Trip Tales | A Family Travel Podcast

I'm is finally answering one of my most-asked questions: What should we do in Nashville?After years of getting texts and DMs from friends, followers, and listeners planning trips to Nashville, I'm sharing it all! This episode covers Nashville as both a family trip with kids and an adults-only getaway, including where to stay, what to do, favorite restaurants, Broadway tips, live music spots, brunch ideas, and easy add-on trips to Franklin and Leiper’s Fork.Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/kelseygravesFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelsey_gravesFollow me on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mskelseygravesJoin us in the Trip Tales Podcast Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1323687329158879Mentioned in this episode:- Family Friendly Hotels: Gaylord Opryland (Parking Hack: map to Regal otels:Cinemas or Dave & Busters at Opry Mills Mall -> park -> walk toward the Expo Hall and into the back of the hotel), Drury Plaza Hotel, Hyatt Place, Hyatt House, Renaissance Nashville, Graduate Nashville- Things to do with kids: Soundwaves Waterpark, Nashville Zoo, Adventure Science Center, Broadway in the morning or lunchtime, Country Music Hall of Fame, Goo Goo Chocolate Company, Fifth + Broadway & Assembly Food Hall, Grand Ole Opry / Opry House / Ryman Auditorium Tours, Centennial Park + The Parthenon, The Frist Art Museum, Putt Shack, Pop Stroke, Nashville Yards, Sounds Baseball Game, The Great Big Gameshow, Lip Lap- Places to Eat with Kids: Assembly Food Hall, Edley's BBQ, Martin's BBQ, Prince's Hot Chicken, Hattie B's Hot Chicken, Buttermilk Ranch, Puckett's, Pancake Pantry (forgot to mention in episode - iconic breakfast spot!)- Nashville Adults Trip - Where to Stay: JW Marriott, The Joseph, The 1 Hotel, Four Seasons, The Thompson, The W, The Noelle, The Bobby, The Hermitage Hotel- Adult Things to Do: Broadway, The Listening Room, Rooftops, 12th South Neighborhood, The Gulch- Rooftops: Bourbon Sky, LA Jackson, Harriet's, White Limozeen, Denim- Adults Restaurants: Bourbon Steak, Bar Taco, Epice, Chauhan Ale and Masala House, Adele's, Buttermilk Ranch, O-Ku, The Optimist- Franklin, TN: Main Street, Merridee's Bread Basket, Gray's on Main, Cullacino- Leiper's Fork, TN: Fox & Locke, Crown Winery in the Fork- Arrington Vineyards

Kelsey sits down with Liz from Portland, Oregon to hear all about her family’s epic winter adventure to Ottawa and Montreal in February 2025.This trip was planned as a surprise 40th birthday bucket list trip for Liz’s husband, with one very specific goal: ice skating on the Rideau Canal in Ottawa, Canada (the world's largest natural ice skating rink). As a big hockey and skating family, this was a dream experience!Liz shares what it was like visiting Ottawa with both an 18-year-old and a 1-year-old in tow, staying at the magnificent Fairmont Château Laurier, exploring the city in winter, and then continuing on to Montreal for cozy, European vibes.This episode is available to watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kelseygravesIf you’d like to share about your trip on the podcast, email me at: [email protected] Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/kelseygravesFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelsey_gravesFollow me on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mskelseygravesJoin us in the Trip Tales Podcast Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1323687329158879Mentioned in this episode:- MONTREAL: Montreal Airport Marriott, Biosphere in Parc Jean-Drapeau on St. Helen's Island, Sonder Apollon Apartments Old Montreal, Montreal Canadians hockey game at the Bell Centre rink, La Fontaine Park - ice skating, La Grande Roue ferris wheel, Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal + the Aura Experience, STASH Cafe for Polish food.- Beau's Brewery- OTTAWA: Fairmont Chateau Laurier, Winterlude, ByWard Market, ice skating the Rideau Canal, The Brig Pub, National Gallery of Canada, Major's Hill Park- PARC OMEGA: Wolf Chalet & Lodge, Panoramic Chalet 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.

I’m sharing the family games we’re loving right now! The ones we love so much, they actually come on trips with us! From ski condo game nights to beach house fun, these are the games that keep our family laughing and playing together.In this episode, I’m breaking down our favorite family games by kid and age, from elementary school to middle school to teens, plus the one game our whole family cannot stop playing. Everything mentioned is linked in the show notes so you can easily snag a new favorite for your next family game night or trip.Mentioned in this episode:- Link to all our favorite family games: https://amzlink.to/az0b1CBSWOdgx- App Store games: Charades and Imposter Who?Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/kelseygravesFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelsey_gravesFollow me on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mskelseygravesJoin us in the Trip Tales Podcast Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1323687329158879

