This year has been filled with ups and downs, big changes and small, long journeys and short jaunts; basically it has been one heck of a year. Probably most significant is that we grew from a traveling family of three to a rambling clan of four when baby Ty joined the ranks in late April, but our story did not start or stop there.
We kicked off 2012 with our very first trip up to Whistler, BC. I was very pregnant, but that didn’t stop me from exploring just what you can do while pregnant in the snow. Dek got to take his first sled ride and also strap on ice skates for the first time. We are hoping to get back up this winter so he can try on a pair of skis!
February brought us back to British Columbia to explore Vancouver in the rain. I got to introduce my family to my friend and fellow travel writer Trish from Trip Styler, we ran around the Vancouver Aquarium and ate our way through Granville Island.
As my due date drew closer we decided to stick close to home and explore a little more of what Seattle had to offer; it did not disappoint. The cherry blossoms were first to bloom and then the tulips. I was very lucky to have some good friends ready to roam around Seattle with me, you know, just incase Ty decided to show up early.
By the end of April Ty was in my arms and getting ready for his first flight, which would come in June as I headed to a conference in Keystone, CO. It was an eye-opening experience bringing a 7 week old to a conference, not to mention the altitude change I hadn’t even considered until the week before we left. Thankfully Ty was amazing, schmoozed with everyone (and snoozed most of the time), and we got him off on a life of travel even earlier than his older brother Dek.
After having another baby and lying low for a bit the travel bug started itching something fierce. Mike didn’t have a lot of vacation time as we were saving it up for our big trip to Europe; we had to stay local. A friend suggested wandering around Oregon. Our first family road trip was born. We would hit Mt. St. Helens, Cannon Beach and Portland over 5 days. Bit of a whirlwind, but we found a place our family can truly kick back and unwind that is close (ish) to home- Cannon Beach, Oregon. We loved it so much we dragged friends back with us over Labor Day weekend in September. Yes, it is that amazing.
Our biggest adventure kicked off on October 1st. The boys and I headed to Europe to visit with friends in Switzerland, Northern Italy, Sicily and London for 5 weeks. Mike was only able to join us for the last half of the trip, which meant I got to experience travel as a single mom again. It was an overwhelming and enlightening experience to put it mildly. I learned a lot about myself as a mom, as a traveler and as a global citizen. We saw so much I am still covering it on the blog and probably will be for at least the first quarter of 2013.
We wrapped up our year with a visit to Philadelphia, PA to visit family before the holidays and introduce Ty to a few more family members. Ty proved that not every baby is an awesome sleeper when they travel (loads more on that one later) so we didn’t get to explore as much as I had hoped, but we still snuck in a trip to the Morris Arboretum to see the trains and Longwood Garden to check out their annual holiday display.
As we head into 2013 I can’t wait to see where our travels will take us. We only have our January trip to Kauai planned right now and a trip to North Carolina’s Outerbanks this summer. My calendar is a blank slate just waiting to get filled with ideas from my travel wish list and any other opportunities that come up. Europe is definitely on the table and if I can swing it I think it’s time this family headed south of the border to see what Central and South America have to offer.
Where did you travel in 2012?
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walking on travels: keep traveling, keep moving forward;
take your kids walking on life’s path to adventure
2012: A Year of Travel, A Year of Change written by Keryn Means
December 30, 2012 at 6:55 pm
Looks like you had a FABULOUS year! Love the photos! Did I see Piazza del Campo-Siena in there?
December 30, 2012 at 7:04 pm
Why yes that IS Siena
I LOVE that town. About to dive into the Italy portion of our trip, so stay tune for more on Siena and other parts of Tuscany we explored over a long weekend while in Northern Italy for 2 weeks.
December 30, 2012 at 7:08 pm
Great year of travel! I do am now in love with Cannon Beach.
And, being in the Philly area, just visited Longwood Gardens.
Christian recently posted..2012: Year in Review
December 30, 2012 at 7:15 pm
We LOVE Longwood and try to visit whenever we head back east, but for some reason I have never been during the summer when the grounds are in bloom. Only seem to make it there in the winter. So odd.
December 30, 2012 at 8:47 pm
That’s a lot of travel to squeeze into one year. Especially considering you had a baby in April. Well done!!
