Trip Tales | A Family Travel Podcast

I’m sharing all the 2026 travel we have booked so far. And the star of the show: we’re going to French wine country and staying in a chateau near Chablis… because yes, I truly planned an entire trip around my favorite glass of wine. Chablis is my forever favorite, and the fact that we’re making it happen AND booking it on points and miles is just...chef’s kiss. In this episode I’m walking you thro...

Kelsey chats with Cassandra and Chris from @thenextpursuit on Instagram about their summer road trip from Chattanooga, TN to Orlando, Florida to camp at Disney World’s Fort Wilderness Resort with their 5-year-old son in July 2025. They share their favorite Fort Wilderness moments like the campfire sing-along with s’mores, Chip and Dale, and spending time with the Disney horses at the stables. Plus...

Kelsey Unpacked is here, and we’re kicking things off with something I do every single year: choosing one word to guide my entire year. In this very first episode, I’m sharing my word for 2026, why I picked it, and what I’m hoping it brings into my life, my travel, and my work. And because we’re unpacking things a little deeper on Wednesdays, I’m also pulling back the curtain and sharing exactly h...

In this episode of Trip Tales, I’m chatting with Monica an American mom who’s been living in Norway for the past 8 years with her family. Monica is the founder of Wanderwild Family Retreats (wanderwildfamilyretreats.com) and shares her best tips for visiting Bergen with kids from fjords and funiculars to troll hikes, cozy hygge vibes, and a real life Polar Express experience. She’s packed this epi...

This was my #1 most listened to episode of 2025! If you’re planning a trip to Marco Island, Florida (or hoping to soon) this is your complete start-to-finish guide. I’m sharing exactly where to stay, where to eat, what to do, and the little details that make a Marco trip feel so special. I also break down my favorite sunset spots, family-friendly activities, and cost-saving tips. If you’d like to...

In case you missed it last year (or you’re in full holiday chaos and need an easy listen), this week is a Trip Tales Replay of my Park City ski trip recap and it’s packed with tips you can actually use to plan your own trip. I’m sharing all the details from our family’s winter getaway to Park City, Utah, including why skiing The Canyons side of Park City Mountain Resort is our favorite.  Plus...

Kelsey’s family of five, her sister’s family of four, and their parents spent the week of Thanksgiving in Orlando in November 2025 with kids ages 4–13, all sharing a gorgeous house at Evermore Resort as their home base. In Part 1, Kelsey recapped Epic Universe, Universal Studios & Islands of Adventure. In Part 2, she's recapping Magic Kingdom, and Epcot — plus their off day / resort day on Tha...

Kelsey recaps her family’s epic Thanksgiving week in Orlando, Florida (November 2025), where 11 of them – her family of 5, her sister’s family, and her parents – all shared a 7-bedroom house at Evermore Resort. With kids ranging from 4 to 13 years old, they packed in all the fun: Express Passes at Epic Universe, Universal Studios Orlando, and Islands of Adventure, plus lots of downtime enjoying th...

Matthew from South Bend, Indiana, joins Kelsey to share how he and his wife planned a Pacific Northwest road trip for their family of four (with their 5-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter) to meet up with extended family in Spokane, Washington, Missoula, Montana, and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. They chat about using hotel points and an Airbnb, favorite riverfront parks and playgrounds, easy hikes with...

This week I’m bringing back one of my favorite Thanksgiving episodes from last year about spending Thanksgiving on 30A in Florida. In this replay episode, I share all the details from my husband's family Thanksgiving trip to 30A – from the best places to stay to my favorite restaurants and must-do activities! Mentioned in this episode: EDIT: The best donut place on 30A is called DONUT HOLE (not Do...

Elizabeth, a mom of three boys from Louisiana, planned an intentional one-on-one 12th birthday trip with her oldest to San Diego in October 2025, staying at the iconic Hotel del Coronado. In this episode, she shares how they spent their days tide-pooling in La Jolla, exploring the San Diego Zoo, and hiking Torrey Pines. She also walks us through how San Diego’s Kids Free October program helped str...

Twinkle lights, mulled wine, and cozy vibes! Genni from @travelingfranklins joins Kelsey to share everything you need to know about visiting Europe’s Christmas Markets. In December 2024, she and her mom explored Berlin, Munich, Salzburg, and Paris at Christmastime. She shares their favorite markets, the best food and drink (glühwein, wurst, pretzels, Kasespatzle), souvenir tips, and what to wear t...

