Trip Tales | A Family Travel Podcast

Kelsey sits down with Faith, a seasoned Turks & Caicos traveler who has visited three times (May 2019, May 2022, and May 2023) - and loved Seven Stars Resort so much, she’s returned twice. Faith shares why this boutique-style resort stands out, from its swanky yet serene atmosphere to its top-tier hospitality, family-friendly vibe, and unbeatable location on Grace Bay Beach. Plus, she dives in...

Kelsey chats with Jessica from the Sugar Daddy Podcast about her family's Christmas trip to Panama! Jessica, her husband, and their two kids spent a week in December 2024 exploring the country's beaches, rainforest, and vibrant Old Town Panama City. From spotting monkeys and sloths in the wild to soaking up the local culture, they fell in love with Panama—and they're already talking about a return...

Kelsey chats with Genni from @travelingfranklins on Instagram, the Traveling Franklins blog, and the popular Lazy Budget Travel Tips Facebook Group . Genni shares the story of how she treated her mom to an unforgettable retirement trip to Spain, using points and miles, in May 2024. They flew business class, and visited Madrid, Seville, and Barcelona. From the delicious food to Spain's rich culture...

Kelsey sits down with Joy Smith from @savvytravelmamas to hear all about her mother-son adventure in July 2024. Joy shares how this trip led them to some of the most stunning natural landscapes and colors she’s ever seen! From the Grand Canyon and Horseshoe Bend to the striking Vermilion Cliffs and the Coral Pink Sand Dunes, every stop had breathtaking views. They also explored nostalgic Route 66...

In this episode of Trip Tales , Kelsey shares all the details from her family’s  winter getaway to Park City, Utah! Tune in as she recaps why skiing on The Canyons side of Park City Mountain Resort is their favorite. But it wasn’t all smooth skiing! Kelsey dives into how they navigated the unexpected Ski Patrol Strike and what it meant for their time on the slopes. Plus, she shares their go-t...

After the buzz (and backlash) from Episode 36, where a guest shared their disappointing experience at Beaches Turks & Caicos, two passionate listeners reached out to set the record straight. They love this resort and consider it the ultimate family all-inclusive destination—and they’re here to tell you why. In this episode, Kelsey sits down with Kari, a loyal podcast listener who has visited B...

In this episode of Trip Tales , Kelsey sits down with Rosie from Venture's Valentina to explore her deep love for Riviera Maya, Mexico. Having visited the area six times, Rosie shares why Secrets Akumal stands out as her favorite adults-only resort. Nestled away from the hustle and bustle of the popular tourist spots, Secrets Akumal offers a true escape with its romantic, laid-back vibe. Rosie div...

In this milestone 40th episode, Kelsey is taking you back to her 40th Birthday Girls Trip to the all-inclusive Atelier Playa Mujeres in Mexico!  Joining her are her besties who shared the adventure in February 2023, and together they’re dishing on all the hilarious stories, shenanigans, and unforgettable moments from the trip. From the food and cocktails to insider resort tips, parasailing, a...

In this episode of Trip Tales , Kelsey shares all the details from her recent Thanksgiving trip to 30A Florida. From the best (and worst) places to stay to her favorite restaurants and must-try activities, she gives an honest rundown to help you plan your own visit to this beautiful coastal area. Plus, she reveals the family games that made their holiday extra fun! Mentioned in this episode: EDIT:...

In this episode of Trip Tales , host Kelsey Graves dives into everything you need to know about planning the perfect family ski trip to Park City, Utah. Growing up skiing every winter thanks to her family’s timeshare, Kelsey shares her insider tips and personal experiences from over a dozen trips to this iconic ski destination. Discover why her family always chooses The Canyons side of Park City M...

In this episode of Trip Tales , host Kelsey sits down with Lake from the DCL Podcast and MouseGen on Instagram and YouTube to dive into his highly anticipated trip to Disney's Aulani Resort on the gorgeous island of O'ahu. From the moment he arrived, the stunningly beautiful resort exceeded all expectations, offering a perfect blend of Disney magic and Hawaiian culture. Lake shares his favorite mo...

Kelsey kicks off the very first TRIP FAILS series with guest Danae, who shares the shocking story of her family of four's spring break at Beaches Turks & Caicos in March 2023. Despite shelling out over $20K for what they thought would be a dream vacation, Danae’s family faced a harsh reality: bad food, rundown pools, outdated rooms, and some of the worst service they’ve ever experienced. To to...

