Trip Tales | A Family Travel Podcast

Kelsey Graves
  • 4.9 (79)
  • PLACES & TRAVEL
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

Trip Tales is the podcast where real people share their real trip stories - detailing where they went, how they got there, where they stayed, what they ate, the activities they loved, and what they’d do differently next time. Each week features a new guest and a new destination to inspire your next vacation. Hosted by Kelsey Graves - mom of 3 and travel content creator.

  1. Kelsey Unpacked: In-Flight Entertainment - Books I’ve Loved Lately

    5H AGO

    Kelsey Unpacked: In-Flight Entertainment - Books I’ve Loved Lately

    Kelsey is sharing the books she’s loved lately and realizing that her favorite type of read is definitely a destination-based book with a strong setting. From longtime favorite author Elin Hilderbrand and her Nantucket-filled drama, to a few other recent reads that completely pulled her in, this episode is all about the books that have felt immersive and entertaining. Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/kelseygraves Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelsey_graves Follow me on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mskelseygraves Join us in the Trip Tales Podcast Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1323687329158879 Mentioned in this episode:- Goodreads.com- Elin Hilderbrand books: Barefoot, Winter Series (Winter Street, Winter Stroll, Winter Storms, Winter Solstice), The Rumor, The Perfect Couple, Paradise Series (Winter in Paradise, What Happens in Paradise, Trouble in Paradise), Golden Girl, The Hotel Nantucket, The Five-Star Weekend, Swan Song- The Wedding People by Alison Espach- Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall- Awake by Jen Hatmaker- The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

    40 min

  2. 2D AGO

    Thailand & Laos - A Family Gap Year: 28 Days in Chiang Mai + Vang Vieng (Slow Travel w/ Kids)

    Kelsey chats with Anna Haakenson (@wanderlust.haaks on Instagram) about her family’s decision to leave their jobs as physician assistants and hit the road for over a year of full-time, slow travel with two little kids (now 6 and 3). Anna shares what slow travel actually looks like with young children, how they afford it, and why this reset has been so meaningful for their family. We zoom in on two of their home bases: 28 days in Chiang Mai, Thailand and 28 days in Vang Vieng, Laos. This episode is available to watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kelseygraves If you’d like to share about your trip on the podcast, email me at: kelsey@triptalespodcast.com Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/kelseygraves Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelsey_graves Follow me on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mskelseygraves Join us in the Trip Tales Podcast Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1323687329158879 Mentioned in this episode:- @wanderlust.haaks on Instagram: www.instagram.com/wanderlust.haaks- https://wanderlusthaaks.com- Countries they have visited: Mexico, Guatemala, India, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Ecuador- Coast FIRE Retirement Strategy- LAOS: Luang Prabang Airport, Vang Vieng, Lagoons- THAILAND: Chiang Mai, kid cafes, temples, Thai massages, Grab cabs, hospital visit, Monk's Trail, Sticky Waterfalls, Royal Park Rajapruek- World Nomad Games, Mongols- Salvador, Brazil

    43 min
  3. Kelsey Unpacked: When Sickness Strikes on a Trip + A Family Health Update

    APR 1

    Kelsey Unpacked: When Sickness Strikes on a Trip + A Family Health Update

    For how much we all travel, someone is bound to get sick on a trip. In this episode of Kelsey Unpacked, I’m sharing my top tips for navigating travel when sickness strikes - from what meds I actually pack, to how I mentally prepare when things don’t go according to plan. I’m also sharing a personal health update from our family about our recent journey to get to the bottom of my teenage daughter’s dizzy spells, near-fainting episodes, nausea, and low energy.  Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/kelseygraves Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelsey_graves Follow me on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mskelseygraves Join us in the Trip Tales Podcast Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1323687329158879 Mentioned in this episode:- Disposable and portable nausea bags: https://amzlink.to/az0AOADHNTAay- POTS: Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome- LMNT electrolytes: https://drinklmnt.com/

    35 min

  4. MAR 30

    Puerto Rico - 40th Birthday Girls Trip: Piña Coladas, Pool Days, Catamaran Fun + Bad Bunny’s Restaurant

