Episodes

Gateway to the West Explore family-friendly St. Louis with local tips, free attractions, and food favorites Episode 86 – The Family Vacationer with Rob and Danny St. Louis, Missouri, might be known for beer, baseball, and blues hockey—but there’s so much more waiting for families. Rob and Danny welcome Kat Neville, VP of Communications at Explore St. Louis, to share insider tips on how to make the most of this historic, culture-rich city with kids of all ages. 🎙️ In this episode: Why St. Louis i...

Rob and Danny welcome writer and investigative reporter, Claire Trageser to the show to give you some tips on how to save money on your next family vacation! Here are her tips: 1. Be flexible. 2. Stay outside the city center. 3. Know where to look for deals. 4. Book early. 5. Or book at the last minute. * As a travel agent, this is the one that scares me right now. Last minute deals do still exist, but traveling last minute is super scary right now and you run the risk of missing out on the vac...

Episode 84 St Augustine Rob and Danny welcome special guest, Barbara Golden, Communications and Media Manager for St Augustine and Ponte Verdra Convention and Visitors Bureau to the show to talk about Florida’s Historic Coast. St Augustine offers 457 years of history and none of it boring. Places to see: Castillo de San Marcos National Monument Fort Matanzas Ponce de Leon's Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve Anastasia State Park St. ...

Baileys Harbor Wisconsin Nature, Festivals, and Family Fun on the Door County Peninsula Episode 83 – The Family Vacationer with Rob and Danny Located on the wild side of Wisconsin’s Door County peninsula, Baileys Harbor is a nature lover’s paradise—and an ideal spot for your next family vacation. This week, Rob and Danny talk with Cindy Poore, Destination Director at the Baileys Harbor Community Association, about the natural beauty, seasonal festivals, and family-friendly lodging that make Bail...

Caves and Corvettes. Bowling Green, KY is the subject of Episode 82 of the Family Vacation. Danny and Rob welcome Nora Bryant to the show. Location. Location. Location. The first thing to know about Bowling Green is that considering its central location, it's a great place to gather with friends and family. As mentioned in the opening, Bowling Green is known for Caves and Corvettes. The National Corvette Museum is a must-see attraction. Obviously, some parts of the attraction will appear to kids...

Rob and Danny welcome Heather Middleton, Senior Vice President of Marketing for the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corporation. She's been with the organization since 2004. Heather discusses all the things that make Nashville a family travel destination and answers the burning question of when Nashville became the bachelorette capital of the world. Neighborhoods. Nashville is a town made up of small communities and Heather talks about some of the neighborhoods that make this place special. Ac...

This was a fun episode and a little different. We kind of put this episode in two buckets. For those of you that have close friends that you've considered going on vacation with, we have a quick checklist to consider BEFORE going on that vacation. Just to make sure you keep that friendship intact. We didn't put this on the list, but maybe don't invite Jay Cutler on vacation with your family. ANYWAY..... The second bucket acknowledges a problem for a lot of us as we get married and have kids. It'...

Traveling with Neurodivergent Kids Dr. Emily King shares expert tips on family travel with ADHD, autism, and more Episode 79 – The Family Vacationer with Rob and Danny This week, Rob and Danny welcome back child, adolescent & family psychologist Dr. Emily King to tackle a vital topic: traveling with neurodivergent children. Whether your child has ADHD, autism, anxiety, or a learning difference—and whether you’re just noticing “only child behaviors” or navigating formal diagnoses—this episode is ...

Dad Life and Travel Stories Couch Dad’s Jorge De Moya talks family travel chaos, comedy, and Cuban roots Episode 78 – The Family Vacationer with Rob and Danny This week, Rob and Danny sit down with Jorge De Moya, host of the Couch Dad’s Podcast, for a hilarious and heartfelt conversation on growing up in a large Cuban-American family—and how those early adventures on boats to the Keys and the Bahamas shaped his approach to travel with his own wife and three kids. 🎙️ In this episode: Jorge’s wild...

Dan and his wife, Amber, took an Anniversary trip to Hilton Head Island. What's great is we covered HHI not too long ago on the show and Dan took advantage of that information on this trip!

Danny tells us about his recent anniversary trip to Hilton Head Island.

Packing Tips for Families 24 Smart Ideas to Pack Better and Travel Easier Episode 224 – The Family Vacationer with Rob Jones 🎒 Feeling overwhelmed before your next family trip? Rob is here with 24 practical, funny, and totally useful tips to make packing smoother and vacations less stressful — especially if your family has wildly different packing styles. 🧳 In this solo episode, Rob shares: How to make (and reuse) a master packing list Why packing early really does save your sanity Managing kids...

