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

 
 
He’s obsessed with his new space shuttle from Grandpa. He played with it throughout our favorite LA museum! #getglobetrottingla
Got some new people here, so I thought I’d take a second to tell you what Get Globetrotting is all about. We are Alex, Camille, and Lorenzo. We are a normal family with a house, cats, one 9-5 job, and a budget, yet we still manage to travel frequently. We cut costs by exchanging our home with other families and meticulously planning cheap/free kid-friendly itineraries. I (Camille) post about our adventures here and I always try to include tips to help other families recreate the fun we had. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦✈️🌎 Once a month I release a free downloadable e-book that contains our 7 day itinerary for a particular city. It’s a full trip planned out for you with tons of details like how to manage the transit system, interactive maps, a total cost estimate per person, a movie/book prep list, baby backpack versus stroller, the history behind each attraction, awesome playgrounds, and more. My goal is to become the Rick Steves for people with kids! #rickstevessuperfan 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦✈️🌎 This month’s Trip Plan is London With Kids and it’s nearly ready! Soon it will be available for download from my website along with previous month’s Trip Plans to San Francisco and Paris. I hope to complete 12 plans for travel with kids this year. My working list: Rome, Barcelona, SLC, NYC, San Diego, LA, Austin, Seattle, and maybe Disneyland! Which cities should I add to the list? #getglobetrottingstory #getglobetrottingla
What resource do I use the most when planning trips? Other moms of course! Here are some of my favorite traveling moms from around the world. .⠀ .⠀ @mominzurich 🇨🇭 @glampfam 🇨🇦⠀ @therayslovetoroam 🇧🇪 @daleyfamilytravels 🇫🇷⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ #familytravel #globetrotting #travelfamily #familytraveller #kidstravel #wearetravelmums
Happy Valentine’s Day to the man who always watches High School Musical with me when I’m sick, who is a sucker for Lorenzo asking for “one more story, Dada?” over and over at bedtime, who happily does the dishes every night, who never resents me for locking my keys in the car or losing my credit cards, who can clean up a home exchange in the time it takes me to shower and get ready for the day, who arranges his work schedule to make sure I can keep working as a nurse, and who is always thinking of new ways to keep the romance alive after nearly 8 years together. Married with a kid romance is different than movie romance but it’s also so much deeper. #getglobetrottingstory @shermanchuphotographer
How do you make places like Hampton Court Palace come alive? Well, costumes help (they let you borrow them for free from the Information desk) but you also need to get to know the people who lived there. Hampton Court’s most famous occupant was King Henry VIII. He was married 6 times and completely changed England's religious affiliation in order to do so. 💍🏰🤴 Henry's first marriage was to Catherine of Aragon. He and Catherine were married for 24 years during which she was pregnant 6 times. Tragically, only one of the babies lived, a girl named Mary. Henry's eye began to wander. The mistresses he impregnated bore him bastards, but none of these children would be legitimate heirs unless they were born within the bonds of marriage. 💍🏰🤴 Henry became interested in Anne Boleyn. Anne turned him down until he agreed to pursue a divorce with Catherine so that they could be wed legally. She was not about to be cast aside like his other mistresses. Henry petitioned the Pope to cancel his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. The Pope saw right through him and rejected his petition. Henry became obsessed with finding a way to divorce Catherine and secure his marriage to Anne Boylen. 💍🏰🤴 After additional petitions to the Pope, Henry decided to sever ties with the Roman Catholic church and start his own church. This decision didn't just involve him, it also involved ALL of England changing religions. Henry got his way and he and Anne were married. Anne gave birth to a girl, Elizabeth. She then gave birth to a stillborn boy, and surprise surprise, Henry got tired of her too and set his eyes on Jane Seymour. 💍🏰🤴 Henry charged Anne with high treason, incest, and adultery instead of divorcing her. She was beheaded at The Tower of London after being married to Henry for just 2 years and 11 months. He then went to marry 4 more women over 7 years! For the rest of the story and more like it, see our free London With Kids Trip Plan, coming out at the end of the week. I sent @therayslovetoroam a sneak peek and they’re testing it out for me this week so check out her stories! #getglobetrottinglondon #getglobetrottingcastles
