Yearly Archives: 2023

Ahoy there! Are you ready to set sail on the ultimate family adventure? Get ready for nautical nirvana as we embark on a journey to discover the best family cruises.

From kid-friendly amenities and spacious family cabins to exciting children’s entertainment and delicious dining options, these cruises have it all. And don’t worry, there are age-appropriate excursions that will keep everyone in the family entertained.

So grab your sunscreen and join me as we embark on a voyage of a lifetime!

Key Takeaways

• Wide range of kid-friendly amenities available onboard
• Comfortable and spacious family cabins
• Kids’ clubs offering age-appropriate activities and supervised play
• Delectable array of dining options for the entire family

Kid-Friendly Amenities

One of the best things about these family cruises is the wide range of kid-friendly amenities available onboard. From the moment we stepped foot on the ship, my kids were mesmerized by all the fun and exciting activities that awaited them.

The water park, with its thrilling slides and splash zones, kept them entertained for hours on end. The dedicated kids’ clubs provided a safe and supervised environment for them to make new friends and participate in age-appropriate games and crafts. And let’s not forget about the movie theaters, arcades, and mini golf courses that offered endless entertainment options for little ones of all ages.

With so many amenities tailored specifically to children, it was clear that this cruise was designed with families in mind. Speaking of which, one amenity that truly stood out was the family cabins…

Family Cabins

The family cabins on board these cruises offer comfortable and spacious accommodations for everyone. As soon as you step into your cabin, you’ll be greeted by a warm and inviting atmosphere. The beds are cozy, perfect for a good night’s sleep after a day of exploring the ship’s many amenities. The cabin is well-appointed with modern furnishings and plenty of storage space for all your belongings. You’ll also find a private bathroom, complete with all the necessary toiletries.

But it’s not just about the comfort of the cabin itself – these family cabins are strategically located near all the kid-friendly amenities on board. This means that you’re never too far away from the action, whether it’s the onboard water park or the children’s play area. And if you have little ones who still need their afternoon nap, you can easily retreat to your cabin without missing out on any of the fun.

In addition to being conveniently located, these family cabins are designed with families in mind. They offer flexible sleeping arrangements, so whether you have one child or multiple children, there will always be enough space for everyone to sleep comfortably. Plus, many cabins come equipped with additional features such as bunk beds or pull-out couches, making them ideal for larger families.

When it comes to serving others, these family cabins go above and beyond by providing thoughtful amenities like baby monitors and cribs upon request. This attention to detail ensures that every member of your family feels taken care of during their cruise experience.

Overall, these family cabins offer a home away from home where you can create lasting memories with your loved ones. From comfortable accommodations to convenient locations near kid-friendly amenities, these cabins truly cater to families seeking an unforgettable vacation at sea.

Children’s Entertainment

Step into the world of children’s entertainment on board, where endless fun and excitement await you and your little ones.

The kids’ clubs are a hub of activity, offering age-appropriate activities and supervised play for children of all ages. From arts and crafts to sports tournaments, there is never a dull moment.

Splash zones and water parks provide hours of aquatic adventures, with thrilling slides and interactive features that will keep your kids splashing and laughing all day long.

Live shows featuring beloved characters come to life on stage, captivating both young and old alike. Sing along to catchy tunes or join in on the dance floor – it’s an experience your family won’t soon forget.

With so many options for fun-filled entertainment, these cruises ensure that every member of the family has a fantastic time at sea.

Family Dining Options

Indulge in a delectable array of dining options that cater to the entire family, from gourmet restaurants to casual eateries.

On these family cruises, you can satisfy your taste buds with a wide variety of culinary delights. Start your day with a scrumptious breakfast buffet offering an assortment of fresh fruits, pastries, and made-to-order omelets.

For lunch, enjoy a selection of international cuisines including Italian pasta dishes, Asian stir-fries, and American comfort food. And for dinner, treat yourself to an elegant dining experience where you can savor mouthwatering steaks or indulge in a seafood feast.

With kid-friendly menus available at every mealtime and special dietary requests accommodated, there’s something for everyone in the family to enjoy.

Age-Appropriate Excursions

Embark on exciting adventures tailored to your age group during these unforgettable family cruises. Here are three age-appropriate excursions that will leave you and your family in awe:

1. Junior Explorers Club: Let your little ones unleash their inner explorer with guided nature walks, treasure hunts, and interactive marine life encounters. They’ll learn about the environment while having fun.

2. Teen Adventure Zone: Teens can get their adrenaline pumping with thrilling activities like rock climbing, zip-lining, and water sports. It’s the perfect opportunity for them to make new friends and create lasting memories.

3. Family Shore Excursions: Enjoy quality time together as a family by exploring local attractions, cultural landmarks, and natural wonders at each port of call. From historical tours to outdoor adventures, there’s something for everyone.

These age-appropriate excursions ensure that every member of your family has an incredible experience filled with adventure and discovery. So pack your bags and get ready for a journey you’ll never forget!

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Average Cost of a Family Cruise?

The average cost of a family cruise can vary depending on factors such as the cruise line, destination, and length of the trip. It’s best to research and compare prices to find the most suitable option for your family’s budget.

Are There Any Restrictions on the Number of Children Allowed per Family Cabin?

Yes, there are usually limits on the number of children allowed in a family cabin. The specific restrictions may vary depending on the cruise line, so it’s best to check with them directly.

Can Parents Leave Their Children in the Children’s Entertainment Area Unattended?

No, parents cannot leave their children unattended in the children’s entertainment area. Safety is a top priority, and it is recommended that parents supervise their children at all times to ensure their well-being.

Yes, there are dietary restrictions and special menus available for children in the family dining options. The cruise ship caters to kids with allergies or specific diets, ensuring everyone can enjoy delicious meals together.

Are There Any Age Restrictions for Participating in the Age-Appropriate Excursions?

Yes, there are age restrictions for participating in the age-appropriate excursions. Each excursion has specific guidelines to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all participants.

As a parent, I am constantly seeking ways to enhance my child’s learning and development journey.

That’s why I am thrilled to share with you the wonders of educational trips for kids.

From science museums that ignite curiosity to historical landmarks that uncover the past, nature reserves that offer breathtaking treasures, space centers that take us on a journey to the stars, and zoological parks where we can discover wildlife up close – each place plays a vital role in shaping our children’s minds.

Join me as we embark on an adventure of discovery and growth!

Key Takeaways

• Science museums and space centers provide interactive learning experiences for children to explore various scientific disciplines and develop a love for science and curiosity about the natural world.
• Historical landmarks offer a tangible connection to the past, helping children understand different time periods, historical events, and fostering an appreciation for cultural heritage.
• Nature reserves and zoological parks allow children to learn about biodiversity, ecosystems, and the importance of environmental conservation, while also providing opportunities for outdoor activities and physical exercise.
• Visiting space centers provides insights into the wonders of the universe and space exploration, sparking an interest in STEM fields and space-related careers, and helping children gain a better understanding of the vastness and beauty of the universe.

The Wonders of Science Museums

You’ll be amazed at how science museums can ignite your curiosity and expand your knowledge about the world around you.

Science museums are a treasure trove of information, filled with interactive exhibits, hands-on activities, and captivating displays that make learning fun and engaging.

These museums offer a wide range of topics to explore, from biology and chemistry to physics and astronomy.

They provide a unique opportunity for children to learn about scientific concepts in a practical and accessible way.

By visiting science museums, kids can develop critical thinking skills, enhance their problem-solving abilities, and gain a deeper understanding of the natural world.

As we uncover history at historical landmarks, we will continue our journey of discovery into the past.

Uncovering History at Historical Landmarks

Exploring historical landmarks allows me to step back in time and gain a deeper understanding of the past. These places hold stories of our ancestors, their triumphs, struggles, and contributions to society. By visiting these sites, we can connect with history in a tangible way.

Historical landmarks serve as reminders of our collective heritage and help us appreciate the sacrifices made by those who came before us. They provide valuable educational opportunities for kids to learn about different cultures, traditions, and events that have shaped our world today. From ancient ruins to iconic buildings, each landmark has its own unique significance.

By exploring historical landmarks, children can develop a sense of appreciation for the past and understand how it has influenced the present.

Transitioning into exploring nature’s treasures at reserves…

Exploring Nature’s Treasures at Reserves

Transitioning from historical landmarks, you can immerse yourself in the breathtaking beauty and diverse ecosystems of nature’s treasures at reserves. Nature reserves are protected areas that conserve and preserve wildlife, plant species, and natural habitats. These reserves offer a unique opportunity for children to witness firsthand the wonders of the natural world.

By visiting nature reserves, children can learn about different ecosystems, such as forests, wetlands, or deserts. They can observe various animal species and understand their roles in maintaining ecological balance. It also teaches them the importance of conservation and sustainable practices.

Moreover, exploring nature’s treasures promotes physical activity and outdoor play among children. It allows them to develop an appreciation for the environment while fostering a sense of wonder and curiosity.

Nature reserves serve as living classrooms where children can engage in hands-on experiences like hiking trails, bird watching, or even participating in wildlife research programs. These educational trips help cultivate a deep connection with nature while instilling lifelong values of environmental stewardship.

Journey to the Stars at Space Centers

When visiting space centers, you can embark on an extraordinary adventure through the mysteries of the universe. These centers offer a unique opportunity to learn about our solar system, galaxies, and beyond.

Space centers provide interactive exhibits, educational programs, and even simulations that allow visitors to experience what it’s like to be an astronaut. By exploring these facilities, children can gain a deeper understanding of space exploration and the scientific principles behind it. They can also learn about the history of space travel and the important contributions made by astronauts throughout the years.

Additionally, space centers often have planetarium shows and telescopes for stargazing, which further enhance children’s knowledge and appreciation of our vast cosmos. A visit to a space center is not only educational but also inspiring for young minds interested in science and exploration.

Discovering Wildlife at Zoological Parks

Visiting zoological parks allows you to observe and learn about a wide variety of wildlife in their natural habitats. These parks provide a unique opportunity for children to engage with nature and develop a deeper understanding of the animal kingdom.

Here are five reasons why visiting zoological parks is an enriching experience for kids:

• Educational: Zoos offer educational programs and exhibits that teach children about different species, their habitats, and conservation efforts.

• Inspiring: Seeing animals up close can inspire curiosity, wonder, and a love for nature in young minds.

• Conservation-minded: Zoos play a crucial role in wildlife conservation by breeding endangered species and supporting research initiatives.

• Emotional connection: Interacting with animals fosters empathy, compassion, and respect for all living creatures.

• Outdoor adventure: Zoological parks provide opportunities for outdoor exploration, physical activity, and connecting with nature.

  

The Impact of Science Museums on Learning and Development

Engaging with interactive exhibits at science museums can foster a love for learning and spark curiosity in young minds. These museums provide a unique and immersive experience that encourages children to explore the wonders of science. By allowing kids to interact with hands-on exhibits, they are able to actively engage in the learning process and develop critical thinking skills. Science museums also play a crucial role in promoting STEM education, as they expose children to various scientific concepts through interactive displays and demonstrations.

Research has shown that visiting science museums can have long-lasting effects on a child’s learning and development. According to studies, these visits can increase interest in science-related subjects, improve problem-solving abilities, and enhance overall cognitive skills. Additionally, the exposure to real-life scientific phenomena helps children connect what they learn in textbooks to real-world applications.

The Significance of Historical Landmarks in a Child’s Education

Exploring historical landmarks can greatly enhance your child’s understanding of history and culture. These iconic sites hold the key to unraveling the mysteries of the past, providing an immersive experience like no other. Here are five reasons why visiting historical landmarks with your child is essential:

• Preserving our heritage: Historical landmarks serve as tangible reminders of our rich cultural heritage, helping children connect with their roots.

• Living history: Walking in the footsteps of great leaders and witnessing significant events firsthand brings history to life, making it more relatable for young minds.

• Developing empathy: By exploring different perspectives and understanding the struggles faced by those who came before us, children develop empathy and a broader worldview.

• Critical thinking skills: Analyzing architectural marvels or deciphering ancient symbols fosters critical thinking skills, encouraging children to question and seek answers independently.

  

• Cultural appreciation: Experiencing diverse cultures through historical landmarks promotes tolerance, respect, and appreciation for different ways of life.

Unlocking the treasures hidden within these time capsules will undoubtedly enrich your child’s educational journey while fostering a deep sense of stewardship towards our collective past.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Can Visiting Science Museums Benefit a Child’s Learning and Development?

Visiting science museums benefits a child’s learning and development by fostering curiosity, promoting critical thinking, and providing hands-on experiences. They offer interactive exhibits, educational programs, and opportunities to explore the wonders of science.

What Are Some Unique Features or Exhibits Found at Historical Landmarks That Make Them Important for a Child’s Education?

Visiting historical landmarks provides a unique opportunity for children to learn about the past. With interactive exhibits and guided tours, they can experience history firsthand and develop a deeper understanding of our world.

How Do Nature Reserves Contribute to a Child’s Learning and Development Journey?

Nature reserves provide children with a hands-on experience in exploring and understanding the natural world. They foster curiosity, environmental awareness, and appreciation for biodiversity, promoting a deeper connection to nature and fostering a sense of responsibility towards conservation.

What Specific Educational Opportunities Are Available for Children at Space Centers?

At space centers, children can participate in interactive exhibits, watch educational shows, and even meet astronauts. These experiences inspire curiosity about the universe and foster a passion for science and exploration.

How Do Zoological Parks Promote Learning and Development in Children?

Zoological parks promote learning and development in children by providing hands-on experiences with animals, teaching them about biodiversity, conservation, and animal behavior. These interactions foster a sense of empathy and responsibility towards the natural world.

As a traveler and parent, I understand the challenges that come with embarking on family adventures.

