Meggie - Parks Family Travel

Are you ready to discover Wrangell-St. Elias National Park: America's Largest and Wildest Park?! Wrangell-St. Elias National Park in Alaska offers unparalleled wilderness, towering peaks, and rich history, making it a must-visit for adventure seekers. 🗺️ Save this post for your next trip to Wrangell-St. Elias National Park for easy access to these tips. 📍 Cities to Stay: McCarthy (inside the park), Chitina (60 miles), Copper Center (90 miles) ✈ How to Get There: The nearest major airport is Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC), about 300 miles away. From there, you can drive or take a small plane to McCarthy. 💲Fees and Reservations: No entrance fee; however, fees apply for guided tours and activities, including the Kennecott Mines and glacier hikes. Reservations are recommended for accommodations and tours. Favorite Locations: **🏘️ McCarthy:** A historic town within the park, offering a glimpse into the area's mining past. It's a great base for exploring nearby attractions and offers unique lodging and local cuisine. **🏚️ Kennecott Mines:** A National Historic Landmark, the Kennecott Mines are an iconic part of Alaska's mining history. Explore the well-preserved buildings and learn about the copper mining boom that shaped the region. **❄️ Root Glacier:** Accessible from Kennecott, Root Glacier offers incredible glacier hiking opportunities. You can walk on the ice, see stunning blue pools, and even explore ice caves with a guided tour. Follow @clariceinwanderland and @parksfamilytravel for all things family travel and national parks! #WrangellStEliasNationalPark #AlaskaAdventures #NationalParkLovers #AlaskaHikingTrails #NatureLovers #ExploreAlaska

Discover Cape Cod National Seashore: A Coastal Paradise! 🏖️ Cape Cod National Seashore offers stunning beaches, picturesque trails, and charming coastal towns, perfect for a relaxing and scenic getaway. 🗺️ Save this post for your next trip to Cape Cod National Seashore for easy access to these tips. 📍 Towns to Stay: Falmouth, Woods Hole, Provincetown, Chatham ✈ How to Get There: The nearest major airport is Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), about 1.5 to 2 hours away. From there, you can drive or take a ferry to different parts of Cape Cod. 💲Fees and Reservations: Beach parking fees apply during the summer season. Reservations are recommended for accommodations, especially during peak tourist season. Favorite locations in or near the park: 🚴‍♀️ Biking from Falmouth to Woods Hole: Enjoy a scenic bike ride along the Shining Sea Bikeway, a 10.7-mile trail that offers beautiful views of the coast, marshes, and cranberry bogs located southwest of the National Seashore. Bike trails within the park include the Meadow Trail, Province Lands Bike Trail, and Nauset Trail. 🌿 Checking out the Salt Marsh: Cape Cod is known for its beautiful salt marshes, which are rich in wildlife and perfect for birdwatching. Visit the nearby Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary for a great introduction to this unique ecosystem. 🌊 Nauset Beach: One of Cape Cod's most popular beaches, located in Orleans. Known for its great surf and beautiful sand dunes, it's perfect for sunbathing, swimming, and even seal watching Follow @BetterTravelwithTeens and @parksfamilytravel for more family travel planning tips #CapeCodNationalSeashore #CapeCod #NationalParkLovers #BikingTrails #visitmassachusetts #ExploreCapeCod

Do you feel like your efforts to maintain order and cleanliness are for nothing sometimes? That you clear a space and something new finds its way in? Me too. Me too. And maybe that's one reason I love to travel so much - I don't have to worry about my messy house if I'm not there! 🤪 But planning a trip can sometimes feel just as overwhelming as cleaning. That's why I focus on creating travel tips and resources that help busy moms like us plan family adventures with less stress and more confidence. Whether it's packing strategies, budget-friendly destinations, or activities to keep the kids entertained, I'm here to make your travel planning a breeze. To helo take the chaos and bring the calm. Share this with someone who can relate and follow @parksfamilytravel and let's turn those messy moments into unforgettable family memories #familytravel #momlife #messylifehappylife #cleanup #kidsbeingkids #dontgiveup #beachday

Finding flights leaving you frazzled? You're not alone. Searching for and reserving flights can be overwhelming. ✈️Save this post for all my best tips + share it with a travel buddy! 🤓Know the System: Get to know the carriers at your local airport(s) by searching for flights on their sites and seeing what they upsell and what you get with your ticket purchase. Nothing hurts more than thinking you booked a good deal, and then realizing you have to pay $100 more per ticket for bags, seat selection, etc. Conversely, if those things don't matter, then you may choose to snag some deals with budget airlines. 🔎Search Use a flight search engine like flights.google.com and use the filters to prioritize results that fit your schedule and comfort level. ALWAYS check the dates grid to see if you can get a better price by adjusting your dates. Another favorite feature is the price indicator bar. It will indicate if flight costs are low, typical, or high to give you some idea of what type of deal you are getting. You can also often expand it to see a price graph that goes back 60 days. 📁Track If you know when and where you want to go, start tracking now! You can track the prices of a specific flight, or all the routes on a certain date. Get a feel for what typical prices are, so you know when the best time to purchase might be. Sometimes your dates and locations aren't very flexible. As soon as you know when and where you are going, start tracking. If you need to purchase sooner than later, at least check the 60 price history to see if there is a likelihood of prices decreasing. ➡️And follow @parksfamilytravel for all things family travel planning and travel tips! #flightdeals #findingflights #travelplanning101 #googleflights #familytravel #travelbudget

I mean, look how confidently she's walking in the airport 🤣 Just comment TRIPS and I'll send you a link to the best resource out there for DIY travel planning 🙌🏼 But seriously, travel planning can take a lot of time, patience, and knowledge. Let me help you save time + increase your knowledge so you can enjoy the process and your trip! (sorry, can't help you with the patience part - I'm working on it too). Happy travels! #travelplanning #budgettravel #diytravel #traveltips #takeavacation

