Join host Maud Maciak on Unpack with GoWhee as she talks with Katie, the theme park expert behind @famtravelfolio! Do theme parks intimidate you? You aren't alone. In this episode, we debunk the misconception that traveling to places like Disney is pure chaos. Katie shares why theme park vacations can actually be incredibly relaxing and allow you to drop the mental load of parenting. She shares her top strategies, including the magic of "rope dropping," why you need to let go of strict bedtimes, and how to balance the sugar highs. Plus, we explore her recent trip to Disney Tokyo, why family cruises act as the perfect "sampler platter" for world travel, and how to have authentic cultural experiences even when you dock!

Links & Resources:

• Host: Maud Maciak
• GoWhee Website: https://gowhee.com/
• GoWhee Instagram: @gowheeapp
• Guest: Katie Restrepo
• Guest Website: Fam Travel Folio (Katie's Links)
• Guest Instagram: @famtravelfolio

Welcome to Unpack with GoWhee, the podcast where we sit down with family travel influencers to break down the perfect social media feed and uncover the real reality of traveling with kids.

In this episode, host Maud chats with Jennifer Allen, the creator behind Wonders Within Reach. Jennifer shares her experiences traveling with three children, multiple disabilities, and specifically navigating the world with her son Jayden, who is a wheelchair user. Jennifer shatters the misconception that you can't travel with a wheelchair and encourages families to just say, "Watch me".

We dive deep into the messy truths of family travel, discussing:

• The Reality of Travel: Why family travel isn't always a peaceful vacation, but rather parenting repackaged with a pretty view.
• Throwing Out the Rules: Why Jennifer abandoned her "no fast food" rule and why getting McDonald's after a Michelin-starred meal in Japan was a highlight for her kids.
• What You Don't See on the Feed: Respecting kids' boundaries online, dealing with behavioral health challenges, and why photos of the backs of her kids' heads usually mean they are crying.
• Accessibility Hurdles: The frustration of "accessible" venues that still have stairs, hotel bathrooms where the doors won't open, and the glaring lack of disability representation in the travel industry.
• Finding the Good: Jennifer's three truths for wheelchair travel, including why everything takes longer, but is always, always worth it.
• Overcoming Chaos: A chaotic moment carrying a wheelchair and three kids for miles, and an empowering trip to Budapest that proved she can do hard things.

Stop comparing your chaotic moments to everyone else's highlight reel and join us for an unfiltered conversation about raising happy, adaptable kids on the road.

Connect with us!

• Host / Podcast: Unpack with GoWhee With Maud Maciak
• Website: www.gowhee.com
• Instagram: @gowheeapp
• Guest: Jennifer Allen
• Website: https://wonderswithinreach.com/
• Instagram: @wonders_within_reach

Welcome to Unpack with GoWhee, the podcast where we sit down with family travel influencers to break down the perfect social media feed and uncover the real reality of traveling with young kids.

In this episode, host Maud chats with Emilie Brillion, an expert in family road trips, hiking, and outdoor adventures behind the platform @lovelife_abroad. Emilie shatters the misconception that family travel means you have to visit theme parks, sharing why her kids actually preferred a camping trip over Disneyland.

We dive deep into the messy truths of family travel, discussing:

• The Theme Park Myth: Why you don't have to force yourself into crowded amusement parks if your family prefers nature.
• Road Trip Realities: Why Emilie abandoned the "no snacking in the car" rule and the hilariously awful ant-infestation incident in a Turo rental.
• Canadian Road Trip Secrets: Why you need to double your driving time in Canada, respect the vast distances, and not skip over the middle provinces.
• Bear Country: The real anxiety of hiking in bear territory, why Emilie always carries bear spray, and why there is no shame in turning around if you're uncomfortable.
• Embracing the Chaos: A disastrous arrival in Iceland involving jet lag, snow, and waiting four hours for a camper van.
• Why Travel Matters: Emilie's response to the unpopular opinion that "kids won't remember the trip anyway" and why travel is like investing in an extracurricular activity.

Stop comparing your chaotic moments to everyone else's highlight reel and join us for an unfiltered conversation about raising happy, adaptable kids on the road.

Connect with us!

• Host / Podcast: Maud Maciak
• Website: www.gowhee.com
• Instagram: @gowheeapp
• Guest: Emilie Brillion
• Instagram: @lovelife_abroad
• Website: https://lovelifeabroad.com/

Join host Maud Maciak on Unpack with GoWhee as she sits down with Rebecca, the content creator and traveling mom of three behind Utah Family Travels! In this episode, we break down the picture-perfect social media aesthetic to talk about the messy, raw, and unfiltered reality of traveling with kids. From managing stomach bugs on the road in Guatemala to an unforgettable cactus accident in Colorado, Rebecca keeps it incredibly real. She also drops amazing local tips for exploring Utah, highlighting hidden gems like Kanab, the Swiss-inspired town of Midway, and Bear Lake—also known as the "Caribbean of the Rockies"! Discover why Utah is the ultimate destination for large and multigenerational families, and why skipping expensive theme parks might just be the best decision for your family vacations.

Links & Resources:

• GoWhee Website: https://gowhee.com/
• GoWhee Instagram: @gowheeapp
• Guest Instagram: @hroadtrippers

Join host Maud Maciak on Unpack with GoWhee as she sits down with Sara, the expat mom of three behind @mamainmedellin! In this episode, Sara shares her journey of moving from the US back to her roots in Colombia while pregnant and navigating the world of travel with young kids. We discuss why staying home with kids is often harder than traveling with them, the beauty of letting go of strict nap schedules, and why Colombia is one of the most family-friendly destinations in the world. Plus, Maud shares the hilarious—but mortifying—"poop incident" that inspired her to create the GoWhee app! From the best hidden gems in Medellin to the controversial "rule of 4" in hotel rooms, this episode is packed with unfiltered advice and culture-shock truths you don't want to miss.

Links & Resources:

• GoWhee Website: https://gowhee.com/
• GoWhee Instagram: @gowheeapp
• Guest Linktree: Sara's Links
• Guest Instagram: @mamainmedellin

Join host Maud Maciak on Unpack with GoWhee as she sits down with Abby VanderWeyden, a nurse practitioner, former flight nurse, and the traveling mom behind @venturingvandys! In this episode, we unpack the misconception that traveling with kids has to be perfectly curated or completely miserable. Abby shares her expert medical tips for family travel, including exactly what you should pack in your travel medical kit, why Ziploc bags are a lifesaver, and how to navigate stomach bugs on the road. She also shares her best tips for breastfeeding on flights to prevent earaches and meltdowns. Finally, we discuss why family vacations don’t have to be entirely kid-centric to be kid-friendly, and how kids are far more resilient to jet lag than we are!

Links & Resources:

• GoWhee Website: https://gowhee.com/
• GoWhee Instagram: @gowheeapp
• Guest Instagram: @venturingvandys
• Keep Going First Aid Kit (Mentioned by Maud): https://www.keepgoingfirstaid.com/

In this episode, Maud Maciak, founder of the GoWhee App, chats with travel content creator Shanisse Palmer (@MommiesJade) about traveling and Fine dining with kids, debunking misconceptions, and sharing real-life tips for family travel. They explore topics like keeping children busy at restaurants, breastfeeding in public, managing screen time while traveling, and embracing authentic moments over perfect aesthetics, and more...

Find Shanisse on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mommiesjade/
on Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mommiesjade and on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnArCANcmEiWdydHoMXIvGQ

Follow GoWhee: https://www.instagram.com/gowheeapp/
Or find more resources for family travel: www.gowhee.com