Blended Fam Travels the World to Trace History

She Who Wanders

Nov 3

7 Questions with Monty from The Spring Break Family

Meet Monty. A single, traveling mama of one turned married mama to a beautifully blended family of four, Monty is the mastermind behind The Spring Break Family. There she shares tips on everything from making the most of your 18 summers with your kids to how to explore black history through travel. She is a ball of energy inspiring other families to make all the moments count through travel and adventure, while still working a full-time job and balancing all of life’s demands.

Q: At what time in your life was your passion for travel ignited? Was there a specific moment or experience that opened your eyes to the world of travel?

I’ve loved travel for as long as I’ve known what travel was! Around my teenaged years, my wanderlust was ignited and I started applying to summer programs for gifted students that would allow me to travel outside of Houston. My very first “real” trip was to Ithaca, NY for a summer camp at Ithaca University. From there, I traveled as much as I could.

Q: Have you ever had a trip or part of a trip that didn’t go as planned? Tell us about that. How do you handle it when this happens, especially with your girls?

Oh, absolutely! As quiet as it’s kept, travel mistakes are just par for the course when you travel frequently. Our most recent travel mishap is when we visited Alabama. We had a late flight that was delayed to be even later so we were already exhausted by the time we reached our rental. Got there and it was filthy with pests under the sink and just uninhabitable. Luckily, we’ve always taught our girls to go with the flow when we’re away from home. So we rallied everyone together, tag teamed calling for alternate lodging, and just made the most of it.

Q: The Great Wanderlust is all about women getting outside the box and diving deeper in both travel and in life. Our mission is to inspire women to feel more vibrant through adventure and exploration. So, what is your great wanderlust? What most makes you come to life?

What a wonderful mission! Moms deserve the best this world has to offer and should be allowed to travel the globe to find it. My great wanderlust is learning new things! I’m a big history buff - especially Black history so I aboslutely love visiting historic sites, learning about my legacy, and also being able to share that with my children. Beyond that, the adventures we have as a family, are simply a dream come true. I’ve come a long way but deep down I’m still the girl that grew up in the not-so-great neighborhood with a single mom that just tried to make ends meet. Being able to afford to have these luxuries (both figuratively and literally) are just amazing to me.

Q: You are an incredible source of information for families who want to start traveling, but have questions or fears about how to make it happen. What would be your top 1-3 tips for a family who wants to start traveling but has no idea how or where to start? What do you think would be a great first trip for a family new to the travel scene?

My top tips are: budget for more than what you think you’d need, try not to sweat the small details, and always purchase travel insurance. It’s rough out here in these travel streets these days and it’s best to be prepared! A great first trip for a family new to the travel scene would be to start somewhere quasi-local. Go a city or state over from where you’re located. Make it a quick weekend just to get a travel rhythm down. Then expand from there. If you’re feeling the gusto and want to hop overseas for your first trip, I think London is a great first trip! Minimal language barrier and plenty to see/do.

Q: Many people think of travel as just a vacation - a time to do nothing and relax at a hotel or resort for a bit. While we can all use some of that too, I’m so inspired by how you incorporate education and learning for the whole family into your travels. How has travel helped your girls learn more about themselves, their heritage and the world around them in a way they may not have at home?

I love this question because sometimes I get a bit of guilt that we aren’t lounging on beaches like a lot of travel influencers. Don’t get me wrong - we do that too sometimes but the type of travel I love includes museums, cultures, and us coming home knowing something new. I’m very fortunate that my girls love this same type of travel too. They soak up every experience we have like a sponge. It’s made them more confident (in and out of the home) and more sure of themselves. Both love to tell us about times they’ve had to correct a teacher or classmate or intimately knew a subject matter in class because we’d actually visited the place. Our travels have taught them that we come from a lineage of people that literally built nations, endured severe hardships, and persevered in joy. When you know things like that, what limitations can people who don’t know any better really put on you? We live in a primarily white city in a very conservative state so it’s imperative that they know these truths.

Q: Where are you off to next and what are you most looking forward to about it??

Actually, our next trip is just for me and the husband! And it’s to a beach - go figure! When we married, we both already had a kid so this will be the first time since we’ve been together that we will be childless for 2 whole weeks so we’re taking advantage of it.

Q: Is there a question you wish I would have asked or anything else you’d like to share with other mamas relating to travel or life?

If you have a partner that doesn’t like to travel, isn’t available to do so, or you just don’t have one, PLEASE don’t be afraid to travel solo! I took our youngest daughter (my biological daughter) to Paris for a mommy/me trip last winter. I was so nervous but it turned out to the best trip ever! Know that you’re able and capable and go!

Q: Who inspires you to dig deeper in travel and life?

I’m fortunate to be friends with some absolutely amazing travel folks. Monet of The Traveling Child and Kay Akpan of The Mom Trotter are always convincing me to go places I wouldn’t have considered otherwise and I’m the better for it. Marquita Wright of The Traveling Twin Mamma travels with her two toddler twin boys and I watch in amazement every time. And Kyana of the Black Adventure Mom inspires me to go outside to find adventure.