Hey Reader,

Hello from Victoria, BC Canada and Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Apparently I have some Irish ancestry back on my mom's side, but my English heritage from my dad's side was definitely more prominent in my family growing up. My Grandma was a war bride, brought over from London after the war, and I always remember being given weak tea and biscuits every Saturday visit growing up.

Do you believe in luck?

I have definitely been lucky more than a time or two travelling.

Like the first time Derek & I went on a solo trip after Miss S. was born (she was 5 by the way). We were flying down to Vegas for a few days, and our connection was tight.

Having to go through US customs in order to catch a connecting flight is a nightmare any day, but this particular day we had less than 30 minutes. Impossible. Luckily some angel pulled us out of the line and let us go ahead of everyone. We were the last people on the plane before they closed the gate.

I have to admit I believe more in following my intuition and being prepared than luck, but I do think I have had some sort of divine intervention in keeping me safe over the years.

Got any fun luck stories? Hit reply and let me know. I’d love to hear!

🌻 Community Updates

I have been updating some of my camping posts this past week. As the weather is warming up we're looking into our plans for the camping in the coming warmer months. My youngest daughter and I usually go on a camping trip together each year. Check out:

• ​Easy Pasta Salads for Camping - Pasta salad is a camp tradition in our household.
• ​Camping with Kids Hacks - some tried and true tips based on our yearly trips.
• ​Free printable camping planner - to help you plan your next camping or RV trip.

💡 Tip of the Week

If you're a regular camper you know the good spots & campsites go fast. Like, really fast.

So here are a few tips for getting the campsites you want:

1. Book the second reservations open​
This is not the time to “check later.” Set an alarm, log in early (make sure your account is set up ahead of time), and be ready to click right at release time. The best sites disappear in minutes.

2. Have a backup plan ready​
Don’t fall in love with one campsite. Pick 2 to 3 options ahead of time so you can pivot fast if your first choice is gone.

3. Camp midweek if you can​
Weekends and holidays get crowded and competitive. If your schedule allows, Tuesday or Wednesday bookings are usually way easier to grab and often quieter too. The shoulder seasons can also be an option too.

4. Know your campground layout​
Not all sites are equal. Some are right beside bathrooms or roads. A quick map check can save you from a less-than-relaxing stay. I will usually walk around a campground and note the campsites I like ahead of time, or before we leave our stay when possible. Or check reviews to see which sites people like and don't like.

5. Check for cancellations often​
People cancel all the time, especially a few days before trips. A quick daily check can land you an amazing last-minute spot.

✈️ In the News | Around the Web

• ​Flying to Europe this summer? Expect long line ups. How to prepare for Europe's new travel entry rules.

• ​​Non-U.S. citizens will now have to pay an additional U.S. $100 per person in popular US National parks - This is in addition to the regular park fees. The annual non-resident parks pass is now $250USD. The 11 parks include: Acadia, Bryce Canyon, Everglades, Glacier, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Rocky Mountain, Sequoia & Kings Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite and Zion.

• ​​Top Ten Most Anticipated Museums Opening around the World in 2026.

Ok, that's all for today. As always, if you have any questions, or something travel related you'd like to see more of, hit reply and send me an email. I personally reply to every one.

Journey On,

Donna

​Traveling soon? Here are some resources to use:

• Find the cheapest flights with Going​
• Book your hotel stays with Booking.com​
• Book your accomodations in Asia with Agoda​
• My go-to resource for family friendly vacation homes​
• Book your car rental with Rentalcars.com​
• Book your day tours with Viator​
• Book your day tours in Asia with Klook​
• Make your travel budget in minutes with our Free Travel Budget Calculator​​
• Make your travel & life goals happen this year with Cash Crunch: How to make and save more money when times are tough (Free 1+ hour pre-recorded training + free resources)
• Check out all our free and paid resources on our Everything Page​

**These are all resources we use ourselves on our family travels.

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