Podcast appearances and mentions of eric stoen

This week on Traveling Culturati, we will have Family Travel Tips with Eric Stoen. Get ready to explore the world of family adventures as Eric shares his expert insights on making travel enjoyable and stress-free for the whole family. Whether you're planning your first family trip or looking to enhance your travel experiences, this episode promises to inspire and equip you with the tools you need to create unforgettable memories. Tune in for stories, tips, and a few laughs as we embark on this exciting journey together!   We'll also have Ja'Vonne's Travel Minute and The Culture Report featuring Jesse Beck!

In this episode, you can meet travel blogger Eric Stoen from the family travel blog Travel Babbo. He used to work in healthcare but was addicted to travel. So, in 2014 he quit his job and started the travel blog to inspire more people. So far, he's been to 101 countries and seven continents. Hear how he got started and how he grew his blog. You can also hear him talk about the time he took his kids to Antarctica. Rick has tried to get Eric to be a speaker, but he keeps saying no. Will this interview make him change his mind?

Website for this episode: ordinarysherpa.com/098 Register for the FREE Travel Rewards for Families Live Q & A: Ordinarysherpa.com/LIVE At one time, our guest worked in healthcare, but was (not so secretly) addicted to travel. He's been to over 100 countries and seven continents. What sets him apart from many of the travelers I know is his approach; his uncanny way to make you laugh and be completely envious of him experiencing incredible locations with his kids.  While many parents like taking breaks from their kids and heading overseas without them. Their family is not like that. Starting at age four, each of his kids got to pick any destination in the world every year for a one-on-one trip, and his kids weren't shy about picking crazy destinations – trips have included Australia (ages 4 and 6), Hong Kong (5), Belize (4), Easter Island (6), Iguazu Falls (6), Bali (9 and 10), Japan (7 and 8), the Maldives (9), and Antarctica (8) and that was just when they were ages 4-8.  In 2012 he was lucky enough to win Conde Nast Traveler Magazine's Photo of the Year contest out of 21,000+ entrants. The magazine planned an amazing two weeks in Florence for them. The first two days there three different people called him Babbo – Italian for Dad or Daddy. The kids started using it and it stuck – they haven't called him Dad since they returned from that trip. The funny thing is that Babbo only means Dad in certain parts of Italy. In other areas it means Idiot. Today I am excited to have a conversation with the Family Travel influencer who literally has the registered trademark to Take Your Kids Everywhere, Eric Stoen of Travel Babbo, Welcome to Ordinary Sherpa.   Follow or Connect with Eric at: Website: https://travelbabbo.com/ Instagram: @travelbabbo  Key Takeaways Eric will go wherever the kids want to go or return to.  There are many things that make a location returnable, it's whatever speaks to our hearts.  For us we visit Italy specifically Florence and Tuscany or the Greek Isle of Naxos.  So much so that locals know our names in several of the locations.  Let the kids have a stake in planning.  Look for kid-friendly tours.  They are simplified and the content is perfect for parents too.   Parent first, then traveler, then a photographer and travel writer.  He didn't want travel to become not fun for the kids ot getting paid to do things that weren't kid-friendly. I'm not afraid to show my kids faces, but seeing those accounts didn't inspire me.  Most times I shared photos of my kids often walking away because that's naturally where I was and they weren't interested in posing. Even if a place looks cool online doesn't mean it's a great kid-friendly place. Capture what's authentic and find the details that speak to you.  Eric is not willing to disrupt their vacation for work.  his followers deserve better and he wanted to maintain an organic nature of photography - not sponsored, posed photos.  He set a boundary that he didn't accept free travel.  He wasn't going to travel without his family unless he was getting paid. Networking is everything and meeting people in person is a game changer.  Travel writers and adventure brands are fun to be around.  Go to events and meet people face-to-face.  For Eric, while he was new and uncomfortable at ITB Berlin, Geeking out with new destinations was a trip and he often meets people that he'd like to hang out and travel with.  What's your intro? Have 20 seconds that describes why are you unique? Why would someone work with you? What is your attitude on travel? What is your perspective on ___? Your intro is what makes you memorable.  Travel is cumulative.  Explore with your kids as early as you can because good things will come of it.   Resources referenced during this episode:Start Here: https://travelbabbo.com/start-here/ Month by Month Guide to the Best Vacations with Kids: https://travelbabbo.com/best-vacations-for-kids/