But let me tell you, the world of family travel blogs is a treasure trove of inspiration, insights, and practical tips for a successful journey.

From amazing mom bloggers sharing their experiences to dad’s heartfelt travel diaries, and even full-time traveling families embracing the nomadic lifestyle – there’s something for everyone.

Plus, don’t miss out on discovering the unique perspectives of children when it comes to travel and exploration.

So grab your passports and join me on this exciting adventure!

Key Takeaways

• Mom bloggers and dad’s travel diaries provide valuable resources for families planning vacations, offering personal experiences, tips, and advice.
• Full-time traveling families embrace flexibility, adaptability, and minimalism, while creating memories, experiencing new cultures, and engaging in adventure.
• Children’s perspectives on travel and exploration highlight the wonder, curiosity, and opportunities for growth that come with experiencing new places and interacting with locals.
• Tips and advice from family travel blogs include involving everyone in the decision-making process, packing light, researching kid-friendly activities, and embracing the culture of the destination for lasting memories.

The Adventure Begins: Exploring the World of Mom Bloggers

Let’s dive into the world of mom bloggers and see how they embark on their family travel adventures. Mom bloggers have become a valuable resource for families looking to plan their vacations and create lasting memories.

These moms share their personal experiences, tips, and advice on their blogs, offering insight into everything from packing essentials to kid-friendly destinations. They provide valuable information on finding the best deals, navigating airports with little ones, and even managing tantrums while on the road.

Their stories are not only informative but also engaging, as they often include beautiful photos and heartfelt anecdotes that truly capture the essence of family travel.

As we transition into the subsequent section about ‘dad’s diary: a journey through travel and parenthood’, we can expect a different perspective on family adventures, highlighting the unique experiences of fathers in this exciting journey.

Dad’s Diary: a Journey Through Travel and Parenthood

Immerse yourself in the journey of a father as I share my experiences and insights on travel and parenthood. Traveling with children can be both rewarding and challenging, but with proper planning and a positive mindset, it becomes an incredible adventure for the whole family.

As a dad, I have learned that preparation is key when traveling with kids. From packing essentials like snacks, toys, and extra clothes to researching child-friendly activities at your destination, these small details can make a big difference in ensuring a smooth trip.

One of the most important aspects of family travel is creating lasting memories together. Whether it’s exploring new cities, hiking in nature, or simply spending quality time at the beach, these shared experiences strengthen the bond between parents and children.

Being open-minded and flexible is also crucial during family trips. Unexpected situations may arise, such as flight delays or changes in weather conditions. Embracing these challenges with patience and adaptability allows for memorable moments of growth and resilience.

Through my own travels as a father, I have discovered that seeing the world through my children’s eyes brings an entirely new perspective to each adventure. Their curiosity and wonderment inspire me to appreciate even the simplest joys of exploration.

Full-Time Traveling Families: Embracing the Nomadic Lifestyle

Embracing a nomadic lifestyle as a full-time traveling family allows me to experience new cultures, meet diverse people, and create extraordinary memories along the way.

We have traded in our traditional home for a life on the road, constantly exploring new destinations and immersing ourselves in different communities. Living this way has taught us flexibility, adaptability, and the art of minimalism.

Our days are filled with adventure as we hike through breathtaking landscapes, sample local cuisines, and engage in meaningful conversations with fellow travelers. The world has become our classroom, teaching us invaluable lessons about empathy, understanding, and gratitude.

As we navigate through this nomadic journey together, we grow closer as a family while also opening our hearts to serve others wherever we go.

Through the Eyes of a Child: Perspectives on Travel and Exploration

From the perspective of a child, traveling and exploring opens up a world of wonder and endless possibilities. As I step foot in new places, my senses are heightened with excitement. The unfamiliar sights, sounds, and smells ignite my curiosity and imagination.

Every destination becomes a treasure hunt, searching for hidden gems and untold stories. The thrill of discovering different cultures and traditions fills me with joy as I interact with locals and make new friends along the way.

Whether it’s climbing ancient ruins or splashing in crystal-clear waters, every adventure leaves an indelible mark on my young heart. Through travel, I learn to embrace diversity, appreciate nature’s beauty, and develop resilience.

It is through these experiences that I grow into a compassionate global citizen who desires to serve others by sharing the wonders of this world.

Tips and Advice for a Successful Family Journey: Insights From Experienced Travelers and Bloggers

When planning a family trip, seasoned travelers and bloggers have valuable insights to share. As someone who loves exploring the world with my family, I’ve gathered some tips and advice from these experienced individuals that can help make your journey a success.

Firstly, it’s important to plan ahead and involve everyone in the decision-making process. This ensures that each family member feels included and excited about the trip. Additionally, packing light is key. Traveling with children can be challenging, so having less luggage makes navigating airports and hotels much easier.

Another tip is to research kid-friendly activities and attractions at your destination. Whether it’s visiting interactive museums or enjoying outdoor adventures, finding activities that cater to your children’s interests will keep them engaged throughout the trip.

Lastly, don’t forget to create memorable experiences together as a family. Whether it’s trying new foods or participating in local traditions, immersing yourself in the culture of your destination will leave lasting memories for everyone involved.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are Some Popular Destinations for Family Travel?

Some popular destinations for family travel include Disney World, the Grand Canyon, and beach resorts like Cancun. These destinations offer a variety of activities and attractions that cater to both kids and adults, ensuring a successful family journey.

How Do Families Budget for Their Travels?

When it comes to budgeting for family travels, I’ve learned that being resourceful and flexible is key. From finding affordable accommodations to prioritizing experiences, it’s all about making the most of every penny.

What Are Some Challenges Families Face When Traveling Together?

When traveling together, families may face challenges such as managing different schedules and interests, dealing with limited space and accommodations, and maintaining a sense of routine. However, with proper planning and communication, these can be overcome for a successful family journey.

How Do Families Handle Education and Schooling While Traveling?

Handling education and schooling while traveling can be challenging, but families get creative! We mix traditional methods with hands-on learning. Museums become classrooms, and nature is our science lab. Flexibility and curiosity are key for successful family journeys.

What Are Some Important Safety Tips for Families Traveling With Children?

When traveling with children, it’s important to prioritize their safety. Some tips include keeping a close eye on them at all times, teaching them about stranger danger, and packing essentials like first aid kits and emergency contact information.

As a seasoned traveler, I’ve learned that packing the right gear is essential for a successful journey. And when it comes to traveling with kids, having the right tools can make all the difference. That’s why I’m excited to share with you the ultimate guide to travel gear for little adventurers.

From children’s cameras to kids’ hiking boots, travel journals to portable beds, and waterproof clothing, each item plays a vital role in keeping your little ones comfortable and engaged while on the go.

So let’s dive in and discover the importance of each item in this little traveler’s toolkit.

Key Takeaways

• Children’s cameras and travel journals foster creativity and independence in kids while allowing them to capture and preserve their travel memories.
• Kids’ hiking boots and waterproof clothing provide support, protection, and comfort in various outdoor activities, keeping kids dry and safe in wet conditions.
• Portable beds ensure a comfortable and familiar sleep environment for kids when traveling, minimizing disruptions to routines and providing convenience.
• The durability, compactness, and ease of use of these travel gear items make them essential for kids’ travel experiences, promoting observation, writing skills, and valuable insights while creating treasured keepsakes.

The Importance of Children’s Cameras for Travel

Children’s cameras are a great way for kids to capture their travel memories in a fun and interactive way. When children have their own camera, they become actively engaged in documenting their experiences, which fosters creativity and independence.

It allows them to see the world through their own lens and develop their photography skills. Children’s cameras are designed with durability in mind, making them perfect for travel adventures. They are lightweight and compact, ensuring ease of use for little hands.

With features like built-in filters, frames, and editing tools, kids can add a personal touch to their photos. Additionally, many children’s cameras have parental controls that allow parents to monitor usage and ensure safety online.

Investing in a children’s camera not only encourages exploration but also provides lasting memories of your child’s travel experiences.

Why Kids’ Hiking Boots Are a Must-Have for Adventurous Travel

Wearing the right footwear is essential for adventurous travel, which is why kids’ hiking boots are a must-have. When exploring nature or embarking on outdoor adventures, kids need sturdy and reliable shoes that provide support and protection.

Hiking boots have several important features that make them perfect for little adventurers. They are designed with durable materials to withstand rough terrains and offer excellent traction to prevent slips and falls. The ankle support in hiking boots helps stabilize young feet, reducing the risk of sprains or injuries.

Additionally, these boots often have waterproof or water-resistant properties, keeping kids’ feet dry in wet conditions. Comfort is also prioritized with cushioned soles and breathable materials. Investing in quality hiking boots ensures that your child can explore confidently and comfortably while staying safe during their travels.

Travel Journals for Kids: Capturing Memories on the Go

When you go on your adventures, don’t forget to bring a travel journal for capturing all the amazing memories along the way. A travel journal is not just a blank notebook; it’s a tool that allows kids to document their experiences and reflect on their travels.

Here are five reasons why travel journals for kids are essential:

• Preserve Memories: Travel journals help children preserve their memories in a tangible form, allowing them to revisit and cherish those moments in the future.

• Develop Writing Skills: Writing in a travel journal helps improve kids’ writing skills as they describe their experiences, observations, and feelings.

  

• Enhance Observation Skills: Encouraging kids to observe and record details about new places, people, and cultures enhances their observation skills.

• Promote Reflection: Reflecting on their adventures through writing helps children gain valuable insights into themselves and the world around them.

• Create Personal Keepsakes: Travel journals become treasured keepsakes that children can look back on with pride and share with others.

The Essential Guide to Portable Beds for Traveling With Kids

Don’t forget to pack a portable bed for your little ones when traveling with kids! It’s an essential item that can make a huge difference in ensuring a comfortable and safe sleep environment for your children.

Portable beds are lightweight, compact, and easy to set up, making them perfect for travel. They come in various styles such as inflatable beds, foldable cots, and sleeping bags with built-in mattresses. Look for one that is sturdy, durable, and easy to clean.

A portable bed allows your child to have their own familiar sleeping space wherever you go, minimizing disruptions to their routine. It’s especially useful when staying in hotels or visiting friends and family who may not have extra beds available.

Why Waterproof Clothing Is a Game-Changer for Traveling Families

Waterproof clothing is a game-changer for traveling families because it keeps everyone dry and comfortable in unpredictable weather conditions. Whether you’re exploring the rainforests of Costa Rica or hiking through the Scottish Highlands, having the right gear can make all the difference.

Here are five reasons why waterproof clothing should be at the top of your packing list:

• Protection from rain and wet conditions.
• Comfort and warmth in damp environments.
• Versatility for various outdoor activities.
• Durability to withstand rugged adventures.
• Easy maintenance and cleaning.

Investing in waterproof jackets, pants, and shoes will ensure that you and your little ones stay dry no matter what mother nature throws your way. It’s a practical choice that will keep everyone happy and ready to tackle any adventure.

Must-Have Travel Gear: Children’s Cameras

Having a children’s camera is a must-have for any family vacation. It not only allows your little ones to capture precious moments but also encourages their creativity and helps them develop an appreciation for photography.

Children’s cameras are designed with durability in mind, ensuring they can withstand the rough and tumble of outdoor adventures. They often come with features like easy-to-use buttons, built-in filters, and fun frames that add excitement to their photos.

Kids can document their travel experiences from their own unique perspective, creating lasting memories that they can look back on fondly.

Now that we’ve covered the importance of capturing memories, let’s move on to another essential item for your next adventure: choosing the perfect kids’ hiking boots.

Choosing the Perfect Kids’ Hiking Boots for Your Next Adventure

When choosing the perfect kids’ hiking boots for your next adventure, it’s important to consider factors like comfort, durability, and traction. You want to make sure your child’s feet are well-supported and protected on the trails.

Here are some key features to look for in kids’ hiking boots:

• Comfortable fit: Look for boots with cushioned insoles and padded collars that provide all-day comfort.
• Durability: Opt for boots made from durable materials like leather or synthetic fabrics that can withstand rough terrains.
• Traction: Check for boots with sturdy rubber outsoles that offer excellent grip on various surfaces.
• Waterproofing: Choose boots with waterproof membranes or treatments to keep your child’s feet dry during wet hikes.
• Ankle support: Look for high-top boots that provide ankle support and stability when navigating uneven terrains.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are Some Tips for Choosing the Right Children’s Camera for Travel?

When choosing a children’s camera for travel, consider durability and ease of use. Look for features like shockproof and waterproof designs, simple menus, and good image quality. Don’t forget to prioritize safety features as well.

Are There Any Alternative Options to Kids’ Hiking Boots for Adventurous Travel?

There are alternative options to kids’ hiking boots for adventurous travel. Some options include sturdy sneakers or trail running shoes with good traction and ankle support. It’s important to choose footwear that will keep their feet comfortable and protected on the journey.

How Can Travel Journals for Kids Help Enhance Their Travel Experience?

Travel journals for kids can enhance their travel experience by allowing them to document their memories, express their thoughts and feelings, and improve their writing skills. It also serves as a keepsake of their adventures.

What Are the Key Features to Look for in Portable Beds for Traveling With Kids?

When looking for portable beds for traveling with kids, it’s important to consider features like lightweight design, easy setup, and durability. These beds provide comfort and a familiar sleeping space for little ones on the go.

Can Waterproof Clothing Also Protect Against Extreme Weather Conditions?

Yes, waterproof clothing can protect against extreme weather conditions. It keeps kids dry and helps regulate body temperature. It’s an essential item in the Little Traveler’s Toolkit to ensure comfort and safety during outdoor adventures.

