Under the Sparkling Lights!
July 4, 2026
One final Bonjour from Paris!
If you’re reading this, your kids are either on their way home or already home. And if you’re one of the kids reading this… we are literally devastated. Wow, we truly can’t believe our three weeks together are finally over, but we still have one last little update for you all!
After arriving in Paris, we boarded one final metro train and schlepped all of our stuff to the Oops! Hostel. The kids got situated, and we decided to hit the streets of the City of Love! We were all starving, to say the least, so we headed to a Mexican restaurant for some burritos and bowls. It absolutely hit the spot, and of course we couldn’t pass up some Parisian gelato afterward. We wandered through the streets and made our way across the beautiful Seine River, where we were greeted with the most incredible sunset reflecting over the water. We made our way to the infamous Notre-Dame Cathedral, and Turner couldn’t have been more excited. Just as we were talking about how unbelievably lucky we’d been with the weather over the past three weeks-which we truly had been, even the Paris heat wave seemed to stop for us-it started raining as we wandered through the streets. Somehow, though, it didn’t take away from the night at all. If anything, it made everything feel even more special and cinematic. We even caught a glimpse of the full moon hanging over the city, which was such a cool moment because we realized we had gone through an entire moon cycle together during our trip!
The next morning, we were up as early as we could manage considering how tired we all were, but we had to make the most of our final moments together. Naturally, our first stop was Starbucks so everyone could caffeinate before taking on the city one last time. We traded in our hiking clothes for real outfits and hit the streets. We wandered around, chatting and trying to squeeze in all of our final conversations. We stopped by the Louvre, and although we weren’t able to go inside, it was still so cool to see such an iconic place from the outside. From there, we made our way to a famous sandwich shop where everyone picked out homemade focaccia sandwiches. We carried them over to the famous Luxembourg Gardens and spread out in the grass for one final picnic together. It definitely felt strange having our picnic in the middle of a city instead of surrounded by towering Alpine peaks. Once lunch was over, it was time to do a little shopping since we all needed something nice to wear for our banquet dinner. We wandered through a few stores before deciding Zara would have everything we needed for our final dinner together in the city. Ben helped the boys pick out their outfits, although the girls definitely didn’t need any help in that department. Everyone found an awesome outfit, and after doing a little more shopping, we headed back to the hostel to get ready.
We all cleaned up, and honestly, you could barely recognize us anymore after spending the past three weeks only seeing each other in hiking clothes covered in dirt. We hopped back on the metro and headed into the city in style. We arrived at the base of the Eiffel Tower, and all of the kids were so excited to finally see such an iconic landmark in person. We made our way to our banquet dinner at a super cute Italian restaurant right next to the Eiffel Tower. We ordered a bunch of pizzas and pasta, reminisced about everything we’d experienced together, and shared one final meal as a family. 🙁 After dinner, we walked over to the Eiffel Tower, watched the sunset, and had our very last Moonup together. It was truly such a special moment as we reflected on the past three weeks and the impact each person had made on one another, all while the Eiffel Tower twinkled in the background. We ended up spending nearly four hours sitting beneath the sparkling lights, and before we knew it, it was almost 2:00 a.m., so we finally had to head back since we had an early morning trip to the airport.
Dear Weezie, Caddie, Tyler, Ginger, Cohen, Trey, Baxter, Turner, AR, Michael, Pia, and Taz.
We seriously can’t believe this trip is over. Taylor and I are just so incredibly grateful for these past three weeks and for the way all of you stepped up as leaders. Your infectious personalities, adventurous spirits, and excitement for seeing the world truly touched our hearts. From literally day one, we’ve been such a tight-knit group and truly felt like one big family. It’s crazy to think about everything we experienced together, from trekking nearly 180 miles through the European mountains in some pretty intense heat to exploring incredible cities, yet your attitudes and excitement never wavered. Every single one of you touched our hearts in a different way, and we genuinely can’t wait to see what this next chapter of life holds for each of yall. We love you so, so much and couldn’t have imagined spending these past three weeks with anyone else. We will always be here for each and every one of you, and we’ll cherish the friendships we’ve built forever.
Mama and Papa out. ✌️
Ben and Taylor
Adios Pyrenees, Bonjour Paris!
June 28, 2026
Bonjour and Hola from the Pyrenees!
I mean, this last week has been nothing short of incredible, and we can’t wait to share everything we’ve been up to!
