Vacation Mavens Family Travel Podcast

It is time to head to Miami and explore the street art of Wynwood Walls, the beaches of South Beach, the food of Little Havana, and the wilds of the Everglades. This week we are chatting with Guiomar Ochoa to get her insights on what to do in Miami with kids. ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Talking with Kim and Tamara about the holidays 08:06 - Talking with Guiomar 09:40 - How long to spend in Miami 10:20 - What to do in Miami with kids 21:00 - When to go 22:17 - Favorite restaurants 26:50 - Day trips 29:18 - Final tips 31:20 - Guiomar’s favorite travel gear ABOUT GUIOMAR OCHOA Guiomar Ochoa is an arts aficionado, foodie and passionate traveler, who has called both Rome and Paris home. She now settled back in her hometown of Washington, D.C. with her husband and two young children, Anna-Cecilia and Luca. Guiomar is adamant about passing down her love of languages and cultures to her kids. You can find Guiomar online at www.cosmomommy.com. Follow Guiomar on Instagram, and Twitter. TIPS FOR VISITING MIAMI, FLORIDA Four

At the end of every year we like to look back at some of our favorite travel experiences, destinations, hotels, and products and share those with our listeners. So settle in and listen up as we share our favorites for 2019! At the end of every year we like to look back at some of our favorite travel experiences, destinations, hotels, and products and share those with our listeners. So settle in and listen up as we share our favorites for 2019! ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Sponsor 01:09 - Talking with Kim and Tamara 04:13 - Favorite hotels 18:50 - Favorite Experiences 32:58 - Surprise Destinations 38:36 - Favorite Travel Gear 51:28 - Favorite trip of the year Favorite Things of 2019 Favorite hotels Tamara enjoyed her stay at L’ma Lodge in Morocco. The property was spacious and had a bunch of little hangout places under palm trees. Plus there was a really great view from the roof and the stay was not too expensive. She also had fun at the Margaritaville Resort in Orlando, Florida, which has a beach feel and a reall

This week we are chatting with Lee Huffman from the We Travel There podcast about his recent father-son trip to Amsterdam and Billund, Denmark. Learn about everything LEGO including LEGOLAND Denmark, LEGO House, and the LEGO Hotel. ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Allianz Travel 02:19 - Talking with Kim and Tamara 06:58 - Talking with Lee Huffman 10:10 - Break down of trip 14:45 - LEGO 26:27 - Final tips 32:09 - Lee’s favorite travel gear ABOUT ALLIANZ TRAVEL We all travel for different reasons. Some to get closer as a family and some to get away from it all. Some to discover new sounds, new tastes, and others to discover themselves. No matter your reason, Allianz Travel Insurance is the ultimate wingman—having your back while helping you make the most of every moment. True experts providing protection for all the reasons you travel.  Visit allianztravelinsurance.com, and see what award-winning travel insurance can do for your next trip. Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. Plan(s) underwritten by Jefferson I

The Vacation Mavens love a fun girls' trip and what could be better than pairing up some wine tasting and adventure? This time, we head to Santa Rosa in the heart of Sonoma's wine country to learn all the things to do with friends, or with family. From zip lining to hiking to glamping within view of giraffes, listen to all we experienced during our four days in Santa Rosa, California. ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Sponsor - Allianz Travel 01:16 - Talking with Kim and Tamara about California 05:20 - Santa Rosa Itinerary 07:54 - Safari West 14:57 - Charles Shultz Museum 23:05 - Wine tasting 28:40 - Shout Out!! 19:05 - Redwoods 32:30 - Downtown Santa Rosa 37:45 - Grand Tasting 43:40 - Coming up ABOUT ALLIANZ TRAVEL We all travel for different reasons. Some to get closer as a family and some to get away from it all. Some to discover new sounds, new tastes, and others to discover themselves. No matter your reason, Allianz Travel Insurance is the ultimate wingman—having your back while helping you make the most of every

