Focusing on today, not “someday” and prioritizing time with my family over everything else is at the very core of who I am as a wife, parent, professional, and person.

Hi...I'm Jenny

The author and her family at a mountain lake in Olympic National Park

I was destined to be one of those people who never left her home town...until I was thrust into a life of travel at age 10 when I became an Army brat, left the only place I'd ever known (Utah), and moved to what was then West Germany.

35+ years, 18 countries, and 46 US states later, travel IS life for me.

I'm the mom of two wicked smart (and sassy and sarcastic) teen daughters. And we are currently traveling the US on a modified family gap year aka the Zachry Year of Adventures.

I am zealous about inspiring busy parents of tweens and teens to prioritize epic family adventures now so that they avoid that "oh sh$t, we didn't spend enough time together" moment a few years down the road.

5 Whimsical Wonders About Yours Truly
and Our Epic Family Adventures!"

01.

A Cowardly Lion...

I didn't just play the Cowardly Lion in a dance recital...I am one in real life too! I love adventure, but I'm terrified by most adventurous activities (like standing on a cliff!)

02.

WWII Experiences...

I played softball in the infamous Nuremburg stadium. While reading Anne Frank's Diary, I visited her hiding place. I lived in Germany when the Berlin Wall came down.

03.

My Co-Crazy...

While I dream up all our crazy family adventure ideas (like a modified family gap year), my husband goes right along with them - usually with just a little bit of coercing!

04.

Born to fly...

I was 8 when I first boarded a plane. Both my kids were only 6 weeks old on their first flights! They've been flying ever since, and even have airline status now.

05.

Favorite Places...

I have so many favorite places, because everywhere I've been is so different, unique, and wonderful in its own way. But, I'm in love with Venice Italy, Yellowstone, and Kauai.

Some Epic Highs and Hilarious Lows of Our Family Adventures

10 year old accidentally got on NYC subway by herself

Walking through lava tubes at Volcano National Park

Touring the Green Monster (Fenway) with my lifelong Yankees fan husband

Buffalo stampedes in Yellowstone National Park

Slipping on a banana peel in Manhattan (like a cartoon)

Pointing out all the "Disney Magic" (or as my kids call it, the fake stuff) at Walt Disney World

Listening to my teens' observations of current civil rights issues during our Civil Rights Road Trip

The Swifty child engaging at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, even though she swears she doesn't like country (lots of Taylor stuff there!)

Watching my oldest do a photo shoot of banana slugs along a trail

Being screamed at (indirectly) by a marmot

All four of us having the flu during our trip to Paris

#Travelgoals

As our (modified) family gap year is approaching the end, my whole family has told me that being a permanent vagabond is not very realistic (they're a bunch of party poopers, I tell ya!)

But, I guess it's time for new travel goals...

We have three more school years till the youngest goes off to college. We've set a goal of Europe for the next three winter breaks (Germany, Italy, and Spain are currently the top three contenders.)
My mom really wants to get to her homeland - well, the homeland of her grandparents (and cousins that we're connected to on Facebook)....so hopefully Sweden will happen soonish too.
The oldest will be off at college in Maine - I LOVE Maine, so I just may pop in to see her unannounced once a month (every college student's dream, right??)