Our arrival in Venice set the tone for the entire trip — part fairytale, part “wait, are we seriously doing this?” moment. Instead of piling into a bus from the airport like normal humans, we went full Venetian and arranged for a private vaporetto (water taxi) to pick us up. As we rolled our jet-lagged selves out of baggage claim, we followed the signs — not to a curb or a parking lot — but to the boat ramp. Yep, the boat ramp at the airport. Only in Venice!

When most people think “Hawaii,” they envision mai tais, surfboards, and couples in matching leis. For our first trip to Hawaii we prepared for diaper bags, Goldfish crackers, and and kids who think sand tastes good. Oahu turned out to be the perfect choice for our crew: a 1 year-old, 4 year-old, and 5 year-old. The island was gorgeous - lush mountains, golden beaches, dazzling waterfalls, and hundreds of varieties of fragrant, tropical flowers. With calm beaches, easy drives, and endless family-friendly adventures, Oahu hits that sweet spot between fun and chill - making it the perfect choice for families with small children.