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Backyard Road Trips

Zack Lamothe and Jim Wheeler

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Once an avid traveler, writer Zack Lamothe's faraway travel dreams were put on hold as he became a father in 2015. Since then, he's focused on traveling in his own backyard. First a website, and now a podcast where cohosts and New Englanders, Zack and Jim Wheeler talk hiking trails, family-friendly activities, places they enjoy, craft beer and whatever else they desire to. (Along with plenty of harebrained banter). Read more at www.backyardroadtrips.com
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Travel with Kids is a podcast that makes travel easier and more attainable for the average parent. Hosted by Emily Krause, the creator of A Mom Explores blog, you'll find tips and tricks for family travel, deep dives into planning trips to specific destinations, and a few funny stories about the chaos that comes with parenting on-the-go.
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We are a family of four who loves to eat, drink, parent, educate and travel as a family and with friends. We don’t really look at our travels as vacations but as creating memorable experiences to cherish. We absolutely love exploring the world with our children to expose them to the wonders of this world. We didn’t want to have our kids live in the LA bubble but realize how people all over the world live, eat, and celebrate life. People always ask us how we travel with our two kids and still ...
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Planning a family trip to Savannah, Georgia? In this episode, we’re diving into everything you need to know for an unforgettable visit with kids! From exploring Savannah's charming historic district and iconic squares to taking a fun and educational trolley tour, we’ve got your itinerary covered. We’ll share tips on: ✨ Where to Stay: Best family-fr…
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Jim and Zack reflect on a season of hiking, detailing their western Connecticut journey from this past summer. They also reflect on a season of drinking craft beer, including some of the least impressive beers that they've had. Jim previews his life-changing hike to the top of Maine's Mt. Katahdin, which will be further explained in a future episod…
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In today's mini episode of the Travel with Kids Podcast, we'll cover a few questions submitted by listeners. We'll discuss how to get kids to sleep on long haul flights, how we choose family vacation destinations, getting kids to enjoy sightseeing, and finding food for picky kids on trips. We'll be back to our regularly schedule episodes next week …
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In this episode, we’re taking you on a virtual tour of Tennessee’s best family-friendly destinations! Join us as we explore Nashville, Gatlinburg, and Rock City—three incredible spots packed with activities for kids of all ages. From interactive museums and scenic trails to enchanting caverns and mountain adventures, we’ve got tips, recommendations…
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In today's episode of Travel with Kids, I'm chatting with Gemma and Daniel, the co-founders of No Reception Club, about their journey as parents who love to travel. We discuss the importance of traveling with young kids, the challenges you might face, and how Gemma and Daniel created a travel gear brand specifically designed for families. We also t…
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Ready to take your family’s adventures global? In this episode of the Travel with Kids podcast, we’re breaking down everything you need to know about planning your very first international trip with your kids. From applying for passports and checking visa requirements to navigating foreign transportation and booking family-friendly accommodations, …
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Jim and Zack discuss their quintessential autumn playlists. From songs about the season to songs that just scream "fall", these selections conjure up memories of crunching leaves with a slight chill in the air. These tracks will take you from the warmth of September to the spookiness of Halloween through the dreary but bountiful late November. Chec…
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Traveling with a big family doesn’t have to drain your bank account! In this episode of the Travel with Kids podcast, we’re sharing the ultimate guide to planning budget-friendly vacations for larger families. From finding affordable accommodations and scoring flight deals to saving money on food and activities, we’ve got you covered with practical…
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Welcome to our first mini episode! I didn't have as much work time as usual this week, so I thought I would throw together a quick and easy episode about what's working for me right now when it comes to packing. If you're looking for my FULL episode on packing tips and tricks, you can find that here: Packing Light with Kids: How to Avoid Overpackin…
