Hi Reader!

It’s been a while since I introduced myself, and with new people joining in lately, I thought I’d say a quick hi and share a bit about who I am and what you can expect here.

I’m Katie, a mom of four boys (ages 11 to 3) living in Iowa—and while I hate planning what’s for dinner, I’ll plan a family vacation in a snap. 😅

We’re a busy crew, and I get how hard it can be to squeeze in travel—between school breaks, sports schedules, and trying to stay within budget.

But I also know how much those family memories are worth it! 🥰

That’s why I share doable travel tips, real-life destination ideas, and mom-to-mom encouragement to help you feel confident planning trips that are actually fun.

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A few things about me:​
🚗 I love a good road trip—snacks, music, and a change of scenery? I’m in.
✈️ We’ve taken our boys all over the U.S. and even into Canada.
🎒 Packing cubes and extra ziplocks are non-negotiables.
🍩 We’re always on the hunt for the best donut shop and ice cream wherever we go.
😅 One time, I left my entire carry-on bag at home—wallet, phone, computer, everything—and didn’t realize it until we got to the airport. (Not my finest travel moment!)

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Here are a few of my go-to family travel tips:

1. Pack a “first night” bag with jammies, toothbrushes, and anything you’ll need right away—especially if you're arriving late.
2. Use labeled packing cubes—label by person or by day, whichever works best for you. It makes unpacking (and repacking) so much easier and keeps your suitcase organized!
3. Don’t overschedule. One main thing a day is usually plenty with kids.
4. Something will go NOT the way you want it to. But that doesn’t mean the trip isn’t a success.

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Some of our favorite family destinations:

🌲 Gatlinburg, TN – Anakeesta + the Smoky Mountains are always a win.

🌊 San Diego, CA – The USS Midway and Balboa Park are musts. AND, we always love visiting the La Jolla sea lions!

🏔️ Vail, CO – We love the amazing playgrounds, renting bikes to ride the trails, and exploring Epic Discovery on the mountain—it’s one of our favorite spots for summer adventure.

🏞️ Banff, Alberta – Absolutely stunning and surprisingly doable with kids.

🎢 Branson, MO – Silver Dollar City is a hit every single time.

➡️ On the Blog: Loving This Adventure

My blog is called Loving This Adventure because, let’s be honest—traveling with kids is always an adventure.

Sometimes it’s magical, sometimes it’s chaotic, and sometimes it’s both in the same hour. But it’s yours. And I believe in embracing the journey and loving it for what it is.

That’s why I created the blog—to share practical, real-mom travel tips that help you plan family trips without the stress, make the most of your time together, and create memories you’ll actually want to relive.

You’ll find tons of helpful guides, from what to pack and where to stay, to tips and advice for visiting destinations with kids and creative ways to keep them entertained on the go.

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✉️ What Travel Tuesday Is All About

Each week in Travel Tuesday, I share real-life travel tips, destination ideas, packing help, and mom-to-mom advice to make planning family trips easier and more fun. My goal? To help you feel more confident and less stressed when traveling with your kids—because these adventures are so worth it.

But it’s more than just tips—I want this to feel like a community, where moms can feel connected, encouraged, and reminded that they’re not alone in this journey.

Traveling with kids isn’t always picture-perfect, but we’re in it together—and we’re loving this adventure right alongside each other. 💛 🌎 ✈️

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Thanks for being part of the Travel Tuesday community, and I can’t wait to connect again soon!💕

✨ Want to make planning even easier?

Grab our complimentary travel itinerary planner and start mapping out your next adventure.

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May you LOVE your adventure! 🥰

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