Traveling Joyfully
A blog about our travel adventures
Planning a Multigenerational Trip: 4 Questions to Ask Before You Book
How to plan a trip the whole family will treasure, without anyone getting stuck as the family travel agent There’s something truly special about traveling with the whole family. Multigenerational travel, typically three generations exploring together (grandparents, their children, and their grandchildren), has become one of the most meaningful ways families celebrate milestones, mark special birthdays and anniversaries, or simply make time for one another. It’s grandpa teaching the kids to snorkel, grandma and her granddaughter sharing a cooking class, and long dinners around one big table where the stories flow. These trips can also be among the most complex…
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Why Greece Belongs at the Top of Your 2027 List
New islands, fresh itineraries, and how to start planning your Greek escape There’s a reason Greece keeps appearing on travel wish lists year after year. It’s one of those rare places that manages to be both completely iconic and endlessly discoverable. You can stand beneath the Acropolis in the morning and be swimming in a quiet cove by sunset. And with more than 200 inhabited islands, there is always another corner waiting for you, no matter how many times you’ve been. If you’ve been dreaming about Greece, 2027 is a wonderful year to make it happen. Here’s why, plus a…
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Trip Recap: Amsterdam like a Local
Three Days of Canals, Culture & Kid-Friendly Finds The Basics Who: Me, my colleague (and native Dutchie!) Annelot, and my 11-year-old son — the perfect trio for this trip, since Annelot’s local insight paired with a kid’s-eye view gave us a much fuller picture of the city. What: Three days exploring Amsterdam on foot and by public transit, digging into authentic experiences, standout dining, and kid-friendly activities. When: August 2026 Where: Amsterdam, Netherlands Why: Purely in scouting mode — I wanted to experience the city’s authentic experiences, great dining, and family-friendly options firsthand so I can plan it with confidence…
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Trip Recap: South Korea Family Adventure
Visit this hidden gem before the rest of the world arrives. The Basics Who: Our family of four (our kids are currently 14 and 11) — plus my ever-curious “client scouting” eye, since I couldn’t resist noting everything that would delight future Travel Made Joyful clients along the way. What: A three-city deep dive into South Korea — four nights each in Seoul, Jeju, and Busan — packed with theme parks, hikes, beaches, food markets, paragliding, shopping, and hands-on cultural experiences. When: June 2026 Where: Seoul (the capital’s energy and history), Jeju Island (volcanic coastline and beaches), and Busan (coastal…
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How to Rock a Trip to the Cinque Terre in 2026
Top tips for enjoying this tourism hot spot If there’s one corner of Italy that seems almost too beautiful to be real, it’s the Cinque Terre. Clinging to the cliffs of the Ligurian Riviera, these five picturesque villages have enchanted travelers for centuries — and for good reason. But visiting well takes planning, and I learned that expectations certainly don’t match reality. Here’s what you need to know if this is on your Italy “must-do” list. What Is the Cinque Terre? Cinque Terre — Italian for “Five Lands” — is a string of five ancient fishing villages perched along a…
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