The Travel Mama on Connecting With Nature When You Travel

It’s no secret around here that the family and I, we love to travel. We really love it when travel and nature mix.

So when I began blogging some 4 years back, I scoured the web looking for likeminded nature travel enthusiasts. Along the way, I met Colleen Lanin, a.k.a. The Travel Mama (you can find her over at TravelMamas.com by the way).

Colleen was kind enough to make a guest appearance here, sharing her favorite places to explore nature in San Diego (her hometown). We even met in person, enjoying dinner with our families alongside the Pacific Ocean.

And now Colleen has gone and done it. Checked an item off her bucket list. She’s published her very own book, The Travel Mamas’ Guide. And today I’m honored to be sharing it with all of you.

Think of The Travel Mamas’ Guide as advice from a dear friend. Colleen doesn’t sugar coat anything. After all, family travel isn’t always pretty. She shares her families’ own travel successes and failures in an honest way that lets you know she’s been there.

The 157-page guide is packed with tips and advice on everything from packing and preparation to eating on the go and finding the right accommodations for your family. And because she has a soft spot for nature, Colleen even devoted a chapter to the topic in The Travel Mamas’ Guide.

So when she invited me to be part of her book’s virtual tour (more on that below), I couldn’t refuse. I’m excited to have Colleen back, sharing her thoughts on one of my favorite topics: Connecting with nature when you travel.

Can you share a memory from one of your best nature travel experiences?
Dog-sledding in Quebec’s Outaouais is one of the craziest and most exhilarating things I have ever done in nature. I thought I would just take a turn driving the sled for a minute or two but after some very brief directions I was leading my own team of huskies through a forest of white, up and down hills and ducking from tree branches. It was one of those rare moments in my life when I was utterly living in the moment – focused on my team of dogs and my breathing and the expanse of white snow and the trees … and not falling off my sled!

What’s your No. 1 favorite outdoor adventure or location (at least, so far!)?
Sedona is one of the most gorgeous places I have ever visited for exploring the outdoors. The red rock formations, shockingly blue sky, cacti and desert flowers seem too otherworldly and stunning to be true. It’s ironic because I spent half my childhood in Arizona but I wasn’t able to appreciate the beauty of the desert landscape until I returned as an adult.

What’s the best way for people to find places to explore the outdoors at their destination?
Outdoor exploration can be incorporated into any trip – you don’t necessarily need to embark on a remote camping trip or extreme outdoor adventure to appreciate nature during a vacation. I always try to schedule a down day after an up day on any vacation and vary manmade fun with exploring nature. So, after a day at an amusement park or visiting museums, we’ll spend the next day going for a hike, visiting a beach, wandering through a botanic garden or zip-lining through a forest.

Colleen, a.k.a. The Travel Mama

What’s your favorite way to connect with nature when you travel?
I love to explore botanic gardens with my family while traveling. Even very urban destinations typically offer a local botanic garden. It’s an easy way to get a glimpse of the local plants and flowers and to slow down and just observe.

What’s your kids’ favorite thing to do outside when you travel?
Of course my kids love going to the beach to splash in the water and dig in the sand. Visiting a local park is also a favorite outdoor activity of ours when we travel. They can lay on the grass and look for images in the clouds, spy on local animals, or climb a tree. Plus, it’s a great way for them to interact and play with other children. After a few days of non-stop family time my kids crave being around other kids!

If you want to learn more about Colleen and her family travel tips, check out the other stops on The Travel Mamas’ Guide virtual book tour:

• The Travel Mamas’ Virtual Book Tour and Kindle Launch at Travel Mamas 
• Five Favorite Travel Tips from the TravelMamas’ Guide at Pitstops for Kids
• The Travel Mamas’ Guide Review at Gone with the Family
• Excellent Family Travel Resource: The Travel Mamas’ Guide (featuring a video interview) at Wandering Educators
• Family-friendly San Diego with the Travel Mama at Walking on Travels
• Review: The Travel Mamas Guide at Albany Kid
• How to Vacation with Babies and Toddlers and Stay Sane at Ciao Bambino
• The new Travel Mamas Guide at The Travelling Mom

The Travel Mamas’ Guide can be purchased on Amazon for under $15.

Note: I received a free copy of The Travel Mamas’ Guide in exchange for providing my honest review with you. Read my full disclosure policy for more information.