Wayfinding Journeys

Wayfinding Journeys Thoughtful travel planning for busy families, couples & multi-gen trips. I handle the research, bookings & logistics so you just show up and enjoy it.

Personalized itineraries, insider perks, stress-free support. Message me to start planning!

When we lived overseas, one of the things I unexpectedly missed was American fall.Not just the changing leaves—I missed ...
08/26/2026

When we lived overseas, one of the things I unexpectedly missed was American fall.

Not just the changing leaves—I missed apple picking, corn mazes, fall festivals, ridiculous amounts of pumpkin spice, and Halloween decorations that somehow appear in the middle of August.

In Moscow, it often felt like we went almost directly from summer to snow. Kosovo gave us some beautiful foliage, especially in the mountains, but in the part of Israel where we lived, fall as I knew it was practically nonexistent.

Now that we’re back, I feel even more determined to make the most of it.

That doesn’t necessarily mean planning a major vacation. Sometimes it means finding a town within a few hours of home, booking a cozy place to stay, and spending a weekend hiking, eating apple cider doughnuts, wandering through a festival, or admiring an unreasonable number of pumpkins.

This week’s Guidepost is all about "The Great Fall Weekend"—including four very different places to experience it and how to plan a short getaway that doesn’t leave you needing another vacation afterward.

Subscribe using the link in the comments, and tell me: what is the fall tradition you would miss most if you lived somewhere without it?

I’ve been a little quiet over here lately — but not because I haven’t been talking about travel. 😂Quite the opposite.I’v...
08/20/2026

I’ve been a little quiet over here lately — but not because I haven’t been talking about travel. 😂

Quite the opposite.

I’ve been spending a lot of time over in my Facebook group - ⭐ Family Vacation Travel by Elyssa: Cruises, Resorts & Europe - and it’s become exactly what I hoped it would be: a place where people swap recommendations, debate travel opinions, ask questions, share what worked (and what absolutely did NOT), and generally enable each other to plan more trips.

And it’s made me realize I want this space to be something a little different.

So consider this a bit of a Wayfinding Journeys reset.

Over here, I’m going to share more of what’s going on inside my travel-advisor brain:

✈️ Where I’d go — and where I wouldn’t
🏨 Hotels, cruises and destinations actually worth knowing about
🧭 The little logistics I obsess over when I’m planning a trip
🌎 Places I’ve loved from years of living and traveling overseas
💰 Why “best value” and “cheapest” are VERY different things
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Ideas for families, groups, multigenerational trips and those big we should really do this vacations
📍And probably some strong travel opinions, because apparently I have a few.

Basically: less generic travel inspiration, more “here’s what I would actually tell a friend who asked me about this trip.”

Because that’s really how I approach travel advising, too. I’m not interested in finding a vacation for you. I want to help figure out the right vacation for you — and take a whole lot of the research, logistics and mental load off your plate in the process.

So if you’re already here, hi again. 👋

And if you love talking about travel even when you don’t currently have a trip on the calendar… you are definitely my kind of person.

More Wayfinding coming your way. 🧭

07/23/2026

Something exciting has been brewing behind the scenes... ✈️💙

Over the past few months, I've realized that what I love most isn't just sharing beautiful destinations—it's talking about travel with all of you.

The recommendations. The hidden gems. The "don't make the same mistake I did!" stories. The questions that spark a hundred great answers. That's the fun part.

So I started a Facebook community: Family Vacation Travel by Elyssa.

I'll absolutely still be posting here on the Wayfinding Journeys page, but you'll probably see me a little less often because I'm putting my energy into building a place where we can have real conversations—not just me talking to you, but all of us learning from each other.

If you love swapping travel stories, discovering new destinations, asking questions, or helping someone plan their next adventure, I'd love to have you join us.

➡️ Join at the link in the comments.

