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  • Temple of the Sun in Cathedral Valley
    United States of America

    Driving the Cathedral Valley Loop in Capitol Reef

    Utah’s Cathedral Valley Loop features towering rock spires, soaring monoliths, colorful painted hillsides, and sweeping desert vistas. The spectacular 57.6 mile drive weaves in and out of Capitol Reef National Park and contains some of the American Southwest’s most dramatic…

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  • Things to Do in Capitol Reef National Park
    United States of America

    Things to Do in Capitol Reef National Park

    When it comes to red rock landscapes, southern Utah has no shortage of awe-inspiring attractions. The swath of fiery-hued land is so striking that even its lesser-known areas are ripe with places to see. I became fully cognizant of Utah’s…

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  • Oregon Badlands Wilderness
    United States of America

    Hiking in the Oregon Badlands Wilderness

    Bend Oregon is blessed with an abundance of nearby natural wonders. The town sits on the dry side of the Cascade Mountains, where forests and desert converge. Head west out of town, and you’ll be greeted by shimmering lakes, towering…

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  • Bend Oregon view from Pilot Butte
    United States of America

    Things to Do in Bend Oregon

    Located smack in the center of Oregon, the city of Bend boasts access to some of the state’s best outdoor offerings. The charming mountain town lies sandwiched between a national forest, a desert wilderness, and a national volcanic monument. Within…

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  • Hosmer Lake
    United States of America

    Exploring the Cascade Lakes Highway in Oregon

    When it comes to natural splendor, Central Oregon is a land of plenty. It features everything an outdoor adventurer could dream of: verdant forests, towering snow-capped mountains, arid desert, and ancient lava flows. Amongst all its alpine beauty and high…

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  • Hiking the Oregon Dunes
    United States of America

    Visiting the Coastal Sand Dunes in Oregon

    The wind-sculpted Oregon dunes are among the most alluring features of the central Oregon coast. Formed over the course of millennia and ever expanding, they comprise one of the largest tracts of temperate coastal sand dunes in the world. Along…

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“Traveling with kids is just parenting in anothe “Traveling with kids is just parenting in another location.” 

if I could get a dollar every time I heard someone say those words, I would probably be able to fund my next vacation. 
 
And I kind of get it, though I don’t really agree. 

Vacations aren’t really the same once you have little kids. You can’t just laze by the pool for hours and doze off with a book in hand.  Parenting duties don’t magically disappear when you buy a plane ticket. You still have to navigate sleep schedules, deal with tantrums, lug around an obscene amount of bags, and ensure bellies are full of snacks. 

So no, traveling with the kids does not magically make me feel more rested and relaxed. But it does fill my cup in so many other ways.

-It allows me to slow down and watch the kids interact with the world 
-It gives me a break from cooking and household chores
-It helps me feel like I haven’t fully abandoned the Erika that I was pre-kids
-It fills me with my happiest parenting memories 

And I think that it is great for the kids too. 

-It exposes them to other ways of living and helps them understand our shared humanity 
-It teaches them flexibility, adaptability, and patience 
-It ignites their curiosity about anything and everything 

This last trip of to Costa Rica was our first time traveling with two kids. It was sometimes stressful, sometimes difficult, always exhausting, rarely relaxing.

If you think that relaxation is necessary for a successful vacation, then you’ll probably agree that traveling with kids is just parenting with a different backdrop.

But if you travel for the thrill of new experiences, the break from routine, or the enjoyment of seeing new places, then traveling with kids is no obstacle. 

In some ways, bringing them along for the ride makes the experience even better.
Four days into our trip to Costa Rica, I left my c Four days into our trip to Costa Rica, I left my camera at our hotel near Rincon de la Vieja. I only realized my mistake once I arrived at the Monteverde Cloud Forest. And by that point, it was too late to turn around without disrupting our plans for the following day. 

Luckily, I was able to retrieve my camera en route to the airport, prior to returning home. 

I’m so happy I was reunited with my camera, but incredibly disappointed that I don’t have better quality pictures from the second part of our trip. 

Here are a few snapshots of the wildlife from the first three days.
2024. Another year come and gone. Wishing time wou 2024. Another year come and gone. Wishing time would slow down, but grateful for the memories made.
Happy due date to our sweet Selene! I have so many Happy due date to our sweet Selene! I have so many things to be thankful for this year, but the arrival of our new travel buddy tops the list. 

I can’t wait for this next year of adventure as a family of four!
It’s been a busy summer of travels to the Caribb It’s been a busy summer of travels to the Caribbean, Minnesota, Europe, Seattle and Eugene. And then, just like that, I dropped Elio off to school for the first time. 😭 

Looking forward to a year of growth, new transitions, and expanding friendships. And of course, some new exciting travels whenever we can squeeze them in!
Snapshots of the incredible wildlife on South Geor Snapshots of the incredible wildlife on South Georgia Island 🐧 🦭
The White Continent. #antarctica #7thcontinent # The White Continent. 

#antarctica #7thcontinent #atlasoceanvoyages #whitecontinent #instatravel #erikastravels
Loving summer ☀️ Loving summer ☀️
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