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Kids Are A Trip/Groups Are A Trip

Kids Are A Trip is an award-winning website and your go-to resource for family travel inspiration. I cover everything from travel tips and packing guides to detailed itineraries for destinations worldwide. My goal is to make travel planning simple and fun, with actionable advice and real-life stories that resonate with families at every stage of life. Groups Are A Trip is for trips with friends, family reunions, and multigenerational travel. More Groups. More Trips. More Memories.

Our Month in the UK: A Trip Recap
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Our Month in the UK: A Trip Recap

I hate looking at someone else’s vacation photo albums, so I’ll try to make this a newsletter full of useful information. We spent a full month this summer exploring the United Kingdom - London, the Cotswolds, and Scotland - and it gave us just enough time to slow down and really settle into each place instead of rushing through a highlight reel. Here's how it went. The Stafford London: Home Bases Worth Writing Home About We split our London stay across a few different properties, and each...

The travel advice you love is growing up too

I know I just returned from overseas, but I have been dying to share this news. If you've been following along for a while, you've probably noticed that my travel journey has evolved over the years. What began as sharing family travel adventures on Kids Are A Trip eventually grew to include girlfriend getaways, couples trips, multigenerational vacations, and group travel through Groups Are A Trip. Now, with our youngest son 19 and off to college, it feels like the right time for another...

Halfway Through Summer... How's It Going?

Can you believe we're already halfway through July? Every summer seems to start with a long list of places to go, things to do, and adventures to have. Before we know it, school supplies are appearing in stores, calendars are filling up, and we're wondering where the time went. It got me thinking... How's your summer going? Have you crossed a destination off your bucket list? (If not, we have some ideas HERE) Discovered an amazing little restaurant? Gone on a weekend road trip? (We have some...

'Tis the Season: Why Your Big Family Trip Needs to Be Booked NOW

The festive season has a booking window unlike anything else on the calendar - everyone wants the same two weeks off, and the properties and experiences that make the holidays magical for kids sell out before most families even open a calendar to plan. Here's where I'd focus first, plus a few sleeper hits if the big names are already full. ❄️ Book These First Lapland, Finland - Glass igloos, dawn husky sledding, the Northern Lights overhead. Families book next December as soon as this one...

Holiday Reading: I'll Pick Your Next Vacation

Whether you're celebrating Canada Day 🇨🇦 or the Fourth of July 🇺🇸 this week, I hope you will enjoy plenty of sunshine, good food, and time with the people you love. I know many of you are traveling this week (or taking a well-deserved break from your inbox) so I thought we'd keep things light and have a little fun. Over the years, I've been asked thousands of travel questions, but one comes up more than almost any other: "Where should we go next?" My answer is always...it depends. The best...

The Perfect Beach House: What to Look For When Booking a Vacation Rental

We’ve just returned from our UK trip, and boy, do I have a ton to share in upcoming months. If you have any urgent questions about lodging, activities, transportation, or tours, feel free to shoot me an email! Onto this week’s newsletter. A great beach house rental can turn a good vacation into a legendary one. A bad rental can ruin a trip that took months to plan. After years of group trips and family beach weeks, here's what we've learned about booking rentals the right way. What to Look...

Our Favorite Summer Travel Gear for 2026 ??

If you’ve ever forgotten sunscreen, dealt with dead phone batteries at the airport, or tried packing for multiple people in one suitcase, you know the right gear makes ALL the difference. Here are the things that we are adding to our travel gear this summer. ✈️ For Flights Noise-canceling headphones Portable chargers Aerless compression packing cubes Contoured eye mask - this is the only way I can sleep on a plane 🏖️ For Beach Trips Sand-proof beach blanket Reef-safe sunscreen Waterproof...

5 Less Crowded National Parks to Visit This Summer

Hi Reader, If the idea of bumper-to-bumper traffic in Yellowstone or packed shuttle lines in Zion sounds less than relaxing, you’re not alone. The good news? There are still incredible national parks where you can enjoy beautiful scenery, outdoor adventures, and room to breathe during summer vacation. Here are five of our favorite national parks that tend to be a little less crowded, plus where we recommend staying nearby. 🌲 North Cascades National Park, Washington Often called the “American...

Spark, Celebrate, Explore: The Best Fourth of July Destinations This Summer

I know we’ve just wrapped up Memorial Day, but the 4th of July is just around the corner. In our family, the Fourth of July was always more than just fireworks. It's the smell of sunscreen and sparklers, the sound of a marching band parading through downtown, the feeling of being somewhere that really, truly goes all out for America's birthday. Whether you're planning a family trip or coordinating a group getaway, these destinations know how to celebrate. Bristol, Rhode Island If you want the...

Why the UK is Our Big Summer Adventure this Year

This summer, we’re doing something a little different, and honestly, we couldn’t be more excited. Our youngest is heading to London for a study abroad/internship program, which means we have the perfect excuse to spend a month exploring one of our favorite parts of the world: the UK. So while he’s working and studying, we’ll be doing what we do best - wandering charming villages, hopping trains, finding scenic hikes, and making the most of every free weekend. Our summer route includes: 🇬🇧...