In this episode, Kelsey sits down with guest Paul to get the inside scoop on his family’s Presidents Day Weekend ski trip to Steamboat Ski Resort. Paul shares all the details to help you plan the perfect winter getaway—from the convenience of flying directly into Steamboat to enrolling the kids in ski school. Discover the top spots to eat, from family-friendly to après-ski favorites, and explore S...

In this episode, Kelsey shares the wild and unexpected story of her family of 5’s Disney Wish cruise during Hurricane Milton. What started as a highly anticipated family trip quickly took a turn with motion sickness, a stomach bug, and two extra nights stuck at sea after Port Canaveral closed. Amid the chaos, Kelsey gives her HONEST review of the Disney Wish—what they loved, and what they didn't....

In this episode of Trip Tales , host Kelsey sits down with Julia, who has been taking her family of five to Keystone Ski Resort for years. Julia shares the story behind her family’s yearly spring break tradition, which started with her husband’s childhood trips to Keystone and continued as they created new memories with their own kids. Julia offers insider tips for planning the perfect family-frie...

In this episode, host Kelsey sits down with Jaycee to chat about her family of 5's unforgettable summer 2024 adventure in Alaska. With boys aged 10, 8, and 4, Jaycee’s family flew into Anchorage, rented an RV, and embarked on a journey through some of Alaska’s most scenic destinations, including Palmer, Seward, and Soldotna. But the adventure didn’t stop there—after returning the RV, they boa...

In this episode of Trip Tales , host Kelsey Graves interviews Jennie about her family of 4's unforgettable summer adventure to The Azores islands off the coast of Portugal. With kids ages 5 and 10, they spent their time exploring the breathtaking São Miguel Island, and Jennie was blown away by the island’s stunning beauty— from blue hydrangeas and steep cliffs to ocean overlooks, volcanic roc...

In this episode, Kelsey interviews Erin, who shares why Aruba has become her family's favorite island getaway. With visits in August 2018, August 2019, November 2023, and their fourth trip already planned, Erin talks about what makes Aruba so special. From oceanfront resorts and crystal-clear waters to snorkeling with sea turtles, delicious food, and the welcoming people, Erin explains why Ar...

In this episode of Trip Tales , host Kelsey Graves sits down with friends Dr. Judy Oskam, a professor at Texas State University and host of the Stories of Change and Creativity podcast, and Wendy Conklin, a renowned chair stylist behind the popular Instagram account @chairwhimsy . Together, they share the unforgettable experience of traveling to Amsterdam in July 2024 with their adult daughters, w...

In this episode, Maddi shares about her adventure renting an RV in Salt Lake City and driving it to Bozeman, Montana and back, making stops in Yellowstone, Jackson Hole and The Grand Tetons. Mentioned in this episode: Maddi rented a 2019 Winnebago Revel Stayed overnight at the Park City RV Resort Park City favorites: High West Saloon, No Name Saloon, The Bridge Cafe Grand Teton National Park: Wild...

In this episode, Kelsey interviews stylist Allie Miller (from BeStyledCo ) about her summer family trip (with her husband and two boys ages 11 & 8) to the island of Nantucket, paired with an adventure through Boston’s rich American history.  Find Allie on Instagram at: @alliesmiller Elin Hildebrand's book & Netflix series: The Perfect Couple   Allie's Airbnb overlooking Hither Creek Mada...

In this episode of Trip Tales , I sit down with Kate, who shares the incredible story of her family’s spontaneous two-week adventure in Sri Lanka—a destination that wasn’t even on her bucket list but now holds a special place in her heart. What started as a surprise meet-up with her brother, who was on his own world travels, turned into an unforgettable journey for Kate, her mom, and her daughter....

Did you know you can buy Universal Orlando amusement park tickets using points?! In this episode of Trip Tales, host Kelsey sits down with Joanna from the Wonderland on Points podcast to uncover the secrets behind her incredible budget-friendly besties trip with her daughter in June 2024. Tune in as Joanna shares how they enjoyed a 5-night stay at the Hyatt Place across from Universal Orlando, all...

Join host Kelsey as she interviews Mary Ellen from the Wonderland On Points podcast about her 15 year anniversary trip to Switzerland in June 2024. Mary Ellen was able to book her dream bucket-list trip with the help of mastering credit card points using her Amex Gold and Platinum cards. In this episode we mention: Flying business class on Air France into Geneva and flying out of Zurich back to th...

From die-hard non-cruisers to Disney dreamers! In this episode, Kelsey discusses exactly why she decided to book her family's FIRST Disney Cruise after years of having zero interest in cruising. Also - how she revealed the big surprise to her kids! Mentioned in this episode: Disney Wish 4-night Bahamian Cruise - booked through Costco Travel Halloween on the High Seas Atlantis in the Bahamas C...