Travel Writer Eric Stoen joins me to talk travel skills and travel with kids. Originally broadcasted on facebook.com/adventureswithsarah on May 17, 2021. Sarah Murdoch of Adventures with Sarah interviews her friends and colleagues from around the world. From Italy to South Africa to Cambodia, you'll get to know her network of interesting friends and learn something new. Visit her website for tour and travel info www.adventureswithsarah.net Also found on youtube! You can join me on my adventures by clicking the subscribe link below. Subscribe now to get the latest travel updates! ►►SUBSCRIBE: https://cutt.ly/SarahMurdoch

In this episode, I speak with Eric Stoen who is a travel writer and photographer based in California.  He's lived in Italy, Norway, Germany, and the US and traveled to 98 countries and all 7 continents.  Eric is passionate about the benefits of family travel and lets each of his three kids choose any destination in the world every year for a one-on-one trip with him.  They also travel as a family during school breaks and his kids have been to over 60 countries. Listen on to find out how Eric has been able to share the benefits of family travel and stay connected as a family. --------------- Hey Offbeat Family, I really appreciate you listening to this episode. I would love to hear more from you and what you think of the podcast. Contact me: hello@theoffbeatlife.com Show credits: Audio Engineer: Ben Smith - Ben@howtocreateapodcast.com

Eric is a travel writer and photographer based in California. He's lived in Italy, Norway, Germany and the US and traveled to 97 countries on 7 continents. Eric is passionate about the benefits of family travel and lets each of his three kids (11, 13 and 15) choose any destination in the world every year for a one-on-one trip with him. They also travel as a family during school breaks. His kids have been to over 60 countries.  Eric is an accomplished photographer, winning Conde Nast Traveler's Photo of the Year award. He's an ambassador for AFAR Magazine, and his writing and photography have been featured by Conde Nast Traveler, Bon Appetit, Yahoo Travel and Lonely Planet. He is a two-time NATJA gold award winner for family travel writing, Forbes has named him the World's #4 Most Influential Traveler, and Fodor's has called him the world's best family traveler. Show Notes:00:00 Eric reads an excerpt he wrote about traveling as a family.   2:00 Introduction to Eric Stoen 3:20 Eric explains how they make traveling with children happen to 60+ countries including countries that may be considered as particularly harder destinations to travel to Eric allows his kids to choose where they go every year.  His kids determine the countries that they travel to which forces his kids to look at the world differently.  6:54 His kids ended up bringing him to Antarctica and Easter Island - countries Eric didn't really think about at first.  Eric shares the stories of how that happened.  Traveling with his kids gives a brand new set of eyes for countries that Eric has been to before and he finds that journey enjoyable 11:00 The wonderful experiences his kids are having before they are adults are preparing them to be more empathetic with skills that make them ready for the world in such a unique way. 12:51 The importance of every experience that in turn shapes and alters his kids. Due  to travel, Eric's children are becoming very worldly and informed children.   Household traditions at the Stoen house also means having a meal from a different country. 17:22 The solution to making a great trip when planning a family trip.  Making the trip about your kids is the solution to making the trip enjoyable.  Being flexible is important. 20:16 Eric shares what travel means to him 22:05 Travel Babo and where the name came from! 24:55 Eric shares his fears when he first started and how mitigated those challenges 29:00 Eric shares his most valuable thing he learned while traveling with his   kids 30:16 Eric shares his most interesting stories while traveling - Getting lost in Croatia and having the journey turn into something really special  35:14 Eric shares his most fulfilling moment - Hiking in Greenland with his son and the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil with his daughter - unplugging is his fave 38:38 Eric's most meaningful person he met while he was traveling.  He shares a story while he was in Oslo 42:32 Eric talks about the award that changed his life, Forbes #4  Influential Traveler in the World 47:42 Eric took a risk to follow his passion and it turned out to be the right path for him 50:02 Eric's tip and tricks for people who want to follow in his footsteps 54:30 Eric's favorite place he's explored - Greece and the Greek islands He shares why his family loved the islands so much and why! 57:19 Guess where Eric is going next? …. GREECE Discussion of about how the pandemic will affect his travels 62:00 Eric shares the one interesting item he takes with them when they travel - Blue Painters tape.  He shares why 63:00  Eric shares a piece of life advice to a younger Eric 64:00 Find Eric on  www.travelbabo.com http://www.instagram.com/travelbabo (www.instagram.com/travelbabo) www.twitter.com/travelbabo

