Travel Goals – Page 3 – Turknoy Travels 100!

COUNTRY 35: ICELAND, Really… Inspired By Iceland!

May 16, 2019 by turknoys, posted in Education, Family Satisfaction, Family Traditions, Iceland, Travel Adventures, Travel Goals, Why Travel With Kids?

“þetta reddast”- Icelandic wisdom which means, it will work out okay. (Of course, it will – all the time!)

As the cliche goes, If we’d learnt one thing from traveling, it was the way to get things done was to go ahead and do them… and add in that Icelandic wisdom… “IT WILL WORK OUT OKAY!)

So, how do we write about our one-month experience in Iceland which turns out to be THE BEST and THE MOST EXCITING family adventure we had, to date, in one single post?

Iceland is the 35th Country out of our 100 Country Goals, the only “new”country for us for 2018 – where the mom celebrate her 40th birthday, dad’s 42nd and their 10th wedding anniversary! Out there in the very cold summer breeze of Iceland, out in the wild. With only the the three kids, camping tent, winter clothes and blankets. More than enough to realize that “Life” indeed begins.. very happily!

I wish I can tell the stories of our adventures quite elaborately, comprehensively and articulately. But I really can’t. There were mostly moments that we take pictures, make sure it’s capture (albeit barely) and we’ll unplug and be with Iceland nature, be with each other… be in moments with each other together in perfectly inspiring Iceland.

Jökulsárlón-Glacier Lagoon – the place we used to associate with James Bond now has a totally new meaning… “Tomorrow says the lazy.”- Icelandic Proverb
“Tomorrow Never Dies “- James Bond
Tomorrow… tomorrow, I love you, tomorrow!

Powerful, magnificent falls and hopefully-not-so active and yes, magnificent volcanoes are mainly the stopovers during the drive around the Ring Road. We stopped sometimes were tourists stopped depending on the queue and the kids momentum about exploring!

Our Iceland Trip Highlights in bullet points – we don’t recommend that families take this as guide -we went around Iceland with carefree, spontaneous, adventurous spirits -no exact plans, no notes whatsoever and we didn’t want to stop!

Vestur til Suðurlands (West to South Iceland)

✅Gulfoss

✅Seljalandsfoss

✅Skógafoss

✅And lots and lots of Puffin Watching and stalking!

Suður til Austurlands

✅ Jökulsárlón-Glacier Lagoon

✅ Endless waterfalls along scenic snowy mountains to glaciers and icebergs in lakes to ocean! Oh ha! Stunning and breathtaking!

Norður-Austurland

✅ Almost Permanent Rainbow and the most powerful falls in Europe, Delfoss and Selfoss

✅ Myvatn Nature Baths and lots and lots of bloopers!

✅ Artic Ocean Wildlife – seals stalking and whale watching!

Norðurland til Vesturlands

✅ More waterfalls every 15 minutes road trip! ☺️

✅ Godafoss (and the history of beginning of Christianity in Iceland!)

✅ Leif Ericson’s birthplace (and a lot of real facts about explorers!)

✅ More waterfalls 😋

✅ Jules Verne’s entrance to the Centre of the Earth

✅ Lots of authors books and literature

✅ Way more family bonding and laughters we will forever treasure! ❤️

Reyjavík, Ísland

✅ Hallgrimskirkja

✅ Lots of delicious fish and cheap

Volcano crater, let’s put some science into our adventures!

There are consequences in traveling to this beautiful, modern and isolated country island. It made us question a lot of countries’ political and economic realities. “Resource Curse” is real for most geographies blessed with natural resources and gorgeous landscapes. But Iceland- what have they done? Everything seems to be prospering – farming, tourism, energy utilization, gender equality? Thinking about Iceland makes our family pause for these questions we have yet to fully answer!

All that powerful energy of waterfall, we invite into our traveling and dreaming family..ooommmmmm

Iceland

Leif Ericson’s birthplace (and a lot of real facts about explorers!) maybe the highlight of our trip – explorers love to learn about explorers

Of course, trolls– stories, monuments and real ones — all over the islands!

