Growing up, my family had the opportunity to do quite a bit of traveling.
Even though we didn’t have a lot of money, my parents thought it was important that my bother, I mean brother, and I got to experience travel. We even got to live and travel in Europe for many years.
For some reason, probably exhaustion and lack of effort, Dumb Dad and I didn’t get on the travel train with our Dudes until recently. The effort of going on a vacation coupled with our limited expendable income made travel hard in our early years as a family.
And then?
We sorta just got used to NOT traveling. Like, the thought of going on a for real vacation didn’t even cross my mind until like 2010 when I came up with the idea that we should pack up The Dudes, the Mimi, and embark on a 7 hour journey to Myrtle Beach for a week.
We’ve been a hardcore pretty-softcore-but-it-still-counts traveling family ever since.
Last year alone we went to all of these fun places…
Inspired?!
Well, you should be!
Unless of course you’ve been strapping your baby to your back and hitting the road with nothing more than a GPS to guide you since changing your name to mom. Then, forget me and my coupla vacations and try not to laugh.
But, no matter what level of traveler you are, considering-it-soon or just-got-back, I’ve got something exciting to share with you: Trekaroo Rewards!
Trekaroo is the best family travel review site on the Internet (I may be biased because I write for them, but whatever, it’s true; even Technorati says so!). They offer expert reviews from real moms who travel with their real families to places other real families can really afford and would also really like to go to. Real moms, like me, and real families, like Dumb Dad and The Dudes.
Trekaroo is celebrating their 4th birthday by bringing back Trekaroo Rewards!
I know, it seems strange because they are going to give YOU gifts on their birthday, but that’s just ‘cause they’re cool like that.
So, how do you get in on this getting-gifts-for-someone-else’s-birthday fun?!
All you need to do is write 10 reviews between now and February 28, 2013. You can even earn bonus gift cards for referring friends (and of course friends includes people you only know on Facebook and Twitter)! For each friend who joins during the reward period and writes 10 reviews of their own, you can earn an additional $5 gift card when they name you as their referral. Hurry, because the Birthday Welcome Rewards has a limited budget of $3,000 and once it runs out, the offer ends!
For all the details and to get started, go to Trekaroo Birthday Rewards.
What are you feeling Wordful about this week?! Link up and then check out my co-host’s Wordful post at Seven Clown Circus.
Here are our faves from last week’s linky!
- First, we’d like to send a shout out to the fresh-from-the-womb little dude over at Daily Dribbles! New baby pictures are always our faves!
- A thoughtful post about how each of our children has a different experience even growing up in the same house! Do your younger kids have a better life than your older ones?! Weigh in at Mom of 6!
- Give it up for Run DMT for finishing another marathon. I want to be her when I slim down grow up!
- Love to see devoted photogs keeping with their 365 projects. I don’t have it in me! Way to go Lipgloss and Binky!
Y’all do some awesome trips! They are coming for us…I hope:)
It’s been a long time since I linked-up …. last JULY!! Time flies!!
I LOVE the pic of your boys’ shadows!!
I barely made it this week! Thanks again for the love.
I cannot wait until beach weather. I’ve had it with this wishy washy winter!
You have some really lucky boys! They are going to have so many fun memories.
We don’t travel much, but do love runs to the coast. Kidlets are still kidlets, but getting older, so we want to get out with them and have some, TONS – okay, in reality, how about Lots – of fun! :> Love all the pics & smiles!
Doesn’t driving for 30 minutes count as travel when a tired baby is involved?… No? ;-) Your boys are gonna be travel experts before you know it – and look, you’ve given them awesome memories too!
Looks like you visited some really nice locations. :)
I wish I could travel more with my whole brood…but considering how pricey it can be to travel with 7, we’ve done our fair share. Last year, I traveled a lot sans kids….and I think I need to do more of that!
Man I can’t wait for spring and summer to take some family trips! Love all the photos!! :)
It’s always inspiring to see others take a trip & I’m always game to get in the car & head out somewhere different. I’m dying to get home. We had planned a real nice vacation with my parents on the beach – unfortunately when we found out we had to move- it was right during that time. So after waiting 2 years to get home, we had to cancel the trip. I am anxious for us to finish our first year here & then start planning to make that trip happen.
Ooooh, I didn’t know about this site. I’ll definitely have to check it out. We took our first mini-vacation (one night, two days) last summer and are definitely looking to schedule a few more once the weather warms up. Affordable is key for us!
Those are some great vacation photos! I’m amazed you got all the way to the North Pole:)
Fantastic photos! I especially like the ones on the beach.
Sounds pretty interesting!
We’re pondering a trip to Universal Studios… without all the kids :::GASP::: so I may have to check it out and see what I can find!
Amanda, you’re hilarious. I always love your sense of humor. Thanks for sharing about all your adventures with The Dudes and Dumb Dad…and sharing about Trekaroo with all of your wonderful readers. There’s lots of ways Trekaroo families travel near and far from home on a budget. Trekaroo actually sends our Superoo families on trips. Yup you heard that right. So, welcome to y’all! (no, I’m not from the south, but for some reason where I come from we say y’all too.)
Oh man, so many great memories for your Dudes! And you too! Love it! :D
Wow I have never heard of this site. I am a travel nurse- traveling the country with my kids. I would love to write for them- I al,ways love looking at your pictures! Thanks for sharing!
How fun! I love that they are that flexible.