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Creating a visual guidebook of things to do with children in tow all over the world.

 
 
Today is our wedding anniversary! I’m glad to be married to someone who knows that a good marriage takes effort and is willing to put in the work. Six years later and I still can’t wait for tomorrow, next year, the rest of our lives, and eternity with you! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Also, if you find yourself in Oakland, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saint’s temple on the hill is worth a look. Obviously it has a ton of emotional significance for us because it's where we got married, but it's also just an amazing architectural landmark with beautiful gardens. See if you can catch the sunset from here because the views of the city from the top are unreal! Open 9 am-9 pm daily, parking and admission are free. #getglobetrottingtemples #getglobetrottingbayarea @shermanchuphotographer
Did you know I have 7 older siblings? They are all just as into traveling, history, and mostly fun as I am. My sister Celia is in charge of The Tabernacle of Moses in Antioch CA this weekend. The ancient tabernacle was basically a portable ornate temple of God. The Israelites packed up and transported the tabernacle with them on their journey through the wilderness as chronicled in the book of Exodus. My sister has assisted in setting up a life-size, interactive re-creation of the ancient tabernacle. You’ll also find exhibits on the historical and cultural significance of this important building. Will be especially interesting for those who identify as Jews, Muslims, or Christians and those who are interested in religious history. Plus you can meet her and get a guided tour! Kid-friendly, museum is outside. If you’re not in California, watch for this exhibit coming to your area! It travels, just as it did in the olden days. 🕍⛪️🕌 Address: 2530 Jeffery Way, Brentwood CA 94513. Parking: park in the big lot adjacent to the exhibit. Hours: 10 am-9 pm Oct 18-20, 3 pm- 9 pm Oct 21, message @heyceliafae and mention Get Globetrotting for a free guided tour. Admission is free. #getglobetrottingsfbayarea
We love the Bruder Truck Factory! This place is like a toy library. The shelves are loaded with scale replicas of every vehicle a toddler could imagine. Your child picks one out and they get to “test” it in the Toy Test Area. I always try to nudge our kid toward the ambulances but his favorite is the giant working garbage truck. You can switch your vehicle out every 10 minutes. Best of all, the entire endeavor is free! To get there, follow Inglewood Blvd from the 405 in Hawthorne. Turn on 145th street and it’s the industrial building at the end of the cul-de-sac. Park in the lot to the left of the entrance. The showroom is open 9-5 on weekdays. #getglobetrottingsouthbayla #getglobetrottingla
As we travel, we try to find activities that define the communities we visit. Manhattan Beach Hometown fair is one such event in our community. During the first week of October every year, Valley Drive hosts booths staffed by small business owners. For us, it’s a chance to see the beauty of our favorite places through the eyes of local artists. Every time Alex and I go we are tempted to blow our budget on the photographs and paintings of our regular beach spots. This year we got to visit my friend Laurie’s @personalspacemb booth. She travels to Asia to search out talented designers. They work together to market the designer’s modern upscale furniture pieces in the US. I want it all for my house one day when I don’t have a toddler that will smear popsicle on all available surfaces. The MB Hometown Fair runs today and tomorrow from 10-5. We found metered parking easily behind the library, but there is also a free shuttle that runs from the Northrop Grumman Space Park parking lot on Marine. #getglobetrottingLA #getglobetrottingsouthbayLA
I’m a sucker for good historical fiction. Yesterday I attended the Hollywood premiere for the movie Jane and Emma. I got to walk the red carpet which was a new experience for me. According to my screenwriter friend @lulupacker14 it is actually easy for normal people to do if they are subscribed to the right email lists. More on that in a subsequent post. The movie was about Jane Manning James, one of my heroes since I learned about her in my church history class at BYU. She lived from 1813-1906 and was a woman of staggering faith. At the beginning of her faith journey she walked from Connecticut to Illinois after being refused passage on a ship because of the color of her skin. She was welcomed by the prophet Joseph Smith himself. She had a close friendship with Joseph, his wife Emma, and his mother Lucy, defying customs