Amanda is back (she previously joined to share about her family’s trip to Bali and Singapore) and this time she’s taking us along on her family of four’s Thanksgiving week adventure to London and Paris.Amanda (@thetravelingbixlers) traveled in November 2025 with her husband and two kids, ages 7 and 6, for a magical European trip packed with iconic sights, kid-friendly fun, and a little Disney magic. This episode is available to watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kelseygravesIf you’d like to share about your trip on the podcast, email me at: [email protected] Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/kelseygravesFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelsey_gravesFollow me on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mskelseygravesJoin us in the Trip Tales Podcast Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1323687329158879Mentioned in this episode:- Amanda @thetravelingbixlers https://www.instagram.com/thetravelingbixlers/- Air France- Amazon Travel Backpack https://amzlink.to/az0rcM72FkyB1- Kids Bluetooth headphones with audio jack https://amzlink.to/az0UtaFmc6Twm- Bluetooth audio jack transmitter for AirPods on airplane https://amzlink.to/az0jeYIoy4EYa- The Tube and London public transportation - Premier Inn London hotel- LONDON: Borough Market, Picadilly Circus, Dishoom restaurant, Westminster Abbey, Lego Store, Kings Cross Station, Jubliee Market, London Eye, Natural History Museum- RICHMOND: Ted Lasso Pub (The Prince's Head)- Eurostsar- DISNEYLAND PARIS: The Dreams Hotel, The Lion King Show, Avengers Campus, Spiderman Web Slingers, Frozen Show- PARIS: Hyatt Regency Paris Étoile, going up in the Eiffel Tower, Galeries Lafayette, Sainte-Chapelle, Notre Dame, Relais de l’Entrecôte (steak frites restaurant), Musée d'Orsay (Orsay museum), Montmartre neighborhood, Sacré-Cœur basilica, Breizh for crepes- Macaron Baking Class: https://www.viator.com/tours/Paris/Fun-Pastry-class-for-kids-and-family-in-center-of-Paris-must-do/d479-6159P29- The Foldie foldable travel bag https://amzlink.to/az0BzJ39ktSEo

I’m not scared of AI - I’m here for it! In this episode, I’m sharing 7 ChatGPT prompts that will change how you plan travel.From finding family-friendly hotels that actually sleep everyone, to building smarter itineraries, choosing restaurants, decoding wine lists, finding off-the-beaten-path road trip stops, creating your own self-guided tours, and even building a realistic packing list — these are the exact ways I use AI to make travel planning easier.Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelsey_gravesJoin us in the Trip Tales Podcast Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1323687329158879Mentioned in this episode:- ChatCPT vs. Claude- Good Pictures, Bad Pictures book https://amzlink.to/az0N6Ccop6uZb- ChatGPT prompts to copy and paste:1. Use AI to find your next trip destination or hotel I’m planning a family trip and need help narrowing down destination and hotel ideas. We are a family of [number] with kids ages [ages], flying from [home airport]. We want a trip that feels [relaxing/adventurous/beachy/luxury/budget-friendly]. We need hotels that sleep [number] in one room, with features like [waterslide, beachfront, kids club, kitchen, points-friendly]. Give me 10 ideas with specific hotels and why each would work.2. Use AI to build a starter itinerary We are visiting [destination] for [number] days and staying at [hotel/neighborhood]. Create a starter itinerary that groups attractions by location so we’re not wasting time. We want to include [attractions, restaurants, tours, museums, parks, shows]. Organize each day by area, suggest the best order, and note when we need reservations or tickets.3. Use AI to find restaurants with a specific vibe I’m looking for restaurants in [destination/neighborhood] near [landmark or hotel]. I want something that feels [bougie/vibey/romantic/fun/local/kid-friendly], serves [type of food], and is within [walking distance/short Uber]. Give me 8 options, explain the vibe, include what to order if known, and tell me which one you’d pick.4. Use AI to decode wine lists and menus I’m going to upload a restaurant menu. Help me find the can’t-miss items. I like [preferences], I don’t love [things to avoid], and we are ordering for [adults/kids/family/date night]. Tell me what you’d order, what seems special, and what I can skip.5. Use AI to find off-the-beaten-path stops on a road trip We are driving from [Point A] to [Point B] with [kids/adults/teens]. Help me find the best stops to break up the drive. We are interested in [restaurants, scenic stops, short hikes, roadside attractions, coffee shops, playgrounds]. Organize by where they fall along the drive, how far they are from the route, and which are most worth it.6. Use AI to create your own self-guided tour Create a self-guided [food/walking/history/photo/family-friendly] tour of [city/neighborhood]. We will start at [starting point] and want it to last about [amount of time]. Include [coffee, snacks, landmarks, shops, historic stops, photo spots, local favorites]. Put everything in walking order with a short explanation of each stop, and make it easy to copy into my Notes app.7. Use AI to create a packing list I’m packing for a trip to [destination] from [dates] with [who is going/kids’ ages]. Our itinerary includes [activities, restaurants, excursions, beach days, theme parks, hiking, skiing, nicer dinners]. Create a realistic packing list organized by person and category. Include clothing, shoes, toiletries, travel day items, activity-specific items, and things people often forget.