As a parent, traveling one on one with your kids can provide special bonding time, new shared experiences, a chance for your kids to shine, and a sense of adventure in your kids. Eric Stoen from Travel Babbo is joining Lisa to share all of his insights into why he does one on one trips with his kids and how to get the kids involved in the planning. Plus he shares some of his favorite destinations he’s taken his kids. After listening, you may be ready to start a new family tradition of one on one trips with dad or mom and the kids each year!

Eric Stoen AKA Travel Babbo (dad in Italian) is probably one of the raddest dads around, except for all the dads listening to this right now. He's built a brand around the idea that traveling with family and kids is not only possible... but VERY possible; it's all he does! Forbes and CNN labeled him the world's #4 most influential traveler. He won the Condé Nast Traveler photo of the year in 2012 (out of like 21,000+ submissions)... Basically, he's rad af.As always, you may find more super sauce on the website... ...and feel free to browse some more of Eric's links below:CNN/Forbes – The World’s #4 Travel Influencer, 2017Hubspot – The #5 Top Travel Influencer on Instagram, 2018Fodor’s Travel – World’s Top Family Travel Influencer, 2019LUXLife Travel & Tourism Awards – Best Family Travel Writer USA and Award for Excellence in Travel Photography, 2020Conde Nast Traveler – Photo of the Year, 2012TravelBabbo.com

Eric Stoen is just your typical dad—who happens to have traveled to all seven continents with his kids. Tune in and learn how you can take YOUR kids everywhere! — GUEST: Eric Stoen - Travel writer and founder of (https://travelbabbo.com) — RESOURCES • The Amazon Rainforest with Kids: A Magical (Unplugged) Expedition  • Why South America Should Be Your Next Vacation Destination • Kid-friendly adventures in Greenland • Where Else Can You Go for the Cost of a Disneyland Vacation? • Ebags packing cubes • Eagle Creek packing cubes • Stuffed Suitcase (https://stuffedsuitcase.com) (blog by Kim Tate) — CHECK THIS OUT! You can help make Family Travel Radio the best it can be by taking a brief survey at AaronSchlein.com/Survey. To show his gratitude, Aaron will send a personal thank you video to each listener who takes the survey! — Episode notes available at FamilyTravel.org/Radio — Discover what's possible in family vacations at FamilyTravel.org.

This week we are honored to have Eric Stoen, also known as Travel Babbo, on the show! Eric is an award-winning family travel writer and has visited more than 90 countries. Tune in to hear about how Eric transitioned from a career in healthcare to one in journalism, how he managed to make a living out of it (sooner than he expected), and what kind of trips he takes with each of his kids as well as his family. You can also check out Eric's adventures on his Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter accounts! If you're interested in following along on our adventures, make sure you check us out on Instagram or read up on some of our adventure recaps on our blog. At any time, don't hesitate to contact us through Instagram direct message or email at hello@thejetsettingfamily.com. Brought to you by The Podglomerate network.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hear about visiting Universal Orlando Resort as the Amateur Traveler talks to Eric Stoen from travelbabbo.com about he and his kids favorite theme parks.

Hear about visiting Universal Orlando Resort as the Amateur Traveler talks to Eric Stoen from travelbabbo.com about he and his kids favorite theme parks.

Hear about visiting Universal Orlando Resort as the Amateur Traveler talks to Eric Stoen from travelbabbo.com about he and his kids favorite theme parks.