þetta reddast.

COUNTRY 34: The Netherlands, The Original Cool. Cool!

May 15, 2019May 15, 2019 by turknoys, posted in The Netherlands, Travel Goals

“Een mens zijn zin is een mens zijn leven.” – Dutch Proverb

His own desire leads every man.

Fast forward to today, so very happy with The Netherlands, his country is really the coolest. Hint hint.. renewed our family’s Schengen visas up to our passports’ validity! Hooray for not queueing in embassies and agencies for the next years to go to Europe! Thank you Netherlands!

Side note – oh yes, we do those kind of things having Turknoys (Turkish + Pinoy) passports! It takes expertise to visit embassies and deal with foreign diplomats to enter first world countries!

Oh well, The Netherlands! We’ve seen this country two times and we can’t get enough!

There’s something about Dutch sense of humor that keeps us very amused in this country.

Scene at the airport. Our first entry experience, it’s a mom-daughter travel so cut us some slack.

Turknoy Mom to Information: Uum where is the Bus Stop.

Information Desk: THERE, To the Right, follow the big bold sign that says…”To Bus Stop..”

Never was I told “stupid” in the most tactful , subtle, yet very constructive way.

Experiences and scenarios like this around the country goes on. Imagine us in the tulip garden and museums asking the locals obvious questions and you’ll get our drift.

This is the only time that one shoe size fits all members of Turknoys

Next to sense of humor, there clarity. And with clarity, there’s ample room for innovation. We see that everywhere. Where else in the world that clogs can be very comfortable, functional and profitable? We rest our case.

#turknoys cheers to more windmills (and cheers to more walls – every family is different and that’s a great thing!) One thing is certain, the winds of change will keep blowing, let’s be ready and be merrily blown away! #setgoals #familygoals #goalsnotresolutions

Windmill and passion goes together in this country, too. Visualize that.

We’ll keep coming back to The Netherlands for sure.

The Windmill and worldschooling – lots of innovation in between

I really can’t play (but baby, it’s cold outside) Let’s put the kids away! (but baby, it’s cold outside)

Not going to lie, someday, when the kids think we’re not as cool as we used to be, unlike the timeless coolness of The Netherlands, we are going to a couple’s trip to this country. You know, just to be cool with each other following our inner desires. 🤣

Spring or winter we’ve been to both season and can’t decide which season we like best!

Have you been to Holland? Or other parts of The Netherlands? Do tell.

COUNTRY 33: Belgium, The Place To Be .. Maybe? Really!

May 11, 2019May 11, 2019 by turknoys, posted in Belgium, Travel Goals

“It’s no use waiting for your ship to come in, unless you’ve sent one out.”-– Belgian Proverb

After our trip to Country 32, USA, we can’t wait to have another piece of European country. The differences between North America and Europe had been so glaring for all members of the family. Pluses and minuses for both region!

But we are biased about Europe! Where civilization and culture supposedly started, not tainted by consumerism and capitalism (not much, at least for our views and perspectives!)

Oh yes, Belgium! Few years back, we had a taste of Brussels as part our worldschooling and mother-daughter bonding. This time around, making it to Country No. 33 all family members visited together with pure joy and cold weather!

Can explaining Atoms to kids be this vivid, fun and interesting?

As much we really like Brussels, Bruges top of list as most beautiful European city! Amidst the rain and the very cold weather, we enjoyed leisure walk around the town with season merriment in the air!

The Turknoys filled with awe and joy in Bruges

Rainy or cold weather, the walk is must do for this family with happy exploring feet!

After our statement of consumerism in US and getting a breathe of fresh air going to Europe, ironically, we went to Brussels and Bruges mainly to celebrate the Christmas season and we did! The Christmas markets, the late-night skating session, the food, the souvenirs – perfect complement to the majestic landscape and gorgeous classy museum-feel of both cities.

