Our blog The Family Adventure Project<\/span><\/a> specialises in family travel and family adventure. It is run by myself and my husband Stuart Wickes. We started it over ten years ago to record our family travels and it has grown into a magazine style site about travel, the outdoors and families adventuring and enjoying the world together. <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Getting out of my comfort zone and challenging myself.\u00a0 <\/span>I love to come up with epic journeys that I\u2019m not altogether sure I can complete in the time available, like this summer\u2019s Interrail journey from home to Istanbul taking in 25 trains, 12 countries and 18 cities. For me, travel is about taking yourself out of routine, shaking things up and testing your relationships and your mettle. <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n A trip to Japan and the Philippines a few summers ago introduced us to new cultures and some exciting activities like sky ziplining, but my favourite destination has been Iceland for many years. One summer we cycled chunks of it over several weeks and then hired a 4WD to explore the interior. Some memorable highlights included family arctic rafting at Hafgrimsstadir, puffin watching in Vestmannaeyjar, glacier hiking on Skaftafell and swimming in a hot volcanic crater at Askja. One spring we attended the Children\u2019s Festival where we played vegetables in an orchestra! Everyday Icelandic life can be quirky \u2013 for example popping into a caf\u00e9 for a takeout coffee can involve putting a few stitches into a giant communal sock.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n This is a hard one as we recently spent time in Rome, Venice, Bari and Naples which are all pretty weighty and historic places, but last year\u2019s trip to Emilia Romagna is still very much in my mind. The city of Ferrara was a cyclist\u2019s paradise with everyone from grannies to businessmen pedalling in the old town. And we loved the stylish Mirabilandia theme park, and the supercar museums.<\/span> Since visiting Motor Valley I have asked for a Pagani for my birthday and Christmas but no one has taken the hint.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Don\u2019t rush it or over-schedule. Plan just one thing to do a day and leave space for locals to recommend their favourite places or for stumbling across something new and fresh. I always ask people in coffee shops and hotels what they recommend. \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n See above! I also use online staples like TripAdvisor, Lonely Planet and of course travel blogs.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Sadly with five of us travelling, budget and time is often a factor. Otherwise I\u2019d be road tripping the Canadian mountains right now. We do seek out more unusual places though and often we look for cycle-friendly countries. Children have never been a barrier to our adventures. We cycled the whole of New Zealand pulling a three and a four year old in trailers behind us, while I was pregnant with Hannah.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n When the children were younger, at the start of a cross-Europe bike ride from Amsterdam to Venice, we took a family photo on the beach at Ijmuiden. Last year we went back and stood on the same spot on the beach to recreate the photograph. The kids looked like giants in comparison to before and Hannah was very hard to carry!\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Too long to tell in full here but our honeymoon involved being amongst the first cyclists to ever complete the unpaved road to Villa O\u2019Higgins on Chile\u2019s Carretera Austral. We were also hosted for a week on an island inhabited only by police as we tried and failed to cross a disused border into Argentina, and then put our bikes on horseback to cross the Andes. <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Definitely villas on Lake Maggiore<\/a><\/span>.<\/span><\/a> When I was in my twenties I took my Mum to stay at Lake Maggiore and the views blew me away, especially early in the morning when the mist was hanging over the islands. I\u2019d love to take her back. Halfway through the week we jumped on a train to Florence to look at Michelangelo\u2019s David. We still talk about it now.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cTourists don\u2019t know where they\u2019ve been. Travellers don\u2019t know where they\u2019re going.\u201d – Paul Theroux\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In this month’s ‘Interview with’ series, we talk to Kirstie from The Family Adventure Project about everything travel, best places to visit, travel favourites and top tips. Tell us about your blog.. Our blog The Family Adventure Project specialises in family travel and family adventure. It is run by myself and my husband Stuart Wickes. We started it over ten years ago to record our family travels and it has grown into a magazine style site about travel, the outdoors and families adventuring and enjoying the world together. What do you love most about travel? Getting out of my comfort zone and challenging myself.