Kelsey talks with Danielle, whose family of four has spent two spring breaks in Whitefish, Montana (and they’re booked for a third because they love it so much). Danielle also visited in summer for a girls’ trip to the Under the Big Sky Music Festival, so she compares Whitefish in winter vs. summer and shares why it’s a repeat favorite for her family! This episode is now available to watch on YouT...

Amanda and her family of four flew halfway around the world in December 2024 to spend Christmas with her in-laws on the island of Java, relaxed in Bali at the Hyatt Regency Bali (booked with points!) and ended the trip by exploring the kid-friendly side of Singapore! This episode is now available to watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kelseygraves If you’d like to share about your trip on t...

NOTE TO PARENTS: We’re keeping the magic alive in this episode, so it’s completely safe to listen with little ears! I did have a few grown-up questions that I asked my guest offline—if you’re curious too, head over to our Trip Tales Podcast Community Facebook group, where I’ve shared all the behind-the-scenes answers about how the magic really unfolded. This week on the Trip Tales Podcast, we’re h...

In this episode, Kelsey sits down with Kyle from Virginia, whose family of four loved Club Med Québec-Charlevoix so much, they returned two years in a row — first over New Year’s 2024 and again in January 2025. It’s an all-inclusive ski resort where lessons, lift tickets, food, and drinks are all included! Kyle was a first-time skier when he visited in 2023, and it’s where he learned to ski — now...

Trip Tales regular Ryan is back! But this time he’s joined by his wife Heather for a fun couples getaway to Las Vegas in July 2025. In this episode, they share all the details from their 3-night trip, including Heather’s lifelong love of the Backstreet Boys and how Ryan scored tickets to see them at The Sphere.  They also ventured out for a Red Rock Canyon scooter tour, found great food aroun...

Join Kelsey and her bestie Danae (a Trip Tales fan fav!) as they share all the details from Danae’s family of four's dreamy 9-day New England summer adventure in August 2025. This trip was packed with coastal vibes and bucket-list stops — from three days on Block Island, a charming and approachable alternative to Nantucket, to a stop in Ogunquit, Maine for a private sailboat ride, to the show-stop...

Kelsey is joined by Kellie from @frompointstoplaces on Instagram to share her family’s Spring Break 2025 trip to the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point in Bonita Springs, Florida. Kellie, her husband, and their two daughters (ages 5 and 8) booked their stay entirely with Chase Ultimate Rewards points and spent their days enjoying multiple pools, waterslides, a lazy river, and the resort’s private island...

Kelsey and her sister spent 3 nights in August 2025 at one of Cancun’s newest all-inclusives — Ava Resort — and are spilling all the details you need to know before you go. From its 17 restaurants and bars to the endless lineup of kids activities, this resort is designed for families, couples, and friend getaways alike. But the real show-stopper? A stunning 2.8-acre salt-water lagoon unlike anythi...

Kelsey sits down with Caroline to hear all about her son’s special 10th birthday adventure in June 2025 that started with a solo trip to Seattle for a Mariners baseball game, continued with a sleeper train ride to Hollywood for a day at Universal Studios, and ended with the whole family spending 5 magical nights at Disney’s Aulani Resort in Hawaii. Caroline shares everything you need to know about...

Kelsey chats with Tracey, a travel advisor from Revival Travel Collective and @revivaltravelco on Instagram, about her family’s multigenerational trip to Ireland in June 2025. Tracey’s dad had always dreamed of returning to Ireland to find his grandparents’ home. It was also her two daughters’ (ages 9 and 7) very first international trip, making it an extra special family adventure. From Dublin to...

Kelsey sits down with Shannon to hear all about her family’s multigenerational trip to Maui, Hawaii in June 2025. Shannon, her husband, and their two young daughters (ages 3 and 5) met up with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins for a magical big family vacation. They stayed oceanfront at Honua Kai Resort, which felt more like living in Hawaii than visiting. From cousin adventures to unforget...

Kelsey interviews Jodie from the Learners & Makers blog and YouTube channel , who joined the podcast live from Japan ! Jodie is an above-the-knee amputee who shares her love of family travel and how she navigates mobility differences while exploring the world. Together they dive into the ultimate family trip to Japan - covering Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, plus Tokyo Disney and DisneySea. From Pokémon...

Kelsey interviews Jenna about her multigenerational family road trip through the Florida Keys in April 2025. Jenna, her husband, their two boys (ages 7 and 9), and her parents hit the road from Miami, making memorable stops in Homestead, Islamorada, Marathon, Long Key, and Key West. From quirky roadside attractions to oceanfront stays and delicious local eats, this episode is packed with fun ideas...