We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jennifer Liao a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Jennifer, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s jump right into how you came up with the idea?
Like a lot of parents during the pandemic, I was looking for ways to explore with my kids! I would look on Google Maps for green spaces and then go check them out. I started sharing our playgrounds and parks on Instagram and lots of people were interested! Before the pandemic, I had a blog about family travel and really thought I wouldn’t post anymore since we were not allowed to travel. It dawned on me after a few months that we can travel in our own backyard of the DC area!
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
My name is Jennifer Liao and I am the writer and owner of FamilyTripGuides.com which helps families explore the DC area and beyond! My family has lived outside of Washington, DC for the last 12 years and we love to explore the dozens of playgrounds, museums and parks that this area has to offer. We also love to use points to travel to Europe any chance we get. We’ve explored Switzerland, Italy, Scotland and Portugal as a family.
How did you build your audience on social media?
I started on Instagram in 2018 sharing a summer goal of mine to visit all free Smithsonians in DC with my then 5 and 2 year old. Friends who lived in the suburbs asked me how I was able to find parking, travel alone with the two little ones and how quiet were the museums. I answered their questions and it was fun to form a little community around this niche interest!
But when the pandemic hit, I found the next concentric circle out from those families — those who wanted to explore lots of places in the area. My kids and I went to over 60 playgrounds and 100 parks to write about our experiences. I always include info on parking and restrooms as that’s vital info when on an outing with kids!
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
My goal is to help families make meaningful (and usually free!) memories with their kids! There is so much to explore whether its in your backyard or across an ocean. These are the memories that last a lifetime.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.familytripguides.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/familytripguides
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/familytripguides
- Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/familytripguides
Image Credits
Jennifer Liao