Hi, there. I’m Samantha, and I’m so glad you found your way here.
I’m a mom who is living proof that traveling with kids can still be elevated, delicious, and deeply memorable
I’m so glad you’re here, because you deserve a travel resource that gets it — the chaos, the joy, and the non-negotiable need for a great glass of wine at the end of the day. My hope is that every guide, tip, and recommendation you find here helps you plan trips your whole family will treasure for a lifetime.
I share everything here — the destinations we’ve fallen in love with, from Nantucket to the Cayman Islands to Tuscany, what made our trips special, and hopefully the little nudge you need to start planning your own adventure.
When we travel, my husband, my son, and I are on a mission — hunting down luxury hotels that won’t break the bank but still have all the amenities that make everyone happy, finding restaurants where I can sip a local wine and work through the menu while my picky eater actually finds something he loves, and filling our days with experiences that light us all up equally. Think strolling through the Boboli Gardens in Florence, or hopping on a catamaran snorkeling cruise in Grand Cayman — the kind of moments where the kids are wide-eyed and the adults are just as in their element.
And for my mamas in the thick of the toddler years — I’ve got you. Some of our best trips happened when my son was little.
I’m sharing everything I learned along the way: how to survive the flight, what to actually pack (and what to leave at home), and the gear that made traveling with a toddler not just doable, but actually easier.
the carry-on confessionals
fun facts about me01. favorite travel destination of all time:
Grand Cayman – my first visit was at 4 months old, and I’ve visited every year since!
02. Ultimate guilty pleasure:
- Booking the nicer hotel room “for the kids’ sake”
- Ordering the wine flight even though it’s 3 p.m.
- Forcing my family outside for golden hour pics
- Buying art in every destination I visit
03. First thing to do when you arrive at a new destination:
- Find the nearest coffee shop
- Scope out a restaurant and scour the menu
- Let my son burn off his travel energy outside
- Unpack/organize everything immediately
04. The destination that’s been on your travel bucket list longest:
The Seychelles (40th birthday trip, here I come!)
05. Biggest pet peeve:
- Hotels that claim to be kid-friendly but aren’t
- Flights during nap time
- When restaurants make kids’ menu items too fancy
- When the restaurant is out of high chairs
06. The trip that did NOT go as planned (but made the best story)
Florence 2023 – missed flights, an ER visit and translating medical docs from Italian to English!
07. Best survival strategy for long flights with a toddler:
- Download every episode of their favorite show
- Pack snacks, then pack more snacks, then wait, just a few more
- Board at the last possible moment to get energy out
- All of the above
08. Most memorable “worth every penny” travel splurge
Staying at Il Battistero in Siena which offered on-site wine tastings in an ancient aqueduct
09. Most relatable toddler moment:
- Full meltdown right when you sit down at dinner
- Refusing to sleep in the hotel crib
- FINALLY napping, when it’s time for a pre-planned activity
- Losing a beloved stuffy in airport security
10. The travel lesson you had to learn the hard way:
Always book a room with extra space. And a nearby coffeeshop.
at the moment
Dreaming of:
mahi fajitas + a marg in Cayman
On repeat:
reggae pop
Avoiding:
doom-scrolling (time limits set!)
Learning:
SEO and web design
In my mug:
cafe au lait
Organizing:
every room in my home constantly
Celebrating:
warmer, longer days!
favorite destinations
Places we still talk about at the dinner table
partnerships and collaborations
Interested in partnering with me? Explore collaboration opportunities to reach a passionate travel audience and amplify your brand.