of the time. She lived in their house until Joseph’s death and was treated like family. Jane’s journal reflected Joseph Smith defending her against racism from both church members and non-church members. Those who knew her spoke of her determination and faith. The movie focused on the relationship between Jane and Emma and it was unlike any church movie I’ve ever seen. First off, it is the only religious film about women by women. It showed the humanity of historical figures that I respect, simultaneously knocking them off their pedestal and increasing my admiration for them. Most importantly, it started a conversation that needs to be had in the Mormon church (and in America!) about how to begin to repair past sins of marginalizing minorities and women. If you’d like to see the movie, it premieres in SLC on Oct 12th and then goes to select theaters around the USA. #getglobetrottingla #getglobetrottinggirlpower
The Coco soundtrack is on repeat at our home by toddler request. I love that it teaches about the importance of eternal family bonds and that death is not to be feared. Every time our child sees a skeleton or skull Halloween decoration, he is excited and says “Coco Mama!” instead of being scared. So when we heard about the Coco exhibit and show at Disney’s California Adventure from we had to go! To see the show, enter DCA and head toward Plaza de la Familia which is near Jumping Jellyfish and Goofy’s Sky Coaster. If you want a front row seat you’ll need to be seated on the yellow line 30-40 minutes before showtime. We rotated and one person walked our toddler around Plaza de la Familia while the other held our spots. Shows are every hour from 3-7 pm until Nov 4th. Have you seen Coco? It’s on Netflix! #getglobetrottingdisney #getglobetrottingla
The Proud Bird is a funky food bazaar in the path of LAX’s landing strip. You dine with an up-close view of huge jets making their final descents, hypnotizing toddlers and adults alike. The retro decor makes you feel like you stepped into a time when people dressed up for air travel. The interior features rotating exhibits chronicling the history of aerospace in the area. Outside there’s a huge courtyard dotted with old-fashioned planes for aviation geeks to admire. We recently had our child’s birthday party here because he is obsessed with airplanes. I was expecting to pay about USD $200 to rent a room. When I called their event planners they suggested we hold the party in the dining area due to our party’s small size. The staff was welcome and helpful the day of the party. After making us two massive pans of bacon and eggs the total came out to only USD $40 for everything. Hooray for parties where kids and parents can have fun without breaking the budget. #getglobetrottingla #getglobetrottingsouthbayla
In our last home exchange how-to post I will delve into how to be the best guest possible. This will come easily to those who have used Airbnb. When you arrive, crawl around at your child’s height and move anything breakable. Text your hosts when you get there and when you check out. It’s ok to contact them occasionally if you have any questions. However, do not contact them every hour for obvious stuff (look for the blow dryer a few places before asking). Keep in mind that not everyone lives exactly as you and that’s part of the fun of swapping! 🏡↔️🏡 When you’re getting ready to leave, replace anything you ate that they didn’t specifically say you could eat or leave a bit of cash to cover the cost. Practice LNT or leave no trace by sweeping, washing dishes, emptying trash, and generally picking up. No need to scrub everything down, but make sure it looks welcoming when they get home from their trip. Lastly, we always look for a small gift and write a short thank you note. You learn a bit about people staying in their home. We try to use this knowledge to choose a gift that will be meaningful to them. Our very first home swap guest left us a succulent. She could tell I love succulents because I have them everywhere! I keep it by my kitchen sink so I can see it as I perform my daily tasks of motherhood. It reminds me that we don’t have to have unlimited money, quit our 9-5 jobs, or leave our child to take a dream vacation. The world is open to us through home exchanging! 🏡↔️🏡 Although I’ve finished home swapping guide, I am available to respond to any questions you may still have in the comments. #getglobetrottinghomeexchange
