Journal — 6 min read
Five weeks in South Korea: Myeongdong, easy trains and a week in Busan
Our Seoul base in Myeongdong, shopping streets and food stops, and a week in Busan with hillside views and the coast.
Come along ↗AUSTRALIAN ROOTS. OPEN ROADS.
A little further. A little slower. Together.
We’re Michael and Edlyn, from Brisbane, travelling with our daughter. We started our family sabbatical in February 2026. Here’s what we’ve enjoyed, what we’ve spent and what we’d do differently.
Less rushing. More remembering.
HELLO, WE’RE OFF WE ROAM
Two grown-ups.
One little explorer.
We’re Michael and Edlyn. Brisbane is home, but since February 2026 we’ve been taking a family break in Canada. We used to travel with two backpacks and keep moving. These days, we find a base and explore with our daughter at a pace that works for us.
A little about us ↗NOTES FROM THE ROAD
Somewhere worth sharing.
Our memories from the road.
The practical details we’d pass on.
Journal — 6 min read
Four weeks in Japan, and still reasons to return
Osaka, the Tokyo area and a Yokohama outing, with a train lunch and Mount Fuji between the city photographs.
Come along ↗Journal — 10 min read
We stayed long enough for Canmore to feel familiar
School days, short Harvard courses and weekly trips into the mountains. What a slower few months in Canmore gave our family.
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Journal — 8 min read
The lakes were worth it. Next time, we’d book earlier.
Our Canmore base, the lakes, a C$60 lunch and the chairlift ride we still talk about.
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Guide — 5 min read
The Cup Noodles Museum day I would plan in Yokohama
What the factory activities involve, which tickets you need and how to avoid arriving after the useful slots have gone.
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Guide — 8 min read
Book the Fuji side, then choose your train lunch
How I would buy and use Osaka–Tokyo Shinkansen tickets, choose seats in either direction and leave time for a bento.
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Guide — 7 min read
A Thursday at the Canmore Mountain Market
Food stalls, local makers and live music at Elevation Place. How we would plan an easy market day, with the seasonal dates worth checking first.
Come along ↗Guide — 5 min read
Where I would go for coffee in Canmore
Blondies made a great latte. A few other places to consider, and the bagel stop I would not rush back to.
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Guide — 5 min read
A drink in Canmore, starting with the Drake and Sheepdog
Local beer at the Drake, smaller-batch lagers at Sheepdog and a few alternatives for an evening out.
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Guide — 4 min read
Lake Louise Sightseeing Gondola in Fall: A Family Guide
How to ride the Lake Louise sightseeing gondola in autumn, what awaits at the top, and what it costs a family of three.
Come along ↗Guide — 5 min read
Top 5 street foods to try in Myeongdong, Seoul
A family shortlist of sweet pancakes, chicken skewers, rice cakes, cheese corn dogs and spiral potatoes around our Seoul base.
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Guide — 8 min read
What we’d budget for Lake Louise and Moraine Lake
The shuttle we used, the lunch bill we remembered and a worked family budget for the lakes and summer lift.
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Itinerary — 5 min read
Five days in Canmore without racing around
A first visit with time in town, a Banff day and room to adjust when autumn changes the plan.
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Itinerary — 6 min read
Ten days gave us room to slow the plan down
A Canmore base with Banff, Lake Louise and a choice of longer day trips, separated by quieter days.
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Itinerary — 6 min read
Two weeks based in Canmore
A slower Rockies stay with space for family life, day trips and a few days that do not need a big plan.
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Itinerary — 5 min read
One week, two bases: Osaka and Tokyo
Seven days split between Namba and Asakusa, with one train move and a choice about the Yokohama museum day.
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Itinerary — 5 min read
Two weeks around Osaka and Tokyo
Six nights around Namba and seven around Asakusa, with time for Yokohama and one Kansai day trip.
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Itinerary — 5 min read
Three weeks with Namba and Asakusa as the bases
A longer two-city stay with separate Kansai outings, Yokohama and time between the bigger days.
Come along ↗Itinerary — 6 min read
Four weeks in Japan without moving every few days
Twelve nights around Namba, fifteen around Asakusa and a slower plan for the time in between.
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Itinerary — 4 min read
One week in South Korea with kids: stay in Seoul
Seven days based in Myeongdong, with a palace, shopping streets, an indoor family outing and time to eat without rushing.
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Itinerary — 5 min read
Two weeks in South Korea with kids: Seoul and Busan
Seven nights in Seoul and six in Busan, with shopping, food, a palace, Gamcheon and time on the coast.
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Itinerary — 6 min read
Three weeks in South Korea with kids: Seoul and a full week in Busan
A slower 21-day plan with a Myeongdong base, Seoul's shopping districts, seven Busan nights and a final Seoul night before flying home.
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Itinerary — 7 min read
How we’d spend two days around Lake Louise
A return-visit plan built from our time in the Rockies, with the lakes on one day and the resort lift on the next.
Come along ↗LATEST DESTINATION STORY · CANADA
Big mountains.
Little moments.
We spent about six months based in Canmore. These are our everyday memories, the lake outings and the practical details we’d pass on. There are Canmore itineraries for a shorter stay, too.
Explore Canada ↗We’re collecting moments,
not just places.