This is a special episode! It’s been six months since my Dramatic Travels journey began. A lot has happened, and there are so many things to be grateful for. I need to express my most sincere gratitude to my friends and family who have supported me so beautifully on this journey. Especially my wife who has made some very real sacrifices to give me the time and space I need to create this podcast week after week. A special thanks to all the email subscribers, and those of you who join me on Instagram live every Friday. You’re awesome. Thanks to the first eight guests on Dramatic Travels, Nicole Melancon, Zack Klamn, Eric Stoen, Jessica Parker, Tamara Gruber, Mark Wyld, Johnny Jet, and Elizabeth Atalay. Thank you all for the awesome feedback and for helping grow this podcast by sharing it with your audiences, friends, and family. My special guest on this episode is John Lee Dumas, without whom the Dramatic Travels podcast would not exist. John the host of Entrepreneurs on Fire, an award winning podcast where he interviews inspiring Entrepreneurs every Monday and drops value bombs every Thursday. With over 2000 episodes, 1.3 million listens every month, and seven-figures of annual revenue, JLD is just getting started. Visit (https://eofire.com) to set YOUR Entrepreneurial journey ON FIRE! Dramatic Travels is the first season of The Aaron Schlein Story.

Eric Stoen is the man behind the travel blog TravelBabbo.com. He is passionate about family travel and in inspiring parents to take their kids everywhere. Eric won Conde Nast Traveler Magazine’s Photo of the Year in 2012. Forbes named Eric the 4th most influential traveler in the world in 2017. Dramatic Travels is an inspirational family travel podcast hosted by Aaron Schlein. Aaron chats with the world’s most passionate and influential travelers who share emotionally-charged memories of the people and places that inspired them to travel and changed their lives forever.

This week, Eric Stoen from Travel Babbo chats with us about Orlando's hottest new attractions, Universal Orlando Resort's new Volcano Bay waterpark. We get into the details on what to expect when you go, our favorite rides and food, and where you should stay. ON THE PODCAST 00:32 - Talking with Kim and Tamara about waterparks 13:17 - Eric Stoen from Travel Babbo 16:35 - Universal Orlando BlogSquad 18:27 - Eric’s experience at Volcano Bay 20:43 - Getting chairs at the waterpark 24:30 - What is the TapuTapu wristband 30:49 - Eric’s favorite rides/slides 32:54 - Foods at Volcano Bay 34:22 - Top tips 40:37 - Favorite hotels 43:42 - What can you bring into Volcano Bay 45:38 - Places for a family photo 46:55 - Eric’s favorite travel gear 50:16 - App of the week ABOUT ERIC STOEN Eric Stoen is a writer and photographer specializing in family travel, based in California. His goal is to encourage everyone to take their kids to unique destinations, and he provides first-hand information through travelbabbo.com to make it easier for people to plan those trips. He’s traveled with his three kids to forty-six countries and seven continents, with each of his kids getting to choose any destination in the world every year for a one-on-one trip. Follow Travel Babbo on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. WHAT TO EXPECT AT VOLCANO BAY Volcano Bay is very popular so you can expect crowds. It is important to get there early. Volcano Bay has a lot of different areas where there are chairs. You can also reserve chairs and cabanas but these book up very quickly so you will need to book ahead with plenty of time. The TapuTapu wristband can be used to check in to lines and will vibrate when you are next. If you link the wristband to the app and to a credit card you can also use it to make purchases. Staying at a Universal Orlando Resort hotel you will let you get into the waterpark one hour earlier than the regularly admitted customers. Cabana Bay has a private entrance to the park, but you must show your room key so this entrance is only for guests staying at an on site hotel. If it is possible you should bring your own towels into Volcano Bay. They have places for you to purchase or rent them but this will just add more cost to your trip. You are not allowed to bring in coolers, but you can bring in water bottles and food in plastic containers (no glass) if you have a food allergy. While the TapuTapu will help reduce the amount of time you spend in line, don't expect no lines. Think about what rides to do first because there can be very long lines for popular rides and you can only check in to one ride at a time (plus the AquaCoaster.) BEST PLACE TO TAKE FAMILY PHOTO The best place for a family photo would be right at the start of the park with a backdrop of the Volcano. It is also a good idea to take your family photo when you get there. Once you take your picture you can put you camera in a locker and enjoy the rest of your day. APP OF THE WEEK Be sure to download the Universal Orlando app and take advantage of the great features this provides including syncing with the TapuTapu wristband and Volcano Bay. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST Eric’s post on his Volcano Bay experience Tamara’s must read tips for Volcano Bay FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email or leave us a voicemail at +1.641.715.3900, ext. 926035# You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcase and We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for listening!

