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Beaches & Oceans Everybody Outdoors North America South Padre Island Texas United States Vacation Ideas

Sunny Side Up on South Padre Island, Texas

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pure_wander

🌍Profesh traveling hot mess for 20 yrs! 💅🏼
🌎Travel with family & friends✨
🌎Different destinations beyond basics 🛩️
🌏Inspo, guides, & deals 🖊️

It’s tiiiiiiime! If you love giveaways and prize

It’s tiiiiiiime! If you love giveaways and prizes, share this with a friend to get ready! 🎁

This is the 11th year in a row we’ve done travel gift guides and they’re better than ever. I tried to make sure this year that we uplifted the voices of women owned businesses, indigenous businesses, sustainable brands, and everyone else working to create an inclusive, wonderful space for gifts and traveling.

This year there is more than $500 worth of prizes up for grabs and I can’t wait to officially debut them this month!

These are just a few teasers, including a warm weather bundle from @manitobah, apparel repair patches from @nosopatches, and beautiful baby books to inspire a worldwide love of global cuisine from @chunkydelishop.

We will be launching our annual giveaways in the next couple couple weeks here, on other social platforms, and on the blog. Make sure you have your notifications on!

Or DM me ‘holiday’ and I’ll send you a link to sign up for our newsletter so you’ll be the very first to know when we go live.

These giveaways are in no way affiliated with Instagram and a separate entity of Pure Wander. Must giveaways will be open to US residents only with a few exceptions internationally. Good luck 🍀 and I can’t wait to show you what’s next!

#holidaygiveaway #familytraveltips #supportsmallbusiness #supportartists #prizepack

Whoever their future partners are have big shoes t

Whoever their future partners are have big shoes to fill. & not just partners: anyone that they spend time with!

We’re taking things slow, but so far my girls have been to eight states and four countries collectively. We hope to knock off a few more in 2025.

I’m working hard to find a balance between curiosity and staying humble while traveling, but definitely indulging in some of the finer things too. There’s so many lessons to learn on the road. And I hope their future loved ones have the same values too.

what do you hope traveling teaches your kids?

#familytravelling #noscrubs #luxurytrips #travelwritersofinstagram

Grappling with a surreal and heartbreaking week. I

Grappling with a surreal and heartbreaking week. I have a longer version elsewhere, but this is how I plan to handle what’s going on best I can. I see you and I’m here for you. Let’s keep traveling for good.

I will never ever tolerate any hate, bigotry, or bullying here. Take those vibes elsewhere. 💅🏼✈️

A love letter to my travel buddies near and far. 💌

Some I’ve known for 30 years. Others, we connected for a week on a trip, and then we never saw each other again. Some trips have been amazing, others challenging, and many just excuses to see each other.

My friends have grown alongside me and now embrace my children and my family in ways I never dreamed. I’m taking less trips with my friends these days, but I know that will pivot again someday and I can’t wait.

They live in the UK, Liberia, France, St. Thomas, the U.S. and beyond. I value friends and family that have become friends as much as my kids and partner. I hope I’m fortunate enough to take many more adventures with everyone and continue to meet amazing connections on the road.

I’m one of the few to offer you an exclusive loo

I’m one of the few to offer you an exclusive look into the Daily Drop Pro points, miles and deals search tool launching officially TODAY! ✈️

Comment ‘drop’ and I’ll send you a link good for membership discounts for LIFE. You can also give it a try for free!

I’ve spent more time on this tool in the last week than anything else and I can’t wait to lock in some exciting trips for 2025. This is a game changer.

Just search from your home airport to fly anywhere in the world. Use the search to see values in cost, points and fees for whatever dates you wish to travel. You can see results from multiple airlines and hotel brands all in one space.

Search flights and hotels with ease and also take advantage of having everything in your strategy all in one space. You can set up alerts for future deals, add your current credit cards to your wallet and even input your points totals to see in real time how to cover your award flight or stay.

