Everybody loves vacation, but not everyone likes planning it. That’s the thought behind this blog and my mission: to create fun travel plans people can download and go, without having to think about a thing.

As a travel writer, I’ve gotten to do some really special things like cruising to Cuba and sipping wine made from 100-year-old vines. And, I’ve been roped into stuff I’d never, ever choose for myself (hello: swimming with sharks and freefall rappelling into a 10-story cave). Once, I was even a dessert judge for the World Food Championships – something I felt like I had been training for my whole life.

But the truth is, every vacation has the potential to be life-changing – from giving you a whole new outlook to renewing your energy so you can kill it at work to reconnecting with the peeps you love most.

That’s why if I’m not traveling, I’m planning my next trip (and taking care of kids, doing laundry, trying to figure out what the heck to feed my family for dinner, and spending way too many hours chained to my computer – ugh, this is why we need getaways!).

It’s my sincerest wish that you too will carve out some precious, much-needed time to take a break from the daily hustle to have fun. Because the right vacation at the right time can be life-changing.

where I’ve been featured

I’ve been a huge fan of magazines since I was a teen. I had five subscriptions – Teen, YM, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, and Seventeen – and loved pouring through the pages each month. So becoming a writer for major, national publications was a dream come true for me. And getting to be a travel writer? Even better. Here are a few of the places I’ve been published:

Family Vacation Critic: “8 U.S. Destinations Where You Can See the Northern Lights”

Good Housekeeping: “50 Amazing Places In the U.S. You’ve Got to Take Your Kids To”

Oprah Daily: “8 Places You’ll Definitely Want to Visit When You Retire”

Redbook: “10 Fun Destinations for a Getaway With Your Family, Girls, or SO”; “5 Amazing American Road Trips You’ve Gotta Take This Summer”; “9 Fun, Cheap Weekend Trips You’ve Gotta Take This Fall”; “15 Family Vacations You Need to Take Your Kids on Before They Grow Up”

Subaru Drive: “How To Plan Trips With a Senior Dog”; “Ways To Help Animals While Vacationing”

Woman’s Day: “These Summer Vacation Spots Are the Hidden Gems of the Midwest”

Get my goodies

Everyone loves a good freebie. Am I right or am I right? You can find all of mine in one place (oh the joy!) on my Freebie Page. Get “One Perfect Day” itineraries, national park checklists, packing checklists, and more.

Let’s Connect!

Find and follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest.

Wanna tell me about the best destination you ever visited? Or ask me to cover a certain location? I’d love to hear from you! Just mail me at kristi@readymadetravelplans.com.

Places I’ve Traveled

I’m proud to say that I get around! Here’s where I’ve traveled to thus far.

USA

  • Alabama
  • Arizona
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Hawaii
  • Illinois
  • Kentucky
  • Michigan
  • New Mexico
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • Ohio
  • Oregon
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Utah
  • Washington
  • West Virginia
  • Wisconsin

International

  • Canada
  • Costa Rica
  • Cuba
  • Germany
  • Iceland
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Jamaica
  • Japan
  • Mexico

Where I’m going next

I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list! I love that saying because my bucket list is too long to list all the destinations on it. But here are a few of the top places in the USA that I want to go to next. Have you been? Do you live there? Drop me a line and tell me about it at kristi@readymadetravelplans.com.

  • Alaska
  • Idaho
  • Louisiana
  • Maine
  • Massachusetts (Boston!)
  • Missouri (Ozarks!)
  • Montana
  • South Dakota
  • Wyoming

psst! I WON’T SELL YOU OUT

I have a pretty standard privacy policy based on the Golden Rule. I don’t sell, loan or barter with your email address or any other information you give me. If reading policies is your thing, you can check the whole thing out here.