We were hosted at Disney World last week to preview all of the fun summer activities for families at the resorts and in the parks!

There has never been a better time to book a summer trip to Walt Disney World.

Disney World is focused on making the summer of 2025 a magical time to visit for young families with extra perks for staying at Disney Resorts and kid-focused programming in the parks and at select resorts.

Our family was invited to preview the magic coming to Walt Disney World this summer, and I’m so excited to share all the details here!

If your family is on the fence about a summer visit to the most Magical Place on Earth, keep reading to see what will make this the best summer ever at Disney!

And if you already have your trip planned between May 27 through September 1, make sure you make the most of all of the benefits you have to look forward to!

Links:

Blog Post: https://www.emilymkrause.com/blog/cool-kid-summer-at-disney-world-in-2025-everything-you-need-to-know

Disney Vlogs:

Instagram Post 1: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJcXY2FymGL/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Instagram Post 2: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJfPOzBB9ZB/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Instagram Post 3: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJkEfBiAW5D/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

FIND ME AT:

Blog: http://www.emilymkrause.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amomexplores/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amomexplores

EMAIL ME AT:

hello@amomexplores.com

In today's episode I'm answering questions from my Instagram on the following topics:

• Travel destinations in the next 5 years
• Birthday trips
• Missing school for family travels
• Favorite travel credit cards
• Couples trip destination ideas
• Working with Tourism Boards
• Memorializing our travels
• US destinations for big families

FIND ME AT:

Blog: http://www.emilymkrause.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amomexplores/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amomexplores

EMAIL ME AT:

hello@amomexplores.com

In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain and sharing how we have afforded travel over the years.

Personal finance is, well, personal! Everyone's situation is different, so I thought instead of sharing tons of tips about "how to afford to travel more," I would simply share how I do it.

In this episode we cover:

• How I got started as a travel writer when we had very little extra money
• Why I felt like a fraud as a travel writer and travel content creator
• Why I quit my freelance travel writing job
• How my blog was the key to affording more travel
• Why budget travelers - or anyone - should have a separate bank account for travel
• What happened this year to make us consider going back to our budget travel roots

FIND ME AT:

Blog: http://www.emilymkrause.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amomexplores/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amomexplores

EMAIL ME AT:

hello@amomexplores.com

Road Trip Activities:

Road Trip Amazon Idea List: https://amzn.to/4lGzyte

Travel Journal for Kids: https://a.co/d/4sFw6sl

Road Trip Activity Book: https://www.emilymkrause.com/road-trip-activity-book-ages-4-8

Road Trip Scavenger Hunt: https://www.subscribepage.com/packing

Conversation Starters Blog Post: https://www.emilymkrause.com/blog/engaging-conversation-starters-for-families

Travel Clipboard for Kids: https://amzn.to/4f64ij3

Road Trip Bingo: https://rstyle.me/+2j0n8F9lg4pER4POtug1CQ

Dry Erase Sleeves: https://amzn.to/4jNBte1

Crayola Color Wonder: https://amzn.to/4isOCrA

Textured Rubbing Plates: https://amzn.to/43YrMEM

Yoto Mini: https://amzn.to/4grSDfh

Mad Libs Book: https://amzn.to/42HQjf9

Reusable Sticker Books: https://amzn.to/4iqhmkI

Sticker Puzzles: https://amzn.to/4jeAEuJ

Travel Tangram: https://amzn.to/3Y8ZUKy

Magformers: https://amzn.to/3EI6YHc

Travel Magnatiles: https://amzn.to/4jHpKNO

Brain Quest: https://amzn.to/4lFzZnJ

Road Trip Activities Blog Post: https://www.emilymkrause.com/blog/50-road-trip-activities-for-kids-ages-4-8

FIND ME AT:

Blog: http://www.emilymkrause.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amomexplores/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amomexplores

EMAIL ME AT:

hello@amomexplores.com

Whether you're on a budget and saving up for bigger trips, or you're new to travel with kids and don't know where to start, being a tourist in your own city, state, or region might be the solution for you!

