Our Next Adventure

Family Travel Blog

pacific grove

  • Ahhh...we had such big dreams for 2020.⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ It was our last chance to really travel before Evelyn starts school in the fall. A month in Paris was something I'd always dreamed of.⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ But we learned long ago that you don't always get to control your circumstances in life.⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ So we're hunkering down for the short-term. We're working on house projects and spending time together. As much as we love to travel, we also have a deep appreciation for home, moreso now than ever.⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ We've cancelled all travel for the foreseeable future, but I'm still optimistic we'll be able to fit in some sort of adventure before the school year starts. 🤞🏻⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ How are you surviving these days at home? Where's the first place you'll go when all the corona dust settles?⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✌🏻@our.next.adventure⁠⠀ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
  • The highlight of Evelyn's trip, hands down...LEGOLAND! 🧱⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ Because of Sophie's disability, we were able to get an access pass that allowed us to skip any lines. We told Evelyn she had a LOT of thank yous to give her little sis for that one! She told Sophie several times, "you're the best little Sophie in the whole world!" 🥰⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ Unfortunately, Sophie couldn't ride many of the rides herself because they required kids to be able to sit on their own; something she hasn't quite mastered yet. I was disappointed there weren't more rides I could've held her on like at Disneyland. ☹️⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ We did end the day at SeaLife Aquarium 🐠, which if you saw our stories, Sophie LOVED. So that did help make up for the lack of rides for her!⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ If you want to visit LEGOLAND, I'd say 4-7 is the peak age range to really enjoy it. Most of the rides are slow and geared towards little kids, so while that's great for little ones, it's definitely not for thrill-seekers in the making. 😜 But for a LEGO-loving kid like Evelyn, they'll be in heaven!⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ Have you been to LEGOLAND? What did you think of it?⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ 🧱 @our.next.adventure⁠⠀ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
  • I can't believe we're going home tomorrow! 😭⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ It's been such a busy 2 weeks trying to see everything San Diego has to offer! ⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ We've explored new neighborhoods like North Park, Barrio Logan and Little Italy. Took advantage of February's half off museums pass and added 5(!) new ones to our repertoire. And we soaked up AS MUCH sun as possible in the process (we're so not ready to go back home to winter!)⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ Though we've been to San Diego a handful of times before, I didn't feel like we ever properly SAW San Diego until this trip. I finally get what all the fuss is about. This city is pretty cool.⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✌🏻@our.next.adventure⁠⠀ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
  • For every good photo of a child, there's an equal and opposite bad photo. Trust me, it's science.⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ Swipe through 👉🏻 for evidence!⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ We've arrived in San Diego and hit the ground running exploring all of the city's best sights with the girls! Yesterday, we explored the New Children's Museum (so fun, by the way!), along with a stroll through Old Town San Diego and a romantic (😏) family Valentines dinner on Convoy. ⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ For the weekend, we've got a jam-packed itinerary planned including Balboa Park and Coronado Island!⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ Have you been to San Diego? What are your favorite spots?!⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ☀️ @our.next.adventure⁠⠀ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
  • Have you seen our guide to Zion National Park?⁠?⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ [click the link in our bio if you missed it. 😉]⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ If I had to describe Zion in a word, it’d be: awe-inspiring.⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ Like seriously, this place just BLEW us away and I would 1000% recommend any nature-loving families include it on their bucket list for 2020!⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ BEST WAY TO GET TO ZION? ∙ We found a cheap flight deal to St. George, then rented a car (it's about an hour's drive to the town of Springdale, just outside of Zion National Park).⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ WHEN TO GO? ∙ I recommend going in the early spring or late fall to avoid the massive crowds!⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ WHAT TO BRING? ∙ Good hiking shoes, layered clothing, and a lightweight backpack for lots of snacks and water!⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ HOW MUCH TIME DO WE NEED? ∙ 2 days would be sufficient, though you can hit all the highlights in 1 (or could easily spend 3 days if you love hiking!) Consider adding an extra day for a trip to Bryce Canyon, about a 2 hour drive from Springdale.⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ What's your favorite US National Park that families MUST visit!?⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✌🏻@our.next.adventure⁠⠀ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
  • Hey, new friends! 👋🏻 I think we're well overdue for a re-introduction!⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ We are the Ishmaels: Matt, Laura, Evelyn and Sophie! A family of 4 based in Omaha, Nebraska (USA), but obsessed with traveling in every spare moment of life. Last year we ventured off to 6 different countries over the course of the year, plus a few US cities in between.⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ After years of trial and error, we've finally found a good balance between our life at home and travel abroad giving us the best of both worlds!⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ Though, I'm sure that'll all change again when Evelyn starts kindergarten in the fall. 😖⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ Our baby, Sophie, is disabled, but that hasn't stopped us one bit. Where there's a will, there's a way, and man, we've got a lot of will! 😆⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ What are you biggest challenges when it comes to getting out and traveling as a family?⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ . ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✌🏻@our.next.adventure⁠⠀ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
  • Hey, hey, hey...look who's 2 years old today!!⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ Lil Miss Sophie, you turned our lives upside down when you entered this world two years ago. But I am so so so forever grateful that we get to have you in our lives.⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ ⁠The day you were born, I joined the secret club of moms of kids with complex medical needs. It's a whole complicated, difficult, frustrating world I wish I didn't have to know. ⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ But for you, I will fight every day. Because what others don't realize (and what I didn't realize before you were born), was that special kids can teach us so much about life. ⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ How to really show compassion and kindness. How to show grace and practice patience. How to show love without speaking.⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ Even though you can't say 'i love you' yet, your sloppy kisses tell us all we need to know. Even though you can't take your own steps, we will carry you with us everywhere.⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ You are our bravest little adventurer, and today we celebrate you! 💜⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ 🥳 @our.next.adventure⁠⠀ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
  • Brunch at the cutest little cafe in all of Vienna. 🍳⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ When we toodled over to Kleines Cafe, I wasn't expecting a seat. We'd been to our fair share of "Instagram famous" places, and I braced myself for reality.⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ But to my surprise, it was rather quiet in the little square outside the cafe. I poked my head in and found just 6 little tables inside, all full.⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ Already resigned, I declared we needed to move on. We had two hungry girls and when you're traveling with kids, you don't have time to wait around for things like this.⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ But it was Evelyn who insisted. "Please?? Can we just ask???" For some reason, she was so drawn to the Kleines Cafe. Who was I to kill her hopes and dreams of brunch in this adorable place?⁠ 😄⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ So I went back in one more time, just to ask. And wouldn't you know it, as I opened the door, a table was just leaving!⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ Without hesistation, Evelyn and I swooped in.⁠ We huddled around the little corner table and had one of our best meals of the whole trip in that tiny cafe. ⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ So lesson learned: sometimes you have to throw reason to the side and follow your tiny tour guide. Especially when they're as experienced as Evelyn. 😆⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ Have your little travelers led you to any amazing discoveries?⁠⠀ ⁠.⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✌🏻@our.next.adventure⁠⠀ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯

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