\u00a0 I love to come up with epic journeys that I\u2019m not altogether sure I can complete in the time available, like this summer\u2019s Interrail journey from home to Istanbul taking in 25 trains, 12 countries and 18 cities. For me, travel is about taking yourself out of routine, shaking things up and testing your relationships and your mettle. Where has been your favourite place to visit? A trip to Japan and the Philippines a few summers ago introduced us to new cultures and some exciting activities like sky ziplining, but my favourite destination has been Iceland for many years. One summer we cycled chunks of it over several weeks and then hired a 4WD to explore the interior. Some memorable highlights included family arctic rafting at Hafgrimsstadir, puffin watching in Vestmannaeyjar, glacier hiking on Skaftafell and swimming in a hot volcanic crater at Askja. One spring we attended the Children\u2019s Festival where we played vegetables in an orchestra! Everyday Icelandic life can be quirky \u2013 for example popping into a caf\u00e9 for a takeout coffee can involve putting a few stitches into a giant communal sock.\u00a0 What is your favourite place in Italy? This is a hard one as we recently spent time in Rome, Venice, Bari and Naples which are all pretty weighty and historic places, but last year\u2019s trip to Emilia Romagna is still very much in my mind. The city of Ferrara was a cyclist\u2019s paradise with everyone from grannies to businessmen pedalling in the old town. And we loved the stylish Mirabilandia theme park, and the supercar museums. Since visiting Motor Valley I have asked for a Pagani for my birthday and Christmas but no one has taken the hint.\u00a0 \u00a0 What\u2019s your best tip for a traveller or holiday goer? Don\u2019t rush it or over-schedule. Plan just one thing to do a day and leave space for locals to recommend their favourite places or for stumbling across something new and fresh. I always ask people in coffee shops and hotels what they recommend. \u00a0 \u00a0 How do you decide what to do when you go to new destination? See above! I also use online staples like TripAdvisor, Lonely Planet and of course travel blogs.\u00a0 \u00a0 How do you decide which place is next on the go to list? Sadly with five of us travelling, budget and time is often a factor. Otherwise I\u2019d be road tripping the Canadian mountains right now. We do seek out more unusual places though and often we look for cycle-friendly countries. Children have never been a barrier to our adventures. We cycled the whole of New Zealand pulling a three and a four year old in trailers behind us, while I was pregnant with Hannah.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 What\u2019s your favourite photo from your adventure and why? When the children were younger, at the start of a cross-Europe bike ride from Amsterdam to Venice, we took a family photo on the beach at Ijmuiden. Last year we went back and stood on the same spot on the beach to recreate the photograph. The kids looked like giants in comparison to before and Hannah was very hard to carry!\u00a0 \u00a0 What\u2019s your go to dinner party anecdote about your travels? Too long to tell in full here but our honeymoon involved being amongst the first cyclists to ever complete the unpaved road to Villa O\u2019Higgins on Chile\u2019s Carretera Austral. We were also hosted for a week on an island inhabited only by police as we tried and failed to cross a disused border into Argentina, and then put our bikes on horseback to cross the Andes. Which Bookings for You Villas tempt you the most? Definitely villas on Lake Maggiore. When I was in my twenties I took my Mum to stay at Lake Maggiore and the views blew me away, especially early in the morning when the mist was hanging over the islands. I\u2019d love to take her back. Halfway through the week we jumped on a train to Florence to look at Michelangelo\u2019s David. We still talk about it now. And finally, do you have a favourite saying or quote about travel or sightseeing? \u201cTourists don\u2019t know where they\u2019ve been. Travellers don\u2019t know where they\u2019re going.\u201d – Paul Theroux\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":1871,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-right-sidebar.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[412,411],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2080","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-family-travel","category-inspiration"],"yoast_head":"\nWhat do you love most about travel?<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Where has been your favourite place to visit?<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
What is your favourite place in Italy?<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
What\u2019s your best tip for a traveller or holiday goer?<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
How do you decide what to do when you go to new destination?<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
How do you decide which place is next on the go to list?<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
What\u2019s your favourite photo from your adventure and why?<\/strong> <\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/bookingsforyou.com\/blog\/images\/2018\/10\/Family-Adventure-Project-Image-1024x731.jpg\")
<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWhat\u2019s your go to dinner party anecdote about your travels?<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Which Bookings for You Villas tempt you the most?<\/strong> <\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
And finally, do you have a favourite saying or quote about travel or sightseeing?<\/strong> <\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n