Do you show up to the rental car counter and get overwhelmed with all the choices? Do you want to prepay for the gas? Do you want additional insurance? Do you know what your existing insurance covers? Ack! It is all so confusing, so this week we chat with road warrior Ed Pizzarello and get his car rental tips. Listen to Ed's tips for renting a car so you are armed with the info you need to make good choices when planning your next trip. ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Sponsor 01:12 - Talking with Kim and Tamara about car rental 03:25 - Talking with Ed 05:40 - Favorite car rental company 08:00 - Loyalty programs 10:55 - Bad experiences 14:40 - What to look for in your rental car 19:20 - Finding budget rentals 24:45 - Booking 26:20 - Insurance 30:29 - Gas 34:50 - Issues with rental cars 40:20 - Renting Internationally 43:18 - Ed’s Favorite Travel Gear 44:50 - What’s next for Edward 46:45 - Up next for Vacation Mavens ABOUT EDWARD PIZZARELLO Edward Pizzarello travels for over 100,000 miles a year for business and loves t

Slip on your wellies, don your kilt, and grab a Scotch because this week we are chatting with Moon Travel Guides author Sally Coffey about Scotland. Sally fills us in on things to do with kids in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and the Isle of Skye. About our Sponsor Moon Travel Guides If you’ve traveled the Americas, then you already know Moon Travel Guides are the go-to guidebooks for truly immersive experiences. Now with expanded coverage of Europe, your family can enjoy everything you love about Moon—honest local insight, strategic planning advice, and the opportunity to support unique and vibrant communities just by having fun—in extraordinary European regions from Prague's fairy-tale architecture to the ruggedly picturesque Isle of Skye. Wherever your wanderlust may lead, there’s a Moon guide for you. Visit moon.com or your favorite bookseller to grab your guide.   ON THE PODCAST 00:31 - About this week's sponsor 01:10 - Using Moon Travel Guides to plan your travel 03:51 - Talking with Sally Coffey 05:43 - Must see

The Channel Islands is one of the most unique, but also one of the least visit, National Parks in the United States. This week we chat with Travis Timmons of the So How Was Your Trip? podcast about his family's recent trip to Santa Barbara and the Channel Islands. ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Sponsor 01:14 - Talking with Kim and Tamara 03:28 - Talking with Travis 07:30 - How long to spend 10:10 - Taking a boat to Channel Islands 12:20 - What to do on the Islands 17:50 - Animals on the island 22:10 - Other things to do in the area 32:05 - When to go 34:40 - Travis’ favorite travel gear 35:50 - Coming up for Travis ABOUT TRAVIS TIMMONS Travis and his family tell stories about places that people go. That varies from full time travel all the way down to a weekend road trip. He is the host of the So How Was Your Trip? podcast. Follow Travis on the So How Was your Trip Podcast and Instagram. TIPS FOR VISITING THE CHANNEL ISLANDS & SANTA BARBARA You should make sure that you give yourself at least three to four days

Now that it is fall, we are turning our attention toward winter getaways. If you have ever dreamed of visiting Santa Claus, taking a reindeer safari, and sleeping under the Northern Lights, tune in to hear about Finnish Lapland. Kevin Wagar from the Wandering Wagars shares his family's experience in Finland during the winter and all the things there are to do in Santa's wonderland. ON THE PODCAST 00:35 - Sponsor - Allianz Travel 01:13 - Talking with Kevin Wagar 04:16 - When to go to Finland 09:30 - How long to spend in Helsinki 14:30 - Where to go in Finland 18:53 - How to split up your days 22:20 - Driving around 24:10 - Santa Park/Village 27:30 - Where to stay 29:35 - Prices in Finland 30:40 - Kevin’s favorite travel gear 32:00 - Coming up for Kevin and his family 33:10 - What’s coming for Vacation Mavens ABOUT ALLIANZ TRAVEL We all travel for different reasons. Some to get closer as a family and some to get away from it all. Some to discover new sounds, new tastes, and others to discover themselves. No m