You’ve found a swap! It’s time to get ready to host your guests. This is the “work” part of home swapping but it gets easier every time you do it. Feel free to bookmark this checklist and refer to it in the future as you prep your home. 🏡↔️🏡 Things to do once to ensure smooth swapping: 1) Install outdoor security cameras and a security system you can control from your phone. This is optional, but it’s really nice to see the right people as they come and go. 2) Purchase guest-only sheets, towels, shampoo/conditioner, and a key lockbox. 3) Type up a comprehensive guide of your home and area. Include your WiFi password, pet/plant instructions, nearby grocery stores, and your favorite things to do in the area. 🏡↔️🏡 One month out: 1) Purge all unused clutter and take to Goodwill. 2) Finish up all ongoing DIY projects. You don’t have to have everything perfect, but nobody wants to stay in a half-painted room. 3) Prep yard (pull weeds, check sprinkler system etc). 🏡↔️🏡 One week before: 1) Tell neighbors about upcoming swap. Our neighbors love meeting the people from different places. It’s also nice to have a trusted set of eyes on your house. 2) Deep clean your home or hire a cleaner to do it. 3) Work on eating through the perishable food in your fridge. I’m excellent at this one. 🏡↔️🏡 One day before: 1) Put all underwear and personal items you don’t want guests using in a box. We use the same box we keep the guest linens in to make coming home easy. Lock it up or give it to a neighbor/family member. 2) Clear out 1-2 drawers per expected guest and make a bit of closet space. No need to empty every drawer or closet. Tip: combine drawers after removing what you’re packing for your trip. 3) Clear out one shelf in the fridge and one shelf in the bathroom. 🏡↔️🏡 Day of: 1) Pick up the house one last time. 2) Put guest sheets on the bed. Set out towels, shampoo/conditioner, your welcome packet, and (optional) a small food gift to welcome them to your home. 3) Place key in lockbox or in your predetermined location. Some swappers mail their guests a key or welcome them in person. 🏡↔️🏡 What else would you add to the list? #getglobetrottinghomeexchange
You’ve got your listing set up, it’s time to take the leap and start contacting people. Home swapping is like dating. If you don’t take initiative, nothing’s ever going to happen! You can scope out the listings you like and message them. Or you can cast your net wide by contacting multiple listings at once. I craft a short personal message with a little information about my family, the reason for my trip, and what I like about their region. Message houses outside the city center. Message everyone! I don’t generally look at the listings in-depth unless they answer in the affirmative. I would estimate it takes an average of 15-20 messages to find a match; more if you have set dates. Ask about seasons (i.e. would you like to swap sometime in the summer versus July 1-7). When someone responds positively, don’t confirm right away. Start a conversation. Just like dating, communication is key. Talk about everything. Move on if you can’t agree on something or you get a bad feeling. Continue this until you’ve found the right match. After you’ve found your dream swap, don’t forget to “break up” with all the other people you’ve messaged! Tell them you’ve found an exchange but thank them for their interest. Another parallel to dating: have fun! Be patient and keep trying until something works out. The worst they’re going to say is no. #getglobetrottinghomeexchange #getglobetrottingaustria
This week I am going to take you through setting up a desirable listing, finding swaps, preparing your home for guests, proper etiquette during the exchange, and tips for making a graceful exit. 🏡↔️🏡 IG, journalism, and home swapping all have one thing in common: a picture is worth a thousand words. Clean your house (no need to stash absolutely everything, having some toys visible may be a selling point!) and take accurate pictures in good light. I would use an iPhone 7 or later or a DSLR camera. Borrow from a friend if you don’t have one. A home in a mediocre location will become a hot commodity with professional looking pictures. Next, think of your favorite things about your home and write a short paragraph about them. Be honest! One of the worst things you can do as a swapper is set people up for a castle when really you have a cottage. Most swappers are not in it for luxury, but to see how locals really live. Instead, talk about the charm of your home and how close it is to your favorite restaurant or activity (such as a home exchanger did with the waterfall in the picture). Try to succinctly communicate the vibe of your area and why you like it. Feel free to practice in the comments! #getglobetrottinghomeexchange #getglobetrottingswitzerland