    Jacki from Massachusetts (@trips.and.dips_ on Instagram) joins Kelsey to share about her girls’ trip to Puerto Rico with 8 friends celebrating their 40th birthdays in January 2026. From pool days and piña coladas to snorkeling off a catamaran, exploring Old San Juan, and dinner at Bad Bunny’s restaurant, this trip was full of fun and memorable moments. In this episode, Jacki shares what made Puerto Rico such a great destination for a milestone girls’ getaway, what their group loved most, and a few things she would do differently next time.  NOW 60% OFF your first month of Rent the Runway with code RTRXKGRAVES: This episode is available to watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kelseygraves If you’d like to share about your trip on the podcast, email me at: kelsey@triptalespodcast.com Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/kelseygraves Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelsey_graves Follow me on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mskelseygraves Join us in the Trip Tales Podcast Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1323687329158879 Mentioned in this episode:- Jacki from @trips.and.dips_ on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/trips.and.dips_/)- Condado Beach- San Juan Marriott Resort and Stellaris Casino- Restaurants:    - 1950 Condado (good food, slow service)   - The Atlantic restaurant at the Tryst Hotel (good food, vibe off)   - La Casita de Rones (hand-shaken Pina Coladas, vibey, yummy apps, Instagram-able photo spots), Carli's Fine Bistro & Piano (super slow service)   - El Condado Gastropub (out of everything, left and went somewhere else)       - Mexitaly (OK food, mix of Mexican and Italian)   - La Concha (conch shell restaurant, super vibey, great for a couples trip)   - Bad Bunny's restaurant Lala at The Mall of San Juan (great!)- Old San Juan (take a golf cart tour)- Bioluminescent Bay tours- Catamaran tour out of Fajardo (good snorkeling!)- El Conquistador Resort- Guava and Cheese Pastelitos

    58 min
  5. Kelsey Unpacked: In-Flight Entertainment - My Favorite TV Shows to Watch with Joe, the Kids + Alone

    MAR 25

    Kelsey Unpacked: In-Flight Entertainment - My Favorite TV Shows to Watch with Joe, the Kids + Alone

    From the shows I watch with Joe, to the family shows we ALL love, to my favorite guilty pleasures, I’m sharing them all in this episode! If you’re looking for a new show to watch on a flight or this Friday night, this might give you a few ideas. Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/kelseygraves Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelsey_graves Follow me on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mskelseygraves Join us in the Trip Tales Podcast Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1323687329158879 Mentioned in this episode: KELSEY + JOE SHOWS- All Her Fault (Amazon Prime)- Sirens (Netflix)- The Girlfriend (Amazon Prime)- Adolescence (Netflix)- The Pitt (HBO Max / Hulu)- Landman (Paramount +)- Nobody Wants This (Netflix)- The Four Seasons (Netflix)- Leanne Morgan Stand-Up Specials (Netflix)- Nate Bargatze Stand-Up Specials (Netflix)- Marcello Hernandez Stand-Up Specials(Netflix)- My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman (Netflix)- Below Deck (Bravo) FAMILY SHOWS- Beast Games (Amazon Prime)- Dancing with the Starts (ABC)- Is It Cake? (Netflix)- Shark Tank (ABC)- YouTube: Ryan Trahan - 50 States in 50 Days, Hangtime - I Tested 1-Star vs. 5-Star Cruises GUILTY PLEASURES- Secret Lives of Mormon Wives (Hulu)- Bachelorette: Taylor Frankie Paul's Drama (ABC)- Real Housewives of Salt Lake City (Bravo)- The Kardashians (Hulu)- Love Is Blind (Netflix)- Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model (Netflix)- Hallmark Christmas Movies & the Deck the Hallmark podcast

    49 min

  6. MAR 23

    Idaho - Tamarack Ski Resort: Kelsey's Approachable Family Ski Trip with a Bougie Vibe + Hot Springs & Boise