If the thought of traveling with your baby makes you nervous, you’re not alone. I’ve had the pre-trip jitters every single time we traveled with Baby A during her first year, from her very first cross-country road trip at 2 months old to her first international flight at 6 months old. But here’s the good news: every single trip went much more smoothly than my panic-induced, sleep-deprived anxiety spirals imagined they would!

It turns out that traveling with a baby is just like having a baby at home: both terrifying and exhausting and also a LOT of fun and completely, totally worth the effort!

After traveling a bunch with our little one all through her first year, we’ve got a ton of tips for traveling with babies – and we’ve made plenty of mistakes so you won’t have to! This post covers all of the essentials for traveling with a baby, plus a few things to leave at home (but not the baby – it’s very important to bring the baby, no matter how sleep deprived you might be).

Psst: Need some packing advice for yourself? We’ve got LOADS of packing guides for people who aren’t babies! (And I wrote them before baby brain destroyed my ability to think clearly!) Start here or take a look at these:

Tips for Traveling with a Baby

After taking a few international trips, road trips, and domestic trip, we managed to dial in our baby travel strategy … just in time for her to walk her way right into toddlerhood, which is whole new set of challenges (sigh). But now we can hand down our tried and tested baby travel tips to you!

Here’s the thing about traveling with a baby, though: there’s a lot of prep work. Like, things you’ll want to do at home WELL before a trip. If you incorporate some of these into your daily life, it’ll make travel SO much easier.

In a nutshell, you’ll want to get baby as used to new environments as possible by exposing them to new places often. Take them to restaurants, to museums, to friend’s houses, to lakes and pools and on various forms of transit. It will help them cope with new situations and environments when you travel!

We also recommend that you get used to the idea that what’s most exciting and entertaining for your baby is rarely the thing you WANT them to be interested in. Like, they’ll be more excited by the emergency landing booklet on an airplane than they will by the 53 toys you brought with you to keep them occupied on the plane. They’ve already seen those toys, but the emergency landing thingy is new AND it’s in a pocket – WOAH.

Once you embrace the fact that whatever’s off limits or new is always going to be the most interesting thing in the world, you might not even bother bringing toys anywhere anymore, because you won’t need them! Straws, cups, forks, plates, door handles, plants, other people – those will all be extremely exciting and entertaining to your baby. Toys are great and all, but we find ourselves not really needing them as much as we think we will on trips.

Finally, you’ll want to minimize stuff that you have to bring as much as you possibly can. That might mean, for instance, taking showers with baby instead of baths – because every hotel room will have a shower, but they won’t all have bathtubs that will work with a baby, and schlepping around a baby tub (even an inflatable/foldable/portable one) is extremely annoying and not really necessary.

• Bring toys that baby has never seen before, or hasn’t played with in a while. Otherwise, your toys will always be fighting a losing battle with all the other fun stuff your baby will want to touch and play with out in the world, which you may or may not want them to touch or play with.
• Maintain your bedtime routine as much as possible while traveling. Set a really great routine and do it every night no matter where you are in the world! Our bedtime routine includes putting on her PJs and sleep sack, nursing, reading a book together, drinking a bottle, and rain sounds playing as white noise. She can go to sleep on a bed, on a floor mattress, in a pack-n-play, or even with a sitter so long as the routine is the same!
• Naps are SO much easier if you can manage them on the go. Try to sneak in an on-the-go nap every once in a while instead of laying your baby down for a nap. Stroller naps, car seat naps, carrier naps and even boob snoozes are all good ways to practice nap flexibility!
• For longer trips: plan to stay somewhere with a laundry machine and dishwasher every week or two. A trip that’s shorter than a week is no big – just pack extra baby clothes and hand wash everything, it’ll be fine. But for longer trips, it’s really helpful to sneak in a load of laundry and get a good dishwasher wash for bottles after about a week or so.

• Practice using the carrier at home before your trip. If you’re not used to wearing baby in a carrier, schlepping one along on a trip might actually end up being really annoying and unnecessary – not all carriers work for all people, and some people really hate carriers. Jeremy and I have each found a carrier we love, and we bring both of them on trips so we can share the load (and save our backs – a full day of carrying around our sweet little 20-pound bowling ball is brutal! Like, we actually work out just so we can do that sh*t now). Take your baby on some walks, grocery store runs, errands, etc in the carrier to make sure you both like it BEFORE traveling with it!
• Strollers aren’t always great to travel with. At home, Baby A is fine with her stroller. She does a cut little leg kick thing, chews on a strap, and hums happily to herself while looking at all the trees and flowers and things in our neighborhood. But in a new, foreign place? She HATES strollers. At least, she hates front-facing strollers – when she was small enough to be able to face us in the stroller, it was fine. But then she got too big and we started doing front-facing, and now she’s just facing out into the unfamiliarity of a place she’s never seen, and it freaks her out. Plus, we keep going places with stairs and elevators and cobblestones and other things that make strollers really irritating. So frankly, we use the stroller a lot less often than we baby wear on trips!
• If your baby hates the car, try to stick to places with great transit. Baby A hates the car. She liked it fine until when she was about 3 months old. We were doing a cross-country road trip in our camper van and it was about a week in, somewhere around Utah, when she decided she f***ing HATES the car. We’ve tabled the camper van for a while and we’re currently sticking to destinations where we don’t need a car – it’s so much easier for us, especially for naps (no transferring a sleeping baby to/from a car seat!) Plus, Baby A LOVES transit. She loves trains (people! windows! Rhythmic sounds!) and buses and plans and anything where she can make friends and smile at people and crawl all over us and explore stuff. She hates being contained in a car, bored out of her mind in the backseat while I frantically throw toys at her.

• Eating solid foods complicates the whole thing. Babies are so much easier to travel with when you can feed them anywhere by whipping out a boob or mixing up some formula (pro tip: try serving your baby cold bottles. They might be totally fine with it, like ours.) But once they need 3 whole meals and 2 snacks? oh my god. Now we have to travel with a small armada of shelf-stable snacks, a tiny cooler, bibs/a shotglass/baby-sized utensils, etc etc. And when she gets hungry, she’s STARVING and we have to stop and find a place to eat IMMEDIATELY or she freaks out. And it takes her like an hour to eat. And then she’s a total mess afterwards. Ohhh it’s just a whole thing. The younger your baby, the easier it is to travel with them in general, but solids are a huge part of that.
• The younger baby is, the easier they are to travel with. If you still have a potato baby who will sleep anywhere, isn’t crawling or walking yet, and doesn’t eat much solid food, you’re in the sweet spot!! So if you’re thinking like “oh let’s wait to plan a trip until they’re a little older,” NO! The time to do it is as SOON as you feel ready, because it only gets more complicated the older they get and the closer they get to toddlerhood. Sweet little tiny potato babies are soooo easy to travel with! For us, we didn’t feel comfortable doing much travel until she’d had all of her vaccines, so we just did road trips until she turned 6 months and we felt that she had enough immunizations to hop on a plane. She took her first international trip at 6 months and it was amazing!
• Try to time flights to coincide with naptimes and bedtime. Your baby sleeping on a plane means you can enjoy a few precious hours to watch movies, drink free Ginger Ale and eat snacks to your heart’s content. An awake baby on the plane isn’t the worst thing in the world – Baby A actually loves planes, because they are full of people and have pockets with stuff in them that she is content to play with for hours on end – but it’s certainly more stressful than a sleepy baby. So timing a quick-ish flight to overlap with naptime is perfect. For long-haul flights, take the redeye. Baby goes down at the beginning of the flight and wakes up in a new place feeling all refreshed and happy – and can even skip jetlag thanks to the magical effects of sunlight! The sweet spot for this is basically the length of baby’s evening sleep, so it works well for 8-12 hour flights. Maybe even longer if you want to do dinner and some awake plane time before they go down.

Baby Travel Essentials: Sleep

Ahhh, sleep: the difference between enjoying your vacation and being absolutely f***king miserable and cranky. While we can’t guarantee you a good night’s sleep on the road, what I CAN offer you is some reassurance: Baby A actually sleeps BETTER at night while traveling than at home! The stimulation of being in a new place just wears her out, I think (plus, once she outgrew her pack-n-play around 8 months we just started cosleeping on trips, which she loves.)

That said, she’s not really a bad sleeper at home, either – she averages about 1-2 wakeups per night at home, but that goes down to 0-1 when we travel. I think all the new stimulation and activity (and shorter naps, and thrown-off bedtimes…) tuckers her out and just makes it that much more likely that she’ll sleep straight through the night!

One thing that helps is that we keep our bedtime routine the same as at home: we put on her PJs and sleep sack, nurse, read a book together, drink a bottle, and have rain sounds playing as white noise.

Naps are also something you can work on BEFORE you travel. You’ll want to try to get them to be able to sleep anywhere – ideally, that means even being able to nap while out and about. A baby that will nap in a carrier, stroller, and/or car seat is a baby that is easy AF to travel with, y’all. Imagine not having to plan your day around your baby because they can just sleep whenever, wherever. A Shakira Baby. Yes, it is possible, and yes, it is worth it.

That said not every baby will tolerate it – some babies just need to be at home in a dark quiet room at a very specific time for naps. BUT if you can manage it, it’s HUGE for easing the stress of travel logistics!

In our case, we go off of baby’s cues, and roughly off of wake windows, to figure out when baby needs a nap. When she’s giving us the eye rub/ear tug/yawn cues, we pop her in the carrier on one of us to sleep. She passes out while we continue about our day, and often wakes up in a totally different place than she fell asleep.

The tradeoff? We went 11 months straight exclusively contact napping. Until she was almost 1 years old, she ONLY napped on us – meaning nobody else could put her down for a nap (except my mom, who has Grandma Energy and can do anything, apparently). It’s a huge tradeoff that we’re only able to do because we’re both home with her all the time. But we love the snuggles of contact naps, and the convenience of on-the-go naps is just too good for us to give up. For a more balanced approach, try to sneak in an on-the-go nap every once in a while instead of laying your baby down for a nap. Stroller naps, carseat naps, carrier naps and even boob snoozes are all good ways to practice nap flexibility!

But from jump, a few things that helped us were to have Baby A sleep in her pack n’ play at home, so when we brought it with us, she was in the exact same sleep environment. We also play rain sounds on a noise machine for her both at home and wherever we travel to, and we try to make the room as dark as possible at night. We also do the exact same bedtime routine wherever we go.

Here’s what helps us get enough sleep to function:

• ​Wool Sleep Sack: Traveling means you don’t always have control of the temperature of your room. But Baby A’s merino wool sleep sack is naturally temperature regulating, keeping her warm when the room is chilly and cooling her down when it’s hot! She’s been using this nightly at home too, so we know she’s always at the perfect temperature at night.
• Portable White Noise Machine: We have a Hatch at home and were skeptical at first, but that thing is fantastic – not sure if it helps her sleep, but it DOES cover up street noise, us watching TV, the dog barking, etc. And it creates a strong association that comes in handy during trips and even when taking a nap on the go! Our go-to white noise is rain sounds. We got away with playing it. onour phones in hotel rooms for a while, but the occasional surprise Instagram video blaring and waking her up was so stressful (and we wanted to be able to us our phones) that we ended up getting a portable white noise machine. It’s little and lightweight and rechargeable, and when we need an on-the-go stroller nap, it hands in the stroller, too.
• ​Travel-Friendly Pack n Play: The portable Guava Lotus Pack n Play has been Baby A’s “crib” at home, so we were excited to fold it up with us and take it along, thinking it would be good for her to have a familiar place to sleep in unfamiliar surroundings. It folds down into a lightweight carry-on friendly backpack that fits in the overhead compartment. One thing to note is that a lot of hotels and even vacation rentals will provide a baby crib free of charge, so if yours does, you won’t need to bring this along!

Travel Essentials with Baby: Nursing & Eating

Feeding a baby can be simple or it can be really freakin’ hard. There are so many variables at play! If you’re fortunate enough to be breastfeeding with no complications and your baby is not yet on solids, you can probably skip this section.

But for many of us, myself included, it’s not quite as simple. Maybe your baby needs pumped milk. Maybe your baby needs formula. Maybe your baby is already eating solids, or has crossed the tipping point into needing a constant supply of snacks in addition to full meals, bottles, and/or breast milk (for those of you with infants younger than 9 months, you’ve got that to look forward to). If you are on solids, you’ll be eating pretty much all of your meals at restaurants, which is daunting if you’re not used to taking baby out to eat – so start at home before your trip to practice!

So I’ve tried to make the below section as inclusive as possible. A few suggestions before we begin:

• Do you need to bring formula? If your baby needs a specific formula, bring enough with you to last for your entire trip. Otherwise, you’ll have no trouble finding formula wherever you are (unless you’re going to somewhere where babies and mothers don’t typically go, like Antarctica, I guess, but pretty much everywhere else has ’em). European formula is, in many ways, even better than what you can get in the US as their guidelines are very strict! That said, do bring SOME formula of your own to mix with the new formula rather than starting all at once to avoid an upset tummy.
• Do you need to bring snacks or baby food? If your baby is on solids or needs the occasional (or frequent) snack, you might be tempted to load your bag up with pouches, puffs, and heavy jars of baby food. Don’t! This is another item you’ll be able to find absolutely everywhere. Add it to your shopping list. And again, you might be surprised by how much better the options are in other countries. We found so many organic, nothing-added pouches and jars of baby food in Germany at regular, ordinary pharmacies! And don’t forget, you can always just feed baby fresh, ordinary soft fruits – there’s will be something they can eat at the grocery store, trust me. Just pack enough snacks and food to get them through your first day or two until you can get to a grocery store.