Photo from our NYC home exchange when we pretended to be a trendy little Brooklyn family for a week. Can you tell we favor exchanges with backyards? Our favorite paid platform is @homeexchangecom . We’ve done most of our exchanges through them. The best part about this platform is how fancy the houses are. Many listings are second vacation homes. Yes please! It’s USD 150/year to have an active listing which I figure is comparable to one hotel stay for unlimited vacations. I like this platform because people are responsive and you can message multiple listings at once. They have the options for reciprocal swaps, non-reciprocal swaps, and a balloon system. One balloon=one stay, doesn’t matter how long or the size/location of the home. These balloons are really useful bargaining chips. Everyone is stoked to get one so it’s easy to make a swap as soon as you earn a balloon by hosting someone else. The only downside to Home Exchange is that there isn’t a great system for rating listings. Where is the top location you want to try home swapping? #getglobetrottingnyc #getglobetrottinghomeexchange
We researched a ton of home exchange platforms before deciding on the two that we use. Today I will be talking about Guest to Guest, our favorite free home exchange network. This photo is from our best Guest to Guest stay so far. This platform offers three different kinds of stays: reciprocal, non-reciprocal (you and your host stay in each other’s homes at different times) and stays for points. When you make your booking, you pay a safety deposit which your host returns to you at the end of your stay. Guest to Guest keeps a small percentage of the deposit which is how the website makes money. Ours ended up being $30 for a 5 day stay. Things I like about this platform: easy to earn points (you get a ton for just signing up), fair user rating tools (similar to Airbnb), and it has the most listings of any home exchange network. One downside of Guest to Guest is that because the platform is free, there are a ton of inactive listings. However it’s easy to sort these out using the search filters. Have you ever tried Guest to Guest? What did you think? #getglobetrottinghomeexchange #getglobetrottingtraveltips
Who can home swap? You likely first think of someone who owns a home in a popular vacation location. While those people will certainly have a very easy time finding swaps, the truth is most listings don’t fit that criteria. If you are a renter, the first step would be to check with your landlord. Most of the places we have stayed have been rented apartments. Next, think about why you live where you do. Are you close to culture or nature? If you’re just a short train ride away from San Francisco, wouldn’t it be fun to swap with someone who is a short train ride away from Paris? What about someone in a city center that might want to stay in your country home to get away from it all? Are you near any colleges? One of our home swaps was with a grandmother visiting her grandson at college. If you’re in Utah, people always want to go there to visit family or ski. In summary, every area has something to offer. Tell me why you love where you live in the comments! #getglobetrottinghomeexchange #getglobetrottingtraveltips
This week I will be sharing a step-by-step guide on how to execute a successful home swap. First up: what is home swapping? It’s exactly what it sounds like! You stay in someone’s home and they stay in yours. No money is exchanged. You are expected to take care of their house as your own which can includes watering plants and feeding pets as needed. You have a free private place to stay in a new location and get to experience life as a temporary local. My goal for this account is to help families remove their barriers to travel. Home swapping makes traveling more affordable and comfortable for us, thereby allowing us to travel more frequently. Comment/DM your burning questions about home swapping so I can be sure to cover them. 🏡 ↔️ 🏡 #getglobetrottinghomeexchange #getglobetrottingtraveltips
We don’t drink alcohol, so while we may not savor any regional wine as we travel we do taste the local chocolate. Every time we see a new bar, we sample and discuss. My clear winner was Demel’s. This famed chocolate shop, rumored to be Empress Sisi’s favorite, is worth a visit for the decor alone. Free to visit and the bars range from 3-10 euros. Best money we spent in Austria! #getglobetrottingaustria #getglobetrottingvienna
