If you’ve missed previous newsletter emails that I’ve sent out, you can find them below! I don’t archive the What to Be Planning ones because they are typically only relevant in the month they are sent. Let me know if any of these make you eager to travel!
Last month I mentioned that I'd be (river) cruising the Rhine and it was so FUN! If you've ever wanted to experience multiple countries in Europe but don't want to have to pack and unpack all the time as you move around, a river cruise is an excellent option for you! I’ve got some of my favorite things about the cruise in this newsletter.
Read MoreSeptember is always bittersweet, as it marks the end of summer and my kids going back to school (giving me more solid, uninterrupted working time). It also typically marks the month of a big travel conference where I get to see friends & colleagues that I don't often get to see in person. This September also brings me to Europe, to experience a river cruise along the Rhine river!
Read MoreAugust is my favorite, and it's not just because it's my birthday month and I'm a Leo who loves birthday attention! :) It is because some of my favorite local attractions open: The Renaissance Festival, and the Minnesota State Fair (now crowned the best State Fair in the country according to USA Today).
Read MoreThis month ended the kids' Kindergarten & 4th grade years at school, and it is Malcolm's birthday month! To celebrate, we did a day full of things Malcolm loves: ate giant pancakes for breakfast, went to the Mall of America for candy, rides, and lunch, and had yummy ice cream on the way home. He had a great day, and so did the rest of the family!
Read MoreWe got up to the 80's at least this May, so we've been having water balloon games in the front yard a lot, as well as enjoying the summer-like temps. But then poof it was gone again as quickly as it had come, and we went back to 40's gloom and rain.
Also, I’m thrilled to finally share a unique small-group experience in Israel.
Read MoreThis month is EV's birthday, and she is now double digits! She has been telling me that she is a teenager now, despite me pointing out that "ten" doesn't have "teen" in the word and that she is more of a pre-teen. But she insists and she calls herself a ten-ager now.
Read MoreI just got back from the best time - experiencing Ireland with a group of 15 friends (old & new)! We had so much fun getting to know each other, sharing some pints (and chocolate, those Cadbury treats were my jam), and learning more about the long struggles the Irish have endured over the centuries.
Read MoreThis year, I purchased a 4th grade pass for EV so that we could go snowboarding together. We finally got a chance to use it for the first time this month - there just hadn't been much snow until now! She gave it a good try and has said she would try again another day - now we just need to find another time to go when there is still snow on the ground and the weather isn't too frigid!
Read MoreThis month has been busy, busy, busy for me with new trip inquiries flying in! But it's important to take time to check out the craziness that is Minnesota culture so that's just what the kids and I did on Sunday: we experienced the Lake Harriet Winter Kite Festival for the first time.
Read MoreMy business has continued to grow and I couldn't have done it without the travelers who've trusted me with their itineraries, the many fabulous referrals, and the positive reviews that have been left for me.
I'm so excited to see what 2025 brings, but before I do, let's take a look at what 2024 had in store…
Read MoreAs I take the day to celebrate and recharge, I wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude. Your trust in me to help craft your travel experiences means the world to me, and it’s truly a gift I treasure. Thank you for letting me be part of your journey—it’s an honor I don’t take lightly.
Read MoreTo own a small business is no easy feat, and even the most dedicated entrepreneur cannot do it alone: we need stupendous clients to make our dreams work. So in this season of thankfulness and gratitude, please know: I am so thankful for you and your continued support of my business.
Read MoreMid-month, I attended the European Travel Agent Forum in the Azores (a Portuguese island chain in the Atlantic). First of all - if you haven't been here, it was BEA-U-TI-FUL. It reminded me of a cross between Hawaii (there are 9 islands here and each is a little bit different with different charm) and Ireland (lots of quaint farms with cows roaming, and very green). I only got to explore one island, Terceira, but some of my colleagues went on to see 2 or 3 others, and their pictures and stories were amazing. If you're looking to check this island chain off your bucket list, I'd recommend planning to travel in the summer months, when weather is warmest and there's the most activities going on.
Read MoreThis month I joined my colleagues in travel at an annual conference in Funner, CA, and it was indeed Fun! But more importantly, I was able to connect with tour operators and travel suppliers, network with my friends and colleagues, and win a Monarch Agency award!
Read MoreNot only is it my birthday month (yay! happy birthday to me!), but it is also the month we head up to the cabin for a family weekend and the one in which the Minnesota State Fair and the Minnesota Renaissance Festival begin! So much fun in just one month!
Read MoreWe loved the city we used to live in, Robbinsdale, as it always felt like a small town right in the big city. Because of how much we still love it, not only is Experience Culture Travel in the Robbinsdale Chamber of Commerce, but we also love going to Robbinsdale for their Whiz Bang Days celebrations every July! One of our favorite aspects of the celebrations is the parade. It is one of the last pieces of Whiz Bang Days and occurs at 3pm on Sunday. We've hardly ever missed one!
Read MoreSummer's kicked off and we're off to a good start. Last summer was the first summer where I had the kids home with me full time, and it got a little chaotic by the end. So, in light of that, this summer I made a daily schedule to try to keep a bit or order (while still allowing for a lot of fun)! One item on the list that I think will be good for everyone is cleaning the house - each person (me, EV, and Malcolm) has a designated hour of cleaning in the morning before being able to play with friends.
Read MoreWith sun and warm weather, the Browns love to bike! (Minus Dad, who doesn't enjoy biking.) This summer, our goal is to average about 25 miles per week. EV is a great biker, has already done a 10-miler day this year, and is fully onboard for the goal. Malcolm hasn't yet learned to ride a bike, so he sits in the trailer and on trails will get out and very speedily scooter for a ways.
Read MoreThis month we celebrated EV's birthday with some of her favorite things: cats, bowling, cake, and presents! She's been into learning origami recently, but didn't have any square shaped paper (meaning I had to help cut precise squares out of normal rectangular paper) so she got some real origami paper as one of her presents.
Read More2024 has hit us a little harder than most years do - with ER visits, family medical scares, and now our beloved cat, Ptolemy, has crossed the rainbow bridge. It was quite unexpected - he hadn't shown signs of feeling unwell until just last week, but his illness was so great that we were faced with the difficult decision to help him pass to end his suffering.
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