Before I became a mom and throughout pregnancy, I always heard the same refrain “After you have kids you won’t want to ______.” Fill in the blank with any activity you may enjoy, exercising, sleeping, reading, traveling, hanging out with your spouse, the list goes on. It added to my already sizable fear of having children. But when we took the plunge and became parents, guess what, we were the same person with the same interests! All those warnings about how things would change forgot to include how much things were going to change for the better. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦✈️🌎 We travel together as a family because it strengthens our marriage, because our status as parents didn’t change our passions, and because exposing ourselves and our children to other cultures makes us all better people. I write Trip Plans and share HOW we travel regularly because I want to help other parents maintain their identities all while raising amazing kids. Our family is #strongerthroughtravel and I hope we can help your family be the same! #getglobetrottingstory
I’ve already started writing the London With Kids Trip Plan. I’ve been surprised by how quickly this city is coming together, mainly because I don’t have to look things up as often. Royalty, theater, Shakespeare, chocolate, and Harry Potter all come pretty easily to me. So far I’ve written the history of 4 different eras of royals without needing to consult any resources. Finally a place for all the slightly useless knowledge I’ve accumulated about princesses! 👑🇬🇧☕️ My first trip to London was when I was 16. It was my first trip outside of North America. I went to visit my sister who had just finished there. She handed me a book on Anne Boleyn, toured me around the palaces, and had me try every candy bar. That trip had a big impression on me. I returned when I was 20 for a London Theater Study Abroad during which we studied Shakespeare and saw 3-4 plays per week. I was the only nursing major among some rad theater majors, many of whom I still keep in contact with. When Alex was job hunting after he finished grad school, I applied to job after job in London for him, sometimes without his knowledge. I settled for returning when I was pregnant so I could show Alex everything I love about London. 👑🇬🇧☕️ I’m attempting to capture everything my sister told me that made London come alive and made international travel a lifelong fascination so I can pass it on to the next generation. So far, it’s a mix of biographies of powerful royal women, London history, markets/parks, and a ton of HP landmarks. Have you been to London? What was your favorite thing you did there? #getglobetrottinglondon
Been feeling blah lately, but booking our next trip lifted my spirits! We found 3 home exchanges in Spain. We will start in Barcelona, then hit Granada and end in Seville. It was SO much easier to find exchanges with #newhomeexchange since our two favorite platforms merged. There are way more options than before and nearly all listings accept Guest Points. None of our exchanges are simultaneous this time. We are using the Guest Points we earned last year hosting families from around the world. Hooray for nearly free trips! What are some things we need to see in Barcelona, Seville, and Granada? We may also day-trip to Madrid, so any recs there are also appreciated. #getglobetrottingspain #getglobetrottingseattle
My free Paris With Kids Trip Plan is live on the website! With one download, all your vacation planning is DONE. Here’s what’s included: Detailed Itinerary: 7 days in Paris, presented in a fun way to engage both kids and parents. Includes handy playgrounds, Metro stops, and tried and tested tips from travel parents to help you gain confidence as you see the world with your little ones. Booking List: A checklist with links to everything that requires advance reservations. The only page to read before your trip. Photo Scavenger Hunt: Find and snap creative pictures across Paris. Upload them to social media and tag #wegotglobetrotting . I designed the photo challenges specifically for teenagers and slightly immature parents. Airport Guide: How to get to and from the airport without accidentally spending your kid's college tuition. Transit Guide: From the Metro to UBER to Velib, your guide to how to get around the City of Light. Also includes pros and cons to bringing a stroller versus a baby backpack. Where to Stay: Vetted Airbnbs, hotels and VRBOs in the best neighborhoods for families. Prep List: Fun books and movies to get you and your kids pumped for your trip. Budget Snapshot:  Estimated total cost of food and activities per person for 7 days. Excellent for convincing your spouse you actually CAN afford this trip. Home Exchange: Bonus Guide to Traveling the World for FREE! Next up, London and then Rome! #getglobetrottingparis
