If This Were a Tabloid Cover

A year of real travel stories, slow living, and everything they don’t show in highlight reels

The highlight reel never tells the full story. So instead of pretending this year was polished and predictable, we leaned into what it actually was.

From worldschooling across oceans to Military Space-A flights, house sits, medical scares, bucketlist moments, and a few very humbling travel mistakes, this year was real life on the road. Unfiltered. Sometimes chaotic… but always meaningful.

If our year were a magazine spread, these are the pages you’d flip through.

Travel Is Not Always Pretty

This was the year we learned that long term travel isn’t about perfection. It’s about problem solving in real time.

A surprise four figure phone bill, missed details that turned into big lessons, and moments that felt very “are we really doing this?” reminded us that travel doesn’t stop being real life just because it looks good online.

And honestly? We wouldn’t trade those lessons for anything.

The Art of Slow Travel: 7 Space-A Flights, $0 in Airfare

This year, we logged seven Military Space-A flights and spent $0 on airfare.

But Space-A isn’t just about saving money. It’s about community. About families swapping tips in terminals, cheering when names get called, and helping each other pivot when plans change.

Slow travel only works when flexibility comes first, and Space-A made long-term travel sustainable for our family in a way nothing else could.

House Sitting Five Times: Four Wins, One Hard Lesson

We house sat five times this year.

Four were incredible. The kind that give you unforgettable pets, beautiful locations, and the feeling that you’ve temporarily stepped into someone else’s life in the best way.

One sit taught us everything not to ignore.

Fleas, missing basics, and crossed boundaries reminded us that transparency matters. House sitting can be magic, but only when honesty is part of the deal.

Tiktok Creator: Invited, Seen, and Still Surreal

Somewhere between airports and long stays, we were invited to a Tiktok creator event we never imagined being part of.

Moments like this still feel surreal. Not because of the spotlight, but because this journey started as a family choosing a different path and sharing it honestly.

Being seen for showing up as ourselves will never get old.

Favorites We Tried and Loved This Year

Travel teaches you quickly what’s worth carrying and what isn’t.

These were the products, routines, and small comforts that actually held up while moving constantly. The things we reached for again and again, and the ones we’re bringing straight into 2026.

Real favorites. Not hype.

NOYZ Only Human Eau De Parfum | Oura Ring | Aora Makeup: Hot Lips Traveler Duo | Oh! Mega Milk Fermented Barrier Boosting Facial Oil | Salud Hydration + Immunity Limonada – Lemonade | KITSCH Hair Perfume Warm Sugar

The $4,000 Phone Bill That Almost Broke Us

International travel lesson learned the hard way.

Somewhere between hopping borders and living abroad, we opened our phone bill and saw a number we never expected. A nearly $4,000 T-Mobile charge that absolutely stopped us in our tracks.

After multiple calls and weeks of back and forth, we filed an FCC complaint. Three days later, the charges were reversed.

It wasn’t glamorous, but it was real. A reminder that problems still try to find you, even when you think you’ve left it all behind. This was a billing error on T-Mobile’s side that we had to fight to have removed. Always advocate for yourself when something doesn’t add up.

Most Underrated USA Destination We Explored This Year

Utah quietly stole our hearts.

Wide open spaces, unreal landscapes, and places that feel untouched compared to more crowded destinations. This was one of those trips that reminded us you don’t always have to leave the country to feel completely transported.

Hanksville Utah was slower, quieter, and unexpectedly grounding. The kind of place that makes you linger longer than planned and wonder why more people aren’t talking about it. Capitol Reef was Addison’s favorite national park this year.

Underrated doesn’t even begin to cover it.

The Photo That Sums Up Our Travel Energy

This photo happened in Yoron, Japan during one of those goofy, unplanned moments that make slow travel with kids so special.

We were just messing around by the pool with the girls when this moment happened, and it instantly became one of our favorites from the year.

Also worth noting: these goggles are that cute. Another kid tried to walk off with them, and we had to track them down. They’re fun, but they’re also great quality and actually stay on, which matters when kids are in and out of the water nonstop.

Pinterest definitely inspired the vibe, but this was real life, real laughs, and a memory we’ll always love.

👉 Linking the “Born to Be Wild” goggles here because they’re a favorite for a reason.

Three Months of Slow Living in Okinawa, Japan

We spent three full months in Okinawa, and it changed the rhythm of our lives.

Instead of rushing highlights, we settled in. We tried foods we’d never tasted before. The kids were worldschooled through festivals, bus routes, conversations, and everyday observations.

It wasn’t loud travel. It was the kind that stays with you long after you leave.

Still Addicted to Travel & Where We Went This Year

This year took us across seven countries, multiple oceans, and countless versions of “home.”

Sometimes travel looked like:

• leaving the U.S.
• moving abroad without a full plan.
• slow mornings, flexible schooling, and figuring it out as we went.

In between the highlights, a lot happened.

We were interviewed for a TV concept while living in Japan. It never moved forward, but being considered was wild. We dealt with travel fails, including a flea filled house sit and a two month Airbnb in Australia with no Wi-Fi.

There were medical scares too. Audrey needed the Heimlich. Amanda fell out of a bus. Alex battled food poisoning. Addy injured both wrists when a luggage cart fell on her.

And still, there were unforgettable wins. Our first C-130 flight. Swimming the Great Barrier Reef. Visiting the least visited national park in American Samoa.

This is what real travel looks like.

That is a Wrap

Nothing is locked in for 2026 yet.

We’re hoping the first half brings New Zealand and French Polynesia, but beyond that, we’re leaving space for whatever comes next.

Thank you for being here. For cheering us on. For choosing honesty over perfection with us.

Cheers to 2026. ✨

— Salty Vagabonds