• Do you need to bring baby utensils or cups? Personally, this wasn’t something we found we needed to bring on trips. Baby A does just fine with full-sized utensils (which is to say, most of the time she uses her hands and also lets us feed her with full-sized utensils) and was able to drink from open cups and straws pretty early on. We did bring a small shot glass with us for a while because she was able to pick it up and drink from it on her own, but later on we got lazy and just handed her our reusable water bottle or a regular-sized glass to drink from. We just asked for empty plates to use at restaurants so we didn’t need to bring special baby plates/bowls, too.
• What to bring to keep baby entertained while waiting for food? The most stressful part of eating at a restaurant with a baby is trying to keep them patient and happy while you wait for food to arrive. The younger they are, the easier this is. Our go-to move is typically to let them explore what’s on the table (safely) – you can kill plenty of time just letting them tink-tink a fork against a glass or wave a menu around. We also do lots of picking the baby up and walking them all around the restaurant to look at things. There’s usually some art to look at, some fun new wall textures to explore, and a waiter or two who might wave at your baby. As baby gets older, having a snack on hand is great (if you don’t, just ask your server to bring you out a little plate of fresh fruit ASAP). And yes, bringing a couple of toys can help, but frankly, our baby is almost never interested in familiar toys when she’s out somewhere exciting and new – she is always more interested to explore the things she’s never seen or things she’s not supposed to mess with (how do they ALWAYS reach for the most dangerous thing FIRST??)

Now, let’s jump into the specifics:

• ​Bottles/nipples, soap, and a bottle brush: If your baby drinks formula or pumped milk, you’ll want to bring along at least a couple of bottles. Resist packing too many though, because they’ll take up way too much space and you’ll rarely need more than 2. You’ll just need to wash each bottle right after you use it! You can buy a little portable bottle brush and soap kit but honestly we just wash ours with a little container of unscented Dr. Bronners and a bottle brush, or in a pinch we’ve also even used washcloths and regular hand soap. A travel drying rack is handy, but it’s really a luxury, not a necessity – you can just lay down a towel in the bathroom or hand-dry everything. And try not to worry too much about keeping things totally sterile. Just do the best you can. Your baby will be OK.
• Ceres Chill: This insulated portable steel cooler keeps breast milk and pre-mixed formula refrigerated on to go. You fill the outer chamber of the water bottle with ice from a hotel or a local coffee shop, and it keeps the inner steel chamber at a safe temperature! I used this on a trip without Baby A to store pumped milk until I could get it to the freezer, but it would also work to keep up to 24oz of breast milk or pre-mixed formula safely chilled while you’re out exploring or on a long haul flight – it stays refrigerated for 20+ hours!
• Inflatable nursing pillow: I was one of those moms who could not nurse without a nursing pillow. Something about the shape of my boobs and the shape of my child and the way my body is designed (maybe because I’m really tall?) I don’t know, but whatever it is, I needed a pillow to nurse until Baby A was like 10 months old. At home I used the Brest Friend pillow, but this inflatable version had a permanent space in my diaper bag and was all I needed on trips.
• Silicone Bibs: If your baby is on solids, these travel-friendly, easy-to-wash silicone bibs/food-catchers will be your best friend. We keep one permanently in the diaper bag for spontaneous restaurant trips at home, too.
• Travel high chair: Many restaurants will have high chairs available, but we often find ourselves needing to hold Baby A on our laps while we eat, which is both irritating and messy. There are portable high chairs that attach to a full-sized chair like this one, but then your baby is like, a foot below the table and can’t reach anything to feed themselves. So we prefer a whole chair with a built-in tray, like this. You can use it stand-alone in your hotel room for breakfast, or you can strap it to a chair when you’re out and about. That said, it’s large and takes up quite a bit of luggage/stroller space. We have certainly gone on trips with no high chair situation to speak of and just made do whenever a high chair wasn’t available. It’s just a little more inconvenient.

Baby Travel Essentials: Clothing

Our rule of thumb for clothing is to pack a week’s worth, and then do everyone’s laundry. After a week, you might book a vacation rental with a laundry machine, ask your hotel front desk to do your laundry, or just stop by a laundromat.

If none of those are an option, you can always just wash clothing in the sink using a little Dr. Bronner’s soap and a travel clothesline to hang dry, but with a baby, you’re probably going to want to take the extra steps to find an actual machine to use.

Leave at home anything that will need to be laundered more often, like all-white clothing or cloth diapers. And remember to wear a silicone bib (and maybe a cute little drool bib, too) during meals to keep messy clothes to a minimum!

Other than laundry, your biggest challenge when packing clothing for baby is the weather. We’ve got some tips below.

• Hot weather: Stick to 100% cotton or linen clothes. Avoid polyester or nylon because it’s not breathable and can give your baby a rash. Rayon/bamboo is also good for hot weather as it’s temperature regulating. and lightweight.
• Cold Weather: We rely on layering wool, down and fleece in cold weather for the best thermal insulation and temperature regulation. Bundle your baby up in wool as a base layer – we love the Iksplor Wool Baby Onesie and use it constantly on trips (use the code PW15 for 15% off your purchase). Wool is temperature-regulating and resists bacteria, so you can wear it over and over without needing to wash it. We also keep baby’s feet toasty with lightweight wool socks. Next, layer on a fleece bunting – sure, it doesn’t have to have little bear ears, but like …. LOOK HOW CUTE. When its really cold (say, under freezing) we use this down bunting that comes with down mittens and booties, too. Top it all off with a cozy, soft wool hat that covers baby’s ears.

Travel Essentials with Baby: Diapers & Stuff

Here’s the good news: changing baby’s diaper while traveling is a lot easier than you’d think! You just need to find a nice spot of ground, whip out a changing mat, and change away. Many bathrooms have changing tables with straps, making your life even easier.

And when it comes to what to bring, pretty much everything will fit right in your diaper bag (hence the name)! As Baby A got older and we needed fewer diapers and changes of clothes and toys with us at all times, we sized down to a cuter, smaller diaper bag.

Here’s what to bring for changing baby while traveling:

• Travel Changing Mat: This is so essential in our house that we keep it on hand for changing baby when we’re too lazy to go all the way upstairs to her actual changing station! With a little bit of padding to protect Baby’s head from the ground and an easy-to-clean surface, it’s the perfect on-the-go changing station. We like an all-in-one version that comes with a little pocket for the other essentials on this list, too.
• Travel butt cream & butt spatula: Y’all, I know I verge on minimalism. But the butt paste spatula IS ESSENTIAL. Ever gotten butt paste on your fingers? It’s the worst! Just use the travel spatula – it even comes with a little case to store it in so you don’t really have to wash it, just wipe it off and go.
• Diapers & Wipes: It’s tempting to throw a bunch of packs of diapers and wipes into your suitcase, but resist the urge. Honestly, just bring enough to get you through your travel day and maybe a day or two until you can get to a grocery store. You can find diapers and baby wipes anywhere. (And listen: while we cloth diaper at home, when we’re traveling? Disposable diapers all the way. The convenience can’t be beat!) That said, if you need really specific stuff, go ahead and bring it along, but it’s worth googling to see if there’s an equivalent abroad first – that’s how we figured out which organic, chemical-free brand of diapers we could buy in Germany, for instance.
• Extra clothing & a doggy bag: Blowouts happen, y’all. Always have a backup outfit in your diaper bag (make sure it still fits!) and a doggy bag to bag up gross stuff while you’re out and about. Frankly, you might just want to only pack clothing that you’re OK losing forever, because you can carry poopy clothing around all day just fine, but you might not have access to laundry for a while (we typically recommend finding a laundry machine to use after a week of travel, whether that’s in a vacation rental, a hotel concierge, or stopping by a laundromat).

Baby Travel Essentials: Entertainment

Here’s the good news: everything new and different is entertaining to a baby, which means EVERYTHING when you’re traveling! Airplane? Full of new and exciting things, like laminated cards in pockets!!! Hotel room? There’s a bit plastic thing with buttons to press, OMG! Public transportation? People and poles to touch!! Everything is so exciting!

What’s great is that you won’t have to pack many toys to keep baby entertained – just people watching, looking at new stuff, and exploring new textures and objects will be entertainment enough.

But what about when you don’t want baby to explore new and exciting things? Say, the candle on your table? Or the poor stranger sitting next to you in your tiny airplane row because you were too cheap to spring for a seat for baby (hi, it’s us, we’re those cheapskates)? That’s when your backup entertainment comes into play.

Here are a few travel-friendly toys and baby essentials that have a permanent place in our diaper bag:

• Silicone Toy Catchers: If you only buy one item on this packing list, this is the one. These nifty little silicone straps are SO handy. Sick of picking up tossed toys, forks, pacifiers, cups? This is your first line of defense! Use them to attach toys to baby’s stroller or car seat, attach forks and spoons to their high chair, attach anything to anything else – and they make a great teether on their own, too! They’re machine washable, too. We basically keep one of these on hand at all time, plus on the stroller and car seat, too.
• Suction Spinners: Toys with suction cups on them are PERFECT for sticking onto an airplane, car, or train window and keeping baby occupied in transit. This set of 3 silicone spinners in bright colors was a hit with Baby A for MONTHS. They’re great for teething, too! There are lots of different varieties you can get, like this, but we liked the originals.
• Bubble Pop Toy: I don’t really know how to describe this, but like … ok, you know how it’s really satisfying to pop bubble wrap? This is like that but big and brightly colored. I don’t know the science behind it but babies LOVE this thing. I just wish it had a hole so it could be tied onto stuff, but otherwise it’s great.
• Sophie the Giraffe: Classic, science-backed, silicone, a cult favorite for over 50 years – Sophie is a hit. We love running into other families with Sophie’s sticking out of their diaper bag. They are GREAT for teething and Baby A has been into hers since she could hold stuff. Sophie is usually tied onto our stroller via a little silicone noose around her neck (grim, but it works) and Baby A will happily chew while we push her around sightseeing.
• Tiny board books: We’ve been reading Baby A a book at bedtime since about 4 months, and around 8 months, she started to explore books on her own and practice turning the pages. She really loves these tiny board books, which are the perfect size for little baby hands and full of brightly colored pictures (not illustrations, which is a plus – it’s easier for babies to recognize pictures.) These are her favorite go-to car seat toy, and it’s really freakin’ cute to see her concentrating SO hard on turning the pages of a book all by herself with her little baby hands!

Baby Travel Essentials: Health & First Aid

You know what’s worse than dealing with a sick baby? Dealing with a sick baby in a foreign country. It’s scary, but even when it’s not scary, it’s stressful and vacation-ruining.

So, we have a few first aid and health essentials to mitigate that (and knock on wood, Baby A has yet to get sick on a trip!):

• Infant Tylenol: Bring this with you, and know your baby’s dosage (ask your pediatrician right before you leave based on your baby’s current weight). There was an infant Tylenol shortage this last year and it was really scary. If baby has a fever, this is a must-have. But frankly, we also use it to help soothe teething pains and all kinds of stuff. Make sure you bring some with you!
• Sanitizing Wipes: Preventing baby from getting sick means preventing germs from getting in their mouth. We use these on all high-touch areas, including anything at our airplane seat that baby will have touch access to, poles on public transit, railings or handles at theme parks, etc. We also use them anywhere baby will be sitting and eating, especially at airports. We don’t use them on baby, though, because they have alcohol in them! So instead, we use …
• Sanitizing Hand Wipes: These are like a step up from regular baby wipes (which clean, but don’t sanitize – like water without soap) and a step below hand sanitizer for grownups, with no alcohol in them. If baby touches something they shouldn’t, or you can’t sanitize the stuff they’re touching, swoop in with this before baby puts their hand in their mouth or eyes.
• Sunscreen: A sunburnt baby is a miserable baby – AND if you’re not careful, a baby. inneed of a trip to the doctor! Be sure to pack baby-safe and earth-safe mineral sunscreen, like Thinkbaby. If your baby isn’t super tolerant of gooey stuff on their skin, we also love this powder sunscreen built into a fluffy brush, which makes applying sunscreen on baby’s face and (in our case) bald head really fun!
• Travel Insurance: If baby DOES get sick on the road, the last thing you want to be dealing with is figuring out how another country’s medical system works. Buy travel insurance before your trip and you’ll not only be financially covered in case of an emergency, but you’ll have someone to call and ask where to go. I’ve filed several claims with World Nomads, including a healthcare claim for a gnarly ear infection in Costa rica which involved multiple doctors, a hospital, and a shot of steriods in my butt – and their 24/7 help line was essential in finding me local doctors and talking me through each step, including pushing back my travels so I didn’t have to fly with an ear infection! Not sure how travel insurance works? We’ve got a whole detailed guide to travel insurance.

Baby Travel Essentials: Carrying Baby & Baby Stuff

After you’ve triumphantly crammed all your baby supplies into your suitcase (psst: our favorite suitcases have a little extra give – and we always need it) it’s time to think about what you’ll need to carry baby around in. Now, a lot of this will come down to your destination.

If you’ll be renting a car, a car seat is of course essential. But if you’re going somewhere with good public transportation and plan to walk everywhere, you can get away without a car seat – though our first time in Europe, we were too nervous to leave ours at home, so we brought it along (luckily it fit into our stroller so it wasn’t an extra thing).

You might also consider – and I know this is going to give some of you anxiety – not bringing a stroller. I’ve found that they’re actually REALLY inconvenient in a lot of places, like anywhere with lots of cobblestone streets and narrow stairs and non-accessible transit systems with giant gaps between the sidewalk and the train doors (Germany, I’m side-eyeing you).

In places like that, lugging it around is a huge hassle and it basically just becomes a giant unwieldy luggage cart. We also found that Baby A really wanted to be strapped directly to us in unfamiliar places, so she wouldn’t let us put her in the stroller even though she loves it at home.

That said, if you don’t have experience babywearing, don’t leave your stroller at home, and don’t let this trip be the first time you attempt to spend a 6-hour day with a sweaty, 15lb ball of cuteness and drool strapped to you.

