Enjoying the Moment with DQ Family Travel

There is no greater way to make memories with your family than to take a trip together. Whether it’s a staycation at home, a trip to somewhere familiar, or a journey to some place new, stepping away from our busy lives allows us to reconnect and bond over a shared experience.

Even though travel can be exhausting and we often feel like we need a vacation from the vacation, there are so many beautiful, special moments in between the busy chaotic ones.

In celebration of families taking the time to create memories together, we interviewed some top travel bloggers to learn what inspires them, their top travel tips, some of the lessons they’ve learned, and their favorite ways to document the trips they take with their family. Life moves so quickly and we hope their insights will inspire you to make more time for family experiences that will create life-long memories.

Today we hear from the DQ family. The DQ family is from Miami, Florida and but now live in Connecticut. They began traveling more than 10 years ago and have set a goal to visit all 50 states as a family. They're now just five state away from accomplishing that goal! We asked Margie a few questions and she graciously responded with the answers below. Enjoy!

Why is travel so important to you and your family? 

I feel that travel allows us to explore new areas, see different parts of the country/world, and enjoy new experiences together. It is also important to show the kids the different ways people live, the past, and cultures that are unlike ours. I want them to appreciate all that we have and learn as much as they can from our travels, so that they can understand more of the world around them.

Do you remember when you became enamored with travel? 

It was after I was married. I had only visited a few places in my home state of FL, and while we enjoyed our childhood, my parents didn't place much of an importance on traveling around the US or the world. My husband grew up differently and shared with me the places he had traveled. I instantly became curious and we have been traveling together for 15 years.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by DQ Family Travel (@dqfamilytravel) on Jul 16, 2019 at 4:54pm PDT

What would you say is your philosophy on travel or life in general? 

Enjoy the moment. Take it all in and remember the sights, smells, and sounds.

What is your all-time bucket list family adventure and why? 

We are currently on a bucket list family adventure - to visit all 50 states before the kids graduate high school. It is looking like we will finish it before my oldest graduates middle school.

What is your advice to families just starting to travel with little ones? 

Just go. It will be a little challenging, but don't let it stop you from visiting new places.

If you have one, could you tell us about a particularly epic travel fail and the lesson learned? 

Double check if the apartment building you are staying at has an elevator. One brutally hot summer, we traveled to NYC and accidentally rented a walk-up apartment on the 5th floor. I almost melted from the heat exhaustion carrying luggage up those stairs.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by DQ Family Travel (@dqfamilytravel) on Apr 2, 2019 at 4:47am PDT

What purchase of less than $100 has most positively impacted your life as a traveler in recent memory?

Packing cubes!

What can parents do to make family trips more enjoyable and less stressful? 

Know that accidents and unexpected things will happen and do your best to breathe and go with the flow.

Do you have any interesting or unique ways in which you document your travels, during or after the trip? 

Yes, we take a photo at each state we visit and have a personalized travel map with the outline of each state.

What is your all-time favorite souvenir or item brought back from your adventures? 

Do you have a family policy on the stuff you can or can’t bring home? We rotate items. Sometimes we buy a coffee mug, Christmas ornament, refrigerator magnet, and pint glass.

Thanks to the DQ Family for sharing their travel tips and tricks with us. If you'd like to follow their travel journey you can find them on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.