sheep, hidden waterfalls, peaceful lakes, covered bridges over chilly rivers, and of course, close proximity to majestic mountains, Garmisch-Partenkirchen was a magical place to spend a month.
Christi’s father joined us on our last day in Munich, and we all traveled together on the quick 90-minute train ride to Garmisch-Partenkirchen. We enjoyed strolling the streets of Garmisch, exploring the sprawling network of well-maintained nature trails, and tasting traditional Bavarian fare at local restaurants. Christi and Jay both relished running along the scenic trails and breathing the crisp mountain air. Christi even ran the annual, hilly, 12.2km Eibsee-Herbstlauf race on October 27th!
There are too many highlights to name, but a few notable memories include hikes around Eibsee Lake; staying one night at the Eibsee Hotel; riding the cable car to Zugspitze, Germany’s highest peak; visiting Neuschwanstein Castle; riding zip lines at the local playgrounds; carving pumpkins and attempting to trick-or-treat on Halloween; walking into town regularly; and playing outside in our apartment’s peaceful backyard, especially when it snowed! It’s safe to say that we each left a little piece of our hearts in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
Check out our favorite accommodations to read more about our rental home and the Eibsee Hotel!
Youtube video – Zugspitze Mountain
Innsbruck, Austria
November 11, 2019
Our day trip to Innsbruck, Austria, was short but sweet. Located in the Austrian Alps, Innsbruck is a convenient one-hour drive from Garmisch-Partenkirchen. After the scenic drive, we arrived around 9:30 in the morning and quickly made our way to the Old Town to explore the colorful streets and watch the Christmas market stalls take shape ahead of the market’s opening.
The kids particularly enjoyed spotting the larger-than-life dolls that decorated some of the Old Town buildings. We had a delicious lunch at Piano Bar, stopped in a few local shops, and then headed back into Germany.
Budapest, Hungary
November 15 - November 27, 2019 and December 9 - December 18, 2019
Chester, England
November 27 - November 29, 2019
To kick off our trip to the U.K., we headed to Chester for a couple of days. Located just outside of Liverpool, Chester has some of the most complete Roman city walls and the largest Roman Amphitheater in Britain. It really is a stunning city that brings together history and modern architecture in a delightful way.
Chester is also the home of UDA Soccer, (University Degrees Abroad), a professional academic soccer academy for which Jay recruits. The program is headquartered at the University of Chester.
UDA Soccer is for graduating high school students who want to attain a global university education while pursuing their soccer ambitions. Offering year-round soccer, it is an attractive program for American-based players because most U.S. colleges only offer very short, compact soccer seasons.
During our visit we celebrated Thanksgiving with the UDA Soccer Directors, staff, and students. We enjoyed a fun evening complete with turkey and all the trimmings, and Jay got to spend some time with several of the boys he recruited for the program.
When Jay was not at the soccer fields, we wandered the city center and enjoyed some treats from the early Christmas markets.
We definitely recommend adding Chester to your list of cities to visit if you’re planning a trip to the U.K.!
Colwyn Bay, Wales
November 29 - December 2, 2019
The highlight of our Colwyn Bay stay was when Jay’s parents, Meg and Brian, surprised him by appearing at a neighboring table in the cafe where we stopped for tea! (It was also amazing that Christi was able to keep their plans a secret!) Sharing this portion of the trip with them was really special. We visited the towering 13th century Conwy Castle and then sampled some fresh Welsh cakes from a local bakery. To top off our short stay in Colwyn Bay, we all enjoyed an early Christmas meal together complete with Christmas crackers, fancy desserts, and plenty of laughter.
This rental home made our list of favorite accommodations!
Hinckley, England
December 2 - December 9, 2019
The other highlights of our trip included visiting Dobbie’s Garden Center and meeting Santa; Camden’s first haircut at the same barber that Jay used when he was young; a mommy-daughter haircut date; and playtime with Chloe and Camden’s young cousins.
Plauen, Germany
December 19 - December 28, 2019
Plauen’s 300-year-old Christmas market was magical. Located in the town square, at the foot of the Old Town Hall, dozens of market stalls offered Christmas ornaments and gifts, wooden figurines, lace, roasted nuts, baked goods, and lots of yummy food and mulled wine. There was also a stage in the market where we saw a local dance troupe, a children’s choir, and a country music singer perform.
Christmas Day was especially memorable. Santa found us! The kids set out milk, cookies, and carrots on Christmas Eve, and they were greeted to presents under the tree on Christmas morning. Chloe received her much-anticipated scooter, and Camden just liked ripping through the wrapping paper. We went for a family walk to a local park where we fed the ducks, and later we enjoyed Christmas dinner at Matsch downtown. We are very grateful to have spent Christmas in a beautiful, family home in a festive, cozy town.
Chiang Mai, Thailand
December 29, 2019 - January 24, 2020
We navigated the food scene: groceries, restaurants, eateries, and markets. We learned how to get around the city using Grab and songthaews. And we made an unexpected trip to the local hospital when Chloe came down with a nasty bout of the flu. Our first week in Chiang Mai was intense, but the charm and uniqueness of the city quickly made up for it.
The remaining three weeks of our visit was filled with memorable experiences. We wandered into several temples to admire the ornate architecture and quiet stillness. We went on a food tour to sample local dishes from unassuming eateries and street vendors. We explored a few markets and marveled at the goods and eats on offer. And we went on a full-day elephant encounter excursion complete with feeding and bathing the gentle giants.
The kids also enjoyed some playground time at both Nong Buak Had Park and Lanna Rama IX Park. And as if we weren’t busy enough, Jay attended the three-day World Nomad Summit where he met and mingled with other travelers!
