Lindsey’s family of five doesn’t just travel abroad. For the past nine years, they’ve lived on and off outside of the U.S.—including in Georgia, Ukraine and Germany.
Her husband works a government job with standard hours, but since they are conveniently based in southern Germany, are able to explore widely during school breaks and at other times. She blogs about their adventures, and posts about them on Instagram. (These days, expect to see a lot of charming Christmas markets and holiday lights.)
Lindsey shared her hacks for taking quick trips, her advice for getting more adventurous, and her favorite family destinations.
In three words, our travel style is…
Fun, flexible, food
The first trip we took after having a child was…
To Nurmeburg, Germany (we lived about 3 hours away at the time). She was one month old and we decided to hit the ground running and start with a small road trip close to home. We built up from there and haven’t looked back since!
We fell in love with traveling when…
We moved to Germany for the first time in 2012. Neither of us had been to Europe before, and all of a sudden our capability to go and see so many different cities and countries was opened up. It was truly addicting—and still is! There is so much beauty in the world, and it’s fascinating to see what life is like outside of what you’re used to. It pushes your boundaries and engages your brain in different ways.
We were recently blown away by…
The beauty of the Dolomites in Italy.
We had the most family fun at…
The Atlantis Resort in Dubai. There was something for everyone and it actually felt relaxing.
Some of our favorite spots close to home are…
Here in Garmisch the Zugspitze gets all the attention because it’s the tallest peak in Germany, but for families I think going up to Kruezeck is a better choice. There’s two restaurants up there and one has a great playground! It’s also less expensive than the Zugspitze and has several hiking trail options.
Another option in the area is to stay across the border in Ehrwald or Lermoos, Austria and have equally stunning mountain views but with less of the tourist crowds than Garmisch sees.
The trips on our bucket list are…
A safari trip. I think it would be jaw-dropping to see lions, elephants, cheetahs, giraffes, etc. in the wild. Also Greece! We’ve been traveling Europe for a while and still haven’t made it there. I can’t wait to eat all the Greek salads and sit by the gorgeous water!
We decide where to travel by…
Well, tith the current travel environment, we are still sticking with mostly road trips. We look at the time we have available and pick a destination that’s within a reasonable driving distance. We have a running list of places we’d like to see. It only seems to get longer with the more traveling we do instead of shorter.
Oftentimes it’s based on where we can find a good deal or just where the opportunity comes up. We have piggybacked on quite a few of my husband’s work trips. Sometimes that opens your eyes to places you wouldn’t have thought to go.
If you want to take quick trips with little kids…
Be flexible, build in downtime and playtime, be generous with treats.
My best family-travel hack is…
Arrive at places when they open. It’s worth the early wake up to beat the crowds.
Families who want to travel like us should…
Start small and build up. Start with a day trip, then go on a weekend away, then pick a longer trip further away. It can seem like a lot of work or even overwhelming, but the more you do it, the more you will figure out your family’s travel style and what works for you.
It doesn’t always have to be international trips or even long flights away to go and enjoy a new place together. The important thing is that you are getting out, trying something new, and spending time together.
Finally with kids, don’t overschedule yourself. Plan one or two big things to do each day and. The rest is for taking your time, snacks, pictures, and playtime.
Our must-have travel gear is…
Camera, packing cubes, backpack diaper bag, portable chargers for phones.
The best travel advice I ever got was…
You’ll never regret taking the trip.
I would love to see travel be less about…
Country counting and more about experiences. I’m not a fan of saying “We did Italy. We did Croatia, etc.,” because it implies checking the box and moving on. We can visit places multiple times and it only enriches our experiences.
I want my kids to learn that…
There are many ways to live and things to be appreciated about all different places. There is no one “right” way. I want them to be able to see outside of their own little bubble and recognize differences. There’s always something to learn.
On the other side of that, I want them to recognize the immense privileges they have as Americans. Going away from home makes you appreciate things you may have taken for granted before. We are very lucky, I want them to realize that and find ways to use their privilege to help others.
My favorite apps are…
Google Maps and Instagram have been my most used lately. Instagram for inspiration and connecting with others who have been to the places we want to go. Google Maps for practical reasons such as researching drive times, finding nearby restaurants, looking for parking, etc.
Other families can learn more about us by…
Following us on Instagram at @abroadwife and checking out our website, abroadwife.com!