Where is the largest amusement park in the Pacific Northwest? Silverwood, just outside of Coeur d'Alene Idaho. Find out more about this lakeside gem and tips for visiting Silverwood as Kim shares her family's experience this summer.  ON THE PODCAST 00:34 - Sponsor 01:40 - Kim’s trip to Idaho 10:08 - Tips for Silverwood Theme Park 15:36 - Where to stay 23:06 - Bike trail 25:38 - Winter activities 28:15 - Coming up TIPS FOR VISITING COEUR D’ALENE Silverwood amusement park could be considered  a hidden gem in the Pacific Northwest. It is also only about 30 minutes north of Coeur d’Alene. If you are visiting Silverwood and want to maximize your time, you can arrive early to the theme park before opening time and wait just inside for the park to open. This means that you can go right to a ride rather than waiting in line to get through the turnstile. Silverwood sells reusable water bottles and you get free refills all day long. The waterpark has lockers that you can rent for the day for 10 dollars and you can go

Have you been to Iceland and want to go back to see something new? Or maybe you would love to see Iceland's natural beauty without the crowds you find in the Golden Circle or the South Coast? Tamara shares how to get off-the-beaten path with Hidden Iceland. Tune in to hear about her girls' trip to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula and the West Fjords. ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Talking with Tamara about Iceland 02:15 - Getting around Iceland 04:00 - Tamara’s Itinerary 10:20 - Warning signs 12:55 - Driving tour 36:48 - Group trip next year 37:30 - Coming up for Kim and Tamara TIPS FOR VISITING ICELAND Getting from the airport to the capital city of Reykjavik will cost you about 150 to 175 dollars taking a taxi. A cheaper option is to take the FlyBus, which will cost you around 30 dollars to get to Reykjavik. Of course you can also rent a car if you will be driving around the country. If you see a warning sign in Iceland you really need to take heed. They don’t put up signs without reason. The warning signs can mean that

Kim recently took a weekend getaway to Victoria, British Columbia on the Victoria Clipper ferry from Seattle. Find out where they stayed, what they did, and tips for taking the ferry. Wait until you hear about the orcas on the whale watch they went on! ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Talking with Kim about Victoria 04:15 - Traveling on the Victoria Clipper 07:43 - Where to stay in Victoria 10:45 - Things to do in Victoria 28:10 - Where to eat in Victoria 33:10 - Final tips 35:16 - Shoutout! TIPS FOR VISITING VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA You can travel by ferry from Seattle to British Columbia on the Victoria Clipper. There are various levels of service. If you are in the higher class, you will actually exit last because they will let the travelers out from the bottom floor up. This also means that you will be the last to get in line for customs in you are in the higher classes. The upper levels of the Victoria Clipper feature front facing seats for everyone. So if you get motion sick that could be a definite plus. Ther

Dreaming about a trip to the Canadian Rockies? Listen in as Tamara shares the highlights from her mother-daughter trip to Kananaskis, Banff, Lake Louise, and Jasper. Plus Kim chimes in on what she did in Banff before boarding the Rocky Mountaineer train earlier this year. ON THE PODCAST 01:53 - Talking about Tamara’s Mother Daughter Trip 05:45 - Kananaskis 09:52 - Via Ferrata in Banff 12:50 - Driving the Icefields Parkway 13:43 - Peak Nic with Jasper Food Tours 15:45 - Horseback riding in Banff 17:00 - Post Inn in Lake Louise 23:20 - Two Jack Lake in Banff 27:30 - Exploring the Athabasca Glacier TIPS FOR VISITING THE CANADIAN ROCKIES Banff is very crowded in the summer so you may want to stay in nearby Canmore. If you want to get away from crowds, you can also visit the other nearly Provincial Parks or National Parks like Yoho or Waterton. Kananaskis is about an hour away from Banff, and not nearly as crowded. There are amazing views, great hikes and lakes, and plenty of wildlife. Bears are all over in the C