I can't wait to see where our conversations take us. 🌍

A little behind-the-scenes update from Wayfinding Journeys! ✈️I've been a bit quieter than usual because I've been trave...
07/14/2026

A little behind-the-scenes update from Wayfinding Journeys! ✈️

I've been a bit quieter than usual because I've been traveling, gathering fresh firsthand experience, and working on something new that I can't wait to share with all of you very soon. 👀

Until then, I'm excited to share that Fora recently published my review of our family's week aboard **Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas**. Whether you're wondering if it's worth the hype, planning a family cruise, or just love reading about new destinations, I hope you'll find it helpful.

One of my favorite parts of being a travel advisor is experiencing these trips myself so I can offer honest, practical advice—not just repeat what's in a brochure.

🚢 I'll drop the article in the comments. I'd love to hear what you think!

Our first sea day reminded me why I love cruising.You wake up with nothing on the agenda except deciding whether to grab...
06/28/2026

Our first sea day reminded me why I love cruising.

You wake up with nothing on the agenda except deciding whether to grab coffee, find a quiet spot to watch the ocean, or see what's happening around the ship. It's one of the few vacations where slowing down is part of the experience.

I'd say we're off to a pretty great start. 🌊✨

Hi, everyone! 👋The latest edition of The Guidepost landed in inboxes this morning, and this week we're heading to Seattl...
06/25/2026

Hi, everyone! 👋

The latest edition of The Guidepost landed in inboxes this morning, and this week we're heading to Seattle and the Pacific Northwest—one of my favorite corners of the country. 🌲☕⛰️ (You can read it - https://bit.ly/4uTCypy)

Next week I'll be taking a little hiatus while our family is off on our Icon of the Seas cruise (yay!! 🚢), but I'll be back the following week with more travel inspiration and tips.

If you haven't had a chance to read this week's edition, I'd love for you to check it out. And if you haven't subscribed yet, you can join here: http://bit.ly/4fiOsVL.

Happy travels! 💙

06/19/2026

Today our oldest turns 14.

In the fall, he starts high school, and lately I've found myself thinking less about years and more about summers.

We've been fortunate to travel with our boys all over the world. But when I look back, I don't remember hotel rooms or flight numbers.

I remember Kai building elaborate LEGO creations to keep himself busy in airports.

I remember conversations on long train rides.

I remember watching him gain confidence every time he figured out a new city, a new language, or a new challenge.

The older my kids get, the more I realize that travel isn't really about seeing places.

It's about creating space for shared experiences before life gets busier, schedules get fuller, and family time becomes harder to coordinate.

The destinations matter.

But the memories matter more.

If you're putting off the trip because you're waiting for the perfect time, consider this your reminder: there probably isn't one.

Count the summers.

Then make one count. ❤️

06/16/2026

Those of you who know me know that our son Colby has been obsessed with turtles for as long as he’s known what they are. Turtles have been a recurring theme in our family travels ever since.

A few years ago, we were staying at the JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa in Thailand when they partnered with a local conservation organization to release rescued sea turtles back into the ocean. We had the chance to "adopt" one of the turtles, name it (of course we called it Shield 🛡️🐢), and watch it make its way into the Andaman Sea.

It remains one of those travel memories that has stayed with us long after we unpacked our suitcases.

One of the things I love most about travel is finding opportunities to connect with wildlife and support conservation efforts at the same time. If sea turtles have a special place in your heart too, here are five destinations worth adding to your list:

🌊 Costa Rica – Watch sea turtles nest along both the Caribbean and Pacific coasts.

🌊 Mexico – Snorkel alongside sea turtles near Akumal and explore conservation programs in the Riviera Maya.

🌊 Australia – Visit the Great Barrier Reef and see turtles feeding, nesting, and swimming in their natural habitat.

🌊 Greece – Spot loggerhead turtles around Zakynthos and learn about efforts to protect their nesting beaches.

🌊 The Maldives – Stay at resorts that actively support turtle conservation and rehabilitation programs.

And yes, the last photo is Colby as an inflatable turtle for Halloween. Some things never change. 😂

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