Happy Tuesday! 👋

Okay, I am genuinely GIDDY to tell you about this! 😆

And yes, I mean giddy.

Have you ever found something on a trip that you loved so much that, before the trip was even over, you were already thinking about where else you could use it?

That was me in Yellowstone.

I was telling friends and family about it.

I was telling people we met inside Yellowstone about it.

And now I keep looking through all of the available tours, thinking about where we could go next just so we can use it again. 😂

Seriously, I cannot wait!

The funny thing is that the thing I am this excited about is an audio-tour app.

I know. An audio-tour app. Who knew?! 😆

So, what could make an audio-tour app so helpful that I started recommending it to people I had just met in a national park?

Let me back up a little.

Before our Yellowstone trip, I spent hours figuring out our route.

I researched what we wanted to see, how much we could realistically fit into two days, and which direction we should drive through the park.

Having that plan was incredibly helpful.

But even with a plan, there was still one question I couldn’t completely answer:

How would we know which stops were actually worth our limited time?

Yellowstone has scenic overlooks, trails, geysers, waterfalls, wildlife areas, and signs pointing in every direction.

We couldn’t stop for everything.

But I also didn’t want to drive past something incredible because we didn’t realize what was there.

Then, before our trip, I saw someone recommend an app in a Facebook group.

I checked it out right away and purchased the Yellowstone tour.

The app was GuideAlong, and it surprised me in the absolute best way.

Quick note before I keep gushing: I recently became a GuideAlong affiliate. That means I may earn a commission if you purchase through my link, at no additional cost to you. But I was recommending this app long before I had any affiliation with the company.

GuideAlong was like having our own personal Yellowstone guide riding in the van with us.

As we drove, it knew exactly where we were and automatically jumped in with stories, facts, directions, and honest recommendations about what was worth stopping to see.

It also told us when we could keep driving without worrying that we were skipping something we would regret missing.

That might have been my favorite part.

Instead of approaching every turnoff wondering, Should we stop here?, we could listen to the guide, consider what our family was interested in, and decide as we went.

We still followed the general route I had planned, but GuideAlong took away so much of the pressure to figure out every single stop ahead of time.

If we wanted to stop, we could stop.

If we wanted to skip something, we could keep driving.

And because the app knew our location, the guide could jump back in whenever we were ready.

The boys listened too!

We all enjoyed the stories and information. It made the long drives through Yellowstone feel like part of the adventure instead of simply the time between attractions.

Because we downloaded the tour ahead of time, it continued working even when we didn’t have cell service.

We did have trouble getting the audio to play through our van’s speakers, so we ended up listening through my phone. That was a bummer, but even with that hiccup, I would absolutely purchase the tour again.

GuideAlong didn’t replace my itinerary.

It gave me the confidence to loosen my grip on it.

I didn’t have to constantly research what was coming next or worry that we were accidentally passing something important.

We could be flexible, follow our interests, and still feel like we were making the most of our time.

And isn’t that exactly what a family vacation needs?

A plan that helps you feel prepared, plus the freedom to change it along the way.

And here is something else that makes me so excited about it:

GuideAlong isn’t only for Yellowstone or even only for national parks.

It offers tours for national parks, scenic road trips, and destinations around the world, along with cities like Washington, D.C., Nashville, and St. Louis.

After seeing how much the Yellowstone tour added to our experience, GuideAlong is now one of the first places I’ll check when planning a future trip.

Honestly, I’m already looking for an excuse to use it again! 😂

Where would you want your own personal audio guide?

A national park? A scenic road trip? A city you’ve always wanted to explore?

Hit reply and tell me! Maybe you’ll help me decide which tour we need to try next. 😆

Stay tuned for more packing tips, behind-the-scenes travel hacks, and inspiration to make your trips feel doable and fun. I’m all about helping you make family travel as smooth as possible, so you can create memories without the headache.

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

✨ Planning your own family adventure?

My Ultimate Family Itinerary Planner is the exact planning system I use to organize our accommodations, reservations, activities, daily plans, packing, and budget while still leaving room for flexibility.

Because having a plan doesn't mean scheduling every minute.

For me, it's actually the opposite.

Having a plan gives us the freedom to let go of the plan when something better comes along.

May you LOVE your adventure!

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