If anyone knows how to do family vacations abroad, it's Eric Stoen. Travel writer, award-winning photographer, and father of 3 kids, Eric is on a mission to find the best travel destinations for families. He's been to over 80 countries and now he's sharing his top tips here on Expat Happy Hour with Sundae Schneider-Bean. Listen now | Listen in iTunes The post 19: Taking Your Kids Everywhere with Eric Stoen appeared first on Sundae Schneider-Bean, LLC..

Holiday family travel with a drone? Intense, perhaps, but rewarding. That's one of the ways the Wagar family gets the most out of their journeys. Here Kevin Wagar shares his experience. ::: If you like what you’re hearing, then please subscribe, rate & review Epic Education Radio. We would be extremely grateful! iTunes is a search engine as well, and so rating/reviewing Epic Education Radio the #1 way to help others find us. Thank you! ::: EER083: Holiday Family Travel with a Drone & More Many Epic Education Radio guests travel for extended periods of time. Some are gap year travelers, slow travelers or other long-term travelers. Others are trying round-the-world travel or living abroad. However, you don't have to sell everything and leave town to experience meaningful family travel. Previous guests like Cliff Hsia, Mark Wyld, Eric Stoen all have homes, jobs and kids in school, but when they travel, they make the most of it. The Wagars do something similar, balancing work, schools, and sports teams while planning epic family travel with a drone and other technologies that help them capture amazing family travel memories. Listen in if you're interested in travel gear, camera gear, overcoming the fear of family travel, and a few of the rules of family travel with a drone.   IN THIS EPISODE 2:55 Intro 4:05 Origins as a traveling family (Kevin wasn't a natural traveler at first) 6:53 I mentioned when my kids overcame fear when we first started traveling 7:42 Travel habits and committing to travel time 14:51 Travel gear 19:38 Family Travel with a drone 24:10 Travel day routines 28:35 Travel resources 34:26 Recommended destinations ABOUT Names: Kevin and Christina Wagar and their two young sons Hold passports from: Canada & Philippines Type of travel: Short-term travel during vacation time A few places they've been: Jordan, Iceland, and Argentina IN THEIR BAGS Canon 7D Sigma 10-20 lens Canon 24-70 2.8 Lens DJI Phantom 3 Advanced GoPro Hero 3+ Silver Lanparte LA3D 3-Axis Gimbal Olympus TG-4 Tough 2 iPads 2 Deuter Kikki backpacks Deuter 15-liter backpack 1 MEC (Mountain Equipment Co-op) Bag Osprey Stratos 36-liter LINKS & RESOURCES National Geographic Kids Trip Advisor Pinterest Google Flights Expedia   FIND THEM ON Wandering Wagars | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