This topic is near and dear to my heart because I got my start as a travel writer touring my own state. We did day trips and the occational overnight or weekend trip to visit as much of Florida as we could to get content!

Once we moved back to Wisconsin, we started the process over in Wisconsin and the Midwest at large. I spent almost an entire day making a Midwest bucket list, and within the next 2 years we checked off so many amazing spots we never even knew the midwest had to offer.

Staying close to home allows you to bail on the trip if the kids just aren't having it. It allows you to save money by bringing food from home. You feel comfortable being familiar with the area, and you can see if friends and family will join you!

It also helps you see your area with new and fresh eyes.

FIND ME AT:

Blog: http://www.emilymkrause.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amomexplores/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amomexplores

EMAIL ME AT:

hello@amomexplores.com

Today's episode is all about our spring break road trip through Washington State! We stopped in Olympic National Park (See previous episode for more details), Leavenworth, and Seattle.

FIND ME AT:

Blog: http://www.emilymkrause.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amomexplores/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amomexplores

EMAIL ME AT:

hello@amomexplores.com

On today's episode of the Travel with Kids podcast, we're talking all about Olympic National Park in Washington State. It's located on the Olympic Peninsula, and the best option for visiting a National Park in spring (especially if you're not used to driving in the mountains in snow).

We stayed at Kalaloch Lodge

which was the perfect spot to stay in winter and spring because it's on the coast and close to the beautiful beaches and the rainforest.

If we were to visit in summer, I would do 3 or 4 nights in the park, and split our time between Kalaloch Lodge and Lake Crescent Lodge.

Lake Crescent Lodge is closer to Hurricane Ridge, a mountain area with great views and hikes, but it wasn't open during our visit (too snowy).

Hurricane Ridge is an amazing spot to visit in summer with kids, though!

And, of course, Lake Crescent itself is beautiful, with plenty of hikes and activities to do.

Our favorite hike was Maple Glade Rain Forest Trail, a .5 mile loop trail in the Quinault Rainforest. (Hoh Rainforest was closed during our visit because the road washed out).

DO NOT MISS the coastline. Ruby Beach was the perfect spot for sunset, and Beach #4 had great tidepools. Just make sure to go during low tide. (all of these spots were near Kalaloch Lodge)

Links:

Unbound Merino: https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=2726326&u=1451817&m=125871&urllink=&afftrack=

Yoto Mini Player: https://amzn.to/3E1OgKs

FIND ME AT:

Blog: http://www.emilymkrause.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amomexplores/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amomexplores

EMAIL ME AT:

hello@amomexplores.com

Today's episode is all about our trip to Paris for my daughter's 5th birthday! We spent 2 days in Disneyland Paris (see previous episode), and 3 days in Paris.

I'll share where we stayed, what we did, and what I though was worthwhile to do with kids!

Links:

Zoe Stroller:

https://glnk.io/zlzjm/amomexplores

Hotels:

Hotel Londres Eiffel: https://www.hotel-paris-londres-eiffel.com/en/

Best Stay Jeuneurs

There are affordable apartment-style options for larger families, and it looks to be in a great location (about a 20-minute walk from the Louvre).

Crowne Plaza Paris Republique

Truth be told, I almost booked this hotel. I'm a big fan of IHG and have stayed in IHG hotels in Belgium and Scotland. Both were wonderful experiences. They have rooms that fit families of 5 or 6, and breakfast options, too. I really liked the location, but it was just slightly more expensive than the hotel we booked.

Fraser Suites Le Claridge Champs Elysees

This was another option on my short list of places to book. We were looking at a 1-bedroom option for our trip, but I found that there are 2-bedroom options as well. This is also a little more on the expensive side, but the location cannot be beaten

FIND ME AT:

Blog: http://www.emilymkrause.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amomexplores/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amomexplores

EMAIL ME AT:

hello@amomexplores.com