My 2026 Holiday Gift Edit is live! I put together 12 collections for the people on your list who are always dreaming about their next trip. Think stocking stuffers under $50, Disney and cruise favorites, and gifts the Wagner girls have tested on the road. Shop the Full 2026 Holiday Gift Edit If youâre short on time, start with my Travel Advisorâs Top 10. It has the things I reach for trip after trip, plus a favorite way to remember the adventure once youâre home. Want to browse all 12...
6 days ago â˘Â 1 min read
Somewhere between the Halloween candy and the first holiday wish lists, I start thinking about what I want more of in the year ahead. For me, itâs unhurried days with my family, exploring somewhere new, and having an adventure on the calendar that weâre all excited about. If your holiday conversations are turning into âwe should take a trip,â Iâd love to help you give that idea a date and a destination. And for the travelers on your shopping list? My 12 Days of Travel Gifts is coming this...
8 days ago â˘Â 3 min read
Last week, we were squeezing in Broadway shows, boat rides, and belated birthday celebrations. This week, we wrapped up our time in NYC with a few more favorite moments before pointing our home toward Pennsylvania. There were carousel rides with skyline views, another cousin sleepover, a city date with Lizzie, and a Halloween afternoon that had us all dancing. Then came the nerves of getting the camper out of Brooklyn and the relief of finally seeing the city from the other side of the river....
13 days ago â˘Â 10 min read
Last week, I was writing from 30,000+ feet, headed toward four nights away from the family. This week, weâve got two versions of the story to tell. Mine involved a house full of women, horseback riding, mountain views, birthday surprises, and an entire surprise day of crafting. John and the girlsâ involved pizza, cousin time, a sleepover, getting lost, and a very determined mission to conquer the warp wall. Then we were back together for boat rides, Halloween hair, and a Broadway day that...
18 days ago â˘Â 13 min read
This week, I'm writing this at 30,000+ feet after we traded campground neighbors for yachts, raced bikes for ice cream scoops, and found a couple more giant trolls. There were Newport mansions, a steam train, and another free museum visit. Plus homeschool, work, and an errand list that somehow required approximately every business between Rhode Island and our camper. Then came Brooklyn (yes, Brooklyn, New York...). We had our earliest transit day departure yet, which felt like a very...
26 days ago â˘Â 11 min read
Apparently, the secret to getting Lowina to ride her bike was a week of watching her campground friends do it. Not all the encouragement weâve been offering for forever. Just some kids she met a few days ago instead. This week, she finally joined them. John and I got matching tattoos that took less time than the paperwork, and we traded Acadiaâs rocky coastline for a few days of Halloween everything in Salem. There were bald eagles, paper-bag camouflage jackets, and a very excited girl...
about 1 month ago â˘Â 10 min read
This week, Lowina held my hand while I tried to convince myself to walk onto a suspension bridge above a waterfall. A few days later, I was inside the camper in a norâeaster, juggling work, homeschool, and two restless kids, questioning just about every decision that had gotten us there. Somewhere in between, we crossed back into the U.S., drove through unbelievable fall colors, and celebrated 12 years of marriage. So, it's safe to say that September apparently had a few more things to say...
about 1 month ago â˘Â 9 min read
October always gets me thinking about three things: all things cozy, holiday season rounding the corner, and where to escape when cozy turns into cold. Between fall-focused outings, upcoming holiday celebrations, and a calendar that somehow keeps moving faster, itâs easy to put vacation planning on the âIâll get to it laterâ list. But this is a great month to turn âwe should go somewhereâ into something to look forward to. Whether thatâs a winter beach escape, a spring break adventure, or the...
about 1 month ago â˘Â 5 min read
Wagners on Wheels Weekly stories from our home on wheels, where itâs more than miles, itâs the story weâre writing along the way. This week, we crossed the border into Canada with our camper for the first time. We ate real QuĂŠbec poutine, explored an epic new zoo, wandered the cobblestone streets of QuĂŠbec City, and developed a daily gelato habit we have no intention of apologizing for. We also ran out of power. Repeatedly. And ran out of water once. Somewhere between the beeping camper,...
about 2 months ago â˘Â 9 min read