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In this episode, we’re tackling a question on every family’s mind during the holiday season: Is it possible to travel over Christmas break without breaking the bank? I surveyed my Instagram community to ask HOW ON EARTH people afford to travel over Christmas break. I combed through hundreds of responses to bring you practical tips, strategies, and …
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In this episode, I’m taking you along on a press trip with Visit Jamaica, where I explored the vibrant cities of Kingston, Ocho Rios, and Montego Bay. From stunning resorts and family-friendly activities to those moments that are perfect for a kid-free getaway, I’ll break down everything you need to know for planning your own trip to Jamaica. I’ll …
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Join me as I take you along on an unforgettable birthday trip to Disney World's Hollywood Studios! In this episode, I share all the details from our visit to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, where we celebrated my son's special day immersed in the world of Star Wars. We’ll cover everything from where to stay, the must-do Star Wars experiences, and our fav…
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In this enchanting episode, we recount a magical birthday trip to Scotland with my daughter, where we explored iconic Harry Potter sights and immersed ourselves in the stunning landscapes of Edinburgh and the Highlands. From wandering through the cobblestone streets of Edinburgh, soaking up the city's rich history, to visiting the Hogwarts Express …
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In this episode, we take you along on our unforgettable family adventure through Guatemala! Join us as we explore the breathtaking beauty of Lake Atitlan, wander the charming streets of Antigua, and delve into the ancient wonders of Tikal National Park in Flores. From climbing an active volcano and roasting marshmallows at the summit to zip lining …
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Zack and Jim are glad to welcome acclaimed keynote speaker and author, Chris Dyer, onto the podcast. He delves into the dynamics of remote work and the importance of cultivating a strong company culture. Chris shares his company's transition to a fully remote model in 2009 due to the recession, emphasizing the need for a balanced satisfaction among…
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🎙️ Travel with Kids Podcast: Season 3 Kickoff! 🌍✨ Welcome to Season 3 of the Travel with Kids podcast! I’m beyond excited to dive back into our travel adventures and share all the amazing experiences we’ve had. This summer was a whirlwind of unforgettable destinations—Guatemala, Scotland, Disney World, and Jamaica! From exploring ancient ruins to e…
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It's time to reflect on the past with Zack, Jim, Andy, Andrew, Danny and Jackie. The gang's all here for this one! No, not the dinosaur past but the recent past and how things have changed. Seat belt laws, smoking sections, sunscreen, drinking water, and 4H Camp stories. Listen up, you've Dirked!By Zack Lamothe and Jim Wheeler
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The boys are back drinking.... soda. Do you remember Season 2, when we investigated if soda is a dirty word? Three years later we're digging up this topic once again. Instead of sticking to the big soda guys (Coca Cola, I'm looking at you) we're drinking periphery soda brands- Fresca, Moxie, Jones, well you'll have to listen to find out whatever el…
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It's the last episode before summer break! As a reminder, my podcast seasons will coincide with the school year, so we'll be back with season 3 at the end of August. Today as we all prepare for our summer adventures, road trips, flights, camping, family reunions, etc, I'm sharing my favorite and least favorite things about travel. FIND ME AT: Blog:…
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In today's episode, Jenn from Travel More Momma, a travel expert and mom of two, shares her experience and tips on traveling to all-inclusive resorts with kids. She highlights the convenience and stress-free nature of all-inclusive resorts, where everything is taken care of and decisions are minimized. We also discuss the downsides, such as the hig…
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Today's episode is all about family road trips! I'm sharing my top tips for packing for a road trip, organizing the car for a road trip, keeping kids entertained on a road trip, and the best road trips for families in the United States. Links: ChooMee (affiliate link) Amazon Storefront: Road Trip Activities Amazon Storefront: Road Trip Organization…
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Ah! The flowers are in bloom and it must be spring. For our spring episode, we're lucky to have Andy Heist with us in studio. After begging him for many years to come on Backyard Road Trips, he finally graced us with his presence. In addition to Andy, Zack's son Danny, his wife Jackie and his mom, Linda stop by to say hello. The group talk about al…
