I'm SO excited to officially announce my first women-only group trip! Join me (@amomexplores) for 8 days in Portugal, April 19–26, 2027.

This trip is for women who love to travel but are ready for someone else to handle the planning for once. 😉 We'll have incredible experiences together, plenty of opportunities to make new friends, AND lots of free time built in so you can make the trip your own.

📍 WHERE WE'RE GOING Lisbon • Arrábida Natural Park • Ericeira

📅 DATES April 19–26, 2027

💰 COST (AIRFARE INCLUDED!)

Double Occupancy: $4,400/person*

*A note about double occupancy: roommates are not assigned. If you choose double occupancy, you must have your travel partner listed when you register.)

Single Occupancy: $5,350/person

✈️ WHAT'S INCLUDED:

• Round-trip airfare from a major U.S. airport (regional airports may be available for an additional cost) • Transportation throughout Portugal • Airport transfer upon arrival, depending on arrival time • All breakfasts • 3 group dinners • Attractions and activities listed on our itinerary • A local guide throughout the trip

And we have SUCH a fun week planned.

Think: exploring Lisbon on a walking tour, sea kayaking, group yoga, wandering through small fishing villages, eating incredible food, and experiencing the beauty of Portugal together.

But I also specifically wanted this trip to have downtime.

There will be time to wander on your own, find a cute café, head to the beach, book a spa treatment, shop, take a nap, or grab a few new friends and go explore. You don't have to spend every minute of every day with the group!

My hope is that this trip gives you the best of both worlds: thoughtfully planned experiences with a group of women who love to travel AND the freedom to slow down and enjoy Portugal at your own pace.

And yes, you can absolutely come solo! You don't need to convince a friend to come with you. Choose single occupancy and you'll have your own room for the entire trip.

A quick note: This trip is being organized in partnership with Tom's Christian Tours. While both the tour company and I are Christian, this is not a faith-based or religious tour. There are no religious activities or requirements. This is simply a women's group trip focused on travel, connection, and fun. Women of all beliefs and backgrounds are absolutely welcome!

Ready to come to Portugal with me? 🇵🇹

This page has all the trip details, which includes a booking link! It will also be in my Group Trip highlight on Instagram.

Today's episode is Q&A style! We're talking about:

• Raising kids who are grateful + how it relates to travel
• Barefoot shoes for travel
• Dealing with Jet Lag with Kids
• Do my kids ever get sick of taking photos on trips?
• Hotel rooms for families of 6
• What mirrorless camera I use
• How to avoid overspending at your destination

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]

Summer travel season is HERE, and in this episode, I'm sharing all of the things currently helping our family travel smoother this summer, from what I'm buying before trips to packing strategies, long haul flight survival tips, road trip favorites, and the random little things that make travel feel easier and more fun.

This episode is very much a casual "travel mom chat," not a perfect packing guide or a list of strict travel rules. Just the things I genuinely love, use, and recommend right now as a mom of 4 who travels often during school breaks.

In this episode, we chat about:

• What I always buy before a summer trip
• My favorite travel essentials right now
• Packing tips that actually help for family travel
• How I approach packing for a family of 6
• Airport outfit formulas and what I wear on long flights
• Tips for helping kids sleep on overnight flights
• Current favorite travel books, shows, podcasts, and downloads
• Summer road trip essentials and snack strategies
• Tiny travel hacks that make a BIG difference

Whether you're planning a big Europe trip, a beach vacation, a summer road trip, or just trying to survive airport travel with kids, I hope this episode helps you feel excited and prepared for summer adventures ahead.

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]

Thinking about a family beach vacation that's a little more laid-back (and less crowded) than the usual Florida hotspots? In this episode, I'm sharing everything we loved about visiting Alabama's Beaches with kids from beachfront condo resorts and dolphin cruises to giant cinnamon rolls and indoor waterparks for rainy days.

