The Modern Mother

Summer is officially over, and while the back-to-school transition is chaotic, I’m already searching for the best fall vacations for families. Fall is arguably the greatest secret in family travel. The industry calls it “shoulder season”—that magical window between summer peaks and the winter holidays where crowds thin out, temperatures drop, and travel prices plummet. … Read more

Editor’s note: This Icefields Parkway Stops with Kids blog is part of a larger series about our Canadian rockies trip. To see other posts: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 If you are planning a trip to Banff, everyone is going to tell you that you must drive the Icefields … Read more

If you caught Day 3 of our family vacation, you would know that the adrenaline is starting to wear off. We needed something to get the kids excited again (and not yet another hike). Enter: the Banff Gondola early morning family discount. Bribing the Kids (and Ourselves) at the Banff Gondola We kicked things off … Read more

If you caught our Day 2 guide to exploring Banff, you know we officially settled into our mountain home base in Canmore. After a solid night of actual sleep and some home-cooked meals, it was time to lace up our boots and hit our first official trail. When you look up the absolute best, easy … Read more

If you’re just joining our Canadian Rockies family adventure and looking for tips for traveling to Banff with three kids, make sure to catch up on our Day 1 survival guide to arriving in Calgary. By the morning of Day 2, that strategic buffer day had done its job. We woke up at our airport … Read more

Travel days are the tax we pay for beautiful memories. When you’re flying with two adults, three kids, and enough luggage to survive a mountain ecosystem for nine days, Day 1 isn’t about picturesque alpine views. It’s about logistics, emotional regulation (mostly my own), and snacks. Lots of snacks. If you’re looking for practical tips … Read more

Two years ago, while multi-tasking on a non-essential conference call, my algorithm started educating me about credit card points hacking. Naturally, I assumed this is something for DINKs and never would there be a credit card points travel strategy for large families like mine. I also thought “who has the time?” I currently manage the … Read more

I’ll be honest: when I signed up for an Enneagram class at church, my intentions weren’t exactly “spiritual growth.” I mainly did it for the guaranteed weekly 1-hour escape from the Third Shift—that invisible, relentless labor of managing everyone’s schedules, emotions, and misplaced socks. I expected a few personality charts and maybe a polite discussion. … Read more