After a lot of thought, I decided to make all the e-books I’m creating this year free. I needed to mentally separate my hobbies and my jobs. I am a part-time ER nurse and full-time mother so I don’t need any more jobs! Every effort I put into this Get Globetrotting hobby of mine should be something I enjoy and frankly marketing and self-promotion are the worst. I LOVE seeing new places, writing, and helping other families achieve their travel goals so that’s what I’m going to focus on. 🇫🇷🥐🎠 The Paris With Kids Trip Plan will be live on my website on Sunday. I hear there is some sort of sporting event happening that day, so you should have plenty of time to read it. If you do any of the activities I’ve written about, use #wegotglobetrotting or tag me! If your account is private, send it to me so I’ll see it. Seeing families out there making memories together is really the best payment there is. #getglobetrottingparis
A little late to the #10yearchallenge but 10 years ago I was a nerdy teenager obsessed with Harry Potter and traveling. Not much has changed besides the addition of a tiny Muggle. #getglobetrottingla
Tips for tackling the Louvre with kids: go fast! We did the whole thing in an hour with a baby in a stroller. Chances are if you’re here with kids, you’re an avid traveler and will be back one day. Aim for three art pieces: The Mona Lisa, Winged Victory, and Venus de Milo. I also like the furniture rooms in the left wing, but your kids may not be interested. Use the secret museum pass holders entrance to the left of the pyramid when you’re facing the museum. Let your kids spend ample time running in the Tuileries park just outside of the Louvre as one component of the museum is the amazing architecture! If you have teens, have them watch the Beyonce/Jay-Z music video filmed in the Louvre go up the cool factor of the museum. Watch with the sound off if swearing bothers you. Anyone got any other tips for managing the Louvre with kids?#getglobetrottingparis
Really enjoying this month at home! Alex and I bonded over our mutual love of the beach. We went to a beach party on one of our first few dates. We spent the first few years of our marriage surfing together in Santa Cruz. When Alex had a job interview in LA we walked out on Manhattan Beach Pier, looked around, then looked at each other and decided “Yup, we live here now.” One thing that’s great about LA beaches in particular is that they are connected by paved paths. We frequently walk run and bike on these paths, but my favorite days are the days we strollerblade. #getglobetrottingLA #getglobetrottingsouthbayla
Five reasons why Paris is a good choice for your first international trip with kids: 1. There are playgrounds, carousels, or sandboxes near every major landmark/ museum. 2. Kids under 18 are free at most museums including the Louvre. 3. The food is pretty safe, even if you have the pickiest of eaters. 4. Most of the best stuff to do is outside, such as strolling pretty streets and exploring parks. 5. There are lots of Paris kid’s books and movies to get your kids excited for your trip. I have a list of them in my Trip Plan. 🇫🇷🥐🎠 Putting the finishing touches on my free Paris Trip Plan! The only thing left to assemble is the Accommodation Guide. Anyone have any fantastic Parisian Airbnbs/hotels for those who aren’t ready to try home exchanging? #getglobetrottingparis
Our favorite part of Versailles was The Queen’s Hamlet. This is a Disney-level fake farm with animals and everything. To understand why a palace has a fake farm, you have to understand a bit about Marie Antionette. ⛲️☀️🍰 There have been many interpretations of Marie Antionette throughout history. Some show her as a spoiled brat, trying on shoes and responding to complaints of her subjects having no food by responding "Let them eat cake!" By the way, it's debated whether or not she actually said that. ⛲️☀️🍰 I prefer to think of her as a tragic figure stuck in a loveless marriage and constantly scrutinized by the public. Really, nobody will ever know for sure exactly what motivated her or really how much influence she actually had over what was going on in her country. ⛲️☀️🍰 Marie Antionette built a little farm behind her private palace called The Queen’s Hamlet. She missed country life so she would hang out on her fake farm and pretend to be a peasant. The farm evokes images of a fairytale with all the little waterwheels and streams. So there were real actual peasants struggling to live while Marie Antionette used their money to pretend to be a peasant struggling to live. You begin to see the problem? ⛲️☀️🍰 Before long, the French Revolution was in full swing. The people were angry and beheading nobility left and right with a new French invention called a guillotine. The Royal family was at the top of everyone's list. They tried to flee Versailles, but were captured. After a stint in prison, Louis XVI, Marie Antionette, and their two children were all beheaded. Marie Antionette's last words were apologizing to the executioner for stepping on his foot. ⛲️☀️🍰 This is an excerpt from my free Paris With Kids Trip Plan. It includes: a 7-day itinerary, suggestions for places to stay, a map of kid-friendly restaurants, a budget snapshot, and embarrassing stories such as how I thought the Hunchback was real. I’m hopeful it will be ready this week or next! #getglobetrottingparis
