Travel entry:August 2026 Hey Reader The end-of-summer clock is ticking. Let's be real: summer has about 5 weeks left. Labor Day (September 7) is basically the finish line, and after that it's back-to-school mode, cooler mornings, and pumpkin spice everything. (Although, I prefer the apple cider flavors) If school starts sooner for your crew, you've really only got 2-3 weeks. So no pressure, but also, kind of pressure. Good news: you don't need a big trip to make it count. A few easy ideas to...
13 days ago • 2 min read
Travel entry:July 2026 Hey Reader I leave in less than 12 hours and I'm still not packed. I'm writing this with a mostly-empty suitcase open on my bed. We leave in 12 hours and I have not packed a single thing. Not one. There's a very real chance I'm about to throw random clothes into a bag at 5am and call it "packing light." And yet, the trip is still happening. That's the part I want you to sit with for a second. Because every July there's this weird panic that creeps in, where you look at...
29 days ago • 2 min read
Travel entry:July 2026 Hey travel bestie! I've been wanting to share more with you for a while now. Between juggling the chaos of summer, celebrating my son’s graduation, and attending a travel conference, it’s been a whirlwind! But I’m thrilled to finally announce a new newsletter format that I can’t wait for you to explore. In the coming weeks, you’ll see richer content with inside tips, more blog highlights, and updates from both Detail Oriented Traveler and my new project, The Booked...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Hey travel bestie, This summer, we took a graduation trip for my son. It's kind of our thing to celebrate the big moments in iconic locations. And my daughter couldn’t make it. She had an internship. A really good one. The kind you don’t turn down. And rightfully so. I was proud of her. But I’d be lying if I said it didn’t hurt a little, watching the three of us board a plane without her. Here’s what I know, though: none of it would have happened at all if we hadn’t put it on the calendar...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
Hey Reader, Can we talk about May for a second? Because somehow this month feels like December with better weather. School events. Sports. Graduations... including my son's college graduation this year! Trying to figure out summer plans before everything doubles in price. And meanwhile, every time I look up flights or gas prices lately, I feel personally attacked. I was pricing out a summer trip the other night and had one of those moments where you stare at the screen thinking… “Okay, but...
3 months ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader Have you ever been standing at the airport gate when the agent says: “Only one carry-on and one personal item per passenger.” …and suddenly everyone starts second-guessing their bags? Your teen has a backpack.You’ve got a tote and a suitcase.And now you're wondering if something is about to get checked at the gate. It happens all the time. The rule is actually simple once you know it. A carry-on goes in the overhead bin.A personal item goes under the seat in front of you. That’s it....
4 months ago • 2 min read
Hey , Look, I get it. Travel in the U.S. is chaos right now. Flights are getting canceled. TSA lines seem out of control. And with the partial government shutdown, you might not even be considering a flight anytime soon. Honestly? I wouldn’t blame you. But I still wanted to tell you about something I tested recently, especially since it’s on sale right now. I recently reviewed the Level8 Carry-On, and my recent trip ended up being the perfect real-life test. I originally flew to New Orleans...
5 months ago • 2 min read
Hey Reader, Last week I asked what stresses you out the most when planning a trip… And almost every single answer said the same thing: Flights. Honestly? I’m not surprised. Flights feel like this moving target where prices change constantly, nothing makes sense, and you’re just hoping you didn’t book at the wrong time. Look, I get it. I’ve been planning family travel for years, and flights are still the one piece that can make you second guess everything. So I wanted to walk you through...
5 months ago • 3 min read
Hey Reader, After years of camping and RV travel, I’ve noticed something. Most families don’t avoid RV trips because they don’t like the idea. They avoid them because they assume it’s complicated. So let’s make this simple. Here’s when renting an RV actually makes practical sense. If you’re visiting multiple national parks on one trip.Hotel hopping every night gets old fast. An RV lets you stay inside the park or close to it without constantly packing and unpacking. If you’re traveling with...
6 months ago • 2 min read