After leaving the coast of Spain, we arrived in the beautiful mountainous region of the Pyrenees, which forms the physical border between France and Spain! We arrived in the beautiful town of Luz, France, located at the base of the Pyrenees. Upon our arrival, we were welcomed with an amazing surprise: a visit from our incredible friend Liza, who works in the Moondance office and was joining us for the first few days of our trek! We settled into our rooms and got situated after a long travel day. Next, we decided to stretch our legs a bit and walked up to a castle perched on top of a hill overlooking the entire town, giving us a glimpse of the mountains we would be hiking through over the next few days! Baxter and Turner were craving a taste of home, so we decided to hit up a local burger spot for dinner. We were all so excited when the food came out, and we had juicy, cheesy American-style burgers and fries. We took our food to a local park, hung out for a while, then had a great Moonup before heading to bed early for our next big day.
The next morning, we were up early and getting ready for the big trek ahead! We met our amazing guide, Mandy, who would be leading us over the next week on our journey. We loaded into cars and drove to our trailhead. We were all amazed by how beautiful the scenery was and couldn’t believe this was where we’d be hiking for the next week! At the trailhead, we did a big hype and stretch circle to get everyone ready, and Liza even gave everyone some glitter so they could have a little extra flair out on the trails! Once we got moving, everyone was surprised by how different the terrain looked from the Alps, yet it was still stunning in its own unique way. We knew it was going to be a long day with a lot of ground to cover, and it was HOT, but as always, the kids were already blazing down the trail like champs. We stopped for a beautiful lunch along the river, and although the water was freezing cold, Tazewell, Taylor, and Ben all decided to jump in and cool off before tackling the rest of the day. The remainder of the hike was mostly downhill, which made for some great trail conversations, but it also felt like we’d been walking forever since it ended up being nearly a 15-mile day. Pia and Weezie were absolute troopers, and even with their knee and foot issues, they tackled the day with incredible attitudes. Even Ann Reid’s blisters had somehow magically healed, and she was practically floating through the Pyrenees. We arrived at our hostel in the beautiful town of Torla and all stayed together in one mega room, which basically turned into one giant sleepover! We headed to dinner at a really cool restaurant and even got to order off a menu, which is something we definitely haven’t been used to on this trip, so it was a fun change of pace. In typical Trey fashion, he wanted to be adventurous and ordered one of the most exotic dishes on the menu. Baxter also branched out and ordered rabbit, which was his first time trying it! After dinner, we had Moonup in a really cool spot, and Taylor wrapped it up with the infamous Pink Lady ghost story, which had all the kids on edge, haha.
We had our big slumber party and then were up early again to do it all over. Let’s just say we had another huge day of trekking ahead, but once again, the kids were so stoked to get going! We started the morning with a long, steep climb filled with switchbacks, and to help pass the time, Ben and Weezie were being absolutely ridiculous and making Taylor laugh with a bunch of outrageous stories they completely made up. After hiking uphill for about two hours, we arrived at a beautiful overlook of the canyon. We decided that for the next portion of the hike, it would be really special to do a monk walk, which is a time where everyone hikes in complete silence and simply stays present with their own thoughts and the beauty around them. Pia loved the idea so much that she even suggested we make it a full 30-minute monk walk to really soak in the moment. We continued pressing on, and boy, was it hot. We were definitely feeling tired, but everyone just kept chugging along. The next few hours brought another major climb that would take us all the way up to our Refugio. Tyler and Cohen led the pack with incredible strength and energy while keeping everyone’s spirits high. We finally arrived at Refugio Góriz, beautifully nestled among the peaks of the Spanish Pyrenees. The kids threw down their packs, and we spent the rest of the evening relaxing. They all stocked up on candy and Cokes, which were more than earned after such a grueling day. Ben, Liza, Cohen, Tyler, Tazewell, Caddie, and Baxter played a few rounds of Monopoly Deal before we enjoyed another amazing dinner. Afterwards, we headed outside, frolicked through the beautiful mountains during golden hour, and took a bunch of photos! We wrapped up the evening with an incredible Moonup while lying in a beautiful field beneath an even more beautiful sunset. Afterwards, Cohen, Baxter, Tazewell, and Tyler joined Ben, Taylor, and Liza for a peaceful stargazing session where we simply listened to calming music and watched the stars above.
We had to say goodbye to our home in the mountains and press on to our next destination! We hiked back down the same way we had come up, and Turner and Baxter were excited to see some of their marmot friends again. At the bottom, we stopped at a beautiful waterfall with rushing blue water, and Turner and Michael even walked all the way up to the base of it! Ginger was having some issues with her hiking boots, so like an absolute beast, she hiked the rest of the day in her Chacos without a single complaint! When we arrived at our Refugio, all of the kids were absolutely starving, so thank goodness there was a restaurant. Turner and Cohen ordered two rounds of patatas bravas, Ann Reid had some delicious Spanish sausages, and Trey got a burger that he claimed was one of the best he’d ever had. The kids spent the rest of the afternoon hanging out and relaxing. Turner and Weezie were finally taught how to play Monopoly Deal, and just like everyone else, they were hooked almost immediately.