As 2016 comes to a close, I want to wish you an amazing new year and also give you a short guide through one full year of amazing family travel interviews. In this episode I talk about some of the things I've learned from guests on Epic Education Radio this year, along with a few excerpts. I hope you find these conversations as inspiring and useful as I do. On the left is the timecode. On the right are the links to the relevant episodes. :::::: If you like what you’re hearing, then please subscribe, rate & review Epic Education Radio. We would be extremely grateful! iTunes is a search engine as well, and so rating/reviewing Epic Education Radio the #1 way to help others find us. Thank you! ::::: 03:41 — Travel with a Babies  03:59 — Episode #38: Andrew Davis talks about who naps trump lunch in Barcelona 05:02 — Episode #49: Conrad & Regina Braun talk about the versatility of duct tape  06:14 — Episode #72: Running marathons & traveling vegan with a baby 06:51 — Episode #77: Sharon Gourlay talks about "the younger the better" Want more about families who travel with babies? Or with preschoolers? 08:37 — House Sitting & Home Exchange 09:41 — Episode #46: Donna Carvel's castle 11:06 —  Episode #66: The North family's welcome party 10:54 — Episode #67: The Tullis Family 12:02 — Episodes #52 & Episode #80: Daniel Prince & a home swapping wager Want about house sitting and family travel accommodation? 16:00 — Round-the-world (RTW) & Gap Year Travel 16:27 — Episode #44: Maria Belfort and RTW travel with a preschooler 17:06 — Episode #42: Jason Marshal on the importance of life insurance and the investment in education through travel. Want a more about gap year and round-the-world travel? 20:50 — Education During (and via) Travel 21:24 — Episode #56: Caroline king talks about leaving Sweden's school system for good 21:50 — Episode #73: Jen Silver discusses Worldschooling after a family crisis 22:36 — Episode #60: Jennifer Miller discusses the importance of educational philosophy before methodology. Want more about families who homeschool or who travel with tween and teens? 25:50 — Long-term Travel, Slow Travel & Digital Nomads 26:26 — Episode #45: The Luxpats talk Fufilment by Amazon and more 27:29 — Episode #50: The Suero family talk about medical care abroad  Want a more complete list of families who travel long-term, work online, or travel as digital nomads?  31:21 — Families that Live or Moved Abroad 31:26 —Episode #36: The Workmans built a business in Costa Rica 31:41 — Episode #39: Liisa Vexler on living in Costa Rica 31:59 — Episode #55: Dan Sherman in Panama and Cancun, Mexico 32:17 — Episode #57: Krystal Blue built a global business based in Tulum, Mexico 32:59 — Episode #59: Scottie & Bryan Elliot on living in San Miguel de Allende 33:26 — Episode #37: Virginie Auguste-Dormeuil in Rome   33:44 — Episode #76: Anne-Cerise Luzy on living in Vanuatu 34:11 — Episode #47: Emma Hall on living & working in Korea  34:26 — Episode #43: Amanda Moutakki in Morocco -- culture shock 36:27 — Episode #51: Keri Hedrik on using Instagram to find out family travel info Want a more complete list of families who live abroad? Want to hear about our experience moving to Spain? 38:24 — Families Who Travel During Work & School Breaks 38:42 — Episode #40: Cliff Hsia on importance of family travel 38:58 — Episode #41: Rob Taylor on car seats, saving for travel & more 39:23 — Episode #63: Eric Stoen on camera gear and what makes a family-friendly hotel 40:08 — Episode #64: Mark Wyld's accommodation tips and hi "3-3-3-5" packing rule. Want a more about short-term travel? 42:23 — RV, Car & Boat Travel 42:43 — Episode #69: The Gebbia Family on Working Remotely from an RV 43:01 — Episode #74: Jason Calhoun on making an RV movie 43:20 — Episode #65:  The Boyink Family explains Walmart's RV policy  46:02 — Episode #48: Anand Baid on driving from India to France 47:12 — Episode #79 Behan & Jamie Gifford describe their son Nial's WWII discovery Want a more about sailing, RV travel and overland travel?

What are the best hotels for kids? Eric Stoen has a few he could suggest. From luxury family resorts in Mexico and the African continent to quirky boutique hotels in Europe and beyond, Eric takes his kids everywhere, and is an exceptional travel photographer and family travel blogger. THE BEST HOTELS FOR KIDS (ADULTS TOO) In this Epic education Interview, I talk to Eric about some of his favorite family resorts and child-friendly hotels for kids. In addition to family hotel recommendations, we also talk about camera equipment, his top travel gear picks and how he secures the best hotel deal for a family of five. Eric also describes how he minimizes the stress of travel day, and his love of one-on-one travel with each of his kids. Listen in! And please share. IN THIS EPISODE 04:04 Introductions 06:10 Traveling one-on-one with kids 11:20 What happens when a kid gets lost 13:18 Making the travel process as easy as possible 15:33 United 1K and Global Entry explained 19:45 What he looks for in a hotel 22:34 Hotels that get family travel right (3 of his favorite hotels for kids) 27:49 Travel gear (Luggage & Clothing) 32:03 Travel Gear (Photography) 34:59 Traveling with kids and big cameras 37:37 Camera bag 44:13 Resources & the value of contacting hotels directly

