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The Passport Kids – 2019 Travel Highlights

In: Best Family Travel, Blog by Nicole Last Updated: May 6, 2021

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As 2019 comes to an end it’s time to reflect back on the year. This is always one of my favourite posts to write all year!

2019 was a year for us to settle into a new normal after our year of travel around the world. We needed to find out what worked for us and what didn’t as we adjusted back to regular life in Canada.

The best travel moments of 2019 for the Passport Kids! Exploring new places, moving into a new home, and what we have learned over the year. Plus - find out what's happening behind the scenes with us!

What You'll Find in This Post

  • Whitefish – Montana, USA
  • Big White – British Columbia, Canada
  • New Home – Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
  • Okanagan Valley – British Columbia, Canada
  • Camping – British Columbia, Canada
  • Vancouver – British Columbia, Canada
  • Road Trip Back to Saskatchewan, Canada
  • 6 Things We’ve Learned from 2019
  • Big Changes in 2019 & Behind the Scenes
  • Travel Plans for 2020
  • More Year in Reviews

Whitefish – Montana, USA

We started the year by skiing and snowboarding with our family in Whitefish, Montana! A tradition that we do with our extended family, so it was nice to cherish traditions and do something that we had done in previous years.

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The best view on Whitefish Mountain Resort 🙌 Sofia was shredding up the slopes and taking in the scenery before I continued to chase her down the hill. @skiwhitefish #montana #skiwhitefish #montanamoment #skifamily #familyadventure . . . . #Passportkids #familytravel #kidstravel #ftb100 #tinytravels #familytrip #familytraveltribe #tbscommunity #havekidswilltravel #tmom #lpkids #travelwithkids #familymemories #kidswhotravel @burton

A post shared by FAMILY TRAVEL | PASSPORT KIDS (@passport_kids) on Jan 3, 2019 at 9:55pm PST

Big White – British Columbia, Canada

We then spent EVERY weekend skiing and snowboarding at Big White Ski Resort. We love ski life and mountain life is our happy place. Extended long weekends that felt like a week’s holiday in the mountains. So grateful to live only 45 minutes away from a world-class ski resort.

The best travel moments of 2019 for the Passport Kids! Exploring new places, moving into a new home, and what we have learned over the year. Plus - find out what's happening behind the scenes with us!
Big White Ski Resort
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❄️ ❄️ Ski & snowboard season is OPEN ⛷🏂 We are all excited about the slopes being open and our first day on the hill. But the best part was seeing the smiles on our kids faces after a great day on the slopes 😃 #snowboardkid #volcom #skifamily #familyskitrip #skibigwhite @skibigwhite . . . #Passportkids #familytravel #kidstravel #ftb100 #tinytravels #familytrip #familytraveltribe #havekidswilltravel #tmom #lpkids #travelwithkids #kidswhotravel #fearlessfamtrav #suitcasetribe #takeyourkidseverywhere #holidayswithkids #travelwithkids

A post shared by FAMILY TRAVEL | PASSPORT KIDS (@passport_kids) on Dec 10, 2019 at 5:28pm PST

New Home – Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada

We were still getting into our rhythm since moving out to Kelowna, B.C. Up until April 2019, we were still living in a VRBO out of a few suitcases since our world travels. We searched for a long time and finally found a home to buy and are still settling in. Spring brought us moving, unpacking a trailer from 2 years ago, and getting settled.

The best travel moments of 2019 for the Passport Kids! Exploring new places, moving into a new home, and what we have learned over the year. Plus - find out what's happening behind the scenes with us!
Kelowna, British Columbia
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Well after almost 2 years of living without a home this weekend we got keys to our home 🏠 We sold almost everything as part of our leap of faith to travel around the world as a family in 2017-2018. We didn’t know where home would be after our travels and we ended up in British Columbia Canada 🇨🇦 Close to the mountains and lakes. As we celebrate turning our house into a home we also reflect on what got us to this point and here. Travelling the world for 1 year was one of the best life decisions we have ever made 🌎 ❤️ . . . . #Passportkids #familytravel #kidstravel #ftb100 #tinytravels #familytrip #familytraveltribe #tbscommunity #havekidswilltravel #tmom #lpkids #travelwithkids #familymemories #kidswhotravel #fearlessfamtrav

A post shared by FAMILY TRAVEL | PASSPORT KIDS (@passport_kids) on Mar 31, 2019 at 7:34am PDT

Okanagan Valley – British Columbia, Canada

We also wanted to stay close to our new home in the Okanagan Valley and explore everything British Colombia has to offer. Hiking trails, biking, running, boating and searching for the waterfalls!