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Today's episode is all about visiting Puerto Rico with kids! Planning a family vacation to Puerto Rico? We spent 1 week in PR for our spring break and had the best time exploring the island. From El Yunque National Forest to the beautiful beaches and the charm of Old San Juan, there's so much to see and do in this US Territory! (And no passports ne…
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Zack and Jim have one thing to talk about, and that is Philadelphia. Zack recently got back from an outing to the City of Brotherly Love and shares with us the whole itinerary. From breweries to historic places, museums to Philly food, they talk about the best that the city has to offer. Along with travel tidbits of what to do in the present day, t…
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LEGOLAND was never on my bucket list, but when my son chose it for his birthday trip I had no choice but to visit. In this episode I'm sharing all about the LEGOLAND Hotels and whether I think they are worth it, tips for visiting the parks, the Florida parks vs the California parks, and my overall opinion. Links Blog Post: Pirate Island Hotel Revie…
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Today's epidsode is all about the basics of camping with kids! We cover what gear you need for camping for beginners, how to camp with a baby, camp with a toddler, and a few tips for packing. Mostly we discuss getting comfortable with being uncomfortable, and how to try new things with your kids. You don't want to miss this episode! Learn more from…
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Are you planning a trip to London with Kids? London is the perfect first international trip for families from the United States, and there are so many incredible family-friendly activities to do in this beautiful city! Today's guest, Keri Baugh from Bon Voyage with Kids is sharing her best tips and tricks for planning the perfect family vacation in…
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In today's episode, we're talking all about how to take better pictures on your next family trip! It can be hard to capture the moment as you remember it. The lighting is too harsh, the kids don't want to pose, or your photo just isn't turning out how you imagined it. Krista Taylor is sharing her top tips and tricks for getting family vacation phot…
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My top tips for surviving long haul flights or overnight flights with young children. We'll cover how to prepare and what to pack, whether you should get the bassinet seat, and how to help kids sleep comfortably on a plane. Blog Post: TIps for Flying with A Two-Year-Old Toddler Blog Post: Tips for Flying with A One-Year-Old Toddler Blog Post: 55 Be…
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Today we sit down with Ken Lamothe, Radio DJ/C-movie actor/slow pitch softball legend and Zack's dad to talk about his very favorite backyard road trips. The conversation touches on all of the most important topics; craft beer, vacations, ear piercings and backyard floods. Jim, Zack and Ken all discuss what surprising locations have made the best r…
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In today's episode I'm welcoming Kirsten Maxwell from Kids Are A Trip to help me come up with summer vacation ideas for families! The categories are: beach, cities, road trip, outdoors/nature. We’re each going to suggest a few options for each category! Beach: San Diego: - https://kidsareatrip.com/best-kid-friendly-summer-activities-san-diego-calif…
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In today's episode I'm spilling all the tea about what it's like to be a travel content creator Do I travel for free? How do I earn money? What does a typical work day or week look like? What do trips look like as a travel content creator? How can you get started? Be sure to subscibe to stay up to date on all of my best travel with kids tips, behin…
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Jim and Zack bring in some hired help for this taste test; Danny and Ken- with three generations of Lamothes in all. They sit around and drink... milk substitutes. Tell the cows to stay in the barn because they sample Oat, Almond, and Soy. Which fake milk do you think came out on top?By Zack Lamothe and Jim Wheeler
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This week's episode will walk you through a 7-day road trip through Southern California, including Los Angeles (kind of), Carlsbad and LEGOLAND California, La Jolla, San Diego, and Palm Springs. Sand Diego is one of the most kid-friendly destinations in the United States with the world-famous San Diego Zoo, countless museums, theme parks, beaches, …
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Leading off for Season 5 is a special two part combined episode, a before and after guide to New York City. In the first half of the episode Jim asks Zack about his upcoming overnight to New York City. For the first time and after much pleading by his oldest for years, Zack is bringing the family to the Big Apple. He gives a rundown of what they pl…