Similar with French food, there’s the rabbit steak for the adventurous like this traveling mom. Well, the Dad settled for good old chicken and fries.

Belgium is like a chocolate elegantly wrapped. It’s exciting to unwrap and even more exciting to taste. And like all chocolates, never ever disappoint.

COUNTRY 32: USA, All Within Your Reach

May 10, 2019May 11, 2019 by turknoys, posted in Travel Goals, United States of America

“Here today, gone tomorrow.” – American Proverb

There are a lot of things to say about THE United States of America visit. At some point in both this traveling family’s parents life, The USA is The World. Well, for the dad, it was literally his world because he was in it. For the mom, that’s metaphorical. There was a time in her life that “living the American dream” is the best dream.

Delaying this country’s visit for several reasons, mainly enjoying the closest continent closest to our homebase, Qatar – Europe. Thirty-one countries after, off we went to USA!

First stop, New York, New York!

Seriously, we started humming… “Start spreading the news…we’re leaving today… to the City that never sleeps! almost a month before we actually go.

Of course, we enjoyed New York – Turknoy Family Style!

We are then ready to explore other cities and states at our will, after Washington DC ! With the free museums, if we are not on schedule, we would never have left the area.

There are a lot of memorable highlights during our road trip to half of USA with a lot of nostalgic moments for Turknoy Dad. He spent a five years in Denver,Colorado so off we went to explore the entire Colorado State to create memories with kids, and oh my, did we really have range of memorable emotions.

Several days spent in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Omaha, Nebraska and Chicago, Illinois are all pleasant to our traveling senses. Not expectedly, the Chicago Children Museum turned out to be a good refuge against the wind and rain.

Truth be told, our favorite State, to date, is.. *drum rolls* The Green Mountain State. We were never-failed floored every moment by Vermont’s fall colors, with the Ben and Jerry’s Factory Tour For Kids ,Vermont Teddy Bear for Kids, Factory Tour and Build -A-Bear , and more importantly the community and beautiful landscapes of Burlington, Vermont . Vermont-ing seems to be a nice future hobby for the family.

It’s was Fall 2017 when we visited The New World and since we didn’t blog about our travel goals. We are ready to go back again and now reminiscing our first visit. Our “Some Day, we’ll visit America” is now “It’s been a long time since we’ve been there; feels like ages ago.

For what it’s worth, our family travel stats for our first time visit to our 32nd country, The USA :

Travel days: 30

Days Full of Laughter: 30/30

Days Full of Siblings Fight:

States Visited:

Intercity Train Rides:

Delayed Intercity Train Rides:

Local Plane Rides:

Rent-A-Car:

Number of Mega Enormous, Gigantic Delicious, All-American Burgers Eaten:

Hotdogs From Hotdog Stands:

Apples:

Pumpkin Spice Latte:

Breakfast In A Bar:

Fall Leaves Collected:

Snowballs Thrown At Each Other at Bullseye:

Number of Days It Took To Get Over the Vacation HangOver:

Number of Days It Took Us to Blog About our USA Experience:

So, did we or did we enjoy United States of America?

Road Trip In Colorado With Kids

November 10, 2017 by turknoys, posted in Colorado, Family Satisfaction, Family Traditions, family travel, Travel Goals, United States of America

“Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way! “ – Dr. Seuss

Ohhh my! Time flies when we our family is on our goal realization/ exploring mode. It seems ages ago when we left Omaha, Nebraska on an overnight train to Denver, Colorado.

In Denver, we have walked the nostalgia lane with the Turknoy Dad as he reminisced his good old days as a working bachelor in the city. Has it been eleven years already since he left US just to meet the Turknoy Mom? Gosh, are we on some time warp speed loop?! ❤️

After two days in Denver, meeting old friends and enjoying Denver Children Museum, off we went for a road trip around Colorful Colorado! And indeed, it was a colorful road trippin’.
First road trip in the USA and off we passed by State Highway 5, the highest paved road in Road America. What a scenic route it is towards Mr. Evans with an altitude 14,264 feet (4,347 m)!

