Schwanderlust Travel Blog

Part 20: We Couldn't Pick Just One Favorite

After 14 days, 5 countries, 3 gondola rides, and more pizza than we’re willing to admit, we came home with a suitcase full of memories—and a short list of moments that keep coming up again and again.

Here are our top favorite moments, in no particular order (because honestly, we couldn’t agree on the rankings anyway)...

by The Schwan Family
7/18/2025

Part 19: If We Could Do It Again

Planning a multi-country European adventure for five people—including three middle schoolers—is no small task. And while we had an unforgettable trip filled with beauty, challenge, laughter, and gelato… there are a few things we’d tweak next time.

This isn’t a guidebook. It’s the kind of list we wish someone handed us before we left...

by Brian Schwan
7/17/2025

Part 18: This Was Never Just a Vacation

We didn’t set out to check countries off a list. We weren’t trying to do it all or prove anything. What we were looking for was a break from the routine, a chance to reconnect, and a shared adventure that would challenge and delight us all—together and individually.  And as it turns out? We found more than just castles, coasters, and cliffside restaurants. We found pieces of ourselves we didn’t know were missing...

by Brian Schwan
7/16/2025

Part 17: The First Day of Looking Back

Every big trip has a day where it begins to end. You can feel it—the shift from exploring to returning, from wonder to reflection.

After two weeks of nonstop movement—Italy, Switzerland, Germany, France, Austria, Liechtenstein—our family woke up in Appenzell, Switzerland, and began the long journey back to Milan.  This wasn’t just a travel day. It was the first day of looking back...

by Brian Schwan
7/15/2025

Part 16: Border Hopping & Bucket Lists

There’s something magical about being able to visit three countries in a single day—without an airport, security line, or even much planning. This was that kind of day. A “check the box” kind of day. A “let’s squeeze one more memory into this trip” kind of day...

by Brian Schwan
7/14/2025

Part 15: Some Places You Visit.  Others, You Feel.

Appenzell hit us differently.

We’d been in motion for nearly two weeks: zipping from Milan heat to Swiss mountaintops, through French villages, German wine towns, and unexpected festivals. It had all been incredible—but also a lot. Then, on a sunny Sunday morning, we woke up to crisp mountain air, a slower rhythm, and a day that unfolded with so much heart and beauty, we almost didn’t want to write about it. We just wanted to stay in it.

But here we are. Because this is the kind of travel story that reminds you why you pack the bags, book the flights, and chase those moments in the first place...

by Brian Schwan
7/13/2025

Part 14: This Was Supposed to be a Quiet Day!

Some travel days feel like transitions. Others feel like adventures with a steering wheel. This day was both.

We left our quiet rental home in southern Germany and hit the road with a map route, a packed lunch, and high hopes for some scenery. Our final destination was Appenzell, Switzerland—but getting there was half the fun. We wound our way through parts of the Black Forest, paused at one of Europe’s largest waterfalls, stopped by a soccer stadium (of course), and ended the day by pulling into a town that looked peaceful on the map… only to find ourselves in the middle of a massive festival.

So much for a quiet arrival...

by Brian Schwan
7/12/2025

Part 13: Stretching Our Legs

Not every day on a big European trip is castles and cathedrals. Some days are for laundry, catching up on work, stretching your legs on a trail, or just wandering aimlessly through a town you picked off a road sign. This was that kind of day. And it turns out, we needed it...

by Brian Schwan
7/11/2025

Part 12: Strasbourg and the Spaces In Between

There are some days on a big trip that feel carefully plotted, with tickets booked and schedules to keep. This wasn’t one of them.  Instead, this day was about wandering. It was about letting the road decide. We’d been moving at a pretty steady pace through Italy, Switzerland, and now France—but this day gave us a chance to go slower, take a few scenic detours, and find joy in the in-between places...

by Brian Schwan
7/10/2025

Part 11: And Then There Were Four

After a big travel day—and a big goodbye—it felt good to slow down.

