The National Park Loving Mom: An In Depth Interview
Looking for a little travel inspiration? Look no further! Meggie from Parks Family Travel is family travel goals! I was so grateful she agreed to offer up some of her travel advice and inspiration.
Adventure Mom Meggie By The Numbers
On top of raising her three children, ages 9, 7, and 5, Meggie balances substitute teaching and professional development work for an EdTech company. Somehow she has managed to fit in traveling to 14 countries, 28 states, and 26 National Parks. Proving you are never too busy for a little adventure!
Have You Always Loved Traveling?
I visited my first national park at 3 years old and haven’t looked back! I was fortunate to travel abroad several times with my parents, and then continued to travel through young adulthood. My study abroad to Spain during college gave me the chance to really start learning about travel planning and independent travel.
How Do You Find Time For Travel?
Travel is a priority for us, so 9 out of 10 times we are traveling when there is a major school break. Also, our kids are doing well in school right now, we are willing to check them out for a few days at a time in order to travel. As their needs change over time, we will reconsider when we travel. My husband is also able to work remotely at times, so when we take trips to visit family he will usually work remotely during the day and then explore in the afternoons. This saves PTO for more demanding travel.
Favorite Travel Destination And Why?
Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland. It is one of the most beautiful locations in the world. It is a very popular destination with tons of tourists, but there are plenty of spots to find your own little moment of peace.
What Is One Travel Mistake You Have Made?
I JUST made this mistake (even pros make mistakes!): We planned a trip to the Florida Keys with the intention to visit Dry Tortugas National Park. I put off purchasing our ferry tickets and now they are sold out. We will now have to wake up at 5am and hope to be first in the standby line. I was devastated and mortified to realize my mistake. Don’t put off making reservations!
What are you top three tips for families trying to travel on a budget?
- Travel closer: Just because you aren’t flying to Europe doesn’t mean your trip isn’t worth taking. I’ve learned that my kids’ favorite parts of travel tend to be pushing the buttons on the elevator and swimming in the pool. Beyond that everything else is just a nice extra!
- Shoulder Season: Each location is different, but almost all locations have a shoulder or “off” season. Consider the pros and cons, and think about booking a trip when it is less popular. You will usually get better rates on hotels and flights and will have fewer crowds to battle with.
- Track prices: If you are flying, use Google Flights to search for your options. Google says it’s a good deal, chances are it is an okay time to buy (but not guaranteed). If prices look too high, set a tracker and be alerted if or when they go down (or up!).
What is your favorite National Park?
I’m going to pick Yellowstone! Yellowstone has so much variety and so many easy hikes and stops. My favorites for families include Old Faithful (of course), Grand Prismatic Overlook, Artist Point , and Artist’s Paintpots. Yellowstone will be crowded, but if you expect the people it’s not too bad!
Other great parks for beginners include:
Grand Teton (Jenny Lake Overlook + Take the Jenny Lake Ferry)
Death Valley (2 hours from Las Vegas and several low-effort stops. Don’t go in the summer.)
Great Smoky Mountains (just driving the Newfoundland Gap Road is breathtaking in the summer and fall)
What are your top 3 tips for families starting to visit National Parks?
- Do the Junior Ranger Program: It will get the kids more involved and can give them something to do when they need a rest or you’re driving between sites. Plus, if you complete it and get sworn in by a ranger you get the coolest badges to keep!
- Let others help, but know your family: There are so many great family travel blogs that will help you find ideas of what to do. Just remember that online opinions are just that, opinions.
- Be aware of the rules: The purpose of the National Parks is to preserve these incredible places of beauty. Take care of these places by not taking anything (rocks, flowers, artifacts) and not leaving anything that doesn’t belong (garbage, graffiti, etc.).
I hope you enjoyed getting to know Meggie as much as I did! If you are looking for more outdoors adventure moms, check out my interview with PNW mom Priscila.