The next morning, we were up very early again because we had another big day ahead of us. We spent our final moments hiking through Spain before saying adiós one last time. We arrived at the French border and, sadly, had to say goodbye to Liza as she headed back to Nashville to return to the office. We continued trekking through France, which looked completely different from the Spanish side of the Pyrenees. The mountains were massive, lush, green, and still covered with snow near the peaks. Waterfalls seemed to be everywhere, and we couldn’t get over how beautiful it all was. Pia picked out an amazing lunch spot along the trail, and we enjoyed some time to relax and eat before continuing on. As we hiked farther, we caught our first glimpse of the Cirque de Gavarnie, home to the Grande Cascade, one of the tallest waterfalls in Europe, and Caddie couldn’t get over how unbelievably beautiful it was! We eventually arrived in the tiny French village of Gavarnie, which sits right beneath the incredible Cirque de Gavarnie. Ann Reid couldn’t stop talking about how pretty it was and spent the afternoon taking photo after photo with her camera. We settled into our cozy little Refugio, and once again, the kids immediately went off in search of food. They filled up on their favorite snacks, crêpes, and ice cream before hanging out for the next few hours. The boys played Monopoly Deal for hours, and we’re becoming just a little concerned about the addiction we may have created. We had an amazing dinner featuring duck, and the boys even convinced the chef to make them steak instead, which he happily agreed to! We wrapped up the evening with another great Moonup, and Caddie and Baxter led yet another fantastic round of Mafia. They both have such a talent for narrating the game that everyone gets completely into it. After Moonup, we went for a sunset walk that turned out to be absolutely beautiful. We finished the night piled into one room, talking much later than we probably should have, but we just have so much fun being around one another.
The next morning, Mandy let us sleep in, which was incredibly needed and very appreciated. We were all so happy! We started our trek by making our way to the base of the largest waterfall in the Cirque de Gavarnie. Once we arrived, we dropped our packs and made the steep climb up to the waterfall itself. Cohen and Taylor sprinted to the top together while the rest of the group slowly made their way up. As each person reached the top, everyone who had already arrived cheered them on, making it such a fun moment. Once we were all together, we spent some time standing beneath the freezing cold waterfall, soaking in what an incredible experience it was. We continued trekking for the rest of the day, and since we wouldn’t have showers that night at our Refugio, Tyler found a natural shower right along the trail, and we all rinsed off the best we could after another long, sweaty day. We kept climbing steadily until we finally arrived at what may have been the most beautiful Refugio yet and the home of our famous Pink Lady ghost story: Refugio des Espuguettes. This Refugio is truly stunning, surrounded on all sides by mountains and perched high above the valley. There were also wild horses, cows, sheep, and donkeys everywhere, which added even more to the rugged charm of the place. Tazewell, Michael, Ben, and Taylor spent some time outside reading and listening to music while the rest of the kids relaxed and hung out. Dinner ended up being one of our best meals yet, which honestly surprised us considering how remote the Refugio is. We were served a huge plate of pasta Bolognese, which was exactly what everyone needed after several long days of hiking. After dinner, we headed back outside and watched one of the most beautiful sunsets yet. The sky looked like it was completely on fire. We took plenty of photos before simply sitting together and enjoying the moment. Caddie, Ben, Taylor, and Turner wandered over to try to make friends with all the cows, but let’s just say they weren’t nearly as interested in us as we were in them. Ben, Weezie, and Baxter then decided to try their luck with the horses, and this time they actually had success! They even named a few of them before watching them gallop off into the sunset, which was such an awesome moment. We wrapped up the evening with Moonup before getting some much-needed rest after another long day.
We woke up for our last full day of trekking, which was definitely bittersweet. We were sad that it was coming to an end, but the kids were also more than ready for a little bit of rest! We started the day with a pretty challenging uphill climb, but by lunchtime, we arrived at one of the most beautiful lunch spots yet. It was perfectly situated along a crystal clear river, and we were able to hang out and relax there for nearly two hours. Since it was so hot, just about everyone took a dip in the freezing water. Caddie, Ginger, and Michael even went all in for a full swim! Baxter started rubbing rocks together and somehow made natural war paint that we all ended up putting on for the rest of the hike. We finished up the day and officially completed our trek, which was such a bittersweet moment. We arrived at a super cute hostel in the tiny little town of Héas, a charming family-owned place tucked away in the mountains. The kids all gathered around an outdoor table and ordered homemade ice cream and chocolate crêpes while relaxing after the long week. After showering, hanging out, and finally getting to unwind, we sat down for what was probably our best dinner of the entire trip. We had delicious homemade pasta with pork that had been locally raised in the Pyrenees, followed by vanilla ice cream made with fresh Alpine milk and a brownie that was absolutely out of this world. We gathered for another great Moonup, and to finish off the night, the kids all spent time stargazing together.