The best part of living in a vacation spot is all the great places to see at your doorstep!

The best travel moments of 2019 for the Passport Kids! Exploring new places, moving into a new home, and what we have learned over the year. Plus - find out what's happening behind the scenes with us!
Kal Lake, British Columbia
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It’s been an amazing summer in British Columbia 🇨🇦 exploring all things close to us and finding hidden gems like this. It’s still hard for me to believe that within a 10 minute drive from where we live we can explore paths like this and checkout a waterfall!!! I pinch myself every time 😊 Do you still look with fresh eyes at the place you live? #grateful #explorekelowna #waterfalls #home #hellobc

A post shared by FAMILY TRAVEL | PASSPORT KIDS (@passport_kids) on Aug 29, 2019 at 10:12am PDT

As the kids’ school wrapped up in June we had a steady flow of family and friends come out the British Columbia and come visit us. With so much to do in the Okanagan we didn’t have to go far to find adventure including wineries, picking cherries, biking Kettle Valley trestles, boating, swimming in the lakes, beaches and long walks.

The best travel moments of 2019 for the Passport Kids! Exploring new places, moving into a new home, and what we have learned over the year. Plus - find out what's happening behind the scenes with us!
Kettle Valley Trestles
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Since spring has sprung here in Kelowna we have adventured our every weekend to go hiking on a new path. Get out in nature and see things with fresh eyes. How grateful we are to have this view 🙌 only a few minute hike from our front door. But let’s be real… the kids favourite part of the hike is when we sit for snacks! #winwin #explorekelowna #hikingkids #snacktime . . . . #Passportkids #familytravel #kidstravel #ftb100 #tinytravels #familytrip #familytraveltribe #tbscommunity #havekidswilltravel #tmom #lpkids #travelwithkids #familymemories #kidswhotravel #fearlessfamtrav

A post shared by FAMILY TRAVEL | PASSPORT KIDS (@passport_kids) on May 24, 2019 at 7:16pm PDT

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Cherry tree picking! 🍒 I swear Sofia didn’t eat any while picking them 🤦‍♀️… just add in a few dollars to my bill! Kelowna has so many U-Pick orchards that let you and your family pick the fruit to experience what it is like. Can’t wait for apples 🍎Love exploring our new backyard this summer. #explorekelowna #fruitpicking

A post shared by FAMILY TRAVEL | PASSPORT KIDS (@passport_kids) on Jul 30, 2019 at 8:35pm PDT

Camping – British Columbia, Canada

We absolutely LOVED camping in the mountains, we couldn’t be happier to live where we do with so much basically in our backyard. Camping out at Shuswaps was one of the highlights for the kids and us. Sleeping in tents, campfires, S’mores, hikes and bike ride around the campground is a typical camping weekend!

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Spent the past few days explore Herald Provincial Park in B.C. Made it through setting up a new tent⛺️in the dark and rain! Success!!! Kids getting their legs stretched out with some more hikes in the area with some beauty views. We have missed camping so much and excited to be back out in the wilderness again. @yourbcparks #hellobc #bcparks #campingwithkids @colemanusa

A post shared by FAMILY TRAVEL | PASSPORT KIDS (@passport_kids) on Aug 16, 2019 at 7:26am PDT

We also had an amazing weekend away at a fish camp only an hour away from where we live. This basically was like camping in a hut, but we absolutely loved it. We rented little boats and cruised around the lake catching rainbow trout. Ending the day with a fish fry over a campfire is the only way to eat fresh fish!