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In today's episode we're talking about how to pack light when traveling with kids! I've spent years perfecting my system to avoid overpacking when you have babies, toddlers, and young children. It's definitely not easy, and takes a lot of work upfront, but I find it makes the trip more relaxing and enjoyable when you bring less STUFF. Links: Amazon…
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In today's episode, I'm answering questions you submitted on Instagram stories! If you're not already following my Instagram @amomexplores, be sure to follow along there for behind the scenes, play by play updates on our trips, and even more tips for travel with kids. Mentioned in the episode: Zoe Stroller: https://glnk.io/zlzjm/amomexplores Be sur…
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On today's episode, we're discussing how to plan your perfect vacation itinerary from start to finish. I'm sharing my exact process for researching a trip, then how I choose which hotels, resorts, or vacation rentals to book, and finally how I choose what to fill each day of the trip with. I include my favorite resources for vacation planning, like…
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Planning a Walt Disney World Vacation can be overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be! In this episode I'm interviewing Jeanette Loechel, the founder of Royal Carriage Vacations, a Luxury Disney Travel Agency. Their motto is "People First," and they specialize in helping you plan a magical Disney vacation by taking care of all the details so you can…
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This week on the Travel with Kids Podcast I'm bringing my husband, Justin, on to help me share about our first international trip as a family of 6: Costa Rica! We'll share our one week itinerary for a family vacation to Costa Rica, how much it costs to travel to Costa Rica as a family of 6, and a few tips to know before you go. We flew into San Jos…
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Do you love the Harry Potter books? If so, I'm about to share with you how to have the most fun year ever: make it a Harry Potter year! The highlight of your year will be visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park in Universal Orlando. I'm going to give you my exact one-day itinerary for visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. We…
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Author and educator, Ian Cheney joins Zack and Jim to showcase their new podcast project, Red and White at Silver. As graduates of the Norwich Free Academy (CT) Class of 2001, the three are in the midst of recording this new podcast. As a preview, Ian, Zack and Jim describe what the new podcast is all about. They also share their own experiences as…
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If one of your New Years Resolutions in 2024 is to travel more as a family, keep listening to this episode! Even if you're on a tight budget, creating travel opportunities for your family is all about being intentional. I'll walk you through how to schedule travel into an already busy calendar how to budget and save for travel how to make your trip…
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2023 has been our biggest travel year yet as a family! We spent a lot of time on planes with kids, on trains, in cars, and walking around cities. We spent a lot of time packing and unpacking. I learned a lot about myself, and I learned a lot about what works and what doesn't work when it comes to travel with kids. If you're planning to travel or ta…
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If you're looking for an awesome Christmas getaway, Asheville is the perfect destination! The weather is mild, the views are spectacular, and there are so many festive things to do with kids! Definitely include the Biltmore Estate, the National Gingerbread House Competition at the Omni Grove Park Inn, and a drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Plus thi…
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If you want to take more family vacations but you're on a budget, this podcast episode is for you! Today's episode will cover how to get started with points and miles to travel for less with a family. I'm interviewing Abby from Wayfaren Co ALL about simplifying the world of credit card points for travel. Abby hopes to help families take those dream…
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Annually Jim and Zack taste fall beers for this podcast. It dawned on them that they have never held an actual Oktoberfest-only beer taste test. Atoning for their past sins, this was remedied with a taste test with everything under the Oktoberfest umbrella. These include the namesake Oktoberfest beers, Fest Biers and Marzens. In sampling, the pair …
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Our road trip from Las Vegas to Death Valley National Park and back was one of our favorite family spring break trips! It was budget-friendly, there was warm weather, and no crowds. I'm sharing our itinerary and tips for visiting Las Vegas with Kids as well as what national parks, state parks, and recreation areas are within driving distance. Death…
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