About Us
We are Kelly and Ryan, a Canadian family with a deep love for minimalist travel. With three kids and 18 years of shared adventures (alongside a wealth of experiences from our solo travels before we met), we’re here to inspire you to explore the world unencumbered by heavy luggage.
We met in 2006 in British Columbia (where we now live) and realized shortly thereafter that travel was a joint passion. Three kids later, we believe in showing them the beauty of this world whenever we can. With busy schedules filled with school and extracurricular activities, we typically manage to take one or two international trips each year.
When we’re not traveling abroad, we love to explore our stunning home province of British Columbia. From breathtaking mountains to serene coastlines, there’s always something new to discover right in our backyard.
Our Mission
To show families like yours how to embrace the beauty of travel while keeping it light and stress-free. We believe that travel should be about experiences, not excess. Our goal is to help you step out of your comfort zone and discover the incredible wonders of our planet, no matter how short your trip may be.
Whether you’re a busy parent, a solo adventurer, or just looking for fresh ideas, our blog offers something for everyone. We know how hectic life can be with kids, sports, and school commitments, which is why we aim to make travel accessible and enjoyable for families.
What’s in it for you?
- Practical Travel Tips: Discover how to pack efficiently with carry-on sized backpacks, making your travels more enjoyable and hassle-free. We’ve perfected our packing strategies so you can spend less time worrying and more time exploring. Also find tips on travelling with kids, jet lag, travel safety and how we make travel affordable.
- Cultural Experiences: While all-inclusive resorts have their charm, we believe the true magic of travel lies in connecting with locals and immersing ourselves in new cultures. We’ll share our stories and tips for getting off the beaten path to create lasting memories.
- The Best of British Columbia and Canada: We share hikes, bike trails, epic ski resorts and everything our incredible province has to offer as well as our adventures across this vast country we call home. There is so much to discover in our own country and we are here to share the best of it with you!
- Dietary Insights: After our oldest daughter’s recent diagnosis with celiac disease, we understand the challenges of traveling with dietary restrictions. Join us as we share our journey of finding the best gluten-free dining options, from Canada to Italy and beyond.
Places We’ve Travelled
Italy: Rome, Florence, Lake Como, Bologna, Venice, Assisi, San Gimignano, Pisa, Verona, Naples, Sorrento, Positano, Capri, Amalfi, Sardinia
Greece: Athens, Mykonos, Hydra, Santorini, Paros, Antiparos, Poros, Crete, Rhodes
England: London, Oxford, Bath, Cambridge, Cotswolds
Spain: Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia
France: Paris, Lyon, Nice
Monaco
Switzerland: Lucerne, Lauterbrunnen
Germany: Munich, Heidelberg
Netherlands: Amsterdam
Austria: Vienna
Australia: Sydney, Port Macquarie, Byron Bay
Canada: Vancouver, Victoria, Tofino, Parksville, Okanagan Valley, Nelson, Revelstoke, Whistler, Banff, Jasper, Glacier National Park, Calgary, Edmonton, Drumheller, Toronto, Kingston, Ottawa, Niagara Region, Algonquin Park, Montreal, Quebec City
USA: New York City, San Francisco, San Diego, Boston, Washington DC, Miami, Honolulu, Las Vegas, Death Valley, Seattle, Portland, Phoenix, Orlando, Disneyland, Los Angeles
Costa Rica: Jaco, San Jose
Mexico: Cancun, Playa del Carmen
Kelly
Born and raised in British Columbia, Canada, I’ve been married to my best friend and travel buddy, Ryan, for 15 years. I am also a mom to 3 wonderful children and 2 beautiful Maine Coon cats. Nature, gardening, and, of course, travel are my passions. After retiring from a 23-year career in dentistry as both an assistant and a hygienist, this blog has become a true passion project for me. My love of travel started at age 10 when my parents took my sister and I on a 6 week European vacation. Those are some of my most cherished memories and I wanted to recreate that for our kids. Since that first trip I have travelled through 11 additional countries and have every intent on growing that number exponentially. Travelling with our own kids and seeing them experience different cultures first hand has been awe-inspiring and I feel so fortunate that we are able to give them that gift. Looking back at our trips, it’s always been those experiences that we don’t plan for or the people we happen to meet that make the most extraordinary moments.
Ryan
Ryan is originally from the Toronto area and also works in the dental world but in the sales aspect of it. He is a National Account Manager for a large international dental manufacturer. He is also the business guy behind Boarding with Backpacks. Ryan’s travel before he met me consisted mainly of North America. His first taste of Europe was on our honeymoon to Greece and Italy in 2009 and he’s been hooked ever since! He is the executer of all our trips. I plan it and he makes it happen! From navigating foreign cities, booking all our transportation and driving down streets barely wide enough for a car, this guy can do it all. And somehow never seems to get lost! He is also the expert on all things skiing and mountain biking and when he isn’t working or travelling, you’ll find him biking a trail somewhere or skiing down the backside of one of the majestic mountains of British Columbia that we call home. He is an integral part of our travel team and we couldn’t do any of it without him!