There’s integrated tips on how to transfer your points if needed and even if the deal is a good idea in terms of value. There’s also a VIP pro lounge where you can ask travel experts like me if we’ve found any sweet spots, or simply what to do when you get to your destination!

Tell me what you think and if you give it a try too. Say hi in the VIP lounge!

#dailydroppro #travelhacking101 #travelhacking101 #traveltipsandtricks #familytravelbloggers

I thought all month oh, I really need to get up to

I thought all month oh, I really need to get up to New Hampshire or Vermont or something and fight the crowds and see the leaves and enjoy the fall. 🍂

That’s ridiculous. I live a few minutes south of Boston and there’s absolutely spectacular leaf peeping right here! You can fly into Boston and not travel too far if you don’t want to while still being rewarded with absolutely gorgeous autumn landscapes.

This is the Norris Reservation in a small town called Norwell, that offers a pretty trail to the North River where you can see plenty of trees in all colors. ❤️🧡💛

Tell me where you think the best leaf changing destinations are I need to make a list!

#autumntravel #VisitMa #newenglandfallfoliage #northriver #norwellma #travellocal #leaf🍁

Peak season for fall foiliage is over but there's

Peak season for fall foiliage is over but there's something magic about empty trails and quiet forests. I'm so lucky to live in an area with beautiful leaves. 🍂

I met upwith an old childhood friend @popcircumstance (who also happens to take beautiful photos like these!) to soak up the unusually warm weather and get some fresh air. I had a million things on my to-do list but sometimes I need to just unplug. Catch up. Be present.

I miss being on the road as often as I used to be. But I'm trying to be cool with this current season of slowing down and being grateful for my own beautiful surroundings at home. I'll be back traveling again soon, I just have to be patient.

What are you up to this fall? Are you home? Are you traveling?

PS: Our gift guides are going live on Pure Wander in a few weeks, featuring some of these wonderfully soft and cozy items from @onequince that are sustainable too - I can't wait to share.

#travellocal #visitmassachusetts #visitMA #getoutside #optoutside

If you don’t look rough on your return flight, a

If you don’t look rough on your return flight, are you even traveling? 💅🏼

#travelanxiety #mindfultraveler #funny #travelwritingwomen #traveltherapyadventures

Over and over again, it’s been proven to have hu

Over and over again, it’s been proven to have huge benefits to have your kids be outdoors. I know the weather is getting colder and it’s a hassle, especially with small children, there’s a long-term positive impact. It helps them focus, it helps them stay connected with the earth, and it gives them natural stimulation.

No matter what kind of trip we take I definitely tried to incorporate as much outdoor time as I can so we’re in the sunshine, even if we have to bundle up.

I’m not naturally an outdoors person, but I know I feel better when I get out too! How about you?!

#familytravelblogger #familyroadtrips #visitmaine #mainething

Trying something new and putting 2018 Instagram Ei

Trying something new and putting 2018 Instagram Eileen into check because it's going to be fine, even if my grid isn't asthetic 😅

There's tens of millions of people on Threads (IG's app to rival Twitter/X) but I don't know anyone personally using it except for me! However my mini travel stories have blown up on the app, reaching an average of 150,000 people per tale. Wild.

I want to share some of these on IG too. Honestly, I'm getting a bit burnt out creating so much video because while it's fun, it's not my forte. I miss writing. I'm still doing articles freelance and on the blog, but those are pretty labor intensive. Threads has offered such a fun outlet to share little snippets of human commection on the road and I'm thriving on it.

Anyways here's a wee story about Scotland, hope you enjoy! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Let me know if you want to see more. Also, anyone who might want to hire me for writing someday please ignore the copious amounts of spelling and grammar errors. Just enjoy the vibe 😂

#scotlandexplore #scotlandtrip #edinburghlife #travelwriting #ifwtwa

SHARE & SAVE if you’ll be near Boston this fall!