We got lucky with another later morning and didn’t have to wake up nearly as early as we had on the previous days. Even more exciting, today was BAXTER’S 19TH BIRTHDAY! We woke him up with some hype music and couldn’t wait to celebrate him! Even though we had officially finished trekking, we still had one short hike planned for the day. We hiked up to a beautiful waterfall where we did a really special activity together. Everyone carried a rock up the trail and spent time thinking about something they wanted to let go of. Once we reached the top, we dropped our rocks together and shared one final meaningful moment in the mountains. We hiked back down and enjoyed a delicious lunch by the river, where everyone took one last dip in the beautiful glacial water. Afterwards, we returned to the town of Luz, and everyone was completely exhausted. We spent a little time relaxing before heading straight back to the burger restaurant as soon as it opened because we were absolutely starving. Just like the first night, we took our burgers over to the park and celebrated Baxter’s birthday with a cake from a delicious local bakery. To make the celebration even sweeter, Baxter also got the incredible news that he had officially been accepted to West Point, and the entire group was absolutely thrilled for him! We ended the night the way we always do, with another great Moonup before heading to bed, knowing we still have two more amazing days ahead of us.
Right now, we are en route to Paris, and the kids couldn’t be more excited. As sad as we are to leave the mountains behind, everyone is definitely ready to trade in their hiking boots for sandals and enjoy some well-deserved tourist time in Paris. We seriously can’t believe this trip is already coming to a close, but we’re excited to make the most of these final days together. We love this group so much and are incredibly proud of how determined they have been and how they absolutely crushed this trip. It’s been so special watching how close they’ve become and seeing the way they constantly encourage and support one another. We have loved getting to be a part of that. Well, we’ve got to go because the Eiffel Tower is waiting for us. Talk to y’all soon!
Ben and Taylor!
Caddie: Thank you Mom and Dad for sending me on this amazing trip! I am beyond grateful and have met some of the most amazing people ever 😆💛! This trip has been a once in a lifetime experience and I will remember these experiences snd people forever! I love yall so much and I can’t wait to see yall so soon!!! 💕💕
Michael: Hey Mom and Dad thank you so much for letting me go on this trip it’s been so beyond awesome and I’m so so so grateful. I can’t wait to talk about it once I get home! I’ve made some awesome friends and I miss y’all dearly. I love you!!❤️❤️❤️
Ginger: Thank you Mama and Daddy for providing this amazing experience. It has been so so cool and beautiful and I have learned so much. I am so so so greatful for you guys and am sooo excited to tell you all about it! I can’t wait to see yall and have the best time at the beach together with the whole fam!! I love and miss you guys so so so much and thank you again ✖️a chillion!!! 💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛🌊☀️🏖️🐚 p.s. I get my phone back at 1 am home time
Trey – hey Mom and Dad! On the train to Paris right now. I’ll get my phone back in two days, around midnight for you, so talk to you then! Thank you so much for sending me on this trip, these past three weeks have been the best time of my life. I feel so new after spending time in the mountains, and I really think you would love it here, especially Switzerland. Tell the twins how much I miss them, I can’t wait to see you soon!
Ann Reid- Thank you mom and 55 for letting me go on Such Amazing Trip I’m having The Best Time!!! We are in Paris right Now and I’m getting to see such beautiful places here!! The Past three weeks have been amazing!! I love you all so so much and can’t wait to see yall soon!❤️❤️❤️
Cohen- Thank you Murdoc and Doc so much for sending me on this trip! We are in Paris currently and it is absolutely gorgeous! Miss you guys so much and can’t wait to see y’all soon!!❤️❤️❤️
Weezie- Hiiiiiii!!!!! Thank yall so much for sending me on Chamonix❤️❤️❤️ This has literally been one of the best three weeks ever and I have loved every second! Cant wait to see yall soon!!!! Love, Weezie
Baxter – Thank you mom and dad so much for allowing me to go on such an amazing trip! I’ve missed yall so much and and beyond blessed to have parents like you. Love you.
Tyler – Thank you so much mom and dad for sending me on this trip. I’ve been having so much fun and my group is amazing. I love you guys so much.
Pia – Hi mom and dad, thank you so much for sending me on such an amazing trip!!! I couldn’t have had a better time and I am beyond lucky to have the opportunity to explore the world and adventure with such an amazing group up of people! This was a trip of a lifetime and truly changed my life!! Love and miss you guys so much and see you soon 🙂 ❤️💕
Tazewell- Hey Yall hope you guys are doing well enjoying your vacation from me. I have a lot to tell and many photos to show you guys. Thanks for sending me on this adventure love you guys and Hawk!!