Stop waiting to check off the next thing! And try to just be in the moment. ➡️ Share this with a fellow parent who you know if doing great + needs a reminder today! When you are the trip planner, you sometimes put too much pressure on yourself to plan every detail of the trip, hoping to make it perfect. But in reality, it's the unexpected rain, unplanned stops, and the fun (and silly fighting) of being together that matter most. Ready to make unforgettable memories? Let's do this! 💪 And follow @parksfamilytravel for more tips on stress-free family travel #FamilyTravel #StressFreeTravel #TravelWithKids #MemoriesMatter

The great American road trip... I think we romanticize road trips just a little. Don't get me wrong, I love them. They are *usually* less expensive for families, you get tons of forced family time, and you get a lot of freedom when driving as opposed to flying. That being said, let's talk about the not so glamorous parts. Why? Because I want you to not feel like you are failing or doing it wrong when: - there is complaining - you are bored (how can you be bored, you download five seasons of your favorite show and 10 books on your Kindle...and yet you're bored) - there is bickering, even from the grown ups who knows better - the car stinks - you question your sanity for even thinking of going on this road trip you are now committed to 🤣 Guess what? Travel is hard, including (especially?) road trips. But if I've learned anything in life, usually the hard pays off. So where is your next road trip going to take you?! Share below! Bonus points for giving any tips 🙌🏼 #roadtrip #familytravel #travelplanning #budgettravel #roadtriptips

Has this ever happened to you? Before the story, don't forget to follow @parksfamilytravel for all things family travel and national parks! When traveling to Miami with my husband, I was doing a quick double-check before boarding and realized I had left my Kindle in one of the bins at security. We were flying out of SLC in the B Terminal which is notorious for being a trek. I hustled to security, miraculously found it, finished my 5k, and made it on my flight. My husband was a *little* stressed, and I was sweating the whole flight to Miami (where I continued to sweat). What airport stories do you have? Share them below! #airportstories #travelstress #travelstories #travelplanning

Discover Canyonlands National Park: An Adventurer's Dream! Canyonlands National Park is a stunning desert landscape with endless opportunities for exploration, from breathtaking viewpoints to adventurous trails. 🗺️ Save this post for your next trip to Canyonlands National Park for easy access to these tips. Comment MORE for a link to all of my best posts on Canyonlands! 📍 Cities to Stay: Moab (45 minutes) Monticello (1.5 hours) Green River (1.5 hours) ✈ How to Get There: Canyonlands Field Airport (CNY): About 30 minutes away Grand Junction Regional Airport (GJT): About 2 hours away Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC): About 4 hours away 💲Fees and Reservations: Entry fee: $30 per vehicle for a 7-day pass No reservations required for entry Favorite Locations: 🌅 Sunrise at Mesa Arch: Distance: 0.7 miles round trip Difficulty: Easy What to Expect: An iconic spot for sunrise, offering spectacular views through the arch with the sun illuminating the canyon below. 🚴 White Rim Trail: Distance: 1.8 miles round trip Difficulty: Moderate What to Expect: A scenic trail popular with mountain bikers and hikers, showcasing the rugged beauty of Canyonlands' cliffs. 📸 Grand View Point: Distance: 2 miles round trip Difficulty: Easy to Moderate What to Expect: Panoramic views of the vast canyons and distant mountains, making it a perfect spot for photography. 🌀 Upheaval Dome Overlook: Distance: 1.3 miles round trip Difficulty: Moderate What to Expect: A fascinating geological formation, believed to be either a meteor impact crater or a salt dome, with stunning views from the overlook. Follow @mountaintrailmom and @parksfamilytravel for all things family travel and outdoor adventure! #CanyonlandsNationalPark #UtahAdventures #NationalParkLovers #HikingTrails #NatureLovers #ExploreUtah #Wanderlust #TravelInspiration #OutdoorAdventures #HiddenGems

Did I miss something? 😜 But in all seriousness, make sure you get that garbage emptied and maybe no standing water in the dishes in your sink. Everything else is just extra ♥️ 💬 What is one thing you HAVE to do before you go on vacation? Ours is double and triple check that the stove burners are off 🫣. We've turned around before just to make sure. 🤦🏼‍♀️ #travelplanning #travelprep #familytravel #traveltips

Smart packing = smooth travels ➡️Save this for when you hit the road next!⬅️ 💬 Comment PRO if you want a link to my completely editable Pack Like a Pro Packing List Template! 10 Tips for Packing Like a Pro: Pack by day, not by person: That way you just have to pull out one packing cube each day and leave the rest in your bag. No digging around or opening multiple packing cubes to get everyone dressed. First-Night Bag: You’re going to be tired that first night (and every night), but if you pull in to your accommodation late at night don’t sweat having to unload everything. Just grab your first night bag and settle in the next day. Snack Station + Entertainment Bag: There are lots of options with snacks, keep them all together but easy to access or divvy out OR give each person their own snack bag/box that is meant to last each day. Keep all the books, activities, and screens in one location so you can get what you need and there is a place to return it to when they are done. Comfort Items: Pick small items that help kids feel more secure when away and for everyone to feel comfortable. Neck pillows + lightweight and packable blankets can go a long way to help you feel more comfortable on a long drive. Emergency Kit: Have both a well stocked first aid kit, as well as roadside emergency supplies like jumper cables, hazard signs, and if traveling to snowy areas you’ll want a foldable shovel and emergency blankets. 🫶🏼Remember to follow @parksfamilytravel for all things family travel and national parks! #roadtrip #familyvacation #packinglist #travelwithkids #travelhacks