Making Memories: Our Tiny Travel Companion

My husband and I are all about having fun and being silly, so when my mom gifted us with a miniature sock monkey during the Christmas festivities of 2009, we decided he would begin to accompany us on our travel adventures. We named him Ernesto, and his initiation into sightseeing began in 2010 with a spring visit to Walt Disney World. Since then, Ernesto has visited Dallas, Niagara Falls, Austria, and Italy. Poor Ernesto was left behind on our trip to Las Vegas and our most recent cruise to the Caribbean, but I think all has been forgiven.  

Posing Ernesto for silly photos throughout our travels has become a fun tradition for us, and one we know will be even more fun when we bring children into the mix. If you haven’t created a fun and silly travel tradition, it’s time to go for it and start making memories in an entirely new way when you’re away from home.

If you do have a fun and silly travel tradition, I would love to hear about it, particularly if it involves photography. Please share below in the comments section!

A few photos from Ernesto's vacations:

Dallas, Texas
June 2010

The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealy Plaza
This museum is one of the most powerful and emotional experiences I have ever had while traveling. The audio tour was really interesting, and I had tears in my eyes as I walked through the book depository.

                                                        pictured: the infamous grassy knoll

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Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
June 2012

Ernesto joined us as we walked from the Maid of the Mist (Canadian side) to the Cave of the Winds (New York side) - I don't recommend this...it is a very long walk! (We logged about 8 miles on our pedometer!) Ernesto rode along crammed into my purse.

pictured: The American Falls as photographed from the Rainbow Bridge

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outside of Straden, Austria

A visit to the beautifully lush Austrian countryside was marked with a photograph of Ernesto in the vineyards that ran up and down the hills.

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