In this episode I'm sharing which aspects of family travel are worth the splurge (in my opinion), and which aspects I always try to save on. The categories include:

• Destinations
• Flights
• Hotels
• Transportation
• Souvenirs
• Experiences + Tours
• and more!

This lighthearted episode is meant to get you thinking about where you can cut corners and when to be a big spender on family vacation.

FIND ME AT:

Blog: http://www.emilymkrause.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amomexplores/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amomexplores

EMAIL ME AT:

[email protected]

I'm sharing how I use points and miles for a family of 6 who can only travel during popular travel times like spring break and summer vacation.

I am certainly not a points and miles expert - there are so many other podcasts out there who are so much more knowledgeable. I just wanted to share how I use points and miles as a normal person who only dabbles in the hobby to offset some of the costs of traveling with a big family.

Related Episode:

How to Use Points and Miles for Your Next Family Vacation

FIND ME AT:

Blog: http://www.emilymkrause.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amomexplores/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amomexplores

EMAIL ME AT:

[email protected]

Today I'm just chatting about my phrase of the year, my goals for 2026, and our potential travel plans even though I have nothing booked yet.

FIND ME AT:

Blog: http://www.emilymkrause.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amomexplores/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amomexplores

EMAIL ME AT:

[email protected]

In this episode, I'm sharing what changed my life in 2025 for the better, what lessons I learned from what didn't work, and sharing a quick recap of the trips we took in 2025 -and giving them superlative awards.

FIND ME AT:

Blog: http://www.emilymkrause.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amomexplores/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amomexplores

EMAIL ME AT:

[email protected]

Happy Christmas Eve! Dropping a little lore today by sharing what got me into travel in the first place, and why I continued to prioritize travel when we started having kids, even though we were on a TIGHT budget.

FIND ME AT:

Blog: http://www.emilymkrause.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amomexplores/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amomexplores

EMAIL ME AT:

[email protected]

In today's episode we're talking all about what to do in Vail, Colorado with kids in winter time if you don't ski! Whether you're visiting at Christmas time to get in the Christmas spirit, or during January-March, there's so much to do and see in this scenic mountain town beyond the slopes.

I'll cover how to get to Vail, where to stay in Vail with Kids, and what to do in winter other than ski!

Links:

Blog Post: The Ultimate Guide to Vail in Winter with Kids for Non-Skiers

FIND ME AT:

Blog: http://www.emilymkrause.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amomexplores/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amomexplores

EMAIL ME AT:

[email protected]

In today's episode, I'm answering questions from an Instagram Q&A box! We have a few questions about planning trips (how far in advance to book, best way to budget for a trip, and how to decide on destinations), and a few content creation tips (how to improve short form video, and how to grow a travel instagram account).

Links:

Going

Thrifty Traveler

Podcast Episode: Journey from 0-100K on Instagram

Podcast Episode: Travel On A Budget with A Bigger Family

FIND ME AT:

Blog: http://www.emilymkrause.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amomexplores/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amomexplores

EMAIL ME AT:

[email protected]

Today I'm sharing my opinion on several "controversial" travel topics I've seen online, from babies on planes, to overcrowded tourist destinations, and fast travel vs slow travel.

FIND ME AT:

Blog: http://www.emilymkrause.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amomexplores/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amomexplores

EMAIL ME AT:

[email protected]

Chicago is one of the most festive cities in the USA to visit at Christmas time with kids, so in today's episode I'm sharing all of the fun things to do with kids in Chicago at Christmas.

I'll share the hotel we stayed at, top things to do from the Christmas Markets to epic ice skating spots, where to get hot chocolate, and more!

Reels:

Chicago at Christmas

24 Hours in Chicago - Day 1 Vlog

FIND ME AT:

Blog: http://www.emilymkrause.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amomexplores/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amomexplores

EMAIL ME AT:

[email protected]

After living in Florida for 5 years and exploring so much of the state as a travel writer and content creator, then taking several Florida vacations after moving back up to the Midwest, I have so many Florida vacation suggestions for families that I needed to talk about it for almost an hour!

In this episode we talk about:

• Amelia Island
• St. Augustine / Flagler Beach
• Fort Lauderdale
• Miami
• Florida Keys
• Fort Myers, Sanibel, and Captiva
• Tampa, St. Pete, Clearwater
• Destin + 30A
• Pensacola

Here are all of my blog posts on Florida destinations if you want to dig deeper:

https://www.emilymkrause.com/florida-travel

FIND ME AT:

Blog: http://www.emilymkrause.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amomexplores/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amomexplores

EMAIL ME AT:

[email protected]