Road Trip In Colorado With Kids — This traveling couple has their kids as photographer! At Independence Pass. Freeeeeeeee!!!

Aspen, Colorado

We head on to Aspen, Colorado hoping for fall foliage. We got that and way more, four seasons! We arrived in Aspen in a very gorgeous fall weather, and woke up to several inches of snow in the morning, summer-y mid-morning, spring in the afternoon and fall again in the afternoon.
The snow didn’t stop us from hiking the Maroon Bells. The most photographed peaks in North America, so we’ve read.

We also experienced our first family snowy hike, up to the Maroon Crater Lake. It took us more than two hours to hike up the Crater Lake, barely few minutes before the sunset. We were the last one on the Crater Lake, it feels extravagantly majestic and terrifying at the same time. The kids needed to answer nature’s call, figuratively and literally. After the pee-pp and the family selfie almost every corner of the lake, we had to rush to go back down. We made it in the dark, using our mobile phone as flashlights, of course, not without scary stories and grateful fun ramblings from all of us.
We have blisters in our feet, and the fantastic traveling dad carried our youngest traveller/ hiker up his shoulder almost all the way! Such strength. We didn’t tell anyone that adventure with young kids is easy, right? It’s worth it, but nothing worth it comes easy, right?

The Turknoys and the Crater Lake And Maroon Bells! A perfect place and time to say Thank You God For All The Blessings with all our hearts together. Solemn, fun, sincere, full of love. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

The hiking we’ve done, the weather conditions, the challenges we’ve overcome will always be fondly and profoundly remebered. After all, this is what Turknoy Travels 100 is all about. It’s about realizing milestones we never even considered yet together because we are still part of the matrix of society’s rules.

Of course, after the adventure, we explored the very fancy city of Aspen, Colorado and off we went to two places we almost always go in any city we explore – bookstore and playground. If any city or town doesn’t have any of these, it’s really an indication of the village, isn’t it?

Basalt , Colorado

Although we explored Aspen and Snowmass Billage quite extensively, we stayed the nights in a nearby city, almost one hour drive away from Aspen, Basalt. Basalt turned out to be a like Aspen, and better. Roaring Fork Valley is a river paradise for us. Basalt sits at the confluence of two Gold Medal rivers, the Frying Pan River and the Roaring Fork River, which is Paradise!!!

Vail, Colorado

Known as “Little Aspen,” Vail, Colorado is another fancy, skiing and snowboarding, gorgeous, beautiful little town tucked away at the base of Vail Mountain within the White River National Forest.

Colorado Springs, Colorado

From West to South, we drove almost three hours to enjoy the magnificent landscapes of the Rocky Mountains to visit the Garden of Gods in Colorado Springs. A drive worth every minute.

Road trip with kids in Colorado? We’ll do it again in a heartbeat!

Ben and Jerry’s Factory Tour For Kids

November 6, 2017November 6, 2017 by turknoys, posted in Travel Adventures, Travel Goals, United States of America, Vermont, Why Travel With Kids?

“Ice-cream is the favorite currency of love. ” – Puck

Taking a break from a beautiful weather and fall foliage paradise, off we hopped into Ben and Jerry’s Factory Tour. As if we needed more sugar and cream to add more fun with our naturally hyper traveling kids.

Ben and Jerry's Factory Tour For Kids — As if getting a fall foliage treat in Vermont is not paradise enough, a break from nature means Ben and Jerry’s Factory Tour! Whooaaa, life is great! Thank you, God, for all the blessings!

We were given a brief introduction about the company and its mission. Well, we are indeed avid fans of mission-oriented kid-friendly activities and places and with ice cream product, no less! Love, love, dream, travel and ice cream on. That’s what we say!

Ben and Jerry’s Economic Mission: To operate a company g on a sustainable financial basis of profitable growth, increasing value for our stakeholders of profitable growth & expanding opportunities for development and career growth for our employees.

After all, Ben and Jerry is a business and business needs to make money. The company is also has shareholders who has investment in the company and, naturally, want their investment to grow.

