Before I had kids, I thought the best way to be a mom would be exploring the world with my children. And then they were born, and I immediately realized that how I travel looks very different from how I parent. Trust me, dear reader, my fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants travel instinct does not mesh with my kids' schedules. Then, a few years ago, something shifted while trying to book summer camps to fill the days. I realized summer is long, and we don't have to spend it at home. The "traveler" me and the "mom" me were finally having a conversation. | And now we relocate during the summer months. We find 6 to 8 weeks is the ideal amount of the time for us to really settle in. We purchase pool passes. My seven-year-old takes horse riding lessons. My two-year-old learns to mountain bike on his strider. In the afternoons we hike or go on a bike ride. On weekends, we explore little towns we'd never been to. | It's an echo of our home life. We prioritize naps, afternoon activities and family dinners. But everything's a new adventure. We're hiking new trails, biking new routes and breathing new air. We're injecting our summers with a perspective-shifting kind of joy. | It feels uncommonly lucky to live this dream. I hope you get to live yours, too. | | | | | Learn about the brave new world of remote work | This article helped inspire the way I think about my job, life and the way we can travel as a family. I recognized myself and was able to reimagine what was possible for us. Click below to read about how the shift to remote work offers greater flexibility in how and where we do our jobs. | | | Only one more month to take advantage of this incredible deal | Explore all Germany has to offer this summer on busses, trams, subways and trains for just €9 (a smidge over $9). A budget travel pass allows travelers to experience Germany in the summer sunshine. Here are our picks of routes to explore before the offer expires at the end of August. | | | | Top tips for a digital nomad summer | Setting up a life in a different city, even for just a couple of months, gives us a renewed sense of excitement. Here are some things I've learned as a digital nomad: - You don't have to go big or go home. Start with a city a close friend or relative lives in. As you find your routines, you'll be more confident to travel farther afield.
- For childcare, enlist grandparents if you can. We like the way intergenerational travel is fun for everyone. If that's not an option, apps like Sittercity in the US can help you find a summer nanny anywhere. Outside the US, utilize social media – moms' groups are a wealth of information. And we sign our kids up for classes and camps too.
- Communicate. Flexible work locations mean flexible time. Chat with your partner about each parent's priorities for the day, both for work and parenting. We start early and sometimes work a little later than ideal, but I love having afternoons at the pool with the kids.
- Speaking of pool – book your homestay within walking distance to parks, pools, beaches or trails. We buy a summer pass for the community pool wherever we're going. We purchase passes for the zoo and various museums. We treat this experience as if we really live there and try to participate like locals.
| | | More travel news you can use | | | | | Good old-fashioned travel writing | | | Can you do a road trip in an EV? | | | | | | You say tomato, we say tomatina | The last Wednesday in August marks Spain's messiest festival. Held in Buñol, 40km (25 miles) west of Valencia, La Tomatina is a tomato-throwing spectacle that draws 20,000 revelers each year. If you're planning on becoming part of the human salsa, here's all the information you need to squeeze the most out of this chaotic celebration. | | | This email was sent to you by: | Lonely Planet Publications Ltd. | 1101 Red Ventures Drive, Fort Mill, SC 29707 | | | |