You and baby need to both get used to your carrier (and make sure it fits right and doesn’t cause you any pain), and honestly, it helps to build up a lil’ muscle first, too – especially in your lower back, moms, because there’s a good chance your abs were just freakin’ destroyed as your adorable ball of sunshine made their grand entrance into the world. (Any other c-section mamas out there? Y’all are going to want to work up to long days of baby-wearing – use your partner’s functioning ab muscles in the meantime.)

That said, here’s what we recommend based on our experience:

• Carriers: Both Jeremy and I LOVE babywearing. We swear by it. And we find that in strange and unfamiliar places, strapping Baby A to us helps her to feel more safe and secure, too. In fact, she outright refuses the stroller sometimes on trips, so we end up carrying her all day, every day. Having a comfortable baby carrier (that you’ve used before your trip) is essential for traveling with a baby. Look for one that’s lightweight with mesh panels, or just whatever you can wear comfortably. We have a few recommendations:
  • Jeremy’s favorite carrier is made by Colugo. It’s super soft and comfortable, and the buckles are magnetic which means they’re incredibly easy to put on and take off.
  • My favorite is a heavy-duty carrier made by BabyBjorn with a nice wide leg panel. The BabyBjorn breathable mesh carrier is perfect for hot weather.
  • Never used a carrier or just not sure you’ll use it much? This travel-friendly baby carrier is lightweight and packs down small. Our other carriers take up quite a bit of room but this one is perfect for keeping in the diaper bag just in case.
• Stroller: You’ll want a stroller that’s comfortable for baby and for you to push with plenty of room to carry your gear each day, but also relatively easy to fold down and carry. Here’s what we recommend:
  • When Baby A was smaller, we swore by a stroller and car seat combo – knowing we have a car seat in case we need to take a taxi or rent a car for an emergency is SUCH a relief! This nifty foldable stroller/car seat is all one piece to make your life much easier (imagine getting out of your car when your carseat is ALREADY A STROLLER – game changer). That said, it doesn’t have storage underneath – no problem if you don’t mind carrying a diaper bag, though.
  • When Baby A grew bigger and started forward-facing in her stroller, we got this lightweight travel stroller, which fits into the overhead compartment on planes (though pretty much every airline will gate check, so that’s not totally necessary). This compact stroller folds down with one hand and includes a rain cover and cupholder, and has plenty of storage underneath, too.
  • Depending on where you’re traveling, you can also rent a stroller (and car seat!) upon arrival from BabyQuip.
• Rain cover for stroller: If there is even a hint of rain in the forecast for your trip, throw one of these in the bottom of your stroller!
• Tushbaby:  This little seat that straps around your waist is extremely helpful to have if your baby is old enough to sit upright. It’s perfect for older and bigger babies – and you’ll save your back and arms (tennis elbow, anyone? We got it BAD once our baby hit about 15 lbs!) We use it when we’re walking around restaurants or museums, to nurse crossbody, and to hold a few essentials like hand sanitizing wipes. We also used it instead of the stroller or carrier for short distances, like from the car to the hotel.  That said, if your little one isn’t super heavy and you’re not constantly battling tennis elbow, this probably takes up more space in your suitcase than you really need if you’re happy with babywearing in a carrier!

What NOT to Bring: 5 Baby Travel “Essentials” You Really Don’t Need

Before we started traveling with Baby A, I read a LOT of baby travel guides. And a lot of them left me shaking my head (or, in my early postpartum days, filled with hormonally-induced rage).

It seems like a whole lot of people make a lot of money off selling desperate, tired, nervous parents stuff they really don’t need. (Lookin’ at you, galactagogues which have been proven to do absolutely nothing but I still took religiously or months JUST IN CASE.)

So here’s what you really don’t need to bring (with some duplication of tips we already covered above for those of you who are tired and busy and skipped to this section to get the tldr):

• Diapers: It’s tempting to throw a bunch of packs of diapers and wipes into your suitcase, but resist the urge. Honestly, just bring enough to get you through your travel day and maybe a day or two until you can get to a grocery store. You can find diapers and baby wipes pretty much anywhere. (And listen: while we cloth diaper at home, when we’re traveling? Disposable diapers all the way. The convenience can’t be beat!) That said, if you need really specific stuff, go ahead and bring it along, but it’s worth googling to see if there’s an equivalent abroad first – that’s how we figured out which organic, chemical-free brand of diapers we could buy in Germany, for instance.
• Baby Wipes: Same as diapers: bring what you need to last you until you can visit a store.
• Formula: If your baby needs a specific formula, bring enough with you to last for your entire trip. Otherwise, you’ll have no trouble finding formula wherever you are (unless you’re going to somewhere where babies and mothers don’t typically go, like Antarctica, I guess, but pretty much everywhere else has it). European formula is, in many ways, even better than what you can get in the US as their guidelines are very strict! That said, do bring SOME formula of your own to mix with the new formula rather than starting all at once to avoid an upset tummy.
• Baby Food: If your baby is on solids or needs the occasional (or frequent) snack, you might be tempted to load your bag up with pouches, puffs, and heavy jars of baby food. Don’t! This is another item you’ll be able to find absolutely everywhere. Add it to your shopping list. And again, you might be surprised by how much better the options are in other countries. We found so many organic, nothing-added pouches and jars of baby food in Germany at regular, ordinary pharmacies! And don’t forget, you can always just feed baby fresh, ordinary soft fruits – there’s will be something they can eat at the grocery store, trust me. Just pack enough snacks and food to get them through your first day or two until you can get to a grocery store.
• Baby Bathtub: Fitting an entire bathtub into your suitcase is a headache no matter how “portable” it is, and frankly, it’s totally unnecessary. If your baby is too big to wash in the bathroom sink with a towel down, and your hotel room doesn’t have a bathtub (again, you can put a towel down and jump in there with them) take baby into the shower with you! Showering with baby is lovely and snuggly and relaxing, and it means everyone in the family gets to take a shower whenever they need one. Another benefit to showering with your baby is that it gets them used to having water on their face, which helps with swimming! We’ve been showering with Baby A since she was about 2 months and we all LOVE it. Hold baby while you shower, or lay them carefully down on a towel on the shower floor, making sure that the water isn’t going directly on their face or head.

Rule of thumb? If you’ll be near a store, there will be baby stuff there. Even if you forget to pack something you DO need (which is why one of our silicon bibs is German)! Moms need this stuff EVERYWHERE. So deep breaths – it’s going to be OK.

Just … you know, install the Google Translate app on your phone so you can translate the ingredient label or ask the salesperson for what you need. And then take deep breaths!

Hopefully this extremely long list of travel essentials with baby was helpful! My goal was to publish it before Baby A turned 1, and she’s turning 1 this weekend … which gives me all kinds of feelings and makes me tear up whenever I think about it. I guess my next posts will be about traveling with a toddler 😭 So do me a favor and go snuggle your baby – and then take them on an absolutely amazing trip that you will remember forever (and they’ll enjoy looking at pictures of when they’re older)!

Psst: Need some packing advice for yourself? We’ve got LOADS of packing guides for people who aren’t babies! (And I wrote them before baby brain destroyed my ability to think clearly!) Start here or take a look at these:

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A tree-covered riverwalk with quaint stone bridges. An eleven-day festival with confetti and chicken on a stick. Remembering the Alamo. When it comes to having a good time steeped in history, there are so many scenic and fascinating things to do in San Antonio, Texas.

You can wander around in one of their many museums, take a riverboat down a fairy-tale-esque river, and walk the grounds of what was once a Mission turned gruesome battlefield. Not to mention stunning gardens, incredible food, and friendly people. It’s easy to find yourself falling in love with San Antonio on your first visit!

Visiting Texas for the first time I wondered what it would be like. A desert wasteland? No, not at all, luckily! Would everyone be in ten-gallon hats and cowboy boots? Well, not everyone, but you’ll definitely see some Texan fashion! And would the vibes be off since Texas has some truly questionable politics? I am glad to say no – the city is diverse and welcoming. So let’s get into it!

Psst: Planning a visit to Texas or the West? Check out some of our other posts to help you plan your trip!

The Best Time to Visit San Antonio, Texas

The best time to San Antonio, Texas is before it gets too hot or too cold (all you need is a light jacket), generally in March/April or October/November. The temperatures during this time range from the mid-60s to the 80s, and when I went in April it got a little hot at midday but not stifling. 

I also visited San Antonio during their Fiesta festival which happens every April, and fell in love with the energy the city exudes during this time. People come out to party, much like we do here in Louisville during the Kentucky Derby Festival or Mardi Gras in New Orleans, and there was so much to do and see during this time.

I highly recommend visiting during April during the 11-long-day festival (more on this below), and if you’re into fun and lots of events to attend, this really is the best time to explore the city!

How to Get to San Antonio, Texas

Texas is a huge state, and the easiest way to get here is to fly. Many airlines don’t fly directly into San Antonio but connect through Dallas, which is about an hour’s flight away. The San Antonio airport itself (SAT) is small enough to get through quickly and is only 15 minutes away from the center of the city.

How to get around San Antonio, Texas

There are a couple of ways to get around San Antonio easily. Those are:

• Walking: I stayed downtown right across the street from the Alamo during my stay and was able to walk to a lot of the cultural highlights of the city, including the Alamo (of course), the River Walk, the Old Marketplace Square, a few of the museums, some great restaurants, and most of the Fiesta events.
• Ride Shares or Rental Cars: To reach my other destinations I used rideshares, but this can add up quickly. If you’re going to stay for more than a few days renting a car may be your best option, but not absolutely necessary.
• The Bus: San Antonio has a bus system called the VIA Metropolitan Transit that runs several lines for an inexpensive cost.

Things to do in San Antonio, Texas

There are so many things to do in San Antonio, Texas, where does one begin? Well to get the pulse of the city, and the history that built it, there is one stop that will put into perspective the culture, and complicated history of the city and the state of Texas. Lest we forget, let’s start with learning about the history of the Alamo!

Learn Your Texan History at the Alamo

Even if you aren’t the biggest history buff, the Alamo is a good place to start your time in San Antonio because it puts the city, and the state of Texas, into historical perspective.

The Alamo is located smack dab in the middle of downtown San Antonio, and it feels like the center of the wheel which the rest of the city fans out from. Next to it is a mall and several hotels, but walking around the Alamo grounds feels like being in a different world.

When most people think of the Alamo they only think of the iconic Alamo church, which of course is very beautiful and evocative, but the surrounding grounds are just as much of the original Alamo, even though most of the walls and buildings are missing today. 

The San Antonio area was originally occupied by the Tāp Pīlam Coahuiltecan Nation of Indigenous Peoples until their population was greatly diminished by the arrival of Spanish Franciscan Missionaries who established San Antonio de Valero Mission in 1718. 

In 1793, the Spanish Crown issued an order for the missions in Texas (which was still part of Mexico at this point) to be secularized, so in 1803, a Spanish cavalry unit called La Segunda Compañía Volante de San Carlos de Parras converted the old mission into military barracks which became “the Alamo”. 

In 1821 Mexico gained its independence from Spain, then Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna in 1833 abolished the Constitution of 1824, changing his political views from federalism to centralism, causing Mexico to fall into a civil war and Texas to seek its own independence. 

On October 2, 1835, the Texas Revolution began in the town of Gonzales, when the Mexican Army refused to hand back a canon to the Texans who lent them it. Eventually, the Texans fired a shot at the Mexican Army, leading to the start of the Texas Revolution.

The Texans hunkered down at the Alamo, as General Santa Anna’s Army marched toward Texas. On March 2, 1836, Texas declared its independence from Mexico. The Battle of the Alamo took place on March 6, 1836, and was really a very small moment in this whole political turmoil – the battle lasted only 90 minutes, and Santa Anna’s Army wiped out all 200 defenders. 

Today the Alamo stands for bravery, revolution, and resilience, though it has a more complicated side, in that part of the political unrest of the Texans was they wanted to fight Mexico to keep their right to own slaves. Like almost all of US history, there is a strange line between honoring the complicated past and using it to guide us to a better future.

Visiting the Alamo church is free with a timed ticket, and you can also take a guided tour or private tour (Ernesto was an amazing guide!). They also just opened the brand new Ralston Family Collections Center, which features a huge collection of items related to the Alamo (many donated by singer Phil Collins) including Santa Anna’s field sword, a rifle owned by Davy Crockett, and a Violin made from the Alamo church wood.

The Alamo is currently going through some expansion efforts, building out parts of the original Alamo so visitors can see what the entire complex would have looked like before Santa Anna’s army destroyed most of it. Check out Mission San Jose if you want to explore a mission that has been better preserved (i.e. not destroyed), which is San Antonio’s Nation Park, and you can even hit up a lot of the missions on a private tour!

Party During Fiesta®

Fiesta® San Antonio is a long-standing event, originally started in 1891 a one-parade event to honor those who died at the Alamo and Battle of San Jacinto, the final battle of the Texas Revolution. Today the event lives on in the month of April, but rather than being a single parade, it has evolved into an 11-day-celebration that honors all things San Antonio, including its diverse residents, with parades (multiple ones!), music, patriotic observances, Fiesta Royalty with rhinestone dresses, and lots of good food and drinks!

Though the original festival may have had more of the strictly Patriotic history associated with it, Fiesta today brings the city together all for a good cause – The Fiesta® San Antonio Commission Inc. is a nonprofit, volunteer, self-supporting organization and the funds raised provide services to San Antonio citizens throughout the year. It really is a party with a purpose!

You’ll see people wearing flower crowns (halos), smashing confetti eggs on each other’s heads (Cascarones), and wearing colorful badges on their clothes (medals) which you can buy or you may be given by business or party-goers. For Fiesta you dress up – we’re talking a total color explosion, and you’ll see a lot of people in Latin-inspired embroidered tops and huge gaudy hats, much like the Kentucky Derby!