I learned so much on the Imperial Apartment Tour! This museum is actually 3 museums in one, a collection of the royal dishes, an exhibit on Sisi’s life, and then the actual tour of the palace. It takes about 2 hours to complete with the necessary audio guide. With less time or with small children, skip the dishes rooms. The museum is shoulder-to-shoulder midday, so come when it opens or just before close. Cost: 13.90 euros, discounts for students and kids under 19, free for kids under 6. 👑 👑 👑 For some reason, the only Habsburg that gets press is Empress Sisi. Her picture is in every gift shop. Lauded as the “most beautiful woman in Europe,” she was chosen by Emperor Franz Joseph to be his bride. 16-year-old Sisi unintentionally stole the emperor’s attention away from her sister who was his original intended match. 👑 👑 👑 Her life started out pretty normal for a royal, popping out babies to get a male heir, doing leisurely court activities to keep boredom at bay, attending balls and state dinners etc. But somewhere things started to get weird. Sisi became withdrawn and obsessed with her beauty. She began using extensive beauty regimens (3+ hrs per day) to maintain her youthful appearance and limiting her food intake while increasing her exercise. After the suicide of her adult son, she completely withdrew from Vienna and her family. She traveled extensively until she was ultimately assassinated by an Italian anarchist at age 60. 👑 👑 👑 Though I thoroughly enjoyed the museum and the book I read on Sisi’s life, I find the obsession with her perplexing and indicative of the society we live in. I got the impression that Sisi had a tragic life, struggled with depression/disordered eating, and ultimately did not contribute much to politics other than the Austria-Hungary unification. I was a little disturbed by the life-size model of her trim waist in the museum. Where are Maria Theresa’s museums, gripping novels, and Hollywood movies (see previous post for bio on Maria Theresa)? What are we saying we value about women by choosing this monarch in particular to focus on? Would love to hear your view on the matter! #getglobetrottingvienna #getglobetrottingaustria
I kept waiting to grow out of my obsession with princesses, queens, and empresses. Eventually I gave up resisting, leaned into my fascination, and learned about as many of these women as I can. There are a ton of historical museums in Vienna. We zeroed in on two: the Imperial Treasury and the Imperial Apartment Tour. Traveling with kids is all about figuring what is the most important thing to see, instead of trying (and failing) to see everything! The Hapsburgs sure collected a lot of shiny prizes and you can see them all (12 euros for adults, free for kids under 19, closed on Tuesdays). 👑 👑 👑 My two favorite Hapsburgs I learned about in Vienna were Empress Sisi and Empress Maria Theresa. Both are fascinating historical figures, but Maria Theresa won out as my favorite. A rival monarch remarked regarding Maria Theresa “When at last the Hapsburgs get a great man, it’s a woman” 👑 👑 👑 She ruled for 40 years (1740-1780) and had 16 children. That means she was either pregnant or had a newborn the whole time she was in power! She married her kids off (including Marie Antionette) to various royal families, greatly assisting in the Austrian Empire’s international relations. She also reformed education so that every child (both genders) was required to attend school from ages 6-12. 👑 👑 👑 My favorite fact about her is that she was among the first to get her children inoculated against smallpox, setting a precedent as royals generally do. She threw a dinner in the palace for the first 65 kids inoculated against smallpox and waited on them herself. Tomorrow I’ll tell you about The Imperial Apartment Tour and associated Empress Sisi Museum! #getglobetrottingvienna #getglobetrottingaustria #getglobetrottingcastles
Taking a break from my Vienna City Guide today to talk a little bit about my own country. We visited the 9/11 memorial on a NYC trip pre-children. I thought it was really well done. I felt the magnitude of the tragedy looking into the chasm where the towers used to be. I remembered going to 5th grade on 9/11/2001, just barely old enough to fully understand how terrible these events were. As I noticed all the American flags flying at half mast today, I thought about everything America has suffered through together and how we have responded. Even though I love traveling and experiencing other cultures and I’m quite embarrassed by our current president, I am proud to be an American. What were you doing when you heard about the terrorist attacks? Memorial is free to visit, the adjacent museums cost $24. #getglobetrottingnyc
Most of Vienna’s historic buildings and museums lie within the Ringstrasse, a 5 km/3.2 mi circular road. We downloaded a free Rick Steve’s audio walking tour of all the historic buildings and monuments. It took about 1.5 hours excluding all the breaks we took to let our baby run around. The tour started and ended at the magnificent Opera House. Though we didn’t try to brave a show with a rowdy toddler, we did go home and watch the scene in Mission Impossible where they rappel down the side. Basically the same thing right? #getglobetrottingvienna #getglobetrottingaustria