Dannndaaandaannn … and at this point, the kids would know what their mom and dad would say to them. Every family should have a similar mission. Of course, we want sustainable financial basis of continued family earnings so we can increase the value of all our family members. At this point, we achieve that by two working parents, acquired properties and calculated investments. At the end of the end, even though we aim to travel to 100 beautiful countries, islands and landmarks, we also have a mission to create little humans who will make their marks in the world.

Ben and Jerry’s Product Mission: To Make, distribute and seek the finest quality natural ice cream and euphoric concoctions with a continued commitment to incorporating wholesome, natural ingredients and promoting business practices that respect the Earth and the Environment.

As a home educating and worldschooling family, this mission exactly. Of course? Instead of ice cream, we have our kids. Not actually as products but more like, the output of raising up unique individuals enhancing their natural and God-given gifts and their euphoric passions in life. In addition, with respect to the world we live in, including all the diverse living things that live in it.

Ben ans Jerry’s Social Mission: To operate the Company in a way that actively recognizes the central role that business plays in society by initiating, innovative ways to improve the quality of life locally, nationally and internationally.

Ben and Jerry’s changing the world one ice cream at a time. Turknoy Travels 100 is commitment to change the world, one family member at a time.

Hoops, yes, the kids enjoyed he ice cream Factory Tour, too!
We had a lot of talks but then we had a lot ice cream, too.

Do you have Life’s Mission while eating ice cream? 😝

Vermont Teddy Bear For Kids, Factory Tour and Build-A-Bear

October 31, 2017 by turknoys, posted in Travel Adventures, Travel Goals, United States of America, Vermont, Why Travel With Kids?

“A teddy bear will give you love. A grizzly bear will give you a mauling. Some bears aren’t just the same.” – Anthony T.Hincks

Do you know how a teddy bear is made and born? Well, these three traveling Turknoys definitely does now.

Vermont Teddy Bear For Kids, Factory Tour and Build-A-Bear — Deciding to have a Teddy Bear?! It’s a big decision to consider, think it through… 😘

Once kids made the big leap of choosing to own a best friend teddy, like life, they’ll be face with more decisions to make, not just for themselves, be for their Teddy Bears.

After making their own personal Teddy Bear BFFs, the Turknoys made a Factory Tour at the Vermont Teddy Bear to check if all the teddies are made in accordance to the quality assurance of all BFFs. Spoiler alert – it does!

We are definitely going home with more luggages than we want. Better yet, from family of five to traveling family of eight, 2 adults, 3 kids and 3 Vermont teddies. Luckily, the kids didn’t choose that big, gigantic bear.

When we travel light like an expert, along came three teddy bears! 😂😂😂

Do you own a Vermont Teddy Bear?

Halloween Howl For Kids in Burlington, Vermont

October 29, 2017 by turknoys, posted in Family Satisfaction, Family Traditions, family travel, Travel Adventures, Travel Goals, United States of America, Vermont

“By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this may come. ” – William Shakespeare, Macbeth

Halloween Howl For Kids in Burlington, Vermont — Wonder Woman / Amazon Woman/ Traveling Woman

Okay, the traveling parents caved in with the kids with regards to participating in a Halloween party while in USA. It’s not that we don’t celebrate Halloween. It’s not that we agree that it’s anti- religion nor anti-God. It may be a country tradition but how we see it is more like a commercial manipulation while waiting for Thanksgiving and Christmas season. Bring on the pumpkins, the season spices, costumes and gazillion candies and the retailers had October and November sales covered.
Boy, did we see how customers shopped and crammed getting the costumes. It’s part of what made us want to be part of it – better to experience it once, rather than be nagging on the edge of being bitter about it every year. So, off we celebrate Halloween, kids costumes, party and sweets!

Having said that, we choose a free Halloween event and oh boy, did we enjoy.. and the kids, too! It’s a family event in a great weather with friendly awesome people by Lake Champlain. It’s a fabulous event. We are very glad to joined.
Halloween Howl in Burlington, Vermont is a spooktakular good time on a hay ride and wandering through the haunted walk with costume contest, music and games!