Now that you know a *little* about what Fiesta® San Antonio is, here are some of the events you can’t miss:

• A Night in Old San Antonio (NIOSA) – A Night in Old San Antonio or NIOSA (as you’ll more commonly see it written or heard it said as), is a four-day long event that celebrates the culture of San Antonio’s residents. It feels a lot like Disney World in a way – there are many different “lands” filled with food and drinks from that culture which takes place in the downtown historic arts village of La Villita. You can get escargot from France, chicken on a stick from New Orleans, pretzels from Germany, elote from Mexico, and so much more. Live music fills the air, everyone is drinking and having fun, and you can explore the world in one night!
• Battle of the Flowers Parade – This 2.5-hour+ parade is the culmination of the Fiesta® activities, and in the days leading up to it, you’ll see people setting up bleachers all over the city for the 45,000 seats that are sold. The Battle of the Flowers® Association is the only all-women, all-volunteer organization producing events of its kind and you can expect to see military displays, cultural floats, and the Fiesta® Royalty, including its duchesses in long, ostentatious beaded dresses. You’ll hear spectators yelling for the girls to “show us your shoes!”, and they’ll show what they’re wearing underneath their dresses to the audience – usually rhinestone cowboy boots!
• Cornyation – Cornyation (a spoof on “coronation”) started in the 1950s as a way to make fun of the rich, Anglo citizens of the Fiesta® Royal Court and the Coronation of the Queen of the Order of the Alamo, where every year 24 women of eligible marriage age walk across the Coronation stage and up a set of stairs, waiting for the crowning of their Princess and Queen. The first Cornyation in 1951 mocked the Coronation theme of 1950, the “Court of Islands,” by crowning instead an “Empress of the Cracked Salad Bowl” on the river of the thousand islands, where all the Cornyation duchesses dressed up as lettuce and other vegetables. Today Cornyation keeps with the tradition of panning the elite – you’ll see drag queens impersonating CoUNTry queens, skits making fun of local and national politics, and a whole lot of campy and gay musical numbers. It’s chaotic, irreverent, and funny. I recommend this excellent book – Cornyation: San Antonio’s Outrageous Fiesta Tradition – to learn more about this super fun tradition.
• Fiesta de los Reyes – Located in the Historic Market Square, which has been used as a meeting point for food and the local “chili queens” since 1730, you can find yourself among 100+ local vendors during a huge street party. The Fiesta itself is the largest free event in San Antonio, and you can walk down the street with a margarita while noshing on a chicken on a stick. Live music permeates the air and it’s wonderful people watching amongst the historic architecture! The Historic Market Square is also lively on any weekend you may be in town.

Stroll Along the River Walk and Take a River Cruise

One of the most charming places in San Antonio is the River Walk, which weaves between buildings and under stone bridges, with restaurants and colorful fiesta banners lining the route. If you’ve ever been to EPCOT it’s a bit like the Gran Fiesta Tour in the Mexico pavilion – but in real life!

The River Walk is easily accessible from most places downtown, and you’ll see signs pointing down stairs all over to get to the River Walk. As you stroll down the mostly natural river, you may notice the Arnerson River Theatre, which you may know as the place where Miss Rhode Island gives her famous “perfect date” answer in Miss Congeniality (April 25th).

One of the best ways to really see where this little river winds is by taking a Go Rio River Cruise, which is a 35-minute narrated boat tour in a colorful and comfortable small barge boat. You’ll learn about things like how 300 people fall in the river per year, most of whom are drunk or accidentally fall in when it’s crowded during parades around the river.

On your journey, you’ll wind past iconic spots, like the Old Mill Crossing Mural where Teddy Roosevelt led his Rough Riders, and Selena’s Bridge, where Tejano superstar Selena Quintanilla Pérez’s husband proposed to her in the movie (as played by J-Lo, of course). You’ll also learn about the historic architecture and see some huge modern sculptures which loom over the river.

Seeing these scenic bridges and people sipping on margaritas at little restaurants on the shore, like at Casa Rio, the first restaurant to be built along the river, it’s easy to see why the River Walk is so magical!

Stop to Smell the Roses at a Garden

Since San Antonio is in a temperate climate (i.e. hot), it’s easy for a lot of tropical plants to grow here. My initial thought was that San Antonio was going to be more like a desert rather than the surprisingly lush place that it actually is, though I was told that by the end of summer the plants are pretty baked.

Luckily, there are two great places to take in both the native flora of Texas, but also some amazing tropical plants you can only see in a cultivated environment.

San Antonio Botanical Garden

The San Antonio Botanical Garden is a 38-acre urban oasis of plants, flowers, and plenty of birds, bees, and butterflies fluttering about. Here you can stroll through culinary gardens, past massive plantings of native perennials feeding the local fauna, and through giant sculptural greenhouses, filled with an incredible assortment of orchids, ferns, palms, and other exotic plants.

Seriously, once the water misters come on in the greenhouses and you’re strolling through lush green and a plethora of rainbow orchids, you’ll feel like you’re in a prehistoric movie – sans the dinosaurs. You also cannot miss wandering through the Japanese gardens, the Texas native trails complete with little log cabins, and the formal garden, filled with roses and eye-popping snapdragons.

Once you’re done with your afternoon stroll, dine at the adjoining Jardin Restaurant. Cool off with a refreshing frozen peach bellini, and their grilled cheese with sweet tomato jam is to die for. If you’re in the mood for something heavier, try their house-made pasta, like the decadent pan-seared potato gnocchi. Being right next to a garden, you know everything is as fresh as it can get!

Japanese Tea Garden

The Japanese Tea Garden was once a limestone quarry and cement factory at the turn of the century, but in 1916 Park Commissioner Ray Lambert looked out over the rocky void and thought, “You know what, this would make an epic Japanese garden.” So it became what it is now – a jaw-dropping, lush year-round garden with an abundance of flowers, shaded walkways, stone bridges over Koi ponds, and a dramatic 60-foot waterfall. 

As you climb the stairs and look over the vast garden below, water pouring from the waterfall above, you’ll understand why people flock here to take photos and general wander around such a zen place. 

The garden is free and open to the public 7am to 5pm every day, and arriving early is better rather than later since even in spring and fall San Antonio afternoons can get hot and steamy. If you get hungry for a snack, you can grab some food from the adjoining Jingu House which has spring rolls, boba tea, dumplings, and more!

The Saga at San Fernando Cathedral

By day, the San Fernando Cathedral is a gorgeous Catholic cathedral established in 1731, but by night it becomes The Saga at San Fernando Cathedral, a colorful light show that tells the story of San Antonio through music and dazzling images.

During this 24-minute journey by international artist Xavier de Richemont, you’ll see over 7000 square feet of light, color, and visual narration overtop the gorgeous architecture of the cathedral. 

The Saga tells the story with constantly shifting, somewhat trippy visuals, painting the story with music from the Native Americans who called this region home, to the arrival and colonization of the Spanish, to the battle at the Alamo, to San Antonio today.

The show is free and takes place every Tuesday through Sunday at 9pm and 9:30pm.

Stuff Your Face

San Antonio has no shortage of delicious eats, I mean, who doesn’t like some excellent Tex-Mex food? Besides all the flavors of the city’s Mexican influence, San Antonio is the culinary capital of Texas and is one of the two U.S. cities (the other being Tuscon) designated a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, and probably the reason I put on so much weight in 5 days.

Since San Antonio is also home to a Culinary Institute of America campus, that most certainly helps them produce some top chefs and some truly unique dining experiences. Some of my favorite restaurants in San Antonio I’ve tried are:

• Botika – Botika is located in the Pearl, and its menu contains “a melting pot of South American and South East Asian flavors” which is exactly what you can expect to find here. To start, get the steam buns which include crispy pork belly, caramelized onion hoisin sauce, pickled red cabbage, cucumbers, and mint. For your main, get the undeniable star Lomo Saltado, a savory and decadent dish with Wok stir-fried shoulder tender steak, siyao, wedge fries, sweet plantain, pickled aji, and salsa criolla. I could eat this every time I come here!
• Best Quality Daughter – Also located in the Pearl in a 1906 house with four differently decorated rooms, Best Quality Daughter is a New Asian-American Restaurant with some serious style. Once you settle into this artistic and cozy restaurant, order a Super Bien cocktail with Mezcal, Watermelon-Ginger Cordial, and lemon juice that is smoky and sweet. For a starter, get the Mochi Cheddar Hush Puppies which are cheesy and chewy and come with Thai chili jam (I dream of these), and for a family-style main get the Cashew Chicken, which is super flavorful and crispy and nothing like take-out!
• La Gloria – Located in the Pearl as well (see a theme?), La Gloria “celebrates the rich and delicious street foods from interior Mexico” by providing lotssss of good Mexican eats. As you sit outside among the shade and colorful decorations overlooking the scenic river walk (the best view in town?), get one of their margaritas that have been voted best in San Antonio and an order of the Tradicional Queso Fundido and chips. For a little more sustenance than tequila and cheese, you can’t go wrong with their Tacos Al Pastor. 

• Dough Pizzeria Napoletana – Dough is the place to go for quality Neapolitan pizza, where their wood-burning ovens that bake the pizzas to perfection in 90 seconds at over 900 degrees. Dough features an extensive wine selection, or get a flight of red or white wine to discover your new favorite wine (I sure did, the San Salvatore Ceraso Aglianico Paestum). To start try their Signature Burrata Al Tartufo© (so good it’s copywritten) with house-made burrata filled with truffle essence, mascarpone, and ricotta and paired farm fresh tomatoes, rosemary balsamic reduction, extra virgin olive oil, and house-made flatbread. For your pizza course, get the Fontina E Salsiccia with house-made sausage, fontina cheese, caramelized sweet onions, oak roasted mushrooms, thyme, Locatelli pecorino romano, and rosemary balsamic reduction. Buon Appetito!
• La Panadería – La Panadería is a quick-service bakery and cafe with several locations around town (including downtown), which is great to get a meal on the go! They specialize in handmade bread and pan dulce inspired by Mexico’s Golden Era, which draws influence from French, Italian and American breadmaking techniques, including a 48-hour fermentation process. Get a puff pastry like a frosting-dipped Oreja, or a traditional Mexican sweet bread like a Concha. You can also get sandwiches on their fresh baked goods like the El Favorito served on a round croissant with ham, swiss cheese, and two sunny side up eggs.

Explore the Historic Pearl

The Historic Pearl in San Antonio is a literal gem of delicious eateries, local boutique shops, and plenty of laid-back yet classy ambiance paired with gorgeous architecture. This area has been bringing people together since 1883 when local businessmen and moguls opened a brewery here. Soon after a brewmaster made his “Pearl” beer, whose name came from the foamy bubbles in the freshly poured glass which resembled sparkling pearls.

It wasn’t until the 2010s that this area became developed into the Pearl we see today, with apartments, hotels, shops, restaurants, a big lawn, the Culinary Institute of America, and a modern brewery. It’s a great place to spend a sunny afternoon, have a drink and a bite to eat, and shop!

Some of the best places to check out are:

• Feliz Modern – This super colorful shop specializes in curating items made by independent artists & makers, and is like stepping into a living painting. You can find super fun cards, zany earrings and jewelry, Taylor Swift gifts, and lots of other fun things that have a Texan vibe. I found so many things I wanted for myself and plenty of things to give as gifts!
• The Twig Book Shop – This intimate bookstore is jam-packed with amazing reads, with plenty of books highlighting the history of San Antonio! This is where I picked up my book on Cornyation and plenty of amazing souvenirs. You never know when you’ll need a book… in my case, another one!
• The Food Hall at Bottling Department – The Food Hall has four quick service food options you can pick up to eat inside or in the park right outside the doors. You can enjoy Mexican street food from Chilaquil, pizza from Wonderslice, or Caribbean food at Mi Roti, which has yummy curry chicken and roti, a buttery flatbread. You can also grab a drink to go at the Park Bar, like a frozen boozy lemonade perfect for a hot day!  
• Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery – Southerleigh touts itself as “Texas Cross-cultural Cuisine and Craft Brewery” with a seasonally rotating menu. The craft brewery is a throwback to the Pearl’s original brewery which started it all, and you can even get a “Pearl on the Patio” beer which pays homage to the original beer. Pair this with Southerleighs Famous Fried Chicken and you have a meal! There’s also a drink cart outside, where you grab a drink like a strong Sangria to enjoy your walk around the Peal.

Check out one of the Many Museums

Sometimes the best way to find the heart and soul of a city is to visit a museum (or five)! San Antonio is a many-faceted city, from the Alamo to its Indigenous Population to contemporary art, so checking out a specialty museum is a great way to see all the nuances and many different cultural lenses.

Here are some of the best museums to visit:

• The Briscoe Western Art Museum – The Briscoe Westen Art Museum is the place to help put the story of the American West into perspective, from the Native Americans who call/called Texas home to the European settlers. In the three-level museum, you can explore artifacts such as settler’s stagecoaches, saddles, spurs and covered wagons, as well as Native American drawings, sketches, paintings, and sculptures.
• The McNay – What is now the McNay Museum was once the home of a woman named Marion Koogler McNay, an Ohio-born heiress who purchased her first modern oil painting, Diego Rivera’s Delfina Flores, and commissioned the 24-room Spanish Colonial-Revival house, which became the first modern art museum in Texas. Walking the grounds is like being in a fancy 1920s film, with fountains and formal gardens, with each room highlighting modern art from vases to life-size sculptures, to colorful pop art.
• Hopscotch – Hopscotch San Antonion is an immersive art experience, where you don’t just look at art, but become part of the art yourself! There are exhibits like enormous, room-size murals, telephones where you can listen to recordings of visitors’ secrets (and you can leave your own!), a digital graffiti wall, a hall of neon lights, and more all in a dark and magical environment. There is also a bar before you enter, so you can grab a zodiac-themed drink before you “go down the rabbit hole”! You can grab your ticket in advance as well!
• San Antonio Museum of Art – The San Antonio Museum of Art has a balanced collection of beautiful works of art from around the world, including an impressive collection of ancient Greek statues and vases, as well as a good-sized collection of Egyptian artifacts. One of the most fascinating and gorgeous exhibits is the Latin American Popular Art gallery, where colorful sculptures, masks, and miniatures exploring the themes of life and death in Latin culture take center stage.