I honestly think this is one of the most underrated beach destinations for families in the U.S., especially for Midwest families looking for an easy direct flight to the Gulf Coast.

In this episode, I'm sharing:

• Why Alabama's Beaches surprised us
• Staying at Turquoise Place with a family of 6
• The best family-friendly activities in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach
• Our experience with Sail Wild Hearts dolphin cruises
• Why Sandcastle University was one of the most unique activities we did
• Rainy day ideas including Fat Daddy's Arcade and OWA
• Family-friendly restaurants we loved
• Easy meals and take-and-bake options for condo stays
• Tips for planning your own Alabama beach trip with kids

Links:

Alabama's Beaches with Kids blog post

Turquoise Place by Spectrum Resorts - use code EMILYKRAUSE for 10% off your stay!

Allegiant Route Map

Happy Mother's Day!

In this episode I'm sharing my top hacks for travel with kids - all practical tips you can implement on your next trip!

I'll also share a few regular life mom hacks, and then I'm diving into lessons I've learned as a mom of 4. Take what works for you, ignore what doesn't!

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 sharing all the details of our Turks and Caicos trip - a kid-free getaway to celebrate my husband's 40th birthday!

Here's a link to where we stayed: Ocean Club East

Our goal was relaxation, so we didn't do any excursions or really even any sightseeing on this trip, and Ocean Club East was the perfect place to do that.

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's episode is all about having the best Euro Summer with kids! And by Euro Summer I just mean a 1-2 week vacation (maybe longer if you're lucky!).

I'm sharing what I've learned (sometimes the hard way) about packing light, what to bring to Europe in summer with kids, which ages are the best and which are the hardest for kids to explore Europe, how to structure your itinerary, and how to deal with picky eaters.

If you're traveling to Europe this summer with kids, hopefully this episode gets you excited for your upcoming trip, but I also hope it helps you feel more relaxed and prepared.

Here are some resources that may help!

Packing Video - my capsule wardrobe

Little Kid Packing Video / Big Kid Packing Video

Blog Post - Packing For A Trip to Europe with One Backpack Each

Blog Post - The Ultimate Guide to Planning A Trip to Europe with Kids

My Travel Essentials for Europe - Amazon Idea List

GROUP TRIP SURVEY:

If you are interested in joining me for a women's group trip, please take 2 minutes to fill out this survey! It will help immensely to plan a trip that actually works for moms in this community:

https://my.trovatrip.com/public/l/survey/emily-krause

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's episode is all about sharing our favorite summer vacation destinations and itineraries for families! Summer offers warm weather and more flexibile schedules, so it feels like the whole world is open to families! It can be hard to narrow down destinations when your bucket list is long but your vacation time and budget are limited.

I'm sharing our personal vacations in this epidode, and linking all of the itineraries below!

Best Summer Vacations in the USA for Families

Kid-Friendly South Dakota Road Trip Itinerary

Costa Rica 1 Week Itinerary for Families

2 Week Italy and Greece Itinerary for Families

The Ultimate 10 Day Guatemala Itinerary with Kids

2 Week Germany and Austria Itinerary for Families

1 Week Scotland Itinerary with Kids

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]

This episode covers the last portion of our spring break road trip from Nashville to Gatlinburg, and finally stopping in Louisville, KY before heading home.

We only had about 24 hours in Louisville, so this is by no means a comprehensive guide, but it was a great taste of this awesome city, and made me want to come back and experience all it has to offer!

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]

This episode is ALL about visiting Gatlinburg, TN with kids! We've visited twice - once in summer of 2018 with a 1, 3, and 5 year old, and now in spring of 2026 with kids ages 6-12.

Both were really fun experiences, so I'm sharing the pros and cons of visiting in spring vs summer, and which age is more fun for this type of trip.

I'm also recapping everything we did in Gatlinburg for our spring break, plus a few tips for visiting.

Links:

Family Travel Guide to Gatlinburg blog post

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]