Join host Maud Maciak on Unpack with GoWhee as she talks with Katie, the theme park expert behind @famtravelfolio! Do theme parks intimidate you? You aren't alone. In this episode, we debunk the misconception that traveling to places like Disney is pure chaos. Katie shares why theme park vacations can actually be incredibly relaxing and allow you to drop the mental load of parenting. She shares her top strategies, including the magic of "rope dropping," why you need to let go of strict bedtimes, and how to balance the sugar highs. Plus, we explore her recent trip to Disney Tokyo, why family cruises act as the perfect "sampler platter" for world travel, and how to have authentic cultural experiences even when you dock!

Links & Resources:

• Host: Maud Maciak
• GoWhee Website: https://gowhee.com/
• GoWhee Instagram: @gowheeapp
• Guest: Katie Restrepo
• Guest Website: Fam Travel Folio (Katie's Links)
• Guest Instagram: @famtravelfolio

Welcome to Unpack with GoWhee, the podcast where we sit down with family travel influencers to break down the perfect social media feed and uncover the real reality of traveling with kids.

In this episode, host Maud chats with Jennifer Allen, the creator behind Wonders Within Reach. Jennifer shares her experiences traveling with three children, multiple disabilities, and specifically navigating the world with her son Jayden, who is a wheelchair user. Jennifer shatters the misconception that you can't travel with a wheelchair and encourages families to just say, "Watch me".

We dive deep into the messy truths of family travel, discussing:

• The Reality of Travel: Why family travel isn't always a peaceful vacation, but rather parenting repackaged with a pretty view.
• Throwing Out the Rules: Why Jennifer abandoned her "no fast food" rule and why getting McDonald's after a Michelin-starred meal in Japan was a highlight for her kids.
• What You Don't See on the Feed: Respecting kids' boundaries online, dealing with behavioral health challenges, and why photos of the backs of her kids' heads usually mean they are crying.
• Accessibility Hurdles: The frustration of "accessible" venues that still have stairs, hotel bathrooms where the doors won't open, and the glaring lack of disability representation in the travel industry.
• Finding the Good: Jennifer's three truths for wheelchair travel, including why everything takes longer, but is always, always worth it.
• Overcoming Chaos: A chaotic moment carrying a wheelchair and three kids for miles, and an empowering trip to Budapest that proved she can do hard things.

Stop comparing your chaotic moments to everyone else's highlight reel and join us for an unfiltered conversation about raising happy, adaptable kids on the road.

Connect with us!

• Host / Podcast: Unpack with GoWhee With Maud Maciak
• Website: www.gowhee.com
• Instagram: @gowheeapp
• Guest: Jennifer Allen
• Website: https://wonderswithinreach.com/
• Instagram: @wonders_within_reach

Welcome to Unpack with GoWhee, the podcast where we sit down with family travel influencers to break down the perfect social media feed and uncover the real reality of traveling with young kids.

In this episode, host Maud chats with Emilie Brillion, an expert in family road trips, hiking, and outdoor adventures behind the platform @lovelife_abroad. Emilie shatters the misconception that family travel means you have to visit theme parks, sharing why her kids actually preferred a camping trip over Disneyland.

We dive deep into the messy truths of family travel, discussing:

• The Theme Park Myth: Why you don't have to force yourself into crowded amusement parks if your family prefers nature.
• Road Trip Realities: Why Emilie abandoned the "no snacking in the car" rule and the hilariously awful ant-infestation incident in a Turo rental.
• Canadian Road Trip Secrets: Why you need to double your driving time in Canada, respect the vast distances, and not skip over the middle provinces.
• Bear Country: The real anxiety of hiking in bear territory, why Emilie always carries bear spray, and why there is no shame in turning around if you're uncomfortable.
• Embracing the Chaos: A disastrous arrival in Iceland involving jet lag, snow, and waiting four hours for a camper van.
• Why Travel Matters: Emilie's response to the unpopular opinion that "kids won't remember the trip anyway" and why travel is like investing in an extracurricular activity.

Stop comparing your chaotic moments to everyone else's highlight reel and join us for an unfiltered conversation about raising happy, adaptable kids on the road.

Connect with us!

• Host / Podcast: Maud Maciak
• Website: www.gowhee.com
• Instagram: @gowheeapp
• Guest: Emilie Brillion
• Instagram: @lovelife_abroad
• Website: https://lovelifeabroad.com/