Pack the Kid

August 19, 2019December 30, 2019

Choosing the Kid’s First Trans-Atlantic Adventure

While Sarah and I travel quite a bit, most of our trips last a week or less. We can usually only manage one (slightly) longer trip each year. We’ve always tried to fit in a proper adventure during that longer trip, be it a safari in Namibia, a volcano trek in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a pig roast in Micronesia or a wedding in Croatia. Of course, this year we have a new travel buddy… and the kid complicates things.

July 31, 2019January 16, 2020

What to Do in Westpunt, Curacao

Are you contemplating a trip to Curacao and want to spend some time away from the hustle and bustle of colonial Willemstad? Less than an hour’s drive away on the island’s westernmost tip you’ll find the laid back town of Westpunt where you can swim with sea turtles and then eat iguana in the same morning. Here were our top three experiences in Westpunt, Curacao.

June 19, 2019January 17, 2020

Exploring the Ruins and Beaches of the Landhuis San Juan, Curacao

Landhuis San Juan in Curacao is a great place to get off the beaten path. It combines the atmospheric ruins of an old plantation house with dirt roads and four undeveloped beaches.

June 7, 2019January 16, 2020

Hiking to the Tree of Souls and Newtown Mine Ruins in Curacao

The excursion to the Tree of Souls and ruins of the Newtown Manganese and Copper Mine was a highlight of our time in Curacao. It’s a free hike with some great photo opportunities that can be followed up with a visit to one or more of the beautiful beaches on the western side of the island. For us, the trip required a bit of web sleuthing, but with the help of this post, anyone can find and enjoy the short trek!

May 16, 2019January 16, 2020

Climbing Mount Christoffel with a Baby

At 1,220 feet (372 meters), Mt. Christoffel is the highest point on the island nation of Curaçao. Although the island is better known for its UNESCO-listed capital and excellent beaches, climbing Mt. Christoffel is one of the top activities for adventurous visitors. As our blog’s name implies, we’re all about packing the kid along for our adventures, but as I researched this climb, I found little to no information about climbing Mount Christoffel with a baby. Well, we (and by that I mostly mean my amazing wife) did it!

May 13, 2019January 16, 2020

An Affordable Caribbean Vacation in Curaçao

Are you looking for an affordable Caribbean vacation destination? Somewhere that’s easy to reach from the United States and yet largely free of the tourist hordes? Look to Curaçao, an island nation and constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located about 40 miles off the coast of Venezuela. There isn’t much green to be seen on the island, but it has a UNESCO-listed capital, historical ruins to explore, vast swaths of uninhabited desert scrubland and beautiful beaches.

April 25, 2019December 30, 2019

Choosing Baby’s First International Destination

What process do you use when choosing an international travel destination? Baby E is almost three months old, and she finally has a passport! I even ordered her the version with extra pages even though it will only be valid for five years. Wishful thinking, no doubt. At any rate, it’s time to start getting some stamps in that sucker!

April 21, 2019December 30, 2019

Surviving an Overnight Flight Delay with a Baby

We just survived an overnight flight delay with our infant! It was the last day of a very successful mini-vacation to Puerto Rico with our two-month-old baby. Everything was going to plan until the moment we reached the Southwest counter at San Juan’s airport. We handed over our travel documents and, after a quick check on her computer, the agent looked up and said “you are aware that, due to a flight delay, you will need to spend the night in Orlando.” No, we were not aware, and we were not happy. It was just after noon on Monday, April 1^st and we were scheduled to be back home and unpacked in Nashville before dark that evening. I had a full day planned at the office on Tuesday.

April 18, 2019January 16, 2020

Visiting Puerto Rico with an Infant, A Trip Review

Our trip to Puerto Rico began like many of our Caribbean adventures: waiting for ages at a mind numbingly inefficient rental car desk. Dollar Car Rental seemed to employ half of the island, and there were only two people in front of us. Yet it took a full hour to get the car we had reserved. We have been through this before. I guess it is just their friendly way of getting visitors used to “island time.” What was new this time around was the baby girl that my wife was trying to soothe while I waited in line. Yup, we were visiting Puerto Rico with an infant.

April 8, 2019December 30, 2019

Baby’s First Flight

My wife and I celebrated our baby’s two month birthday by flying Southwest from Nashville to San Juan, Puerto Rico. We heard from other parents that babies are really easy to travel with when they are young. We also knew that we could fly her as a lap infant for free. Still, we were not sure what to expect when flying with a baby.