Have you ever thought of planning a girl's trip to Maine? In August, Kim and Tamara headed up to the Northwoods of Maine for a girls' trip filled with hiking and laughs, with a stops in Portland and Freeport along the way. Find out more about their trip and some things you can do with the family too! ON THE PODCAST 02:20 - Where to go in Maine 05:37 - Moosehead Lake Area 10:13 - Moose safari adventure 16:45 - Hiking 23:50 - Appalachian Mountain Club 32:50 - River Rim trail 38:15 - Going home 38:40 - Coming up TIPS FOR PLANNING A GIRL'S TRIP TO MAINE Note: Our trip was hosted by Visit Maine. All opinions are our own. Where to stay in Moosehead Lake: rent a cabin from Moosehead Hills Cabins for privacy and lakefront views, just double check the location as not all cabins are on Moosehead Lake. What to do in Moosehead Lake: Though you have to get up super early, going on a Moose Safari is a really fun experience. You will drive to different places where moose are often spotted, and with Northwoods Outfitters, y

The Florida Keys is a perfect road trip destination for families, or friends. This week Kim and Tamara talk all about their recent trip to the Florida Keys and Key West, with stops in Key Largo and Key West. ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Talking with Kim and Tamara about their time in the Florida Keys 02:31 - Getting to and around the Keys 10:45 - Key Largo - Baker’s Cay Resort 17:35 - Playa Largo Resort 23:00 - Islamorada 30:45 - Driving to Key West 38:20 - Stock Island 42:44 - Places to eat 50:58 - Food Tour and Boat Tour 58:15 - Sunset Celebration 1:02:00 - Island Adventure Tour 1:09:30 - Coming up next TIPS FOR VISITING THE FLORIDA KEYS Keep in mind when you are planning your trip to the Keys that you are going to be driving down through different Keys, you will run into quite a bit of traffic since you will mostly be driving through one lane roads and small beach towns with lights and little shops. The Baker’s Cay Resortin Key Largo is a great resort for families or friends. They have great views and while th

Happy summer!! While we have been on a short break, Kim and Tamara have kicked off their summer with some fun travel -- of course! In this episode we tell you all about Tamara's trip to Orlando with teens, Kim's last-minute Alaskan cruise romantic getaway, and Tamara's wine-tasting trip to France with her hubby.  ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Talking with Tamara about her time in Orlando 04:25 - Dinner and a movie at Studio Movie Grill 05:08 - Rental car vs. Uber in Orlando 06:55 - Kayaking on Shingle Creek 08:55 - Andretti Indoor go karting and games 10:30 - ICON park 14:03 - The Void Disney Springs 16:45 - Animal Kingdom After Hours 22:52 - Waterpark at Margaritaville Resort 25:20 - Talking with Kim about her time on an Alaska Cruise 28:01 - Chef Daren 34:15 - Cruising relaxation 43:02 - Alaska Airlines Magazine mention 47:47 - Tamara’s time in France 55:30 - Where to stay 1:01:45 - Coming up next episode   MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST Margaritaville Orlando Studio Movie Grill Shingle Creek Kayaking Andretti Karting

Did you know that the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited in the United States? Find out what to do in the park and the surrounding area, including Pigeon Forge, on this week's podcast. We are chatting with Tennessee native Sarah Wilson from The Wandering Rumpus to get her take on visiting the Great Smoky Mountain National Park with kids. ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Talking with Kim and Tamara about summer travels 11:20 - Talking with Sarah Wilson 13:12 - Where is the Great Smoky Mountains National Park 15:15 - How long to spend 20:04 - Time of year to go 23:54 - Staying in the park 26:19 - Must dos for families 32:52 - Favorite place to take a family photo 33:55 - Sarah’s favorite travel gear 37:20 - Coming up for Vacation Mavens ABOUT SARAH WILSON Sarah is a Nashville-based freelance writer, editor and communications consultant. Sarah writes about kid-friendly Nashville and expanding her family's worldview through travel, food, books, and engaging in our local and international communities at

