Profile: Jody Halsted grew up in southwest Iowa and can't recall a family vacation as a child, which may explain her desire to see and experience the world with her husband and two daughters. No opportunity to leave home is overlooked, whether it's a business trip for her husband's work, a short drive to a rural Iowa corn maze or jumping a flight to the British Isles. Jody began writing Family Rambling, as a part of her blog Iowa Geek to share her families travel adventures. It has since grown to its own site featuring the family's travels, great products and helpful hints. Jody can be found on Twitter at iatraveler. Jody's Favorite Vacations: In 2002 I went to Ireland on my own. For 10 days it was just me, with a map, a car and a book of B&Bs. Traveling solo forces you to speak to the people around you. I learned a lot about Ireland and her people on that trip. In 2003 Doug and I visited London. On our way to Westminster Abbey we stopped outside Parliament and struck up a conversation with two Bobbies at one of the car entrances. We must have been talking with them for 20 minutes when one said, "It's time for my tea break. Would you like a tour?" Because Parliament was out of session at the time tours were impossible to get unless you knew someone. We had a one-on-one tour of every room in the Parliament building - and then tea in the cafeteria.