Turner- Hey Mom and Spalding! Thank y’all so much for this amazing trip! I found my new favorite city, Paris! Cant believe it’s almost over but I am so insanely thankful for this experience and cannot wait to tell y’all all about it! Love ya!🇫🇷♥️
Moments on the Mediterranean!
June 21, 2026
Hola from Spain!!!
We’ve had the best past few days soaking up the ☀️ on the beautiful coast of Spain! After arriving late on our travel day from France, we arrived in L’Escala, Spain, a beautiful coastal town on the Mediterranean Sea. We got to our campsite, an amazing tented camp just half a mile from the beach, and all the kids were super excited to sleep in tents. After a very long travel day, we headed to bed excited for the next few days of relaxation.
The next morning, the kids were able to sleep in while Taylor and Ben got up early to make breakfast: eggs, avocado toast, and fruit salad, which was a great change of pace after having lots of bread and butter while trekking. The kids were so excited to get down to the beach, and Turner was especially excited to spend some time in the sun and on the sea. We headed down and were met with a beautiful beach and crystal-clear Mediterranean water. The kids couldn’t get their feet in the sand fast enough. We plopped down and honestly relaxed for the rest of the day. Our bodies were exhausted after the week before. However, Cohen, Tazewell, Baxter, and Tyler had enough energy left in them to rent some paddleboards and had a great time paddling out on the sea!
Trey, our biggest foodie on this trip, found himself some foie gras and had a beach picnic, sharing his delicacies with the rest of the group. We pretty much spent the entire day swimming, lounging in the sun, and listening to music, and it felt like a dream. After hanging out, we decided to head back to our campsite. Ben, Taylor, Baxter, and Pia headed to the grocery store and picked up ingredients for an awesome dinner. We ended up making an entire Mediterranean feast with grilled chicken, homemade tzatziki, hummus, cucumber dill salad, rice, and a bunch of other goodies. We all felt super well-fed and then headed back down to the beach for some delicious gelato and a beautiful Moonup on the beach. We played a game called ‘Don’t Touch My Rock’ and then finished Moonup with a fun game called Imposter. Afterward, we headed back to camp, chatted for a bit, and got some sleep!
The next morning, we were up early as we got ready for our first day of sea kayaking! We met up with our sea kayak guides on the beach bright and early and were stoked to have a beautiful day on the water. We headed out to a calm sea, and the weather was perfect. Caddie and Turner were doubled up in a kayak and were having the best time chatting away together.
After leaving the beach cove, we made our way out onto the open sea and cruised along a beautiful stretch of coastline for the next few hours. We paddled through a few cool caves and spent the morning admiring the beautiful Spanish coast. After a while of paddling, we needed to fuel our bodies and stopped for lunch on a beautiful beach. We spent time swimming, eating, and catching some sun rays. We even managed to sneak in a little beach nap! After lunch, it was a breeze paddling back in the opposite direction, and we made it back to our beach in less than an hour.
The remainder of the day was spent hanging in the sun and vibing on the beach! For dinner, we had a great surprise and got to take part in a beautiful cooking class by the beach. We arrived at the class, and immediately the chef wanted us to jump into action. The kids were so excited! Everyone got assigned a role, and it was so fun to watch them dive right in and get cooking. Baxter was in charge of the paella, Turner was making tomato bread and salad, and Caddie, Trey, and Tyler were on pesto duty. Cohen, Weezie, Pia, Ann Reid, Tazewell, Michael, and Ginger were in charge of making tuna tartare on top of a guacamole base.
Once the food was ready, we were all so excited to eat what we had been whipping up. The food came out, and you would have never guessed we had eaten earlier with how quickly we finished it all! It was seriously so delicious, and Ann Reid was already talking about how she wanted to learn all of these dishes so she could make them back home. The paella was especially incredible, and we finished the entire pan! After dinner, we took some fun photos on the beach and then headed back to camp for Moonup and an early night of sleep.
The next day, we were up early again for another great day of sea kayaking! This time, our guides drove us about forty minutes away to a different beach so we could switch up our kayaking route. We were dropped off at a beautiful beach, and the kids were excited for another day on the water. Today, our guide took us through some rocks between the waves, which created a rapid-like effect. It was super fun for the kids to catch waves and pick up speed in their kayaks! Caddie and Trey were pros and were flying through all of them.
We stopped again for lunch at another beautiful beach! After we ate and let our food digest, we swam over to a fun cliff jumping spot. After determining that it was a safe spot, Turner and Cohen were super stoked to jump. We took turns jumping into the crystal-clear Mediterranean water and had an absolute blast.