Find out why Johnston County, North Carolina makes a great weekend getaway from Raleigh or a perfect place to stop on a road trip down I-95. This week Karen Dawkins from Family Travels on a Budget joins us to share her knowledge and love for this special part of North Carolina tucked between 95 and 40 just outside of Raleigh. ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Visit JoCo Sponsor introduction 01:14 - Road trips on Interstate 95 03:22 - Johnston County, North Carolina 04:30 - Talking with Karen Dawkins from Family Travels on a Budget 10:07 - How long to stay in Johnston County 11:57 - Finding out about festivals and events in Johnston County 15:55 - Favorite places to stop and eat 22:54 - Must dos in Johnston County 27:52 - Where to stay 31:20 - Off the beaten path 35:34 - Final tip 36:44 - Best place to take a family photo 37:24 - Karen’s favorite travel gear 39:40 - Thanks! ABOUT KAREN DAWKINS Karen Dawkins writes at Family Travels on a Budget, and has been sharing travel stories, itineraries and tips since 2012 to encou

Sure we love to travel with our kids, but sometimes parents need to get away too! This week we share our suggestions and tips for planning a couples romantic getaway, and some of our favorite trips with our respective partners. ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Kim and Tamara talking about couples vacations 03:33 - Kim’s upcoming trip 05:16 - Tamara’s upcoming trip 08:40 - Thoughts behind their trips 13:47 - Kim’s past getaways 16:40 - Wine tasting with or without kids 17:45 - Time away versus at home time 20:28 - Tamara’s past getaways 23:48 - Tips for planning a romantic getaway TIPS FOR PLANNING A ROMANTIC GETAWAY The first thing you want to ask yourselves when planning your couples getaway is… Do you want to have a more relaxing trip or fill your itinerary with things to do? Make sure to have your partner plan part of your trip. This can help take the pressure off of you for planning the entire trip give you both responsibility if things don't go perfectly. Look for places that cater to adults. When you are doing y

This week we cover everything from luxury train rides to flying budget airlines. Join us as we chat with Hilarye Fuller from Dotting the Map as she and Tamara dig into the pros and cons of budget airlines. Kim also shares her experience aboard the Rocky Mountaineer train. ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Talking with Kim about her time on the Rocky Mountaineer train 17:20 - Talking with Hilarye Fuller 20:40 - Hilarye’s book 22:23 - Airlines traveled with kids 25:20 - Tips for budget airlines 31:00 - Comparing airlines 48:38 - Keeping kids entertained 56:36 - Hilarye’s favorite travel gear 58:48 - What’s next for Hilarye 1:02:26 - Coming in next episode ABOUT HILARYE FULLER Hilarye Fuller is a family travel blogger and author. She has been writing about family travel for over ten years and specializes in helping people get out of their vacation rut. Her family currently travels full-time in an RV touring the USA. You can check out her blog at Dotting the Map. Follow Hilarye on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterestand Twitter.

If has been a while since Tamara and Kim traveled with toddlers, so this week we check in with Lydia Blanchard of My Adventure Gang to learn her best tips for traveling with toddlers. Also hear all about Tamara's recent trip on Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas and her visit to the brand new "Perfect Day at CocoCay." ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Talking Tamara’s trip on Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas 18:49 - Talking with Lydia 20:58 - Travel with toddlers 23:21 - Trying to be prepared 25:38 - Finding destinations 30:01 - Car trips with toddlers 33:25 - Flying with toddlers 43:05 - What to look for in a hotel 48:47 - Travel gear 52:33 - Final tips 54:24 - Lydia’s favorite travel gear 55:56 - What’s next for Lydia and her family 57:20 - Next week's episode ABOUT LYDIA BLANCHARD Lydia Blanchard is the adventurer in chief behind My Adventure Gang. She strives to treat every day like an adventure, whether it is in your back yard to traveling around the globe. Follow Lydia Blanchard on Facebook, and Instag