adventureswithmom9

The Italian Lifestyle… swoon!

We went to Italy for my brother’s wedding with about 150 of our closest friends and family. The first week of the trip was dedicated to the wedding, the second week we took a familymoon with a group of about 15.

In all of our travels we’ve found virtually everywhere to be very warm and welcoming to children, but Italy is on a whole other level. There, the children seem to take centerstage and I’m just in awe of their lifestyle. Everyone has their own gardens, food is made from scratch with such passion and the art of simply enjoying life is ingrained in the culture.

We began our trip in Santa Maria di Castellabate, which is in the province of Salerno. It attracts a lot of tourist, but mainly other Italians on their summer holiday. During the day, the azure beaches are busy. At night and even into the wee morning hours, the streets are filled with families. Kids are sleeping in their strollers or eating gelato or listening to the parents lively conversations over wine at the piazza. It was wonderful!

Pompeii is nearby and even at just five-years-old, Jake loved it!

From Castellebate we headed to Puglia and stayed in the most incredible masseria, or old farm house. Set among the ancient olive orchards, the Masseria Montenapoleone dates back to the 1600’s. This beautifully renovated bed and breakfast features an incredible restaurant, stunning pool, and fun options for cooking classes. The property is also ripe with fig, lemon and almond trees where you can pick fruit and eat it right from the tree outside your room. The masseria is also just a short drive from I Trulli, Ostuni and more incredible beaches. In fact, you can snorkel at an ancient ship wreck just off the beach.

We finished our trip in Rome where Jake was awed by the great Colosseum, the ancient city, the Borghese Gallery and the underground catacombs. We booked a private tour, which is the way to go. Not only are they affordable, but they are easily customized. There are many companies to choose from including Private Tour of Rome and Rome Private Guides.

Down Under and Wild!

I could write ten posts on Australia and I probably will. It is one of my most favorite places in the world. It’s wild and adventurous and FUN! Although it can be very dangerous, the culture in its fearlessness somehow reassures you that it’s safe. When all that separates you from a potentially fatal box jellyfish sting is a thin piece of nylon, it reminds you just how wild the world really is.

The first time I took Jake to Australia was when he was four. My mom, my sister, Jake and I went to visit my brother and his wife, that were living in Australia at the time. The 30+ travel-time and flight were surprisingly a breeze. Jake was a champ, Qantas is amazing and we watched TV and slept.

This trip opened Jake’s eyes to the exotic beauty of the natural world and how amazing the animal kingdom is.

One of our first stops was the Whitsundays. We took a boat tour, where we swam at Whitehaven Beach, snorkeled the Great Barrier Reef (Jake’s first snorkeling adventure) and went barefoot hiking. Jake loved it and so did we. Although, in all honesty, the box jellyfish were scary, but we kept our fingers crossed and wore our supplied stinger suits.

Barefoot hike on Whitehaven Beach

The stinger suit a.k.a. the little banana!

We also loved Australia’s zoos. Two of our favorite were The Australia Zoo and Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. Both zoos put an emphasis on conservation and education. Jake was able to see animals up close, which he loved and I hope opened his eyes to the responsibility he has to protect our planet and all of its inhabitants.

Australia is incredibly beautiful and full of adventure for all ages!

img_1346_2 — Cape Byron Lighthouse, Byron Bay

Vegas Baby

Most would consider Las Vegas an adult-only destination, but I will always consider it home. It’s also the first trip Jake ever took at just three-months-old. Lucky me, he slept the entire five-hour flight.

While the Strip gets the most attention, Las Vegas is also home to some incredible attractions. Whenever we visit we make sure to go hiking as much as possible, especially with my grandma that’s in her 90’s.

Just 17 miles west of the Strip, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is easy to get to. With miles and miles of hiking trails for all levels, as well as rock climbing, horseback riding, biking and more, Red Rock Canyon opens the beautiful Mojave Desert to adventure-seekers of all kinds!

Another amazing stop in Las Vegas is the Neon Museum. In the Boneyard, you will find a representation of Las Vegas’s unique history. The collection of old neon signs is beautiful yet eerie, and a treasury of relics you won’t find in most museums. Just keep in mind, there are hazards and this is not a place to run wild.