Afterwards, we paddled back to the beach and then drove back to our beach in L’Escala to soak up as much beach time as we could. Tazewell, Caddie, Ben, and Taylor went grocery shopping again and bought ingredients for a big Italian dinner. We made an amazing pasta dish, salad, and garlic bread for everyone. Eddie and Tazewell were the LODs and decided it would be super fun to hold Moonup on the beach.
We seriously couldn’t be having more fun with this group. They are so eager to really get the most out of everything we’re doing, and it’s been so fun to watch. Today we are traveling to our Pyrenees section, where we’ll be spending the next seven days hiking through the beautiful rural mountains of France and Spain. We seriously can’t wait to see what’s in store next!
Au revoir,
Ben and Taylor
Magic in Chamonix!
June 16, 2026
Hey Moondance Families!
Bonjour from Cham 2A!
Our European adventure is officially underway, and it already feels like we’ve been together forever. From the moment we arrived in Paris, this group has had the best energy. Everyone has been so upbeat, excited, and really leaning into everything. It has been so fun to watch everyone click so quickly and start making memories right off the bat.
Once we all met up at the airport, we made our way straight to the metro station, got on a bus, and then proceeded to board our first train to Geneva! During the train ride, the kids were all chatting, getting to know each other, and talking about everything they were excited for on the trip ahead. Baxter was even making friends with some Parisian locals and brushing up on his French-speaking abilities. After a long airport day, most people took a much-needed nap, and when we woke up, we were in Switzerland! It was crazy that we had already knocked two countries off the list within the first few hours of the trip. We got off the train, grabbed some free ice cream, and hopped on another bus that would take us to the town of Chamonix. As we drove, we got farther and farther into the mountains and started seeing some spectacular views. Pia was so amazed by everything we were seeing along the drive!
We arrived at our first-night stay, an amazing hostel with a view of Mont Blanc. We settled into our rooms and then headed straight into the town of Chamonix to explore. It wouldn’t be a Moondance trip without multiple ice cream stops, so we decided to grab some gelato to really kick off the adventure. We walked around Chamonix, which is the perfect mountain town filled with the coolest stores and restaurants. After exploring, the entire group was pretty hungry, so we headed back to the hostel where our first dinner awaited us. We enjoyed a hearty French meal and ended our long travel day with full bellies. After dinner, we had our first Moonup, our time each night to slow down, reflect, and check in with each other. It went so well, and Tyler and Pia were voted our first Leaders of the Day. After Moonup, we hung out for a little while before heading to bed, knowing we had another great day ahead of us.
Our first official day of the trip was underway, and we got to sleep in and catch up on some extra rest after the long day before. After breakfast, Trey led a group of the boys outside to get a game of hacky sack going. The rain clouds from the previous day had cleared out, and you could finally see a full view of the mountains. It was truly incredible. Turner and Taylor were eager to experience a European café and coffee, so we walked back into town and sat in the sunshine chatting, eating croissants, and drinking delicious French coffee. Later, we shopped around town and picked up any extra gear we needed for our trek.
As lunchtime rolled around, we stumbled into a super cool hamburger spot that had some pretty amazing American-style burgers, and the kids were thrilled. After lunch, we headed back to the hostel and got into some card games. Ben taught Baxter, Caddie, Tazewell, and Cohen how to play Monopoly Deal, which they got hooked on immediately, while Tyler taught Taylor, Ginger, Ann Reid, and Trey how to play Let’s Go to Cabo. Weezie, Turner, Pia, and Michael spent the afternoon chatting and getting to know each other better. Later, the kids went back into town to grab snacks for the trek before returning to begin preparing for the next five days on the Tour du Mont Blanc. We enjoyed a great pasta dinner, which served as the perfect carb load before our big adventure. We wrapped up the night with a great Moonup and headed to bed early with a big day ahead.
We were up early and ready to go, unable to contain our excitement for our time in the mountains. We were greeted by our guide for the TMB. He went over our route and even gave us free T-shirts to wear while hiking. We also met our trekking guide, Luc, who would be leading us through the beautiful mountains of France, Switzerland, and Italy over the next five days.
We split up into two cars, piled in our bags, and were ready to hit the trails. Along the drive, Tazewell was blown away by the views and kept saying he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. We drove through a tunnel in France, and when we emerged on the other side, we were in Italy. We arrived at the trailhead and were all so stoked to get started. Pia and Tyler led the group in a hype circle and stretch session to get everyone energized and ready to go. After that, our journey on the TMB was officially underway.