Hopefully our paths will cross during 2013.
Bethaney – Flashpacker Family recently posted..Flashpacker Family 2012 – A Year in Pictures
December 31, 2012 at 9:38 am
What a year! Here’s to a successful 2013!
Cam @ Traveling Canucks recently posted..25 Epic Adventures by Travel Bloggers in 2012
December 31, 2012 at 5:01 pm
I honestly can’t believe you did all this and had a baby in the same year. You are one heck of a trooper!
Jenna recently posted..My “Next Big Things”
January 1, 2013 at 10:15 pm
Sometimes I can’t believe I did all of that either. How in the world will I top it in 2013?!
January 1, 2013 at 10:13 pm
You seriously spent 5 weeks in Europe with 4 kids including a newborn? I am in AWE. Happy New Year and here’s to lots more adventures!
Shannon Entin recently posted..Christmas Lights at La Salette Shrine
January 1, 2013 at 10:14 pm
Only 2 kids were mine. We visited friends with kids along the way. And yes, one of mine was only 5 months old (other was 3 years old
January 2, 2013 at 7:10 pm
What an amazing year, and some fab photos too – not to mention a new baby. Wow! Good luck for your continued travels in 2013!
Johanna at ZigaZag recently posted..Wineries in the Geographe Wine Region. Here’s a hidden gem likely to blow your socks off.
January 2, 2013 at 7:30 pm
You are a super mom! I can’t believe half the things you do alone… let alone with kids! I hope I’m as adventurous of a mom as you when I have a couple little ones! Happy New Year!
jade recently posted..The Magic of Haleakala National Park
January 3, 2013 at 6:08 am
A great year of travel you had. . .as Jade said above, I can’t believe how much you’ve done and with two wee ones as well. Look forward to more of your travel tales in the coming year. Happy New Year!
Jackie Smith recently posted..Kotor, Montenegro: Climb Every Mountain
January 3, 2013 at 9:19 am
How will you ever top last year? Wow, lady, that is a lot of travel! We haven’t made any travel plans as a family for 2012 yet- but we’re spur of the moment like that. I’ll be headed to TBEX- hope to see you there! And…we are seriously considering the UK at the end of the year.
Tonya @ The Traveling Praters recently posted..Our Visit to Legoland Florida
January 3, 2013 at 1:02 pm
You did really well with all that travel considering a pregnancy and then life with two very young children. I hope you have loads of fun this year and may you get some time to sleep.
Leigh recently posted..Lake Louise Cross Country Skiing: Fairview & Tramline Trails
January 3, 2013 at 1:36 pm
You are an inspiration to all mothers – get out and go! Your family covered a lot of ground in 2012. I can’t wait to see where you’ll go this year
Debbie Beardsley @ European Travelista recently posted..Alexandrowka – Potsdam’s Russian Colony
January 3, 2013 at 2:26 pm
You achieved so much in 2012. The photos show a lovely range of travel with family delights. Woo Hoo – Bring on 2013.
budget jan recently posted..From Marrakech to the dunes of Erg Chebbi.
January 3, 2013 at 6:45 pm
Nice recap of the year and photos.
Dick Jordan recently posted..Travel Photo Thursday: Capturing Look-alikes
January 3, 2013 at 8:16 pm
What a fabulous year you’ve had! Look forward to seeing what else you add to your list this year, Keryn.
InsideJourneys recently posted..My Year of Travelling in Jamaica & Elsewhere, Pt II
January 4, 2013 at 12:07 am
Wow! You sure do get around!! What a great year you’ve had – but very different to mine!! I love your pix – but of course the RED ones are best!! Happy New Year!
Red Nomad OZ recently posted..12 Killer Australian Sunsets of 2012!
January 4, 2013 at 8:30 am
Loved your recap! I’m so inspired by your solo travel + kids. I did a quick trip back east alone with Bergen, but the circumstances were not the best. I’m thinking B & can throw caution to the wind (&leave dad at home), and get exploring…
We’re doing a lot of domestic travel this year to cut down on time on the plane as we’ve learned our young toddler + airplane does not equal a pleasant experience. San Juans, Arizona, Montana a couple times, train to Oregon are all in the plan. We might be headed to the Outer Banks too! My family has a house there, and I grew up vacationing in Duck.
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