The best travel moments of 2019 for the Passport Kids! Exploring new places, moving into a new home, and what we have learned over the year. Plus - find out what's happening behind the scenes with us!
View this post on Instagram

Fishing 🎣 Our family loves to head out on a 10hp boat and dip into the tranquil lakes to catch fish. It’s our family time that is a family tradition through our generations, passing down fishing tricks and fishing stories 🤣 We have so many new lakes to discover here in British Columbia but so far Dee Lake has been our little gem. Our family had the lake mostly to ourselves, saw a bald eagle 🦅, caught lots of rainbow trout and loved having a campfire for shore lunch and s’mores. @deelake.resort #traditions #fishinglife #hellobc #explorekelowna

A post shared by FAMILY TRAVEL | PASSPORT KIDS (@passport_kids) on Aug 3, 2019 at 3:12pm PDT

Vancouver – British Columbia, Canada

We wrapped up the summer by going to Vancouver, British Columbia and checking out this amazing city including our favourite spot at Grainville Island and attending a Whitecaps professional soccer game.

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One of our fav places to visit in Vancouver is Granville Island. The public market with fresh produce, flowers, meats, cheese and bakeries! So many options to choose from that look all so good. 😋 I could spend hours strolling around this market and make sure I visit it every time I am in Vancouver. Sofia was still full from her pancakes breakfast but didn’t stop her from looking for next time! #granvilleisland #vancouver #vancouverfoodie

A post shared by FAMILY TRAVEL | PASSPORT KIDS (@passport_kids) on Sep 1, 2019 at 11:16am PDT

Road Trip Back to Saskatchewan, Canada

We didn’t have plans to go back to Saskatchewan to visit friends and family over the holiday season. But, in a last-minute decision, we learnt that our family was coming all the way from Italy to visit. So we spent 15 hours driving through the Canadian Rocky mountains in the winter to go see them. We had a great holiday visit with family and friends back in Saskatchewan and enjoyed the amazing views along the way.

6 Things We’ve Learned from 2019

1. We love to have a “home” base. After travelling out of a suitcase for a year, we have realized we do like to have a place to call home. A place to miss when we travel and come home to. We love having our own pillows, our own beds, a washing machine and dryer! The little things about a home that makes it feel comfortable and familiar after travelling.

2. There are so many beautiful places to visit in our home country of Canada. It’s crazy to think that we have seen more places around the world than we have in our own country. So this past year and next is about exploring Canada. We are so grateful to live in a beautiful country and it is time to explore more.

3. Having family and friends visiting us and exploring new places connects us even more. We love travelling with our family, extended family and friends. Living closer to them in Canada allows this to happen more frequently. The best part is the travel stories that last forever and so many great experiences to share with others. Whenever we are reunited with them we laugh and giggle about all the great stories. This warms our hearts sharing the experiences with others.

4. It was good for us to settle again. A place for our kids to make friends that are always there. A school for our kids to go to every day and some routine for our family. The kids were able to join soccer teams, go to swimming lessons and plant some roots. A place to have family come to visit us and stay with us. It’s also nice to know exactly where the grocery store is!

We’ve been a nomadic family, and as freeing as it is, there is something that our family needed at this time to be settled. We have some more plans up in the air if all of the things work out… but for right now we are happy feeling settled and making trips from our home base. But stay tuned…

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Great views from Knox Mountain Park. The Okanagan Lake seems to go on forever, looking in every direction at this beautiful lake. Although many people may enjoy the lake during the summer months, observing the tranquility of the lake during the fall is my favourite time to enjoy nature on its own. #knoxmountain #explorekelowna #bc #canada #lakeokanagan . . . #Passportkids #familytravel #kidstravel #ftb100 #tinytravels #familytrip #familytraveltribe #tbscommunity #havekidswilltravel #tmom #lpkids #travelwithkids #familymemories #kidswhotravel

A post shared by FAMILY TRAVEL | PASSPORT KIDS (@passport_kids) on Nov 4, 2018 at 8:24pm PST

5. We love living in Kelowna, British Columbia. It was a leap of faith for us to move to another province in Canada. To leave our family, friends and everything that we have known for a very long time. We know it’s the right place because every time we leave, we are so happy to be home.