Travel Happier Together Author Amy White on Mindful Family Travel, Empathy, and Joyful Trips Episode 74 – The Family Vacationer with Rob and Danny 🧳 What if your next vacation could bring your family closer, reduce stress, and even build empathy in your kids? In this episode, author and travel writer Amy White joins Rob and Danny to explore how we can reframe family travel as a meaningful, even transformative, experience. 🎙️ In this episode, we cover: How the pandemic reshaped our perspective on...

Date: 3/8/22 Name of show: Three Spring Break Destinations Episode title and number: Episode 73 With Spring Break right around the corner, Rob and Danny give you three off the beaten path ideas for travel with your family. Fayetteville, WV, Lake Powell, AZ and Savannah, GA. Topics: · Fayetteville, WV – New River Gorge Park · Lake Powell, AZ – Houseboat Rental · Savannah, GA – Tybee Island Call to Action: · @thefamilyvacationerpodcast Facebook, @thefamilyvacationer Instagram https...

Date: March 1, 2022 Name of show: Hilton Head Island Episode title and number: Episode 72 Brieft summary of show: Hilton Head is not your typical beach vacation. The area is relaxing by design. The area is devoid of high rise condos and is covered in bike paths. Relaxation here is by design. HHI, offers one of the highest rates of repeat visitors. Meaning if you visit once, there’s a good chance you’re coming back again. Nature is the star here. Topics · Brief history of HHI · What is th...

Date: 2/22/22 Name of show: New Orleans Episode title and number: We would love to hear from you!! Leave us an audio message and we might just play your comment or question on the air. Record it at podinbox.com/thefamilyvacationer Brief summary of the show: New Orleans is well known as a place adults can have a good time. What’s lesser-known is how much of a family travel destination can be. Special Guest, Kelly Shuler talks us through all of the family-friendly options in this wonderful, uniq...

Date: 2/15/22 Name of show: Plymouth, MA Episode title and number: 70 Show summary: Rob and Danny welcome Paula Fisher from SeePlymouth.com to the show to talk about “America’s Hometown” Plymouth, MA. From Plymouth Rock at Pilgrim Memorial Park to the National Monument to the Forefathers, this town is a history lover’s dream. Show Topics: · Ways to take in the history of the town: Plimoth Patuxet Museum, Pilgrim Memorial State Park, Pilgrim Hall Museum · Captain John’s Boats · Where ...

Date: 1/8/2022 Name of show: Montreal with special guest, Martine Venne Episode title and number: Episode 69 Brief summary of show: Modern Montreal is a beautiful mix of culture with french influence being unmistakable. For families, the city offers a really fun mix that will surely cater to families with Children of all ages, playful atmosphere of the city is evident in the street performers at one of the main festivals in town, animals at the biodome. The older members of the family will appr...

Family Fun in Ottawa Canada’s Capital for Culture, Festivals, and All-Season Adventure Episode 68 – The Family Vacationer with Rob and Danny 🦫 🇨🇦 From skating the world’s largest ice rink to tasting your first beaver tail pastry, Ottawa offers year-round family fun in one of Canada’s most vibrant cities. In this episode, Rob and Danny sit down with Jan Steen van Creveld from Ottawa Tourism to talk museums, maple syrup, and why Ottawa deserves a spot on your family travel bucket list. 🎙️ In this ...

Join Rob and Danny for the final podcast of 2021 as they look back at all of the podcasts of 2021. From starting the year looking at ways to manage your family's vacation expectations to lots of fun and interesting destinations, 2021 was a great year for the Family Vacationer. What is 2022 going to look like for traveling families? Rob and Danny offer some thoughts as we move into year three dealing with the COVID era. Everyone at The Family Vacationer would like to wish you a Happy New Year!

Shreveport Holiday Travel Celebrating Christmas and Culture in Northwest Louisiana with Sheriece Rowell Episode 66 – The Family Vacationer with Rob and Danny 🎄 Looking for a holiday getaway full of lights, local flavor, and Southern hospitality? In this episode, Rob explores Shreveport-Bossier, Louisiana, a twin-city destination that shines bright for the holidays and beyond. Sheriece Rowell from the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau joins the show to talk about what makes the are...

We have been fortunate to cover some really interesting and unique towns that really go all out for the Christmas season. Eureka Springs is a spectacular town to visit and Special Guest, Madison Dawson gave us many reasons why. Victorian architecture, the mineral springs, local shops, and restaurants all make this town a must-visit at any time of year. The holidays just kick it up a notch. With so many events, the best way to follow those is to go to eurekasprings.org/christmas. There you'll ...

It's tough to beat the Christmas holidays in a small town. Galena, IL is a beautiful example of smalltown charm in a postcard setting. Special Guest James Hillis and Rob run through some of the holiday activities in Galena. Listen to Episode 64 now!