Stop making excuses not to travel!

I catch a serious case of wanderlust a few times a year, like clockwork, and life's too short to smother that fiery urge! Sure, planning, paying for, and pulling off a solo trip is like juggling flaming torches, but if you see it as exhausting and impossible, you'll never get off the couch. You’ve got to flip your perspective on traveling—especially when you’ve got kiddos in tow.

I make it my mission to explore at least one new place a year, and I plot my family adventures around spots I REALLY WANT to visit. That's how I crank up the excitement for a trip. I’ll throw in activities I know my boys will enjoy and let them make some choices, but the ultimate destination is somewhere mama’s itching to explore!

Yellowstone National Park was a bucket list place I wanted to visit, so I spent 7 months saving, planning, and booking our week long adventure. This trip was definitely one I needed to save up for, not to mention do my research, but I had so much fun reading about the area that it didn't feel exhausting. Did everything go as planned? Absolutely not, (some fucking asshole stole my wallet)—and once you let go of that notion that everything has to go perfectly, you'll feel so much better, and your kids can feel that, too.

That trip cost me around $3,000 between round trip flights for the three of us, a car rental, meals, hotel, and trinkets. A trip like that might not be in the cards for you this year or the next but that doesn't mean you need to lock yourselves away.

Make big plans on a smaller budget.

Never minimize any trips you take yourself or your family on. If you're the master of the plans for your trip and it's all on your shoulders to pay and plan- you're a fucking rockstar.

Every state in the U.S. has great places to visit. Whether you're looking to further explore your home state, or a neighboring one, do some research on the top cities, state parks, hiking trails, and destinations. Every state has a tourism website if you're looking to just get a start. Pinterest also has great travel blogs posted from so many talented writers and photographers and then you're getting travel advice from everyday people with real reviews. Whatever your distance, do not downplay your trip!

When I get to my destination, if I haven't pre booked anything, I'll check out Groupon on my app and set the location to whatever area I am traveling in. I've found some really cool things like, Walking Ghost Tours, snorkel rentals, glow in the dark kayaking, and more! If you're going the outdoor route, get a state parks pass. Daily passes are usually very affordable, (under $20), and yearly passes ensure you can keep going back without paying a daily fee.

Lodging can get spendy... and sketchy.

You've got kids and you want to keep them safe and healthy! Staying next to meth head Molly is a no go. Here's some hopefully helpful advice for you.

If we're going on a road trip, I typically bring my fur baby, Beaux, with us, so I have to book somewhere pet-friendly. I use Expedia so I can apply my traveler's points, which saves me a little money on the booking, too.

Side Note: if you're traveling with a pet that you read the deposit policy. Some hotels have deposits, and I've been surprised before and pissed, ($200 fucking extra dollars in Kansas). I never read the fine print but in this case, Read. The. Fine. Print.

I like to Google Map the area and zoom in and out a bit before officially booking just to get a feel for the environment we will be in. If I know someone local, I give them a call and have them drive by or ask if they know anything about the place we will potentially be staying at. Expedia also has an option to book now, pay later, so you can get it on the calendar but pay when you can; however, you typically get a discount for booking right away.

I always look for a pool where I book and a free breakfast. The pool gives us an extra activity that is already paid for, the breakfast covers one meal, and I typically grab a couple of extra snacks from the breakfast bar, (shhhh). My oldest son already knows the drill—fill them pockets, baby!

Airbnb is definitely worth a peek. I’ve noticed that prices have been climbing faster than a squirrel on espresso, plus those sneaky fees. But hey, if you're traveling with a bunch of friends or a whole circus troupe, why not throw your coins together and rent a house?

Are you driving or flying?

Time to put on your thinking cap and crunch those numbers—will your wallet thank you more for flying or driving? If you're jetting off to another country, you're obviously taking to the skies and probably snagging a rental car. But if you can realistically hit the road, it's worth considering.

In my world, if the drive is under 10 hours, it's road trip time with the boys. I'll pack a cooler full of snacks and drinks within arm's reach, so we don't have to play the "stop at every gas station" game a thousand times.

I installed this sport rack on top of my Bronco Sport in under an hour https://a.co/d/1DSev6E, (Amazon link to purchase).

You can purchase a pack of ratchet straps at just about any superstore and save yourself so much room in your vehicle while you road trip. I was able to use my Fleet Rewards (Fleetfarm's point rewards program) at Fleetfarm and bought an 8-pack of them.

Traveling together as a family not only strengthens bonds but also provides invaluable lessons that can shape your children's perspectives on life. They learn about diversity, empathy, and the importance of stepping out of their comfort zones.

If you're anything like me and get bitten by the travel bug, it's time to pack your bags. Don't miss out on new experiences just because the thoughts may overwhelm you. Your kids just may surprise you; I know mine always do.

Happy travels, ya'll.