Once Upon a Time in Mexico: Couples Trip

Family Travel, Mexico, Vacation, Beaches, Surfing

Troncones: Unforgettable, That’s What You Are

Family Travel, Mexico, Vacation, Beaches, Surfing

My favorite kind of unforgettable moment is one that sneaks up on you when you least expect it and has you saying “holy smokes, did that actually just happen?” The day we hopped out of our taxi onto the dirt road of the small surf town of Troncones, we didn't know what was in store for us in this little village on the sea...

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Family Travel, Mexico, Vacation, Beaches, Surfing

Mexico, Vacation, Beaches

Take Me Back To Zihuatanejo, Mexico

Mexico, Vacation, Beaches

This was a “covid trip” that I wasn’t entirely sure would come to fruition. Delta cases were on the rise, the boys were in school five days a week which meant they were exposed to more germs, and talk of countries’ restrictions tightening were rumored. I started worrying again that we might get sick and not be able to go.

But the three weeks off had been requested for nearly a year and we had yet to decide on a place. We juggled different destinations for months. Spain, Iceland, Paris, Italy (Again. Our plan last year had failed thanks to covid). All these places seemed unattainable still. We couldn't agree on a place we really wanted to visit in the U.S. in the fall. So many variables. Too many variables. But our soul was craving something…different, semi-adventurous, somewhere with culture and language. Perhaps somewhere tropical?!

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Mexico, Vacation, Beaches

Beaches, Mexico, Vacation

Once Upon a Time in Mexico: Couples Trip

Beaches, Mexico, Vacation

One week in Mexico - Couples Trip!!!!!

Mismaloya, Sayulita, & Puerto Vallarta

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Beaches, Mexico, Vacation

National Parks, Texas, Mexico, Road Trip, USA

Big Bend Nat'l Park: Birthdays, Canyons, & River Crossings To A Foreign Land

National Parks, Texas, Mexico, Road Trip, USA

I'll be honest with you. Big Bend National Park in Texas was never on our radar. In fact, I'm ashamed to admit that I didn't even recall that it was a national park or know what the place had to offer in terms of things to do for families. It feels crazy saying that now after having been there and loving the diverse experiences this park allowed us to discover. Perhaps we never went because of its remote location, or maybe because it was a lesser known national park. All I know is I have a long-lost hometown friend to thank for urging us to go (you know who you are, girl!). We are so glad you shared your stories, photos, and tips with us because Big Bend has so much to offer people of all ages. Hopefully this post will give you a little glimpse into the fun things to do in this huge national park. Here, we'll explore a free natural hot springs on the US/Mexico border, walk across the Rio for an epic day in Mexico, and take in the wonders of the Santa Elena Canyon. Also, the boys turn FOUR!

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National Parks, Texas, Mexico, Road Trip, USA

Baja, Beaches, Mexico

Our Last Week In Baja: Todos Santos With Family

Baja, Beaches, Mexico

Our last full week in Baja was one of our most relaxing. As you've seen from our previous posts, there are no shortage of incredible campsites and we stumbled upon another surrounded by towering cacti and vibrant flowers where we spent a couple days decompressing after our time in the city of La Paz. Following this alone time, we raced towards the beautiful town of Todos Santos where Chip's parents met up with us at a vacation rental near the beach. I ended up having to work some this week but that didn't stop us. We visited more beaches, ate A LOT of local Mexican food, participated in a baby turtle release, and caught up one last time with Chip's med school friends.

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Baja, Beaches, Mexico

Baja, Beaches, Family Travel, Mexico, Tours

We Hit Paz

Baja, Beaches, Family Travel, Mexico, Tours

The deeper south we drove on the Baja Peninsula, the more impressed we became with the beaches, people, and well, I'll be a little nerdy here, the memories and bonds that were forming. Yes, sometimes we felt we needed to be on our toes (even here, perhaps),but it's clear we have fallen cautiously in love with Baja. There is a little bit of mystery to Baja, some dirt and grime, and maybe a tiny bit of hesitation in some situations. Combine that though with the stunning landscapes, friends we're traveling with and meeting, and the incredible experiences we've had and you've got one of our favorite parts of our year "hitting pause". So join us as 'we hit Paz' (Chip's proud contribution to this blog post!) and drive further south where we discover stunning streches of beach, snorkel alongside the largest "fish" on the planet, and stumble upon new friends who help us discover the volunteer project we've been searching for all year!

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Baja, Beaches, Family Travel, Mexico, Tours

Baja, Mexico, Road Trip

Baja Camping Heaven: Orange Groves, Turquoise Bays, & "Pueblos MÁgicos"

Baja, Mexico, Road Trip

We welcome you back to our best of the best in Baja! This is hands down my favorite section of the peninsula and you'll see why in a moment. To lure you in further highlights included freshly squeezed orange juice at our fingertips, a crescent-shaped bay where we slept (and played) at the ocean's edge, Mexican towns that left us begging to come back, and the most divine and flavorful fish tacos - oh heck, I'll just sum it up by saying the most divine and flavorful Mexican food we've ever consumed. Period. If your mouth isn't watering yet, I'll bet money it will be at some point during this post.

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Baja, Mexico, Road Trip

Mexico, Travel, Road Trip, Baja, Tours

Our Unforgettable Day With Baja's Gray Whales

Mexico, Travel, Road Trip, Baja, Tours

Many memorable experiences have happened because of this year-long trip. I often wonder if it weren’t for this "pause" that we're on, would we have even seen or experienced this much in our entire lifetime? There are definitely times that have reinforced the precise reasons for why we are taking this year together as a family. One moment that stands out is our remarkable boat trip through Ojo De Liebre, a lagoon that embraces thousands of gray whales each winter. I've reserved this post for them. This was undoubtedly a once-in-a-lifetime, holy-crap-did-that-just-happen moment. Without further ado, here is our up close and personal day with the gray whales in Guerrero Negro, Baja California Sur!

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Mexico, Travel, Road Trip, Baja, Tours

Mexico, Travel, Road Trip, Baja

Baja California, Mexico: Our Entrance into the Baja Peninsula

Mexico, Travel, Road Trip, Baja

"Have you ever been? Have you seen the recent news? Read the latest travel warnings? You’re bringing the boys? Be careful. I used to go to Baja back when it was safe, but now, I’ll never go again." These are just a few things people were saying to us before we left for Baja, Mexico. As I'm sure you can imagine, we were not totally psyched given all the "glowing" reviews. In fact, we were so nervous we almost threw our plans to visit out the window. Ultimately, we made the decision to go and are so thankful we didn't cave in to the fear.

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Mexico, Travel, Road Trip, Baja

Family Travel, Minimalism, Colorado, Wyoming, Canada, Mexico

The Top 6 Reasons Why We Chose To "Hit Pause"

Family Travel, Minimalism, Colorado, Wyoming, Canada, Mexico

Some of you think this idea is crazy. Some of you might think it's crazy awesome. It's a mixed bag and we totally get that. We are still surprised we both had the guts to say 'let's go for it' and then actually make it happen. It's definitely dramatically easier when both people in a relationship are on the same page. We have been answering a lot of very legitimate questions about why we are doing this. To get inside our heads a bit, we have compiled six reasons why we decided to quit our day jobs, rent out our house, and travel for the next year (or two?):

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Family Travel, Minimalism, Colorado, Wyoming, Canada, Mexico