    Kelsey recaps her family of 5’s March 2026 trip to Idaho. She shares all about Tamarack Ski Resort, the cutest newer ski resort in Idaho, with a happening base village, great restaurants, beautiful modern lodging, and family-friendly skiing that felt approachable and fun. She also talks through Boise, hot springs, what made Tamarack stand out, and why this ended up feeling like such a memorable family ski getaway with a slightly bougie vibe.  If you’d like to share about your trip on the podcast, email me at: kelsey@triptalespodcast.com Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/kelseygraves Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelsey_graves Follow me on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mskelseygraves Join us in the Trip Tales Podcast Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1323687329158879 Mentioned in this episode:- Home2Suites in Birmingham, AL- Tamarack Ski Resort- Turo- Locking Horns Riverside Restaurant in Horseshoe Bend, ID- D-9 grocery store in Cascade, ID- The Village Condos at Tamarack Resort- The Reserve restaurant at Tamarack Resort- Seven Devils Tap House- Brundage Mountain- Favorite ski runs at Tamarack: Waltz, Panorama, Upper & Lower Serenity, Ooh La La, Rumba, and Pursuit- Eagle, ID and Meridian, ID- Kirkham Hot Springs- Bogus Basin in Idaho- Boise: The Warehouse Food Hall, Wahooz, Percy restaurant, Thick As Thieves (speakeasy), Gatsby (speakeasy), Camel's Back hike, Roaring Springs Water Park, Lucky Peak Lake Trip Tales is a travel podcast sharing real vacation stories and trip itineraries for family travel, couples getaways, cruises, and all-inclusive resorts. Popular episodes feature destinations like Marco Island Florida, Costa Rica with kids, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Aulani in Hawaii, Beaches Turks & Caicos, Park City ski trips, Aruba, Italy, Ireland, Portugal’s Azores, New York City, Alaska cruises, and U.S. National Parks. Listeners get real travel tips, itinerary recommendations, hotel reviews, restaurant recommendations, and inspiration for planning their next vacation, especially when traveling with kids.

    1h 17m
  7. Kelsey Unpacked: What I’ve Learned Navigating Southwest’s New Changes (+ the Coveted Premium Pistachios!)

    MAR 18

    Kelsey Unpacked: What I’ve Learned Navigating Southwest’s New Changes (+ the Coveted Premium Pistachios!)

    Southwest’s new changes are here, and after several recent flights, I have thoughts. In this Kelsey Unpacked episode, I’m sharing my real-life experience navigating Southwest’s new world of seat assignments, boarding groups, overhead luggage crackdowns, baggage quirks, and yes… the coveted premium pistachios. As a family of 5 flying with points, Companion Passes, and multiple reservation numbers, I’ve learned that these changes can get complicated fast. I’m breaking down what I like, what has felt clunky, and the little things I’ve learned the hard way so you can be more prepared before your next Southwest flight. Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelsey_graves Follow me on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mskelseygraves Join us in the Trip Tales Podcast Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1323687329158879

    29 min

  8. MAR 16

    The Tetons - Jackson, Bozeman + Grand Teton National Park with Kids (Plus a Hot Take on Yellowstone!)

    Kelsey is thrilled to sit down with Andrea from @BNACheapFlights on Instagram and NashvilleCheapFlights.com to chat about her family of 5’s summer 2025 trip to Grand Teton National Park. From affordable Allegiant flights and an epic Airbnb with sweeping mountain views to family-friendly hikes, a pontoon boat on Jackson Lake, and a hot take on Yellowstone vs. Grand Teton! This episode is available to watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kelseygraves If you’d like to share about your trip on the podcast, email me at: kelsey@triptalespodcast.com Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/kelseygraves Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelsey_graves Follow me on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mskelseygraves Join us in the Trip Tales Podcast Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1323687329158879 Mentioned in this episode:- Allegiant Airlines Nashville -> Bozeman- Turo- Driggs, Idaho Airbnb link: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/740533006997360266- Driggs, Idaho: Forage Bistro, Rock Climbing Gym- Jackson, Wyoming: Teton Village, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Aerial Tram, Waffles, Elk Country Inn, Grand Teton National Park, Lake Taggert hike, Jenny Lake, Jackson Lake, Signal Mountain Lodge, Bison, Persephone Bakery, Snake River Roasting Company, Yellowstone.- Bozeman, Montana

    1h 8m
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4.9
out of 5
79 Ratings

About

Trip Tales is the podcast where real people share their real trip stories - detailing where they went, how they got there, where they stayed, what they ate, the activities they loved, and what they’d do differently next time. Each week features a new guest and a new destination to inspire your next vacation. Hosted by Kelsey Graves - mom of 3 and travel content creator.

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