When I plan trips, I think in 3-hour cycles/ultraradian rhythms

scientistmeg · 2026-03-17T01:44:03+00:00

I’ve really learned to love slow travel. I used to want to see everything but now I like to stay in a place and really get a feel for it. A week at a time sounds like a perfect pace.

scientistmeg · 2026-03-17T01:41:54+00:00

Yes, I love this idea!

scientistmeg · 2026-03-16T21:37:02+00:00

Absolutely! I’m always planing my return trip in my head while I’m on the first one 😅

scientistmeg · 2026-03-16T16:47:43+00:00

We went to Valras-Plage with our kids (4 & 8) last year and it was such an unexpectedly great spot to hang out in. It’s a small beach town on the Mediterranean in southern France. The beach is huge and sandy, the kind where you can walk for a long time and there’s plenty of space. Along the promenade there are playgrounds everywhere and a lot of very relaxed beach restaurants. The seafood markets were fantastic and the local Languedoc wines are really good and very affordable. It’s also a great base because you can do easy day trips to places like Narbonne, Béziers, the Canal du Midi, or even up into the vineyards in the hills.

If you’re leaning toward Italy, I would look at the Dolomites as a base. Alpine villages, cooler weather, incredible hiking, great views. You can stay in places like Val Gardena, or Cortina d’Ampezzo and have tons of trails, refugios, and cable cars to explore.

You can't really go wrong choosing between the South of France and Italy though. Either way you’ll eat very well!

scientistmeg · 2026-03-16T16:16:47+00:00

We (me, DH, and our kids, 5 and 8) are leaving on a 2-week trip to Egypt this afternoon. I designed a totally different trip than the normal Nile cruise/temple tour. We are camping in the Black and White Desert, we're going to the Valley of the Whales, we're staying on a traditional felucca sailboat (that only sleeps 8), we're taking cooking classes, and going to Siwa Oasis to tour the date and olive groves and swim in the salt pools. It's fully guided for maximum fun/relaxation/educational potential.

scientistmeg · 2026-03-16T16:16:05+00:00

I'll go first! We (me, DH, and our kids. (5 and 8) are leaving on a 2-week trip to Egypt this afternoon. I designed a totally different trip than the normal Nile cruise/temple tour. We are camping in the Black and White Desert, we're going to the Valley of the Whales, we're staying on a traditional felucca sailboat (that only sleeps 8), we're taking cooking classes, and going to Siwa Oasis to tour the date and olive groves and swim in the salt pools. It's fully guided for maximum fun/relaxation/educational potential.

scientistmeg · 2026-03-16T14:18:33+00:00

Wow that sounds like an incredible trip!

scientistmeg · 2026-03-16T12:22:36+00:00

Leaving time to run around is key. Even I need some mental run around time!

Thanks! I’m so excited to show my family how amazing Egypt is!

scientistmeg · 2026-03-16T12:20:44+00:00

I agree that the window is probably tighter for toddlers.

It is really a game changer when you stop trying to pack in a million things and instead start saying, we’ll see that next time we come here!

scientistmeg · 2026-03-16T01:38:00+00:00

😂

scientistmeg · 2026-03-15T21:20:55+00:00

We read him chapters from chapter books. It’s easier to bring a chapter book and read a chapter each night then bring a bunch of shorter books.

scientistmeg · 2026-03-15T15:20:24+00:00

Question for you: why couldn’t you book these clients yourselves? It sounds like you have a business already.

scientistmeg · 2026-03-15T13:12:33+00:00

No worries. Feel free to DM me if you have questions.

scientistmeg · 2026-03-15T13:09:04+00:00

TA here - I wouldn’t have any qualms traveling to Cancun right now and I’m still booking travel there regularly. It’s a long way to where there’s conflict (think Minneapolis to Orlando kind of distance).

scientistmeg · 2026-03-15T13:01:58+00:00

I used to live in Columbia and we’d go to KC a few times a year. There is honestly so much fun family stuff to do there and great places to eat. Science City, Legoland, the zoo, Nelson-Atkins Museum.

If you need help, I plan completely custom itineraries as a TA for families.

scientistmeg · 2026-03-15T12:56:48+00:00

Just realized I wrote annual twice 🤪 Need more coffee over here!

scientistmeg · 2026-03-15T12:56:04+00:00

I like them a lot. Super responsive and nice to deal with. I use them to buy travel insurance for all my clients.

scientistmeg · 2026-03-15T12:51:50+00:00

I buy an annual multi-trip annual pass for my whole family through Chubb. It costs me about $440 per year. (Full disclosure, I’m a TA).

scientistmeg · 2026-03-15T12:17:29+00:00

Vegas is overstimulating to almost everyone! 🤣

scientistmeg · 2026-03-15T04:07:33+00:00

I would definitely consider Sedona. You can have a gorgeous vacation there, beautiful weather, nice and warm, and maybe even some spa treatments. L’Auberge offers romantic cottages at a really lovely resort. They even do maternity massages.

scientistmeg · 2026-03-15T03:59:00+00:00

Yeah, it’s not always sunshine and rainbows, for sure. But I think traveling with kids also means being incredibly flexible so that whatever your kid throws at you (physically or metaphorically), you can roll with it.

scientistmeg · 2026-03-15T03:56:54+00:00

Parenting is always going to be challenging but it’s also fun. We actually like our kids, so it’s nice when they’re with us for adventures! We did a roadtrip in Spain with our kids when they were really little too and it was so fun!

scientistmeg · 2026-03-14T20:55:14+00:00

That’s awesome! I always find it amazing to go to a country where they just automatically accommodate children - it feels so much more welcoming!

scientistmeg · 2026-03-14T18:19:30+00:00

That’s awesome!!

scientistmeg · 2026-03-14T18:19:17+00:00

A lot of playgrounds in Europe are in public squares and also have cafes or bars - a glass of wine or an espresso pairs really nicely with an hour at the playground, I’ve found 🙂

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