Get Scared on a Ghost Tour

San Antonio is a very old city, and especially where wars have been fought, there is a tense energy that never seems to leave the place. As our guide Robert pointed out from RJA Ghost Tours, the Alamo is basically just a giant graveyard.

Even if you aren’t a strong believer in ghosts, taking a ghost tour gives you the chance to see the city at night, learn about who lived, worked and died in San Antonio, and gives you a taste of history you might otherwise miss.

A lot of the buildings downtown are historic, including many hotels like the Menger, which is purported to have 45 ghosts in there alone. Apparently, Teddy Rosevelt is a guest who never really left the Menger Bar, the place he famously selected his Rough Riders back in 1898.

You may also see the ghostly apparition of a maid from the 1870s at the Menger, Sallie White, still making beds after her husband killed her in a jealous rage outside the hotel one night. 

Even the Alamo has had its share of ghost encounters – when Santa Anna ordered his men to tear down the rest of the Alamo after the battle, the men saw six ghosts or “diablos” come out to defend the Alamo once more. That’s pretty disturbing!

To learn all about the ghosts of San Antonio, and more about the city’s rich and strange history, check out RJA Ghost Tours. They’re fun, a little hokey, and definitely spooky – especially if you find out you’re staying in a haunted hotel!

Where to Stay in San Antonio

When you’re coming to San Antonio, it’s best to stay for several days and explore all the city has to offer! The best area is without a doubt by the Alamo downtown, this way you can walk to most of the central attractions and it makes for a scenic and easy time.

Some of the best options in this area are:

• Hotel Gibbs – Located catty-corner to the Alamo, this hotel is clean and modern and super comfortable, and comes with a complimentary buffet breakfast. The best part of all? You can literally have a room that overlooks the Alamo (I did!) and it’s a great way to start and end your day. I always felt super close to the action (I had a seat for the Battle of the Flowers parade right by the hotel) and the River Walk is only a few minutes away.
• Sonder The Atlee – If a vacation rental is more your thing, this spacious and super bright apartment is the perfect place to call home base. It’s just two blocks away from the Alamo and has two bedrooms, perfect if you’re traveling with friends or family.
• Hotel Contessa – If you want to stay right on the River Walk (which is completely understandable), this charming and colorful hotel has gorgeous suites and a pool with a hot tub for those hot Texan afternoons. You can pop out and stroll along the River Walk at any time of course, too!

About the Author: Richie Goff is a Louisville, Kentucky native with a great love of the outdoors. When he is not growing flowers for fun, he is the Editor-in-Chief of Practical Wanderlust and Let’s Go Louisville. He has been a friend of Lia’s since high school, and they have taken plenty of their own disaster-prone adventures together!

Are you excited to visit San Antonio yet? Which of these things in San Antonio are you dying to do (probably go to Fiesta, right?)? Drop your comments and questions about visiting San Antonio in the comments below!

Psst: Planning a visit to Texas or the West? Check out some of our other posts to help you plan your trip!

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Disclaimer: This post was created in partnership with Visit San Antonio. All opinions and super corny jokes are 100% my own and absolutely not their fault.

Prickly cacti, rocky cliff sides, hot air balloon rides and refreshing lakes can all be found just 30 minutes outside of the capital city of Phoenix in Mesa, Arizona. A scenic retreat from the cosmopolitan metropolis of Phoenix, Mesa is Arizona’s third largest city and is for all of us that seek a small dose of adrenaline with our holiday. And with so many things to do in Mesa, Arizona, you really get to explore the West at its best.

Whether you came to bask in the wide open horizons or live out your 3:10 to Yuma fantasy, there are loads of adventures that take you anywhere from the tippity top of the morning glory clouds to the deep depths of a carved canyon. But beyond the call of the wild thrill, Mesa is also home to a rich cultural history full of clever canal engineering for an agricultural oasis.  

Here are some of the best ways to soak in all the natural beauty Mesa provides.

Psst: Heading out west? Here are some other articles to help with some inspiration!

A (Short) History of Mesa, Arizona

Mesa should be considered an engineering marvel, because nothing would be standing today without the dedication and clever construction of the canal system by the Hohokam people. This canal system led to the ability to irrigate which then led to a thriving agriculture scene. And with that agriculture came the ability to trade. 

Around the city, you can still hear some of the names of the native people that called the area home, such as Maricopa, Apache and Pima. But according to the Mesa Historical Museum the area wasn’t a permanent settlement. Kinda like summering in the Hamptons, but way more budget-friendly.  

Nothing permanent stood until the US Army set up Fort McDowell. And as a real Field of Dreams moment “if you build it they will come.” And boy did they come – the Mormons that is. 

“The Mesa Company” was made up of traveling Mormons. And as it turns out, the name Mesa actually came from Mormon settlers establishing themselves in the area.

Mesa is nestled on a flat plateau above the valley, kinda like a dining room table. And coined by the first Spanish explorers through the southwest, they often called these beauties “tables” or more accurately in their native Spanish language – Mesa!

So this native american land has a Spanish name from a Mormon settlement….yeah.

But Mesa today has grown to become a thriving community and was recently named the first-ever Autism Certified City in the world complete with an Autism-friendly travel guide. 

Best time to visit Mesa, Arizona

Fall is the most ideal time to visit Mesa. In early fall, September averages can still carry over some summer temps with around 98 degrees for any leftover summer splash activities and the snowbirds haven’t quite arrived yet.

From there the weather just continues to cool, and by the time November rolls around, the season closes out around 74 degrees – which is basically a balmy midwest summer.

But summer might be one of the worst times to visit. In summer, it can feel as though you are literally touching the sun with its dry heat, and temperatures can soar up to 106 F. However, if you are planning a summer trip you can still find plenty of things to do. 

I also came in the summer (learned the hard way) but found certain activities not so bad when I scheduled them very early in the day when the air was a little cooler. Also, make sure you plan something indoors around noon when it’s towards the hottest part of the day.

Things to do in Mesa, Arizona

While outdoor activities are in abundance in Mesa, there are plenty of culturally rich interests as well. Curated museums, sightseeing tours, and guided adventures are all available to plan yourself the perfect mix of fun and history. Here are the best things to do in Mesa, Arizona. 

Things to do in Mesa, Arizona By Air

With wide open skies and colorfully painted horizons, Mesa is one of the most beautiful places in the world to soak in the rays and glow in the sunset golden hour. Here are some of the best activities to get a view from above in Mesa.

Take a Hot Air Balloon Ride

Here in Kentucky hot air balloons have a very special place in my heart. Every year leading up to Derby week, Louisville hosts a hot air balloon glow the night before the annual Great Balloon Race. 

So actually being able to ride in the woven basket was on my bucket list for years!

Seeing the city from above was probably one of the biggest highlights of the trip. The ride was incredibly smooth as you stop to take in the completely unobstructed view all around you of the first rays of the morning sun over the desert landscape.

And boy let me tell you, the bird’s eye view is breathtaking (almost) literally. Up in the sky felt meditative. The air was crisp and cold, but because we were floating with the wind, the sound was quiet and serene. Definitely made up for the extremely early start time, waking up before sunrise is not exactly ya girl’s strong point.

Hot Air Expeditions books early morning sunrise rides all year long, which also include a champagne breakfast, which makes up for an early rise time! Book your tour.

Explore the Arizona Commemorative Air Force Museum

History museum and working aircraft hangar, Arizona Commemorative Air force Museum is an up-close look at authentic aircrafts from WWI and beyond. 

I don’t really have any ties to the military in my family, however I do enjoy learning history. My husband on the other hand is a huge aviation nerd. Anytime we fly, he’s trying to talk to commercial pilots about engines and navigation, and I’m just like how do you remember all those letters and numbers?!? 

Well this museum is full of aviation treasures. Mint condition aircrafts you can get up-close and personal with, and a few you can even check out from the inside. Your Instagram is gonna look like an audition portfolio for a USO Tour.

The most impressive part of the museum is definitely the opportunity to fly. Although a pretty hefty splurge, the museum offers regular flights in their iconic planes. And if you’re like my husband you might squeal to know you can take flight in a B-17G, B-25J, or other combat-style planes. To which again I ask the question – HOW DO YOU REMEMBER ALL THOSE LETTERS AND NUMBERS?!?!?!    

But don’t fear if you’re a nervous flier, there’s plenty of other things to enjoy within the museum. Historical memorabilia, first-hand stories from veteran pilots, and a look at just how tight quarters the cockpit really is. 

The Air Force Museum is open from 10am to 4pm and is closed Monday and Tuesday. And check out their calendar for air shows and special events.

Brave the Superstition Zipline

Anytime I come across a zipline while on vacation, I’ve gotta do it. The rushing speed, bird’s eye view and unique terrain view are like my version of a theme park rollercoaster. 

But I’m gonna shoot it straight with you, Superstition Zipline is a teensy bit hokey, but I don’t mind because the view from up top is beautiful. The zipline is located within Goldfield Ghost Town, which is a perfect destination if you’re looking for a family-friendly activity. 

Unlike a traditional cable-tight zipline, here you are treated to a two-seater chair, kinda like a ski lift. So it’s a more leisurely ride across, which gives you a moment to take a video or picture for your Insta reel. Sure it might feel a bit touristy, but it’s a quick activity and doesn’t require a reservation ahead of time, so if you’re in the area I say “Go for it!”

However if you are looking for a family-friendly activity I would definitely suggest sticking around to check out the mine tour, gold panning, and gunfighter show also inside the Goldfield Ghost Town. This place definitely serves kitschy roadside attraction realness!

Things to do in Mesa, Arizona By water

Flowing water is not often associated with the Grand Canyon state, but reservoirs like Saguaro Lake, Canyon Lake and Salt River are an oasis of fun. A great way to cool down from blistering temperatures. Here are some of the best ways to enjoy Mesa by water.

Hop Aboard the Dolly Steamboat

Maybe I have an unnatural fascination with steamboats (I mean I do live next to the historic Belle of Louisville), OR maybe there’s just something universally enchanting about the wrap-around decks and giant paddlewheel that make me feel like I’m in a murder mystery about to be solved by detective Hercule Poirot.

What clues would Poirot find? Perhaps he noted the exact time of day by calculating the sun’s shadow as we sailed through the Superstition Mountains. Or maybe he discovered while everyone was busy admiring the thirsty bighorn sheep along the cruise route, the captain had a suspicious motive. Am I getting carried away? Of course I am, but it’s a curse of being a lifelong theatre kid.

In all seriousness though, the Dolly Steamboat cruise is such a special way to absorb the sights of the Superstition Mountains and Canyon Lake. Daytime Scenic Nature cruises take sail multiple times throughout the day. The route winds through the mountains revealing native wildlife like desert mule deers, bighorn sheep, and the national bald eagle himself. The journey feels a bit majestic and peaceful as you sail through the timeworn canyons.

And if you’re looking to increase your enchantment up a notch (aren’t we always?) the Twilight  Dinner Cruise is anything but a sparkly vampire. As the sky sets in brushed strokes of pink, orange and purple above the tip of the mountain ridges, you can soak it all in from the top deck for the golden hour to end all golden hours.

It is recommended that you make reservations in advance as the cruises can fill up. It’s also recommended that you arrive 30 minutes early because the boat waits for no one and if you are late your reservation can be given to someone else.     

Go Tubing Down a (Somewhat) Lazy River

I’m from the midwest, so any kind of water sport is usually contained to a hoaky-themed water park. And I do use the term “water sport” very loosely as my favorite is of course the Lazy River. So when I discovered Salt River Tubing, it was as they say in the biz – a done deal!

Gracefully gliding down river lanes between deep canyons and cacti forests, sightseeing is just an added bonus. The inflatable lounge rings are the best seat in the house for views of the volcanic mountain ranges. Did I mention the river is also a popular watering hole for local horses? Amazing sights are just a part of the fun.

It doesn’t actually cost anything to tube on Salt River if you provide your own tubes and coordinate your own transportation from the end of the route. However, Salt River Tubing provides tube rentals and an ongoing shuttle for a very reasonable rate when considering how many hours of fun and relaxation you can spend on the water course. 

Just remember to wear water shoes for entering and exiting the river, and to pack extra sunscreen to reapply during the journey. 

It should also be noted that unlike a slow water park lazy river, Salt River has a bit more of a natural motor to the flow. Not quite a rapid speed, but definitely too rugged for very small children or those who have trouble standing. 

Tubing is a seasonal activity that opens each year around April or May depending on the climate, so check the website for the open season.

Things to do in Mesa, Arizona By Land

Arizona landscape is iconic. Dusty roads, cacti vegetation, and boulder cliff sides decorate this topography to be one of a kind. Here are some of the best ways to appreciate every inch of this beautiful dust bowl.    

Go Off-Roading

If a loungeable lazy river tube is one end of the gamut, then Stellar Adventures has got to be on the opposite end. Guided tours lead on off-roading vehicles like single-driver ATVs, 4-seater all-terrain UTVs, and military-style H1 Hummers take you through the majestic dust bowl in probably the most fun way possible.   

