BEEN THERE, DONE THAT, AND STILL EXPLORING

Been There, Done That, and Still Exploring

Inside Sarah Einhorn’s Travel Adventures

Rayle Rubenstein 

Sarah Einhorn has spent years transforming her passion for travel into a trusted resource for families – whether they are looking for a local Chol Hamoed trip or an overnight destination, seeking to travel far or unwilling to sit in the car for more than an hour. As the founder of Been There Done That Trips, a comprehensive travel database, Sarah offers thoughtful recommendations and stunning photography to help readers pinpoint their ideal destinations. Over the years, Sarah has contributed to our magazine with destination guides and images that bring each place to life. In this interview, I’m excited to sit down with Sarah to explore the experiences and the places that motivate her. Join us for a journey into her world of travel and adventure! 

Is this your dream job? 

It’s more of a hobby for me than a traditional job. That said, I do offer a service where I create custom itineraries and find specific accommodations for people who want more than basic information. I have a passion for traveling and seeing new places.  Before I started doing this full-time, people often asked me for ideas about where to go and what to do. I had writing and photography skills, but I realized that all I really needed was a platform to bring them together; that’s where my website began. I hired someone to create it so I could share details about the places I visit. My posts differ from the impersonal listings you typically find online, where you’re unsure of what’s truly worth visiting, because I share my personal experiences and impressions of each place.

As a frum woman, I’m also able to share certain nuances. For example, an adventure park I visited had a water park on the way to the zip line. It’s not really appropriate for men to be walking through there. So, when I wrote about the ziplining experience, l mentioned that you need to pass through a water park to get to the course, and people can decide if it’s something they’re comfortable with. It’s a more personal perspective than just making everything sound perfect. I do try to give a positive review of everything, but the tone allows you to read between the lines to understand who it’s suitable for.

What did you do before you launched your website?  

I taught for many years and also worked as an executive assistant at a nonprofit organization, where I handled a variety of projects. I worked on public conventions and grew antsy with my day job because it felt like I was always working extra hours to accrue vacation days. I hated being tied down, and I wanted more freedom. So, I moved on to other projects, such as working on a trip to Poland and helping with registrations. Around the same time, I was setting up my website, contemplating leaving my day job, and that’s what I did.

Currently, I also do party planning and arrange hotel programs, and I dabble in a number of other things. I enjoy anything that takes creativity.

What’s your travel style like? 

I prefer not to travel alone—it’s always either with my husband or the whole family. Sometimes, if my schedule is really hectic, I’ll visit a park on my own just to get some time away. When we travel, we like to stay in one area for at least a week, if possible. It gives us the chance to really explore and enjoy the place without rushing around. For example, when we went to Colorado, we stayed a week in Denver and then a week in Vail before branching out to other spots. We try not to jump from place to place since we prefer a more relaxed pace and getting a feel for the area.

How do you usually plan for food when you’re traveling?

We generally bring our own food because we don’t want to waste time searching for kosher food or paying inflated prices. But sometimes, things don’t go as planned. Once, when we flew into Nashville, one of our boxes of food didn’t arrive. By the time it showed up two or three  days later, everything inside—like the large amount of schnitzel and potato kugel we’d worked so hard to prepare—was spoiled. We made do with the basics from the small kosher section at the Nashville Kroger, but it wasn’t enough for the second week, when we were heading to the Smoky Mountains. We actually chose that location because we knew there would be a camp nearby, and that meant we could count on having a minyan. But we still needed food, so I reached out to the camp to ask where they were getting their meals. They directed me to their caterer, and it turned out to be a good friend of mine! She helped me arrange for fresh food to be delivered, and it was such a treat to have hot, fresh meals in the Smoky Mountains. In the end, everything worked out beautifully.

How do you find new places to visit?

One of my favorite tools is Google Maps. You can search for things to do nearby, and you’ll get real results from people who post their own pictures. It’s so helpful, and I try to do the same with my posts on my website. People want to see what the place actually looks like, not just official photos.

How do you manage traveling with young children?

I started traveling with my kids when they were newborns. I took my twins to Poland when they were 10 months old. It was wild, but it was doable. My kids enjoy nature and hikes as much as they enjoy amusement parks because I never limit them to just kid-friendly activities. It’s all about developing their taste for adventure and the outdoors.

I know it might sound like I’m always on the go, but that’s not true. I’ve probably written about 850 to 900 places I’ve visited, but it wasn’t always like that. When I was younger, I was more likely to run around to different places. But now, it’s more about striking a balance. There are so many other things going on in my life, and I can’t just run away all the time.

Is your whole family as adventurous as you are?

I joke that my husband’s dream vacation is sitting on the couch! But he’s developed a taste for more active vacations and understands how important it is to me to travel. He’s a good sport, and once we started going on trips, it went from him asking, “Are we going?” to “Where are we going?”  

He also realized that he doesn’t like planning, so I usually do it on my own. But as my kids have gotten older and developed their own opinions, it has become a little harder to keep everyone happy. That said, most of my family trusts me to plan, and they end up having a good time.