Blog Post: Tips for Visiting Chiang Mai, Thailand, with Kids
Blog Post: Best things to Do in Chiang Mai, Thailand with Kids
Margaret River, Australia
January 26 - February 8, 2020
We loved our two weeks in Margaret River! It was the perfect place to relax after a very busy month in Thailand. A three-hour drive from Perth, Margaret River is a peaceful, laid-back town where pristine beaches, well-worn wooded trails, sweeping wineries, family-friendly breweries, specialty shops, and the friendly, local community combine to make an idyllic family getaway destination.
Our rental home was situated on a quiet, wooded lot just a four-minute drive from town, and we loved lounging in the backyard, playing hide and seek, and spotting various bright, tropical birds in the trees.
We had many memorable family days in Margaret River. We spent a day in Busselton where we ventured out on the 1,841-meter-long jetty, relaxed on the pristine beach, and enjoyed lunch looking out into the ocean. We sampled our way through the Margaret River farmers market and met the friendly producers of mouth-watering baked goods, juices, coffee, produce, cheese, honey, and more.
We took a tour of the stunning Jewel Cave throughout which Chloe loved being the leader and spotting rock formations shaped like animals and coral. Our entire family fell in love with the gorgeous Hamelin Bay as we watched giant stingrays glide through the crystal clear, shallow water near our picnic blanket.
We visited Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse and scanned the point where the Southern and Indian Oceans meet for signs of dolphins. And we celebrated Christi’s 37th birthday with lunch at The Berry Farm and a spectacular sunset at Surfers Point Beach. It’s safe to say that we were very sad to leave Margaret River.
In addition to giving us many special family memories, it reminded us how much our family values getting out in nature. We will absolutely return!
This rental home made our list of favorite accommodations!
Perth, Australia
February 8 - March 7, 2020 and March 31 - June 16, 2020
We arrived in Perth in late January with plans to stay in Western Australia for about six weeks. Almost immediately we began to fall in love with Perth for its stunning scenery, abundant parks and playgrounds, beautiful beaches, lively farmers markets, and friendly community. The kids attended a lovely local preschool twice per week which connected us with other families. We explored the Swan River, the central business district, the Swan Valley, the coastline, and our neighborhood of South Perth. We met kangaroos at Caversham Wildlife Park and quokkas on Rottnest Island. Perth truly impressed us on a variety of levels, and we felt at home.
By mid-March, in light of the global pandemic, we decided to remain in Western Australia for an undefined length of time. We gambled that it would be the best place for our family to hunker down and stay safe. We were right.
So on March 31st, we left Denmark and drove the five hours back to Perth worried, uncertain, homesick, and determined. Regional borders within Western Australia closed at midnight that evening. We were determined to weather the COVID-19 storm the best way we knew how— day by day and with as much positivity as we could muster.
During our next 10 weeks in Perth, we quietly made happy family memories, experienced plenty of anxiety and worry, and were reminded each day what truly matters— our health and our love for one another.
In the beginning, we walked around our Victoria Park neighborhood… a lot. As social distancing restrictions began to ease, we hiked, visited beaches, and finally, let loose on playgrounds and dined at an actual restaurant! We met genuinely kind, welcoming, thoughtful people who invited us into their lives and with whom we’ve become friends. We are immeasurably thankful for the support and friendship they extended to us. Camden turned 2 in May, and we celebrated with new friends on the front lawn of our rental home.
We are so humbled to have been in Perth for the first 10 weeks of the somber COVID-19 season. We are forever grateful to Perth and Western Australia for providing our little family a haven during this incredibly tumultuous time. Perth, you certainly have our hearts.
Denmark, Australia
March 7 - March 31, 2020
As our family witnessed the COVID-19 pandemic tighten its grip on the world, we were faced with very difficult decisions about whether and when to leave Australia. We consumed the increasingly horrific headlines from around the world which provided a never-ending script of COVID-19 tragedies and updates on a severely contracting travel industry. We saw our local Denmark grocery stores run out of supplies, and we scrambled to keep up with the travel advisories and latest safety precautions. Would it be safe to fly home? Our house in Texas was rented out, so where would we go? We didn’t want to remain so far away from our aging parents in the U.S. and the U.K., but we felt safe in Australia. However, were we prepared to remain here “indefinitely”?
Coral Coast, Australia, Road Trip
June 16 - August 11, 2020
Finding ourselves fortunate to be in Western Australia in 2020, we decided to go exploring! Western Australia did a truly remarkable job of flattening their coronavirus curve and keeping their communities safe. As a result, COVID-19-related restrictions in Western Australia began to ease on April 27th, and by May 18th, most regional borders within Western Australia were reopened.
After monitoring the local news, advice of local authorities, and our own intuition, by mid June we decided to set out to explore more of the great state of Western Australia.
We were simply blown away by the beauty of WA. Road tripping with two little ones was trying at times, but the experiences were priceless. The Coral Coast is utterly majestic.
Read and watch our videos from each leg of our epic journey from Perth to Exmouth!
Blog Part One: Lancelin & Jurien Bay
Watch:
– Sandboarding at the Lancelin Sand Dunes
– Top 8 Things to Do in Jurian Bay
– Pinnacles Desert – Tracking Emu and Kangaroo Footprints
Blog Part Two: Kalbarri
Watch:
– Top 10 Things to Do in Kalbarri
– Hiking the Kalbarri Z-Bend Trails
– Hiking the Kalbarri Natures Window Trail
Blog Part Three: Outback Station Stays
Watch:
– Outback Australia – See Where we stayed
Blog Part Four: Carnarvon
Watch:
– Fruit Loop Trail and Huge Cactus Garden
Blog Part Five: Bullara Station & The Ningaloo Reef
Watch:
THANK YOU, AUSTRALIA!
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