Versailles is a surprisingly amazing place for kids. Really all palaces are. They're just fancy buildings dropped in the middle of huge parks. ⛲️☀️🍰 In order to fully appreciate Versailles, you have to get to know two King Louis’s. King Louis XIV built Versailles. They called him The Sun King, hence all the suns all over the palace. He used this palace to cement his place as the one and only ruler of France. ⛲️☀️🍰 Before Louis XIV came into power, there were lots of tiny kingdoms ruled by minor leaders all over France (feudalism). Louis moved these leaders to Versailles and gave them free reign to live and party in his palace. The minor leaders were distracted with their new lives of leisure, leaving all the power and politics to Louis. He holds the record for the longest reign in Europe at 72 years! ⛲️☀️🍰 During his reign, France was the leading European power. He outlived most of his successors, so he turned the kingdom over to his grandson Louis XVI. Louis XVI was not the man his grandfather was. He didn't have Louis XIV’s charisma or war knowledge. He also inherited a country that was growing increasingly unhappy with the wealth disparity at a time when monarchies were losing power and favor. ⛲️☀️🍰 Well, problems be darned, Louis XVI continued to live his grandfather's life of luxury. His family arranged for him to marry Austrian Princess Marie Antionette, daughter of Maria Theresa of the Hofburg line. More on her tomorrow! ⛲️☀️🍰 This is an excerpt from my free Paris With Kids Trip Plan. It includes: a 7-day itinerary, suggestions for places to stay, a map of kid-friendly restaurants, and embarrassing stories such as how I thought the Hunchback was real. I’m hopeful it will be ready this week or next! #getglobetrottingparis
There are moments that make all the difficult portions of parenting worth it. Watching Lorenzo and Alex geek out over the Space Shuttle Endeavor at the LA Science Museum was one of them. Alex wanted to wear his astronaut costume too, but he decided against it. 🚀💫🛰 There’s just something about space exploration that makes me proud to be a human. All this effort to explore space is fueled purely by curiosity and requires a fair amount of international cooperation. I wonder what discoveries Lorenzo will witness during his lifetime. I hope he continues to get just as excited about them as his dad does. 🚀💫🛰 The California Science Center: free. Parking: $12. Space Shuttle exhibit: $8. The website says you need to make reservations online but both times we’ve gone, there have been plenty of tickets. #getglobetrottingla
The next three Budget Family Travel Guidebooks I’ll be compiling will be Paris, London, and Rome. I’ve planned trips for families to each of these cities, traveled to them multiple times, and even lived in one for a summer! These three European cities are destinations you can return to again and again throughout your life, so why not while you have kids at home? 🇫🇷🥐🎠 I’m going to work on Paris first because it holds a special place in my heart as the first place we attempted to travel internationally with a baby. It was here that we realized that child-rearing and traveling didn’t have to be mutually exclusive! When the Guidebook is done, it will be available for free on my website along with a Trip Plan which is an entire trip planned out in advance for you. I can’t wait to get started, but I need your help! What are your favorite kid-friendly things to do in Paris? Where are your favorite places to eat in The City of Light? #getglobetrottingparis
We went to The Reptile Zoo just outside of Seattle today! It was kind of out of the way and it was a small building, but it was so cool! We got to see pythons, tarantulas, and a massive snapping turtle. The cages were stacked on top of one another so you could get up close and personal with every animal. Most of the cages were right at Lorenzo’s level. 🐍🦎🐢 My friend Melissa who lives in Seattle recommended the reptile zoo to us. She loves snakes and told me she actually attempted to work here but they aren’t hiring. Apparently she’s loved snakes since her dad took her and her twin sister on a snake capturing expedition to Peru when they were 10. By contrast, I am very afraid. A zoo keeper dropped something while I was looking at the anaconda and I screamed and tried to run out of the museum because I thought the snake was escaping. Cost: $9.95/adult, 7.95/5-17, $6.50/3-5, under 3 free. The museum is located in Monroe, Washington east of Seattle. #getglobetrottingseattle
We knocked most of the Seattle tourist attractions off our list yesterday! My favorite spot was Pike’s Place Market. I was expecting a Pier 39 gimmicky tourist feel, but it really is a market with merchants selling food in stalls. We had a ton of fun watching the guys throw fish and sampling all the different food for sale. Apparently there has been a market in this spot for over 100 years! 🐟🐟🐟 We ventured around the corner to the gum wall. I was just thinking that the gum wall couldn’t possibly get any more disgusting when Lorenzo threw up all over it. Sorry Seattle. So today we are home nursing a sick baby. Praying for a quick recovery so that we can continue to see more of this beautiful city! #getglobetrottingseattle