Hey there! I’m Jessica and I founded Flying with Four in 2018 to share all there is to know about surviving and enjoying vacation and travel with kids! My love of travel, planning and organization are all key components of why I am here today.
I’m a mom of four young children (born in 2010, 2012, 2014 & 2017) living in the San Francisco Bay Area. I am also a proud wife of 11 years and a kindergarten teacher.
I am your every day mom, working hard to provide for my family, all while juggling the realities of mommyhood and well, life. I love adventures, all things Disney, and being outdoors. I enjoy planning for family vacations, as much as I enjoy going on the vacations (well, almost). I equally love spending time at home, especially during the holiday seasons. I am equal parts “realist” and “Pinterest” mom. I seek balance in all that I do in my daily life – and hope to share some of those secrets with you!
MY TRAVEL STORY
Where the love of travel began…
My fondest childhood memories are surrounded by the trips we took. I am from a large family myself, the third of four children. My parents sacrificed to put us through private education not leaving much in the budget for travel. However, we never missed our annual trip to Disneyland and semi-annual trips to Lake Tahoe (winter & summer). We also went camping often, and spent our summers visiting local amusement & water parks, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, and Monterey.
It wasn’t until I was in college that my love for travel blossomed. I had decided to study abroad in Australia for the year. When abroad, I think I spent more time traveling the eastern coastline of Australia, then I spent actually studying. I lived in the heart of Sydney, down the street from Darling Harbor. I would spend my weekdays in university and my weekends venturing out exploring Sydney. I was fortunate to spend 6 weeks backpacking up the eastern coast of Australia. I was able to sail the Whitsunday Islands, go 4×4 on the sand dunes of Fraser Island, and scuba dive the Great Barrier Reef. I was certain from that point on that traveling was for me.
While studying abroad, I also had a long distance love back at home waiting for me. We wrote letters (yes, real ones…with stamps), cards and postcards almost daily to one another. This was before iPhones and Facetime! My now husband of eleven years, Dave, had experienced traveling the world, and was patiently waiting for me to arrive back home. He knew that he had to give me this time to explore and experience travel. And I am so glad he did (not that he really had a choice)!
During our early years together we traveled at every opportunity we could. We are so fortunate that our jobs and schedule allow for ultimate flexibility with traveling. Day trips, weekend adventures, and once in a lifetime trips. We still continue to schedule in mommy and daddy get aways as often as possible. Even still, Lake Tahoe and Disneyland are two of our favorite get aways. Our children now help us dictate our next adventure. We look for places that are family friendly, accommodating for a large family, and provides ample opportunities to explore.
OUR FAMILY TRAVEL STORY
You’re taking the kids…what!!!???
Once you get bit by the travel bug, it simply does not go away just because you have children. Does travel become a little bit different? Absolutely! But does it mean that you shouldn’t travel…no way! Dave and I have never slowed down. If anything, we now have more excuses than ever to travel! Four little people that are just as excited to go on new adventures as we are. We have taken our children on road trips, cruises, European vacations, hikes in National Parks, Hawaii, Mexico, RV trips, Disneyland, camping…you name it we have either done it, or have it on the books to go. Traveling with our kids is an addiction – the more we go, the more we want to go see.
Traveling with children is no easy task. But like anything in life, the challenges and hurdles are outweighed by the rewards. With 9 years of adventuring with children, I have experienced a lot and want to share those moments with you. My husband reminds me every so often that we only have 18 summers with the kids. 18! That’s it! As their mom, I don’t want to look back on their childhood and say “I wish we would have…or maybe we could have.” I want to motivate and encourage you to do the same. Get out there, go, SEE, EXPLORE & TRAVEL WITH YOUR KIDS.
WHY FLYING WITH FOUR?
Parents, I hear you! Traveling with kids sometimes sounds like a logistical nightmare. I have been through some pretty crazy travel experiences with my kids in tow (mom + food poisoning + 20 hours of flights + 3 kids under the age of 6 = my worst nightmare), BUT having experience, my tips and tricks, and being prepared always helps traveling go smoother.
Traveling with kids consist of a lot of organization and preplanning. Or as I learned from a salty old skipper the 5P’s (Prior Planning Permits Perfect Performance.) Flying with Four is here to help you along the way to feel more confident to travel with your kids. I love writing about our adventures and (mishaps) so that you can better plan and execute your own family vacations and travel adventures. I hope you enjoy Flying with Four!
I love hearing from you! Contact me at flyingwithfour@gmail.com
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