sunshine blogger cover photo
Lifestyle Travel Travel Tips

Sunshine Blogger Award Winner: Travel With A Plan

By
on
August 5, 2019

I’ve come a long way since publishing one of my first posts “Why I Started A Family Travel Blog”. Now 7 months into my blogging journey, I have fallen in love with writing and in engaging with my new and returning readers on all things family travel! Consequently, I am very happy to share that I was recently nominated for the Sunshine Blogger Award; an honor that truly brought sunshine into my day!

The Sunshine Blogger Award is given by bloggers to other bloggers whom they feel display positivity, creativity, and sunshine via their blog. In my opinion, it is a high honor to be recognized by your colleagues and peers – so, for me, by my fellow travel blogging partners!

For that, I would like to extend a big thank you to Andria at A Wanderful Plan for nominating me! Here is a bit about Andria:

I started this A Wanderful Plan because travel has become an important aspect of my life. I want to share my travels and how I planned them so that others can feel confident in taking the leap themselves.

Traveling doesn’t have to be expensive or luxurious, it just has to be a journey, an adventure that you plan and then experience! As you read my blog, I hope that it sparks some ideas for your future adventures!

Andria

Questions that I was asked for the award nomination

How would you describe your blog to a person that has never visited it before?  

  • My motto at Travel With A Plan is to encourage and help others, “Travel with a plan.  Not regret.” In order to do so, I share years worth of practical family travel tips, reviews, and itineraries that work for families.  I like to think that at Travel With A Plan, I help take the work out of travel planning so that you don’t have to.  

What was the inspiration for you to start your blog?

  • I decided to start a travel blog because I did not want the countless hours of research and planning that I put into our own personal family vacations to go to waste.  When I look back on our travels and realize that an itinerary, travel product, or travel tip truly helped make for a fun and hassle-free trip, I wanted a way to share those successes with others (so that you too can go on to make the same amazing memories)! I decided to do so in the form of starting a travel blog!

What do you do to take care of yourself?

  • I love spending time with my family and friends, as well as summer weekends at our lake cabin. A strong faith and relationship with God keeps me grounded and helps me to keep the important things in life in perspective. I also rely on the bookends of my day; coffee in the morning and a glass of wine at night.

What is your favorite season and why?

  • Fall is by far my favorite season! I love the fall foliage and chilly air! Fall calls for dressing in fun layers, sitting around campfires, raking leaves, and celebrating both Halloween and Thanksgiving…two of my favorites!

If you could live anywhere, where would that be?

  • I currently love living in Minnesota for its proximity to both of my husband and I’s family. I also love the 4 distinct season that Minnesota has for there are many varied activities to do together while raising a family. Eventually, I would love to live in a warmer U.S. state such as California or Florida.

What is your favorite thing about blogging?

  • My favorite thing about blogging is realizing what fuels my passion for creating content. Reflecting on the amazing benefits of traveling together as a family (and wanting to share those with others) is a passion and drive that I just can’t contain. 

What has been the biggest challenge in maintaining a successful blog? 

  • The biggest challenge in maintaining a successful blog for me has been balancing my love for blogging with my other full-time job.  I am so dedicated and passionate about Travel With A Plan, but I also work full-time outside of the home. It can be difficult finding the time to stay engaged with social media and to write as many posts as I would like.

Mountains or beach?

  • Definitely beach! The sight, sound, and smell of the ocean gives me an overwhelming sense of calm. I love the complexity of the ocean as well as the amazing sea animals that call it home. My favorite day is definitely a ‘beach day’!

What are the most important things you hope to pass on to your readers?

  • I pride myself in providing ‘practical’ family travel tips and in detailing actual itineraries that I have tried on my own. I hope to pass on these tips for those that many not have the time or the know-how to plan these types of things on their own.

What is your favorite post that you created? Why? 

  • My favorite posts that I have created are my Disney World itinerary posts.  A Disney vacation has so many variables, and there is literally so much information online to dig through if you are looking for tips and advice.  I feel that my Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Epcot itinerary posts provide all of the information that anyone would ever need in terms of touring the parks in one day.

Do you consider yourself an introvert or extrovert?

  • That’s a hard one. I’m definitely a bit of both.  I enjoy traveling and meeting new people as well as spending time socializing away from home. I, however, am recharged when spending time by myself. My ‘alone time’ is absolutely essential to my mental health and overall happiness. I would also rather spend time in a small group of friends, versus a large group of people.

Sunshine Blogger Award

The Sunshine Blogger Award is a peer recognition award for bloggers that help inspire positivity and joy. For me, it means that all of my hard work is actually being noticed! Thanks again to The Wanderful Plan for making me feel less like a ‘needle in a haystack’, and more like a ray of light!

Rules for the award

  • Thank the blogger who nominated you in a blog post and link back to their blog.
  • Answer the same 11 questions that the nominating blogger answered, or create a few new questions.
  • Nominate (at least) 11 new blogs to receive the award and have them answer the 11 same or similar questions.
  • List the rules and display the Sunshine Blogger Award logo in your post and/or on your blog.

I nominate!

*Before leaving, be sure to check our Travel Resources Page to find our exclusive travel discounts and to book hotels, rental cars, and guided tours.*

"If you like it, Pin it!" quote
TAGS
RELATED POSTS
4 Comments
  1. Reply

    Andria

    August 5, 2019

    Congrats Jen, well deserved indeed!!! 🙂 I really enjoyed getting to know you more. I can definitely relate to the countless hours of planning that goes into planning going to waste, I absolutely feel the same. I also balance a full time job with this and it can be frustrating at times to have to do my real job and not this. Hopefully one day this can be a full time reality but until then, I enjoy doing as much as I can. I will also check out your Disney series, my husband and I are visiting there for the first time ever this coming March. I’ve started doing research and it is VERY overwhelming, looking forward to reading your itineraries!

    • Reply

      Jen

      August 6, 2019

      Thanks again Andria!

  2. Reply

    Julie

    August 5, 2019

    Congrats Jen!! You definitely deserve this award!! Thanks so much for the nomination!

    • Reply

      Jen

      August 5, 2019

      Thanks Julie! You too!!

LEAVE A COMMENT

Welcome Friends!

Hi, I'm Jen - founder of the award-winning travel blog, Travel With A Plan! I help families plan fun & fulfilling family vacations by sharing our exact itineraries and "best things to do" lists to popular US vacation spots. Take the stress out of planning a family vacation by using our detailed destination guides and ultra-convenient packing lists to help you travel better. We'll show you how hassle-free family travel is possible - when you travel with a plan!

Travel With A Plan packing checklist

Get Your Free Family Vacation Packing Lists Here!

15 Easy Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park Things To Do In Rocky Mountain National Park With Kids Top 15 Best Rides at Islands of Adventure for 2023 Fun Things to Do In Orlando For Adults Nashville Girls Weekend