We started with incredible views and some chilly weather, but the kids were so excited and hiked like pros through the beautiful Italian Alps. We stopped at a little rifugio to put on some warmer layers and continued on the trail, playing games, chatting, and taking in everything around us. Caddie and Pia did an amazing job capturing it all on their cameras, along with Tyler on his GoPro. After a steady and challenging climb, we arrived at the border of Switzerland and Italy. Taylor and Turner were so excited that they kept running back and forth across the border, spending one second in Switzerland and the next in Italy. Afterward, we hiked through a field of snow and arrived at a beautiful meadow overlooking the mountains, where we decided to stop for lunch. We enjoyed sandwiches, chips, and fruit while sitting in complete awe of the place where we got to eat.
After lunch, we continued on and were rewarded with some nice downhill hiking after a long stretch of climbing. Luc pointed out all the little marmots running around, and Turner and Baxter were fascinated by them. We powered through the rest of the day, and after around ten miles, we finally arrived at our first mountain hostel nestled in a beautiful alpine town. The kids settled into their rooms, and then we all gathered outside to nap in the sunshine and listen to music. We took much-needed showers and finished the day with an amazing dinner and Moonup after our first full day on the TMB.
The next morning, we were up bright and early again. We trekked through beautiful Swiss towns and couldn’t believe the views around every corner. We spent much of the day hiking through the trees and having great trail conversations. We were surrounded by beautiful wildflowers, and Luc even showed Tyler, Caddie, Ann Reid, and Ginger some edible flowers they could try along the trail. The weather was absolutely perfect. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky, and a cool breeze followed us throughout the day. We were definitely lucky, as weather like this is not always typical this time of year.
After another long hiking day, we arrived at a beautiful lake where our next hostel was located. We immediately dropped our bags and jumped into the most beautiful alpine lake you could imagine. Every single kid got into the freezing water. Afterward, we sat in the sun for hours, talking, listening to music, and soaking it all in. Later, Cohen, Baxter, Trey, Tyler, Turner, and Tazewell found a place to grab some crepes. We had dinner back at the hostel and then held the most beautiful Moonup by the lake while watching the sunset over the mountains. After Moonup, we stopped by a small music festival taking place in town and listened to some live music where we found our new favorite band The Toksins. To top off an amazing day, we sat on the patio of our hostel, listened to music, stargazed, and saw countless shooting stars.
We woke up to another day of beautiful weather. We had a big day ahead of us, but we were ready to take on the challenge. We started with a steady climb, and let’s just say it didn’t stop for the next few hours. The kids were incredible, though, pushing forward like champions and supporting each other the entire way. We have been so impressed by this group’s determination and morale throughout the trek. Cohen, Ginger, Caddie, and Ann Reid were leading the pack like pros and helping pull everyone up the mountain.
We finally reached our lunch spot and couldn’t have been more excited to rest and refuel. We even stopped at one of the rifugios and ordered a variety of cakes for everyone to try. After lunch, we carried on for a few more miles before stopping for some much-needed ice cream to get us through the final stretch. The day ended up being nearly fifteen miles, and the kids handled it like absolute champs. Once we arrived, we relaxed around the hostel and enjoyed some downtime. Somehow, Tyler, Tazewell, Cohen, and Baxter still had energy left and ended up playing soccer with one of the local kids in a nearby field. That evening, we enjoyed a huge dinner of spaghetti and bolognese, which was exactly what we needed after such a big day.
The next day, we woke up for our final full day on the TMB. We were all pretty tired, but the kids continued to have amazing attitudes. The day began with another challenging climb, but once again everyone pushed forward with positivity. After hiking for a few hours, we finally reached a beautiful rifugio at the top of the mountain. Beyond it, we were greeted with the most stunning view of Mont Blanc. It felt like a dream.
We ordered pasta and brownies from the rifugio, which felt very necessary after the effort it took to get there. We spent the next few hours lying in a beautiful meadow, admiring the view, taking photos, listening to music, and simply enjoying the moment. After a long break, we continued on and arrived at an incredible hostel tucked into the mountains. It was such a unique place, almost like a treehouse, surrounded by flowers and looking like something straight out of a storybook. We gathered outside while Taylor played guitar, and Pia and Weezie journaled in the garden. We played card games and had the best time together. We ended the day with a great Moonup and a game led by Caddie.
We woke up for our final day on the TMB, and even though everyone was tired, spirits remained high. After a few miles of downhill hiking, we officially completed our trek and were so proud of everything we had accomplished. We arrived back at our home away from home, Chamionard, dropped off our bags, and immediately set out to find some Mexican food, which we had been talking about nonstop throughout the trek. We enjoyed an amazing lunch of nachos and tacos. The kids were still hungry afterward, so they all grabbed crepes, and the boys even managed to fit in a few more burgers and mozzarella sticks. After all the hiking we had done, it was definitely deserved.