We usually travel in the summer because my husband is a Rebbe in yeshivah, so he has a nice break. All my boys have a month off in the summer; they don’t go to camp. Instead, we take a family trip, usually for about two weeks. That’s been the routine lately. My girls usually attend an overnight camp for the first half, and then we take a family trip for the second half. There’s some time before and after, but we play it by ear.

 What does a typical Chol Hamoed look like in the Einhorn home?   

It depends on the year. It depends on what we’re in the mood for, the opportunities available, and places we haven’t visited yet, and how many days we have for travel. We took a long day trip to Cape May for whale watching, a three-hour drive from our home. We’ve also done overnight trips. Last year, we visited Washington, D.C., where the weather allowed us to enjoy our time outdoors, exploring a waterfall, visiting the National Zoo, and enjoying the cherry blossoms. We’ve also visited Ocean City, Maryland, where we enjoyed the scenic beaches without the crowds.  

What are your plans for this Pesach?

We’ll be spending Pesach at home, as we always do, but we’re still finalizing our plans for Chol Hamoed. I’ve been wanting to visit the Grand Canyon for a while now, and I’m considering making that trip during Chol Hamoed this year. It’s a good time of year to enjoy the views without the summer heat or winter winds.   

Is it stressful to constantly be on the lookout for places to go? 

I have an endless spreadsheet of places I want to visit and activities we haven’t done. It could be something small like a park or a museum that I want to add to my website’s section of “local things to do.” My list is divided by region, including Brooklyn, Lakewood, New Jersey, Westchester, and Manhattan, with categories such as museums, parks, hikes, sports, and crafts. I also have lists for things like local gardens, and I’ll check those out if I’m in the mood for a relaxing walk.

When I travel, there’s a certain pressure to check out as many places as possible, even if I’m not in the mood to run around. When we went to Florida last winter, we didn’t just sit around. I try to give my family some downtime, but I also make the most of the trip by squeezing in as many attractions as possible. Sometimes, I just visit a place briefly to check it out and write about it.

What’s your favorite place? 

That’s like asking, “What’s your favorite child?” Every place is different. I love nature, but I have high standards. I appreciate waterfalls, mountains, and beaches. I don’t like swimming in the ocean, but I love seeing it from my window. Nature is great. I also love places with a vibe, like Manhattan. I enjoy the energy of cities, even if I’m past the age of riding roller coasters at theme parks. I still love the atmosphere there.

I’m a big fan of things like zip-lining, boating, and white-water rafting. I much prefer outdoor activities to indoor ones. I love fresh air!

Last summer, we visited the French Alps and then took a two-day trip to Switzerland, specifically to the Alps in the Interlaken-Grindelwald area, to the Jungfrau region. The scenery was spectacular. 

One place that was beyond description was Mont Blanc, the tallest mountain in Western Europe. We crossed over from France to Italy in a cable car, traveling above glaciers. We saw the fissures of the ice underneath the snow, literally under us. The cable car had full-length windows, so we were surrounded by mountains on all sides; wherever we looked were the most magnificent views.

What are your tips for planning a successful family trip?

My main tip is to plan in advance. Don’t get up that morning and wonder, “What are we doing today?” because by the time you’ve gathered everyone’s opinions and patience—or lack thereof—it becomes difficult. So, if it’s important to you, plan it in advance. Then, decide what type of thing you want to do. Do you want something indoors or outdoors? Calm or fast-paced? Is cost a big factor? Do you want to get out of the area? Most people have a sense of what they don’t want to do, which can help narrow down the options.  Part of the advanced planning could include whether it has to be an early day or whether you need to pack food and just run out. 

A great way to figure out what will work is to think of a past trip that was successful and identify what aspects of it you really liked. We once visited an amusement park that was nothing special, but we had such a good time because we felt like we were practically the only people there. I realized that it wasn’t so much the destination; it was the fact that we were with family, and it was a place that wasn’t overcrowded with other people.  

On the Road… and Keeping Busy   

Sarah doesn’t love long road trips, but sometimes they’re inevitable – especially on Chol Hamoed. Here are some activities we’ve selected from the list of suggestions on her website (where you can also find links for each item) to help those hours pass more quickly. 

• Car DVD players are available at a low cost, including models that can be attached to the front seats for rear passengers to enjoy.
• Lap Trays provide a convenient surface for games, activities, and meals.
• Travel games break up the monotony.  Look for games that don’t have loose pieces and are mess-free and simple to play. Sarah also recommends purchasing an Etch-a-Sketch. 
• Reusable stickers are always fun. 
• Activity books are available in so many formats for all ages. 

Overnight Getaways: How to Cook 

Chol Hamoed Pesach is not the time to buy food on the go! These are the small appliances and helpful tools Sarah brings to make cooking easier on the go. Links and more details are on her website. 

Pizza Maker
Perfect for baking, grilling, frying, and reheating frozen food.   

Single Burner
Compact and easy to transport, this is ideal for scrambled eggs or soups.

Crock Pot
Toss in ingredients in the morning, and come back to a hot, ready-to-eat dish.

Double Slow Cooker
Use one side for soup and the other for other dishes.

Griddle
Versatile for cooking or heating, and perfect for eggs or chicken cutlets.