A parent holding a little one, silhouetted against a golden sunset on a Hawaii beach

Five of us, one pup, and a new home every few years

We're a Navy family who lives in each place long enough to really know it, then packs up for the next adventure. Here's everything we've learned, for families like yours.

Get our newsletter Where we've lived

Get our free PCS checklistMoving soon? The printable list we use for every military move, from orders to the first weekend.
Our family travel gearWhat we actually pack for beach days, flights with kids, PCS moves, and the puppy.
Guides from where we've livedPlanning a trip? Hawaii, Virginia, Iceland, London, Cancun, Ghana and more, with where to stay.

The chapters so far

The Navy moves us every few years. Each move is a new chapter, and a whole new place to explore with the kids.

Chapter 1Utah2014–2018 · Guides coming soon
Chapter 2Hawaii2019–2021
Chapter 3South Carolina2021–2023 · Guides coming soon
Chapter 4VirginiaHome since 2023
Chapter 5Where next?Subscribe and find out with us

Latest from the blog

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Virginia

PCS Inventory: What We Photograph Before the Movers Pack

How our Navy family documents everything before a PCS pack-out, how to check the movers' inventory, and the 180-day notice and 2026 claim deadlines.

October 22, 2026

Michael and Chantelle at a table seat on a European train with water bottles and a window view of the countryside

Austria

Traveling Europe by Train with a Big Group: What We Learned Moving 10 People

We crossed Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic by train with a group of 10, including two little kids. How we booked, why to reserve seats, and why to pack light.

October 20, 2026

Michael and Chantelle in front of the giant lit Christmas tree at Munich's Marienplatz, with the New Town Hall beside it

Germany

Munich's Christmas Market at Marienplatz: Our Honest Take (and 2026 Dates)

Munich's Marienplatz Christmas market, 2026 dates and hours, and what we'd do again: the tower view, the Residenz, and how to handle the crowds with kids.

October 15, 2026

The lakeside gate of Schloss Leopoldskron, with two horse statues and snowy mountains behind the lake at sunset

Austria

Salzburg at Christmas: Our Night at the Sound of Music Palace and the Christkindlmarkt

Salzburg Christmas markets 2026: Christkindlmarkt, Mirabellplatz, Hellbrunn and fortress dates and hours, plus our night at the Sound of Music palace.

October 13, 2026

Mom, Dad, our two boys and our puppy squeezed into a selfie among fall leaves

Hi, we're the Periodic Travelers

Michael (Navy) and Chantelle (nurse), our two boys, a baby girl, and one very fluffy puppy named Puddles. We've called Utah, Hawaii, South Carolina, and Virginia home, and we've traveled everywhere from Cancun to Iceland to Ghana.

We don't just visit places. We live in them long enough to find the best beaches, the easy hikes, and the restaurants that don't mind a toddler. Then we write it all down for the next family headed that way.

Read our story