SHARE & SAVE if you’ll be near Boston this fall! 🍂

While we hang out mostly in Massachusetts for the fall, we’re enjoying some of the local attractions we can reach by mini road trip. The Franklin Park Zoo Boston lights display is live through November 3 and a must-see! 🏮

Thousands of LED lights sparkle through movable lanterns, depicting animals under the sea and up in the clouds. All ages were thrilled with the interactive walk-through spectacle. 🦀🐘

Make sure you book tickets in advance and come see all the bright lights in person this fall!

✨ If you’re new here, HEY! I’m Eileen from Pure Wander. I’ve been a professional travel writer for 15 years and had the privilege of seeing and experiencing some incredible things all over the world. I want to inspire you to experience the beauty of our world, and feel ready with tips, itineraries, and stories I’ve curated through the years. Come hang out! ✨

#bostonlights #travellocal #travelwithtoddlers #visitmassachusetts #fallinnewengland

🤫I have secret way to travel to Australia and n

🤫I have secret way to travel to Australia and not by plane: the Bluey experience!

if you don’t know the hype, Bluey is one of the number one children shows right now. And personally, I think it’s one of the most tolerable because it’s really well written and has a lot of big picture themes to keep adults from going bananas while watching it’s really funny too, and has quite the following! 🩵🧡

My kids and I ran through this recreation of Bluey’s house, playing games, hearing stories and looking for hidden easter eggs. I’m honestly a huge fan too and tried not to get teary-eyed at all the joy and magic made here.

This is nationwide through @campstores but we love the one in Massachusetts. Are you a fan?!

PS - This was in no way hosted. We just really had the best time!

#travellocal #visitma #blueyfans #travelwithkidstips

SEND this to a spouse who sucks taking your photos

We went troll hunting and came back successful! I

We went troll hunting and came back successful! I wanted to see the wooden trolls in Maine for years and we finally made the trek. 🍁🎃

The Maine botanical gardens are sprawling and gorgeous, with lots of little discovery areas for kids and kids at heart. In between finding the trolls, we built fairy houses, played music in the forest, learned bird calls and even took the shuttle back when the little ones’ eyes started to droop.

I have a bunch of articles and travel guides on Maine and New England, feel free to check out Pure Wander for your own inspiration. I’ll be adding this experience soon!

Have you seen the trolls? I hear they’re all over the world: have you seen any of the other ones?

#trollhunter #visitmaine #mainething #travelwithkidstips #newenglandlife #offseasontraveling #familytraveltips

Share this with your favorite perfectionist friend

Share this with your favorite perfectionist friend 🤣

At some point, I didn’t like 90% of these photos. I always thought they weren’t perfect, especially if I was comparing myself to other travelers on the Internet.

I love beautiful, cinematic shots and perfectly edited views too, of course. But I’m so glad I have these memories just for me. Well I guess for you now too since they’re all posted here, but you get the point. 😂

Whether you’re creating content online at the professional or just enjoying the trip. Please take photos of yourself, especially you mamas. Whether you’re by yourself or not, I want you to turn the camera around and capture some of that joy. I’m sure you’ll be glad you did someday.

So just take the damn selfie! You look amazing! -Eileen

#femaletravel #traveltips #travelselfies #selfietips101 #purewander #travelblogger

Do you want to see kids at the pub?! 🍺 I was

Do you want to see kids at the pub?! 🍺

I was nervous the first time bringing my kids into a pub in London, because they’re a bit young and rowdy. We walked into Brampton Cross on an early afternoon when only a sprinkling of older people were frequenting the bar and the tables. Within minutes, big smiles and cheers erupted throughout the pub as my British husband announced, “It’s baby’s first pub!” 🇬🇧

Seeing cute puppies and babies in pubs is something I really miss about living in London. During the day you’ll see all kinds of families grabbing a bite and a pint in the sunshine, enjoying a multi-generational outing.

if you’re visiting the UK, just a few tips. Obviously if the pub is crowded with a bunch of 20 some things, it might be worth finding somewhere more. Your speed with kids. Seating outdoors is also helpful, as well as a food menu that usually means it’s more inclusive of all ages. I’d skip busy pubs at night too for obvious reasons!