6. It’s been a major adjustment to return to “normal”. Our entire family has had some challenges in getting back to regular life and sometimes it is not easy. I honestly didn’t expect or plan for so much adjustment upon our return. I wasn’t expecting it to be so hard. It sometimes feels like our full-time travel was a dream and it has been very challenging to re-adjust back to our regular ways.

We miss constantly having another trip booked and had some major withdrawal from not seeing something new every day. There are so many things we miss about full-time travel, and when travelling full-time becomes normal going back to regular life is really different.

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When you feel like you have the entire hill to yourself on a bluebird day. Sometimes the best part of the day is sitting on the side of the slopes and taking a wide open look around you to enjoy the view 🙌 @skibigwhite #skibigwhite #bc #explorecanada

A post shared by FAMILY TRAVEL | PASSPORT KIDS (@passport_kids) on Dec 17, 2018 at 10:11pm PST

Big Changes in 2019 & Behind the Scenes

On a personal note, this past June I needed a change with my job! I have over the past 18 years been a Project Manager in the information technology sector, it has been my identity and something I am very proud of how good I am at it.

I took on a job in September 2018 when we decided to move out to Kelowna in the same project management field, but after much contemplation and thought I quit my job and decided to try some different things. Once again a leap of faith and reaching beyond my boundaries.

Since then I have spent more time on the blog, learning about SEO, analytics, affiliate marketing, and ways to earn an income with the blog. By sharing information and helping others travel more there is a way for me to make an income. Although I am still working on it with some big goals still to come, I am showing improvements and hitting my goals I have set!

I am loving writing and working on my travel content more and working on a few other things on the side. I have some big plans for 2020 with venturing out into some other NEW fields as well too! There will be more content on the blog, more posts and more travel info to share. I am so excited about 2020! One of my goals is to be able to work from anywhere in the world, so we have the freedom to travel more!

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It’s been a busy fun filled summer exploring our new backyard in British Columbia! This might be our fav lake – Kalamalka Lake. The colour of this lake turn this gorgeous turquoise colour 🙌 Only a few days left before back to school… we have plans for one quick trip this week. What do you have planned? #lovingbc #hellobc #explorevernon @thrillsco

A post shared by FAMILY TRAVEL | PASSPORT KIDS (@passport_kids) on Aug 26, 2019 at 11:10am PDT

Travel Plans for 2020

Next year we have New Orleans, USA and Victoria, Canada booked thus far. More exploring and camping in British Columbia for all the amazing things there is to see here. We are also planning out where we will spend next Christmas and hoping for somewhere hot!

The other thing that we are going to try more of this year is booking our trips last minute since we have the ability to go at the last minute. It seems really strange not to have too much booked and planned for next year, but I foresee some spur of the moment trips to pop up.

What was your travel highlight from 2019?

We hope you and your family had a fun-filled 2019 year full of travel and adventure. Never stop exploring and visiting places that are new to you and your family.

All the best for 2020!

More Year in Reviews

  • 2016 Best Travel Moments
  • 2017 Best Travel Moments
  • 2018 Best Travel Moments

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About Us

We are a Canadian family who loves to travel and recently finished an amazing travel adventure by taking our two kids around the world for 1 year. We have travelled to over 28 countries and 5 continents, with so many places in the world to see we are always up for an adventure!

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Comments

  1. Megan Bacchus says

    January 12, 2020 at 1:59 pm

    I’m excited to have found your site! We’re a Canadian family of four planning a year long trip around the world in 2022. Looking forward to reading all about your travels!

    Reply
    • The Passport Kids says

      January 12, 2020 at 10:45 pm

      So exciting! This is fantastic that you are planning a year long trip and glad you found us!! I can’t wait to connect with you about it. If you have any questions about it just message me and I can help fill in any of the questions that you have or hop on a facetime call to chat more too… I don’t have everything on my blog posts yet :) Just use the contact form to message me directly on my contact us page – https://www.thepassportkids.com/contact-us/

      Reply

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