2TravelDads Podcast

Have you ever been on what was going to be the most epic trip only to have it cancelled once YOU'RE ALREADY THERE?! Well, that just happened to us, and being intense planners and very careful travelers, we had the joy of doing a mad scramble to find transportation, accommodations and activities for 8 days, 7 nights in Hawaii... during the busiest travel week of the year. We turned it into a Hawaii island hopping trip!

Give a listen to how we handled being stranded in paradise without a place to stay or way to get around. We truly did make the best of it, but had we not had the skills, points and financial capability to act quickly things would have turned out much differently.

To find out more about our favorite things to do in the Hawaiian Islands, top educational sites to visit and where to stay from Kauai to the Big Island, check out our blog articles:

Hawaii Guides -- Big Island -- Oahu -- Kauai -- Maui

I've learned a lot about travel over the years and for me it's second nature... but that is NOT the case for tons of people. In this episode we've got our friend Kate - anxious but brave traveler - sharing about what obstacles she faces with travel and how she combats the anxiety of the unknown. It takes a lot to overcome fears of all sorts, and managing the fear and anxiety is key.

As we dive into what travel anxiety is, and specifically how it can be mitigated, see what tips you can use for your own ease when you take a trip.

Background: Kate is heading to the UK with her family for the first time. This is their first international trip together and they've decided to take a big bite of all they can with heading to London, then up to Scotland and finishing with Amsterdam. Kate shares about the processes she's gone through, starting 9 months before their travel date, and the actions she's taking leading up to their departure.

We'll have Kate back on the podcast to talk about how the trip went after they return!

It might actually be true that I travel more with my best friend than I do with my husband or kids... I can neither confirm or deny this, but I can tell you that traveling with my best friend of 20 years really is an experience I'm thankful for. Kelly B is back on the podcast chatting with me (Rob Taylor) about our friendship, our relationship as non-spousal adults, and the benefits we both gain from taking these trips together.

Yes, people think it's weird that we travel so much together, but I'll tell you this: there's something very life-affirming about having an adventure with somebody you know deeply that ISN'T your spouse and who doesn't look at you as the other parent or as someone who holds a great deal of daily responsibility in their life.

Give a listen and consider what sort of travel you can plan with somebody you're not married to. The benefits are many, and the adventures awesome.

Check out just a few of the trips my best friend and I have conquered together and you'll understand some of our stories and interactions a bit better!:

Where to begin?! Glacier Country, Montana is always fun and interesting, but you should hear our youngest talk about it. In this episode of 2TravelDads Podcast we've got Elliott, our 8 year old, recounting his favorite highlights from our trip to Missoula, MT and Glacier National Park. My favorite part is listening to him talk about how we got stuck in a herd of moose. Yes, a herd.

Give a listen and hear all the details according to an 8 year old. Elliott shares what he enjoyed in Missoula and his favorite moments from hiking in Glacier National Park. I love how his personality shines through as he tells his version of our trip to Glacier Country. It warms my 40s something heart.

For more information and the specifics of our autumn travel to Montana, check out the blog. We're got guides for Glacier NP, planning tips, and more of what you'll find all around Glacier Country!

We visit the Florida Keys a lot, and really do spend a lot of time in Key West... on the water! Having done water tours and activities with the kids so many times, we for sure have our favorites. In this podcast episode we dive into some of our favorite snorkeling spots and tours, including recommendations for different tour companies to check out.

And do you know what we spend so much time on the water in Key West? It's because there is so much of it and the wildlife you see is incredible. From visiting Dry Tortugas National Park to snorkeling at Looe Key Reef, we have stories and tips for having an amazing Florida Keys trip with kiddos.

Be sure to check out our many Florida Keys articles on the blog! You can tell we love it there:

I didn't know that a luxury train ride across Canada was what was missing from my life. In this podcast episode, we dig into what it means to be a luxury train in North America and all the details from our adventure on the Rocky Mountaineer train from Vancouver BC to Banff, Alberta. Special co-host Kelly joins the podcast today to talk about what we experienced, from the service to the sights.

I'll admit, this sort of travel is NOT our norm, and Kelly and I do a lot of trips (4+ per year). When we embarked on the Rocky Mountaineer we were ready for a nice train with some beautiful views, but what we got was the equivalent of a luxury cruise on land.

Be sure to check out all the details about both the Rocky Mountaineer experience and the specific route from Vancouver to Banff on the blog. But don't stop there! We have tons of info about planning a trip to Banff, to Vancouver, doing a Canadian Rockies road trip and all sorts of luxury hotel info to go with it all.

Apparently I've been trying to acheive and upgrade my airline status wrong. In this podcast episode Chris shares how he's absolutely surpassing me at the mileage game with American Airlines and shares all of his hacks for maximizing it. He's two levels above me and we travel the same amount. What's the deal?!

Have a listen and see just what the scoop is on ways to earn loyalty points with American, what that means, what that gives you as you continue to climb the ladder, and how to do it easily. I'll admit, even though we live in the same house I was shocked to learn how Chris has really mastered this program. I know this will be helpful to others too!

Check out more of our travel tips, including Using Points for Travel (another podcast episode) and how we plan our adventures, here and on the blog at 2TravelDads.com!

We are all about finding happiness and joy in life, for our family and for ourselves. This means something different for everyone, but for us and for our friends Tammilee and John, this means re-evaluating WHERE we are in life and updating our homebase to become a source of joy.

You can read all about our own cross-country relocation and why we did it here, but in this episode we're talking with Tammilee about why she and her husband made the big change of moving from Spokane, Washington to Gulf Shores, Alabama. Hint: it's all about joy and finding their own place in the world.

From sorting through logistics and facing money trauma, give a listen and hear the what and why about seeking out unselfish joy in life.

Be sure to check out Tammileee and John's websites also, as they're both masters in their fields.  Tammilee Tips & Park Ranger John.

We love Hawaii and have been very fortunate to get to visit many times. In this episode we talk about how to plan a Hawaii itinerary, including island hopping options. If you've never been to Hawaii planning a trip there might seem very daunting, and you know what, it is. From budgetting for flights to logistics of getting from island to island, we're dishing on our approach to planning for Hawaii with kids. With kids! Yes, we also get into planning activities with kids too!

Listen in as we dig into how we've built out our 17 day Hawaiian adventure which includes the Big Island of Hawaii, Maui, Lanai and Molokai (and then back to Maui). We'll be doing island road trips on the Big Island and Maui (including Hawaii Volcanoes and Haleakala National Parks), and then sailing from island to island with UnCruise Adventures. More podcast episode will be coming all about this incredible experience in the Hawaiian Islands!

We just got back from exploring Portland and MidCoast Maine in winter. We live in Florida, so we weren't sure what to expect, but lemme tell ya, it was great! From snow and what it's like driving in Maine in the winter to all the different regional food was loved, that's what this episode is all about!

What you'll find (re: Maine food) - lobster, haddock, whoopie pies, potato donuts, needhams and more!

Check out our complete article about Visiting Maine in Winter, including our top picks for activities in the snow, and to get in from the cold with great musuems. Bonus: the Easiest Lighthouses to Visit in Maine!