The guide to London with Littles is coming very soon on Pure Wander. What do you think about this?? 🍻

#londonwithtoddlers #londonwithkids #babiesinpubs #travelwritersofinstagram #visitbritain

It’s cider season! SHARE with a hard cider obses

It’s cider season! SHARE with a hard cider obsessed friend 🍎

I started drinking hard cider while living in England many years ago, and I’m so excited the Renaissance has traveled to the US!

It’s impossible to pick favorites, but here’s a few highlights from last season. I’ll definitely be gathering new favorites this year to share too.

I actually might be going to cider festival I heard about in Boston this November, fingers crossed!

Do you reach for hard cider in the fall? Or beer, or something else?

#hardciders #visitmass #foodanddrinktravel #thesearemyladies #travelforthesoul #ciderconnoisseur

Tag a friend who needs this trip! 🇬🇧 As a

Tag a friend who needs this trip! 🇬🇧

As a mom of two, I needed a vacation that was both luxurious and kid-friendly. This is what I found in London, obviously!

Imagine a hotel that’s a few minutes walk from Buckingham Palace, and offers a range of family friendly amenities. @resident.hotels The Resident Victoria is an upscale yet affordable choice has extra spacious rooms, and a kitchenette with fridge, microwave, and sink. That’s a rare find in a London hotel!

We made the most of our location by catching the iconic Changing of the Guard and relaxing at the St. James’s Park playground. And to add a touch of magic, we indulged in an afternoon tea at The Drawing Room just a short tube ride away.

So, whether you’re a royal enthusiast or simply looking for a fabulous family getaway, London has something for everyone.

#familytraveltips #travelwithtoddlers #visitlondon❤️ #travelwriterslife #residenthotels #royalfamilystyle

SAVE this post for off-season Massachusetts tips!

SAVE this post for off-season Massachusetts tips! 🇺🇸

Stick around and follow the @Pure_Wander for lots of stories and guides on ‘traveling in packs’, just like this successful girls trip 👯‍♀️

It’s post-Labor Day! I’m biased as a local, but I think it’s the perfect time to travel to Massachusetts. The tourist crowds have thinned and the sun is still shining.

My girlfriends came to town to visit from all over the US this weekend and we painted the town red. Or really we just ate a lot of seafood and had day drinks then we’re in bed by midnight 😅

For your trip, start in Boston and enjoy some Al fresco drinks at Lolita’s. We had a great meal at Citrus & Straw near Fort Point.

Then take the ferry to Hull or Hingham. You’ll need a car or a buddy to drive or a rental to get down to Cape Cod. There’s trains running too.

The Cape is huge but we hung in Sandwich near the bridge for some @seafoodsamssandwich, then more nibbles nearby at @pilothousecapecod. Ice cream finished us off before we wandered back to our base in Plymouth.

Love having @jeannineonthego, @waypoint_goods and @wanderingwithmegan here to show them my hometown! Girls trips truly revive me in a way that’s such a gift. Cheers to the girls!

#purewander #girlstripvibes #capecodsummer #capecodfoodies #visitmassachusetts #offseasontravel

Today is my birthday! 🎉 It’s a boring 30-some

Today is my birthday! 🎉 It’s a boring 30-something one but I’m always grateful for birthdays. Another beautifully chaotic trip around the sun!

Honestly, I’m happy to say bye to summer and move forward into fall. It’s had some beautifully, achingly wonderful moments, but I am fluffing tired. Too much going on!

And also honestly, I think one of the best things that happened this year besides giving birth to my second daughter was getting over any insecurities and having this family photo shoot in London. I’ve always wanted to do one and have hesitated because I didn’t look perfect or didn’t think it was worth the investment. But I’ll tell you, I love every one of these captured moments we have together.

Our photographer Allison from @flytographer made magic happen and I can’t wait to do it when we travel together again!

If you have any advice for someone on the crest 40, I’m always happy to hear it. My 30s have been a pretty spectacular and I can’t wait to turn the page on the next chapter.

#itsmybirthday #londontraveltips #flytographer #familytraveladventures #forever39

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