About Our Family

Meet the Family

We are a family of four from North Carolina that loves to travel together. Over the years, we've mastered the logistics of making our vacations enjoyable for everyone. Whether it's planning our itinerary or ensuring we have time to relax. We know how to make the most of our adventures (sometimes squeezing in a bit too much). We haven't quite mastered traveling with just a carry-on and a backpack yet, but we are getting more efficient, traveling with less each time. Join us as we explore Italy and create lasting memories!

Parents

Heather and Chris

We are Heather and Chris, passionate travelers excited to explore new cultures. Our goal is to instill a sense of adventure and a love of learning in our children, inspiring them to embrace the world around them. Heather plans the entire vacation from start to finish. Chris takes most of the photos since he is the family photographer.

Daughter 17 years old

Maya

Maya was a junior in high school when we took our trip to Italy. She has a passion for travel and enjoys exploring new destinations. Maya has big plans to travel abroad as much as possible when she attends college. She loves to shop on vacation and engage in activities she wouldn't normally do at home. Maya is up for anything as long as she isn't too tired.

Son 15 years old

Gavin

Gavin was a high school freshman when we traveled to Italy. As a go-with-the-flow traveler, he embraced every moment, happily indulging in gelato each day. His carefree spirit made the trip even more enjoyable, creating memories filled with sweet treats and adventure.

What We Like to do on Vacation

Rick Steves' Tours truly offers the perfect blend of guided exploration and personal leisure. We appreciate a well-structured itinerary that allows us to engage with the group while also carving out time for our own family experiences. It really is the best of both worlds, providing us with opportunities to discover new places together and create cherished memories that are uniquely ours. This balance enhances our travel experience, making each trip both enriching and enjoyable.

Participate in fun customs like rubbing the nose of Il Porcellino in Florence to have good luck. Also put your coin in it's mouth and if it falls into the grate below you will have good luck and be assured you will return to Florence.

Experience history like being a gladiator in the underground tunnels of the Colosseum. We know we can't do it all, although we try.

We will never pass up on a jail or prison tour. It is kind of our thing. We visited two prisions on this trip.

We eat our way through our vacations. We like to try local foods. The kids ate so much more than we expected during this tour. They enjoyed black squid ink pasta and baccala in Venice. Who would have guessed?