We headed back to the hostel and packed up as we prepared for the next chapter of our adventure in Spain, where we’ll get to spend time at the beach, kayak, and relax. The kids ended the night with a game and Moonup. We can’t wait to see what the rest of this trip brings. This group is so special, and the relationships that have already formed are incredibly strong. It has been so fun as leaders to watch them grow together. Off to Spain, ciao!
Ben and Taylor
Shoutouts!
Weezie- Hi Mom and Dad!!!!! I’m having literally so much fun💚🤝🤣. I love my group and it is beautiful here. We just finished the Tour Mont Blanc🏔️🏔️🏔️and hiked around 60 miles in 5 days and it was so cool. I miss y’all a lot!!!!😘😘😘 Please tell Mabry I say hello and miss her too! Ciao!!!🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🕺🕺🕺
Turner- Hey Mom and Spalding! This trip is absolutely amazing! I absolutely love my group and all of the beautiful places we have visited so far. I cannot believe we hiked around 60 miles already through the alps! I cannot wait to tell y’all about it! I love y’all and miss y’all so much! Spain here I come! 🇪🇸😆♥️
Ann Reid- Hey Mom and Dad!!! I am having the best time ever! I love my group so much and it’s so beautiful here!!! We just finished hiking around 60 miles in 5 days which was so cool!! And now we are on the way to Spain!!! I’m so so excited to show y’all all the pictures I have taken and tell y’all all about it! I love and miss you all so much!!♥️
Michael- Hi Mom, Dad, Cameron and Dubose!! I hope that Argentina was fun! We just finished the Tour Mount Blanc which we started and finished in Chamonix. We are currently on the way to Spain and I’m already peeling from sun burn… We finished 60 miles in the past few days and I’m super exhausted. I love and miss y’all!! I can’t wait to tell y’all all about it!♥️♥️♥️
Trey – Hey Mom and Dad, writing this from the train station in Leon, France while we wait to go to Spain. I’m reminiscing a lot on the past week and the impact that it’s had on me. The Alps have to be the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen, and I feel so much more in contact with nature and myself, especially after the last few months, not to mention that this is the greatest group I could ever ask for. I love you guys and hope your trip has been fun. I can’t wait to see you in two weeks.
Pia – Hi y’all!! I miss you guys so much and can’t wait to see you! I am having the best time ever, I couldn’t love my group more and I am so excited to tell you all about it. We just finished the Tour de Mont Blanc and we are on our way to Spain now. Give the dogs and Gigi a kiss for me!! Love you all so much and hope everyone’s doing well ♥️
Cohen- Hi family!!! I am having the best time on this trip and have made such good friends and can’t wait to tell y’all all about it! We finished the Tour de Mont Blanc yesterday and are currently waiting in a train station before we head to Spain. Hope you guys are having a great time at home and please tell everyone I said hello and I miss them! See you guys soon!♥️
Baxter – Hello, this trip has been unbelievable. I hope buddy and bear are well. Tell dad the views are amazing. Hope y’all are doing well!
Tyler: What’s up everyone. I hope Sadie is having a great time on her trip and I hope mom and dad are doing well. Tell Jackson I’m excited for him to come. I’ve gotten a bunch of good pictures on my GoPro to show you guys too and I’m excited for all of y’all to come to Italy. I love you guys.
Ginger- Hiiiiii!!! I miss y’all sooo much but I’m also having sooo much fun! The Tour du Mont Blanc was pretty hard but the reward of the beautiful views was worth it. 🏔️ I can tell im getting strong 💪 Everyone is so nice and I love them all so much. I hope everything is great at home and at the beach!!! I love and miss yall ♾️♾️♾️♾️!!! 💛💛💛💛💛💙 G4L👯♀️💕 Tell Gryffon I love him and give him extra scratches from me🐕🦺💓
Caddie- Hiiiii!!!! I miss everyone so much and I am having a BLAST 😆! My group is AMAZING and the views are even better 💛💛!!! Mont Blanc was UNREAL. Tell Libby I miss her the most!! Can’t wait to see everyone but I also hope this trip never ends 💕💕! Can’t wait to show y’all my pictures!!! xoxo.
Tazewell- Hey y’all miss you guys having a blast met some cool people on this trip. Leaders are sick and fun! excited to see you guys love and miss y’all!!
Safe Arrival!
June 9, 2026
Hello Chamonix Families!
We heard from our leaders this morning that the group has landed safely in Paris! The trip is off to a great start, and we cannot wait to hear more stories from their adventure as they prepare to begin their trekking section!
Please remember our leaders and students will be unplugged during their trips, but we will be posting trip updates throughout the next week! This will allow you to follow along with the trip. You can also follow us on Instagram, @moondanceadventures, to see more of what we are up to!
-Moondance HQ