Rough, rugged and bumpy trails with wild views through the Sonoran Desert are adrenaline-inducing and captivating both during the daylight or on the nighttime star gazing tour.

But what’s the real awe-inspiring off-roading experience? The off-roading tasting tours. Options for craft-brewed beer, crisply chilled wine, flights of tequila or whiskey tasting – and you know this Kentucky girl loves her whiskey – are the perfect reward after a long journey through the sun-baked wilderness. 

Stellar Adventures is definitely a bit of a splurge and I would recommend booking in advance, but if you can swing it the combination of sights and thrills is unlike any other desert tour. 

Explore the Desert on Horseback

Something about the hot dry air and barren dust-covered grounds makes me want to fully commit to the cowboy western fantasy. Whether you identify as a cowboy, cowgirl, or cowperson, we can all agree fringe and wide brims look great on everyone.

Arizona Horseback Adventures makes exploring the New Frontier by horseshoe an experience like no other, offering lots of trail options from one-hour to half-day rides with no previous experience required.

However, the best option has to be the Sunset Trail. You don’t really know golden hour until you’ve experienced it trotting across the Sonoran Desert. The warm orange skies will definitely make you feel like you’re at the end of a super romantic movie riding off into the sunset to live happily ever after, but just remember to fight the urge and stick with your guide.

It should also be noted that while horseback riding is open to all levels of experience, there are weight maximums for safety, so be sure to check out the FAQs before booking!

Hike Some Desert Trails

You could easily venture to Arizona for the hikes alone! Rigged rock towers of red and bronze, burrowed caves, and ineffable views are some of the best rewards when you reach the end of your journey. 

Probably the most popular for visitors is the Wind Cave Trail. The almost 3-mile route is located in Usery Mountain Regional Park and is a moderately challenging two-hour trail with incredible views of the rolling desert landscape from the open wind cave. 

The regional park is packed with sights of curved cave arches, panoramic open plains, prickly cacti, and sprouting flower beds. So if you opt for an easier trail like the Blevins Trail or the Merkle Trail, you won’t be missing out.  

The park does have a small entrance fee, but the option to choose between 38 different trails is well worth it. 

Explore The Mesa Grande Cultural Park

Mesa Grande Cultural Park is an absolute must for all you history buffs out there. It’s the most fascinating mound of ancient dirt you’ll ever see. This baby dates all the way back to 1100 AD.

With walls as high as 27 feet, this six-acre archaeological site is a glimpse of the local Hohokam history, who were ancient farming peoples of the southern deserts of Arizona. In its heyday, the site was a focal point for ceremonies and public living, and the Mesa Grande Culutral Park today contains a replica of a ballcourt the Hohokam people would have used to play a ballgame with a ball made from a local plant, so it’s a real Indiana Jones and the Salt River Valley experience. 

And if by the end of your time you just can’t convince yourself to hang up the fedora and lasso for the day, you can even get a combined ticket for Mesa Grande and the Arizona Museum of Natural History, which holds about 58,000 objects that help to tell the story of the culture of Arizonas peoples and archeology. 

Mesa Grande Cultural Park is only open from mid-October to mid-May since it’s outside and very hot in the summer and it’s outdoors!

Get Campy at the Superstition Mountain Museum

A hodgepodge of local history and part western fandom shrine, Superstition Mountain Museum is a good time for all cowboys and girls – even the lone stars. 

Part of the Goldfield Ghost Town, the entire 12-acre property almost feels like you’re on a live movie set – in fact there are even occasional gunfight reenactment scenes from time to time.

Walking the grounds you can imagine a Harrison Ford saga in the mining exhibit with all the replica buildings, tools and equipment, or a Jeff Bridges thriller in the village exhibit surrounded by the rebuilt brush dome Apache homes and seasonal living display.

Ah heck, maybe you could even picture a stop-motion musical on the beautiful 400-square-foot train model. And did I mention there’s also an Elvis Chapel? I don’t know who would be in that movie – probably Sam Elliot, because like does that guy even age?!?!

So check it out for a bit of local history, movie history, and just some good ole fashioned fun. Hours and days can fluctuate each season, so check out times on their website.

Where to eat in Mesa, Arizona

With all this adventuring you’re definitely going to need some good Arizonian food to fill you up! Here are a couple of the best places in Mesa:

Jalapeño Bucks

Jalapeño Bucks is the tin roof shack that serves up Arizona-style Barbeque. Sure the smoky south gets all the credit for pork butts with notes of hickory and cedar, but don’t write off this roadside shed because these burritos and Barbeque are worth the wait! Did I mention there’s a wait? Welp that’s what happens when a good thing is good, but trust me you won’t regret it!

Now I’ve heard nothing but great things about their green chili burritos, but for me, it’s all about their brisket. Sliced with fire-roasted edging and center marbling you can taste the skill of the pitmaster. This brisket is like your favorite R&B ballad bridge – tender and generously portioned. And I would definitely say the Arizona barbeque sauce is one of a kind, with a bit of a salsa influence.  

But you can’t go wrong with any of the fire-roasted meats, however if you really want to make your meal memorable I double dog dare you to order the PB&J Brisket sandwich. Yes, you read that right. It’s surprisingly good, but oh so indulgent so just be sure to plan a nap directly after.

Jalapeño Bucks is closed on Sundays and Mondays and though it’s all outdoor seating, no pets are allowed. For quicker service, you can also call in your order ahead of time.    

Tipsy Chicken

After a long day of daring journeys, the real call of the wild starts howling…in my stomach. Whether I’ve been hiking, horseback riding, or ATVing, I can WORK up an appetite.

Open for dinner and late nights, the Tipsy Chicken is a well-deserved reward for all that hard work. Korean fried chicken with an Asian flair, need I say more? The answer is no, but I will anyways.

Options of sweet & spicy, soy & garlic, and original recipe, these wings are sweetly battered for that extra crunch. But these delicious flats and drums are far from the best part. Pork belly corn cheese with a table side torching for extra crispiness is the performance garnish of culinary dreams.   

Curious about what the “tipsy” in Tipsy Chicken is? Pair this Asian delight with a glass from their selection of flavored Sojus. This Korean liquor comes in lychee, mango, and other sweet fruit flavors that pair perfectly with these party fowls. 

Tipsy Chicken is open for dinner Monday – Thursday, and for lunch Friday – Sunday.

Where to stay in Mesa, Arizona

Whether you want to go native in a cowboy fever dream or live it up in style, the Mesa area has some of the most unique stays around. So here’s where to stay when you’re in town! 

Saguaro Lake Guest Ranch

Saguaro Lake Guest Ranch is like a giant sleepaway camp for adults and families. The property is tucked along the Bulldog Cliffs, which is a pretty extraordinary sight unto itself. There are 20 separate ranchette cottages and family cabins with a loungeable main lodge building.

The guest ranch also hosts seasonal activities like tubing, kayaking, paddle boarding, horseback riding, and fishing. This is the perfect place to stay if you are looking for a no-tech simple outdoor adventure vacation, and a chance to sit around a campfire unironically belting all the lyrics to Home on the Range.   

The Cozy Peach at Schnepf Farms

About 35 minutes away from Mesa Center in Queen Creek (but still within the Maricopa County line), The Cozy Peach is a vintage glamping moment that is unquestionably worth the extra commute. 

Nine uniquely renovated Airstreams and vintage trailers will delightfully make you one happy camper. The polished aluminum-shined RVs are updated to include kitchenettes, bathrooms, and living room nooks. There are even multi-bed options in the larger Airstream trailer rentals. 

Also included in the Schnepf Farms property is a charming country store, a classic lawn game spread, and a seasonal U-Pick vegetable garden. This place is glamping at its finest, and once your booking is confirmed you’ll be asking yourself – RV there yet?   

Hotel Valley Ho

Calling all you Mid Centra-philes, Hotel Valley Ho is going to be your ultimate mid-century dream come to life. Rooms and suites adorned from top to bottom with sleek lines, mod curves and sophisticated furniture for the real Eames fantasy. 

Hotel Valley Ho is located in Scottsdale which is just 20 minutes from downtown Mesa (but still within Maricopa County), and even though it is not in Mesa proper, this Hotel is often just as close to many of the outdoor excursions located at the edges of the city.

And hey, maybe planning ahead isn’t your style, or maybe your time in Arizona is a last-minute booking – but either way, if you’ve arrived without an itinerary this is where you need to stay because it has everything! 

Lounging by one of the two pools in a private cabana with a tropical cocktail. Scallops at the swanky ZuZu restaurant, and hot stone massages at the spa, Hotel Valley Ho will make you feel like you’re likely to run into Sinatra, Elvis, or even Miss Monroe herself. 

What to Pack for Mesa, Arizona

Although all those rays of bright sunshine may tempt you to pack all your bare-shoulder strappy dresses and daisy duke shorts, keep in mind, desert skies are very tricky. Sure it’s gonna be hot, but desert life also means very little to no shade, which can make things feel even hotter while also providing no protection at all. But as the local residents would remind me every time I would complain – at least it’s a dry heat. 

• Sunscreen: Either way, sun protection should be top of mind, even if your activities are not outdoor based. Light fabrics that can provide some arm and leg protection are ideal in combination with sunscreen. And let’s say it together three times- sunscreen, Sunscreen, SUNSCREEN. 
• Car Sunshade: Whether you are road-tripping toward historic Route 66 or you plan on a rental when you land, you’re gonna want to invest in a car sunshade. We know they can be tacky and make you feel like you’re following in the footsteps of your ridiculous great-uncle Larry. But trust me, it will save your butt- quite literally. And if you have leather seats, it’s an absolute must! Quick tip! When parking your car, don’t park where the shade currently is, but rather try and estimate how much time you’ll be gone and where the shade is going to be when you come back. Learned this trick from a local, and it was a game-changer! 

• Quick Drying Shorts (His & Hers): We’re obsessed with the Zion line from prAna, which is what our favorite hiking pants are made from. These shorts are made from the same stretchy, high-tech, quick-drying fabric! Jeremy’s shorts double as both the shorts he wears every day and a swimsuit. They’re a 2-for-1 (which means less space in your carry-on) and they look great, too! They dry quickly, making them perfect for hopping in and out of waterfalls, rivers, and the ocean and then resuming your normal travel activities.
• Hiking & Adventure Travel Pants (His & Hers): You’re going to need a pair of pants that serve multiple purposes and are up for adventure anywhere: beach, jungle, river, mountains, and city. Luckily, these awesome prAna hiking pants were designed with travel and hiking in mind and were up to every challenge we threw at them. They’re also quick-dry, so I even wore them while white-water rafting and waterfall rappelling in San Gil.
• Travel Jeans: Unlike regular jeans, travel jeans are designed specifically to solve travel-related woes. One of my personal woes is the lack of pockets on women’s jeans. My favorite travel jeans have 6 POCKETS. 6!! And 2 of them are zipped and hidden inside other pockets, for extra pickpocket protection – crucial in any European country. Jeremy and I each have a pair of Aviator USA black jeans. They’re super stretchy and buttery soft, dry quickly in the rain or when wet, and keep our legs warm when it’s cold out. They’re cozy enough to wear on a plane, stretchy enough to accommodate that 5 extra pounds of holiday weight I always seem to bring back home with me, and they’re super cute! We’re both obsessed. Read more in our guides to travel pants for women and men.
• Wool Clothing: Yes, seriously. Merino wool is a miracle travel fabric. It keeps you cool when it’s hot AND keeps you warm when it’s cold. When it gets wet, you’ll stay comfortable while your clothing dries. It naturally resists the growth of fungus and bacteria, so it never stinks – a must-have for travel! It’s even flame retardant. What more could you ask for? Today’s performance wool isn’t like the itchy wool of the past – it’s thin, stretchy, and super soft to the touch, like cotton. We highly recommend wool clothing for travel. Here’s what I bring  T-shirt | Sports Bra | Travel Bra | Half Zip Womans | Underwear and Here’s what Jeremy brings: Crew-neck shirt | V-neck Shirt | Underwear | Socks
• Hemp Clothing: Much like merino wool, hemp is a fantastic travel textile. It’s also temperature regulating, meaning it’s cool to the touch and keeps you cool when it’s hot (but also insulates you when it’s cold out). It’s also naturally anti-bacterial, so you won’t get that stinky “I’ve been sweating in this for a week straight” smell. And as a huge bonus, hemp is more sustainable than most other textiles, requiring little water and almost no pesticides to thrive and grow. Hemp is even able to clean up polluted soil, making it a tool for actually fighting against climate change. Hell yeah! Because it’s not a super popular textile (yet), it’s a little hard to find. One of our favorite eco-friendly clothing brands, prAna, makes a fantastic hemp line – browse women’s and men’s. (Lia loves this comfy t-shirt!)
• Day Bag: I carry this cute day bag with me every single day packed with anything I need for the day – a water bottle, an endless supply of snacks, whatever.

Note: We didn’t list out everything here, so make sure you pack plenty of basics!

About the Author: Allie Nova lives in Louisville, KY with her 2 dogs, 2 cats, and high school sweetheart husband. She is obsessed with all things food, wine, beer, & gin and is currently working her way through the Master Sommelier and Cicerone certifications. She is always down to get a drink and dish on true crime (hey, hey fellow murderinos,) books from the Rory Gilmore reading list, or award worthy movies. But most importantly, Allie is a proud first generation American who believes diversity is key to beauty.

Are you excited to visit Mesa yet? Which of these things in Mesa, Arizona are you dying to do first? Drop your comments and questions about visiting Mesa in the comments below!

Psst: Planning a visit to Arizona or the West? Check out some of our other posts to help you plan your trip!

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Did you find this post inspiring? Save it for later on Pinterest!

Disclaimer: This post was created in partnership with Visit Mesa. All opinions and super corny jokes are 100% my own and absolutely not their fault.