We had officially dropped off our daughter with friends in France, where she’d be spending a few days immersed in the local culture, sleeping under a different roof, and seeing Europe through someone else’s lens. The shift was real. Five travelers became four.  We didn’t rush that morning. It was one of those quiet in-between days. Not a “bucket list” kind of day—but the kind that becomes memorable because it didn’t need to be...

by Brian Schwan
7/9/2025

Part 10: Some Trips Take You Further Than You Think

One thing travel teaches you—quickly—is how much can happen in 24 hours. Today, we woke up high in the Swiss Alps, took a gondola down from a glacier, drove through winding valleys into France, crossed into Switzerland again, cheered at a European soccer match... and then, in the middle of it all, said goodbye to one of our kids...

by Brian Schwan
7/8/2025

Part 9: Chasing Snow in July

We came to Engelberg chasing snow in July. That may sound odd to some, but for our crew—coming off lake swims, steep hills, and the blazing heat of Milan—it felt like exactly the kind of shift we were ready for. Mountain air. Cable cars. That surreal feeling of being above the clouds...

by Brian Schwan
7/7/2025

Part 8: Mountains, Mistakes and the Scenic Route

Every family trip needs one classic travel blunder. The kind you laugh about later—even if, in the moment, you’re gripping the steering wheel a little tighter and wondering if the GPS has a vendetta. For us, that day was the day we left Italy for Switzerland and accidentally (but kind of on purpose?) drove through the St. Gotthard Tunnel twice before finally crossing the St. Gotthard Pass—a winding, spectacular route that ended up being one of the most unforgettable drives of our entire journey...

by Brian Schwan
7/6/2025

Part 7: Beyond The Brochure: The Real Lake Como

We left Milan sweaty, but over our jet lag, and excited for some fresh air and open space. The plan? Rent a car, head north, and ease into the next phase of the trip.  What we found wasn’t flashy or famous. We weren’t staying in a luxury villa or spotting celebrities on boats. Instead, we hiked up and down steep stone paths, swam in cold water that made us feel alive again, and accidentally crashed a local food and music festival that turned out to be one of our favorite nights of the trip.  This wasn’t the postcard version of Lake Como. It was better...

by Brian Schwan
7/3/2025

Part 6: From Pennsylvania to Pepperoni

There’s a special kind of chaos that happens when you land in Europe after an overnight flight with three kids in tow. Your brain says “let’s explore,” but your body is somewhere over the Atlantic, still trying to process airport peanuts and pretzels. That was us on Day 1 in Milan—disoriented, sweaty (really sweaty), but also excited to be back in Europe...

by Brian Schwan
7/2/2025

Part 5: Embracing the Art of the Pivot

If there's one thing we've learned from planning our 2025 European adventure, it's this: the best journeys often begin with a change of plans. Our original itinerary had us zigzagging across countries, but as we delved deeper into the logistics, we realized that our vision of a relaxing, immersive family trip was getting lost amidst the hustle.  So, we took a step back, reevaluated, and made some heartfelt decisions to slow down and savor the moments. Here's how our revised plan is shaping up...

by Brian Schwan
5/10/2025

Saddle Up for Family Adventure: Discovering the Magic of Dude Ranch Vacations

Have you ever dreamed of trading your daily routine for wide-open skies, horseback rides through rugged landscapes, and evenings under a canopy of stars? A dude ranch vacation offers just that—a unique blend of adventure, relaxation, and family bonding in the heart of the American West...

by Jennfer Schwan
5/10/2025

Off-Season Adventure Travel: Why Shoulder Season Is Perfect for Families

There’s a secret window of time when destinations feel yours alone—fewer crowds, friendlier prices, and that magical “just-for-us” vibe. It’s called shoulder season, the weeks just before or after peak travel. For adventurous families, it’s nothing short of a superpower. Here’s why you should embrace spring and fall getaways (or late‑season winter escapes) on your next family adventure...

by Jennifer Schwan
5/4/2025

Packing Light for Family Adventures: How to Travel Smarter and Carry Less

The lighter you pack, the freer you feel—especially when you’re traveling with kids. Lugging heavy suitcases through airports, up hotel stairs, or across cobblestone streets can turn any adventure into a chore. Here’s how to streamline your packing process and lighten the load without sacrificing comfort, convenience, or essentials.

by Jennifer Schwan
5/4/2025

Schwanderlust: The Official Schwan Family Travel Blog

For us, travel isn’t just about ticking destinations off a list. It’s about experiencing cultures, meeting new people, and strengthening the bond we share as a family...

by Jennifer & Brian Schwan
12/24/2024