What is on your family's bucket list? Today we are talking to Eric Stoen from Travel Babbo, who has already taken his kids on many bucket list trips including Antarctica, Easter Island, Bali, Palawan, Croatia, the Lego Factory experience in Denmark and more. We unpack how to get kids involved in planning a trip, how to afford bucket list travel, and some of Eric's favorite trips. ON THE PODCAST :30 Kim & Tamara chat about bucket list travel 5:45 Eric Stoen from Travel Babbo 10:59 Where Eric has taken his kids 11:58 Lego Factory inside tour 13:50 Getting kids involved in planning 14:30 Antarctica 15:30 Easter Island, Panama and Iguazu Falls 16:20 Australia 16:58 Palawan and Hong Kong 19:35 How to afford bucket list travel 21:42 How to save on an African safari 26:50 Is it possible to have a worldly toddler? 28:44 Where is Travel Babbo going next? 29:55 Eric's favorite travel gear 31:50 Tip of the week 34:25 Like us on Facebook! 34:54 Next week we are talking about Austin, Texas ABOUT ERIC STOEN FROM TRAVEL BABBO Eric Stoen is a writer and photographer specializing in family travel, based in California. His goal is to encourage everyone to take their kids to unique destinations, and he provides first-hand information through travelbabbo.com to make it easier for people to plan those trips. He’s traveled with his three kids to 38 countries and seven continents, with each of his kids getting to choose any destination in the world every year for a one-on-one trip. You can find Eric on Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and Facebook. FAVORITE BUCKET LIST TRIPS Eric has done a lot of trips with his kids, but he isn't obsessed with ticking off countries. He really wants his kids to figure out which places speak to their hearts. He lets each kid choose a destination each year for a one-on-one trip. When his daughter was in pre-school, she learned about penguins and really wanted to visit Antarctica so Eric reached out to tour operators and found out that trip is best for kids over the age of eight, so they waited and that is where they went. Eric's son is interested in remote islands and found Easter Island by searching Google Maps and reading up on some of the facts and history of the island. It is one of his son's favorite places, although they did also get to experience the Lego Factory in Denmark, which is very hard to get into and extremely popular. His daughter was inspired to visit the Sydney Opera House after seeing it on the Wonder Pets and that was the driving factor for that trip. Usually the kids pick the place and then Eric starts the planning but the kids get very involved in the planning. HOW TO AFFORD BUCKET LIST TRAVEL Eric will only spend a $1,000 a day on a trip, which is not so different than a trip to Disney. This could be two hotel rooms for $300 each, plus the other expenses. Other trips are more expensive and you need to save for a few years. One way to save money is to find a local operator. For example, the larger companies that run safaris are U.S.-based and have a strong marketing presence, which impacts the cost. However, Eric was able to find a very well-rated local operator in Nairobi that was half the cost and they stayed at some of the same lodges and had the same wildlife experiences as the luxury brands. He also recommends using miles and traveling outside of peak seasons. If you look hard you can find deals. Also, if you are willing to be flexible with dates and take advantage of a last-minute deal, you can find things like Antarctica cruises that still have space. BENEFITS OF TRAVELING WITH KIDS If you travel regularly with kids, they are trying new foods, being exposed to new cultures, and developing a broader world view. By meeting people in other parts of the world, you don't draw broad stereotypes about people from other countries because you have met people there. Travel also makes kids very independent, responsible and resilient. They learn to navigate, how to get around, and how to be flexible. FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR Eric likes to dress nicely for air travel, usually jeans or khakis with a J.Crew button down. He also really likes Patagonia or REI gear, especially for their safari. Eric is a fan of For Sake shoes, which are very comfortable for hiking. TIP OF THE WEEK Tamara recommends that when you park at the airport, take a picture of the sign showing the parking garage aisle and level where you park so that you can easily remember it when you get back from your trip. Kim recommends also taking a picture with the kids in front of the sign so you have a current picture and what they are wearing that day in case you need it. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST Tamara's bucket list How to book an affordable African Safari How much does a trip to Universal cost? Antarctica with an 8-year-old Easter Island with a 6-year-old The Lego Inside Tour Palawan with Kids FOLLOW ALONG AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher or the podcast app of your choice and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email or leave us a voicemail at +1.641.715.3900, ext. 926035#   You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcase and We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for listening!  

