Imagine renting a horse caravan through Ireland...

I've been meaning to write about a book recently written by a fellow military wife I knew while stationed in Germany.  She used to come and see us where I worked with these amazing stories of where she went....all accomplished with three kids under the age of eight at the time!  She had the most brazen and interesting travel ideas, most initiated right after her husband got home from work for the weekend....piling all the kiddos and their gear into their faithful minivan.  I thoroughly enjoyed the book and recommend it to others who have young children especially.  Here are some adventures she gives her itineraries for.

Enjoy some of these ideas:

• a caravan through the beautiful countryside of Southern Ireland for a week, with you navigating the route, caring for your horse (you get a class first of course) and sleeping in the caravan.  Some of the author's favorite moments included reading the kids' bedtime stories by gaslight with the soft sounds of nature and the horse munching on his hay and oats!  Here is a family that blogged about their experience.  And if you are already hooked, book your next trip with Clissman's Farm or check the Wicklow County Tourist Bureau in Ireland.
• A weekend trip through France's Loire Valley with all the chateaus and castles doting the countryside.  Stay in an honest-to-goodness chateau and visit a local chocolate factory to see their production (and of course to taste), not to mention all the quaint villages along the way.
• Exploring Naples and the Amalfi Coast, staying in a military campground situated in an extinct volcano crater, visiting Pompeii and discovering some ancient temples and hidden grottoes.

She includes many more itineraries, as well as points of interest with notes and their websites/contact information.  This is not your typical travel book, and we are all thankful that Dorothy finally listened to everyone's prodding and wrote this book to share.  Be sure to check it out as it is well worth it!

Dorothy, I haven't seen you since we moved of course, but if you stop by this blog, be sure to drop me a line!  Order her book, "All Aboard...Europe" by Dorothy MacKenzie, here.