Our Next Adventure

Family Travel Blog

zion

  • 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⠀ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
  • Hello 2020! 🍾⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ I know I'm about a week late, but to me, the new year doesn't reaaaally start until the first full week of January.⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ Today, it's back to school and schedules, and with that comes me feeling productive and blogging again!⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ I've got some pretty simple goals for the blog this year, mainly catching up on the mountain of blog posts I need to write!⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ Last year our travels took us to Mexico City, Barcelona, Lisbon, Florida's 30A, San Francisco, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Prague, Vienna, and Budapest. So I think I've got enough material for an eternity! 😜⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ Tell me, where would you like to hear about first?? 👇🏻⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ 🌎 @our.next.adventure⁠⠀ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
  • Swipe 👉🏻 for our 2019 #TopNine!⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ 2019 has been quite a big year of travel for our family. We’ve finally got our feet back after a couple of rough years navigating this new life with our special needs babe.⠀ .⠀ A few highlights from 2019:⠀ .⠀ • Spending 2 weeks in Lisbon and eating pasteis de nata nearly every day.⠀ • Navigating 15 Christmas Markets across Europe. ⠀ • Sophie turning 1, a BIG milestone for any #holoprosencephaly baby.⠀ • Freezing our faces off while eating EVERYTHING at the markets in Vienna.⠀ • Sunny days in Alfama, pinching ourselves that places like this really exist.⠀ • Watching Evelyn grow from our travels as more of the things she sees and experiences stick with her.⠀ • Taking Sophie to her first country in Europe - SPAIN! 🎉 An achievement at one point I wasn’t sure would ever happen.⠀ • Realizing there are just too many amazing places in the world and deciding to make travel our official family hobby. 😆⠀ • Reminding ourselves that nothing else really else matters besides being happy, healthy and all together.⠀ .⠀ What will you take with you from 2019 into 2020? What are you leaving behind?⠀ .⠀ .⠀ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⠀ ✌🏻@our.next.adventure⠀ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⠀
  • From our family to yours, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! 🎄
  • It was a cloudy, misty day at Fisherman's Bastion in Budapest.⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ I was afraid we’d cross the Chain Bridge, take the furnicular up the hill, walk all the way through the Castle District...and not see a single thing from the other side!⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ But even though it wasn't the most picture perfect day for this adventure, I was happy to find we COULD still catch a small glimpse of this epic view over Budapest from the other side of the Danube (and even snap a few magical photos too!).⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ I can totally understand now why people find Budapest to be so special. There are SO many unique places in this city begging to be explored. It's a big city that feels small with its friendly people and efficient transportation system.⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ Rainy weather and all, Budapest won us over. We'll see you again - next time in summer. 😉⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ Have you been to Budapest? What's your favorite spot in the city?⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ✨@our.next.adventure⁠⠀ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
  • That's a wrap! 🎄☕️🥨⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ 3 cities, 4 train rides, and 15 Christmas markets later, I think we can definitely say we crushed Prague, Vienna, and Budapest.⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ But also safe to say we're wiped and ready to relax for a few days before the next set of Christmas festivities begin!⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ Are you traveling anywhere over Christmas? To visit family or just for fun??⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ 😴 @our.next.adventure⁠⠀ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
  • We'll just pretend this day is a warm and sunny as it looks. 🥶⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ One thing I've most definitely learned from this trip: winter travel with kids is not for the faint of heart!⠀ .⁠⠀ We’ve spent so many days feeling like our fingers were freezing off. I’ve carried cold, tired children up subway stairs more times than I can’t count. And we've spent 8x as long bundling and unbundling each day.⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ But you know what? It's been 100% worth it! It's been a frigid cold couple of weeks, but it's also been one full of memories and magic.⁠ ✨⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ But make no mistake, as soon as we're home, I will promptly cover myself in a pile of blankets and not come out until spring.⁠ 🙅‍♀️⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ When does your family like to travel? Typically we're all about the spring and fall, but with Evelyn starting Kindergarten next year, that might have to change!⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ .⁠⠀ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ 🏰 @our.next.adventure⁠⠀ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯

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