It is National Parks Week April 16-24, 2016 and all U.S. National Parks are offering free admission. Join us as we talk about our favorite National Parks and chat with author and former Park Ranger Erin Peabody to get the inside scoop about planning a visit to Yellowstone National Park. ON THE PODCAST 0:32 National Parks Week is April 16-24, 2016 2:54 National Park Passport 3:29 Junior Ranger Program 5:00 100th Anniversary Badge 6:55 Kim's visit to Yellowstone National Park 7:49 Welcome Erin Peabody, author of A Weird and Wild Beauty: The Story of Yellowstone, the World's First National Park 12:23 Junior Ranger program at Yellowstone National Park 16:04 Artists in Yellowstone 17:15 Travel journals for kids 17:30 Intro to A Weird and Wild Beauty: The Story of Yellowstone, the World's First National Park and a history of Yellowstone 21:15 How long should you spend in Yellowstone 22:45 Must do experiences in Yellowstone 28:55 What to wear in Yellowstone 31:00 Where to stay in the park 33:15 Best place to take a family photo 34:05 Erin's favorite travel gear 35:33 Book giveaway!! 36:10 App of the Week -- National Parks by REI 37:18 Thanks to Jessie for the review on Stitcher! 37:40 Join us next week as we talk about Bucket List Travel with Eric Stoen from Travel Babbo ABOUT ERIN PEABODY Erin Peabody is a mother, author and former park ranger. Her latest book, A Weird and Wild Beauty: The Story of Yellowstone, the World's First National Park, is written for readers 12 and up and tells the exciting story of how Yellowstone became our first national park. This uplifting American story should delight lovers of nature, adventure and travel, and debuts just in time for the National Parks' 100th birthday. You can learn more at erinpeabody.com. Erin has an eight year-old daughter and lives with her and her husband in Ohio. Erin and her husband have both been Park Rangers and met in Yellowstone. She worked as an interpreter or educator in Yellowstone, giving Park Ranger programs at the Visitor Center.  TIPS FOR VISITING YELLOWSTONE Plan to spend at least 4-5 days in Yellowstone Know that you will be driving around 45 mph and may get stuck in traffic jams when animals cross the road Plan your accommodations well in advance (6 - 12 months to stay in the park) Erin's favorite places to stay are Old Faithful Inn and the Lake Hotel Ask where the best places to see wildlife are Visit in the early morning and evening to see wildlife Bring binoculars for wildlife viewing Wear a good hat and sunglasses (corded are great) Wear comfortable boots, layers, and a good, all-weather shell Don't forget your bug spray! MUST DO EXPERIENCES IN YELLOWSTONE Geysers, mud pots, sulphur cauldrons and other thermal features with the most famous being Old Faithful Grand Canyon of Yellowstone along with the two waterfalls and hikes along the rim Climb into the canyon Yellowstone Lake Norris Geyser Basin Mammoth Hot Springs (also where the largest elk population lives) Hayden Valley and Lamar Valley see wildlife BEST PLACE TO TAKE FAMILY PHOTO Erin recommends Artist's Point near the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and other overlooks by the Grand Canyon area. She also likes the color at the hot springs like Mammoth Springs. Just don't pose in front of a wild animal! FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR Erin likes layering breathable, water wicking fabrics including her favorite shell from REI (who also happens to be a corporate sponsor of the National Parks.) WIN A COPY OF THE BOOK!   a Rafflecopter giveaway APP OF THE WEEK Tamara recommends the National Parks app from REI because you can choose your park and look at all the different hiking trails within the park, including a special section for family-friendly hikes. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST National Parks Week & Free Entrance Days Planning a Valley Forge National Historical Park with Kids Junior Ranger Program Free kid travel journal printable from We3Travel Follow Along and Spread the Word! Thank you to Jessie for leaving us a review on Stitcher!!   If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher or the podcast app of your choice and leave us a review!   Have a question or comment? Send us an email or leave us a voicemail at +1.641.715.3900, ext. 926035#   You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcase and We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for listening!