Feels like superheroes walking around in the park, the forest, by the lake and in bouncy castle, that’s one awesome afternoon spent in Burlington, Vermont.

Our family members in character while one in nature is a perfect way to celebrate an awesome Halloween Howl in Burlington, Vermont.

What’s your Halloween plan? Do share Halloween traditions you do with your family.

Omaha, Nebraska for Family Travel With Young Kids

October 26, 2017October 26, 2017 by turknoys, posted in Family Satisfaction, family travel, Nebraska, Travel Adventures, Travel Goals, United States of America, Why Travel With Kids?

“I love it. You know, I was born almost a mile away from here, and I’ve never have a bad experience in Omaha. Omaha and Nebraska are home to me. It’s a pace. It’s relationships. There’s a lot of continuity. There’s a lot of community. There’s a lot of friendship. It’s a very solid place, a friendly place in which to grow up and in which to conduct a business. ” – Warren Buffet, Becoming Warren Buffet, on why he chooses to live in Omaha.

We tried to find where Warren Buffet, the world’s richest multibillionaire, lives. We managed to get to his mailing address and we tried to get all the billionaire vibes in the area. Omaha has lots of gorgeous houses, it’s easy to imagine Warren Buffet’s home in the city.

To be able to get around Omaha, Nebraska, we needed to rent a car and realized that fact later on after walking from the train station wee hours in the morning, coming straight from our Chicago, Illinois family travel and waking up way too early walking around the very quiet, almost deserted city, with not even a single cab is available.

Off we went to the city’s airport and rented a car to roam the city. At the airport, we realized the the city has lady Mayor! Yay, raising global girls needed a discussion of a little bit of governance of the world and what part do ladies of power play.

Omaha, Nebraska for Family Travel With Young Kids — While waiting for the car rental… the best way to go around Omaha is by car. The City Mayor is a woman so we have this little girl power photo!

We then hang out at the Old Market after realizing that we won’t be able to find Warren Buffet’s house.

After driving around the city and the nearby cities in Nebraska, we went to do exactly an “American” fall/ autumn tradition… Visit a farm, explore a corn maze and pumpkin patch. We picked our pumpkin but of course, didn’t buy any.

Going back to Omaha, we got tempted yet again to visit local bookstore and had another share of our family book haul.

We didn’t want to leave the Bookstore, but dinner called and we enjoyed a very scrumptious local dinner at Upstream Brewing Company.

If Omaha is a glimpse of Mid West USA, then we definitely need to be back soon to explore the region.

What cities in the Midwest USA would you recommend?

Chicago Children’s Museum

October 23, 2017October 23, 2017 by turknoys, posted in Chicago, Family Satisfaction, Travel Goals, United States of America, Why Travel With Kids?

Did You Know:

Chicago Children’s Museum‘s mission is to improve children’s lives by creating a community where play and learning connect.

We arrived in Chicago when it was rainy! We underestimated the windy and chilly weather about the city so we decided to enjoy the city from the indoors. We planned for a quick stopover at the Chicago Children’s Museum for about 1-2 hours only yet we ended up staying until closing time!

Kids rule in play and learning in Chicago Children’s Museum. We have all raves and praises about this awesome kids place.

The staff were friendly, the place is ergonomically designed for kids to play and for parents to enjoy their kids play; or better yet, to enjoy playing with their kids.

Now, let’s talk about Mission. Obviously, our family is advocate of setting family goals linked to one own’s Mission Statement. With the mission statement, “to improve children’s lives by creating a community where play and learning connect”

We have articulated our family goals Turknoy Travels 100 is A Family Lifestyle based on our family’s mission to raise global citizens by family travel and worldschooling.

Children’s Museum and other family recreation facilities State their Mission quite clearly and concisely. We believe every family should, too.

Do you have your own unique family mission? Do tell us.