Welcome to Stack the Miles!
Inspiring families to explore more, spend less, and see the world together.
Family Focus
Practical trips that work for real kids, real schedules, and real parents.
Smart Spending
Points, miles, and strategy to stretch your travel budget further.
Cultural Connection
Helping kids learn the world by experiencing it — not just seeing it.
Hi, I’m Mel — a mom, teacher, and family travel planner.
I help busy families travel farther, spend smarter, and plan trips that actually work with kids, without burning out or blowing the budget.
Here you’ll find real-life itineraries, honest destination guides, sports travel tips, and simple ways to use points and miles to make travel more affordable. Everything here is based on trips we’ve actually taken as a family.
Start Here: Plan Your Trip
Choose your travel style below to find guides, tips, and real-life experiences that make planning easier.
What to expect in Italy with kids, including Rome, Venice, and the little things that make the trip easier.
Planning a trip to France with kids, including what’s worth it and what to skip.
Easy day trips, castles, and what travel actually looks like in Germany and Austria with kids.
Planning your Disney World trip? Start here for hotels, park strategy, Lightning Lane tips, and ways to save money.
Where to eat and drink at Disney World, including restaurants by park, dining plan tips, and what’s actually worth it.
Complete gluten-free guide to Disney World, including park-by-park tips, snacks, and what actually feels easy (and what doesn’t).
Packing lists, weather survival, and real-life tips to make tournament weekends easier for sports parents.
Everything you need to plan your Cooperstown baseball tournament—from costs and packing to what to expect during your week.
The tournaments, games, and sports travel experiences that have shaped our family trips.
What to do in Boston with kids and teens, plus easy ways to plan your days without overpacking your schedule.
Visiting NYC with kids, including what’s worth it, what to skip, and how to make the most of your time.
Family-friendly Philadelphia travel guides featuring museums, historic attractions, food spots, and things to do with kids, tweens, and teens.
Tips for choosing a family-friendly all-inclusive in the Caribbean or Mexico and what’s actually worth it.
Tips for visiting Universal with kids, including rides, planning strategies, and what to expect.
Family travel tips that make trips easier, including packing, travel days, and planning around busy schedules with kids.
From indoor water parks and snow tubing to rafting, hiking, and family weekend getaways, we’ve spent years exploring the Poconos with our kids. Browse our favorite resorts, activities, and family-tested tips.
What’s New? – Helpful Travel Tips
If you’re planning travel tournaments, Disney trips, or family vacations, these are the posts readers find most helpful.
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Cooperstown All Star Village Food Guide for Players and Parents
Before our week at Cooperstown, one of my biggest questions was about the Cooperstown All Star Village food. What would the players eat? Where could parents grab meals? Would I be able to find gluten-free options? After spending a full week at All Star Village, I realized there are plenty of choices for both players…
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Best Things to Do at Cooperstown All Star Village Besides Baseball
If you’re looking for things to do at Cooperstown All Star Village besides baseball, you’ll find there’s more to the week than just your team’s games. Before our trip, I expected we’d spend most of our downtime exploring Cooperstown. I had a running list of places I wanted to visit, but I quickly realized there were…
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What to Expect on Your First Day at Cooperstown All Star Village
The first day at Cooperstown All Star Village is exciting, busy, and honestly a little overwhelming. Between checking in, carrying what feels like a mountain of baseball gear, finding the bunkhouses, watching the skills competitions, and trying to figure out where you’re supposed to be next, arrival day can feel like a whirlwind. Before our trip, I…
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What It’s Like Staying at Cooperstown All Star Village: Inside the Bunkhouses
If you’re wondering what it’s really like staying at Cooperstown All Star Village, one of the biggest questions is where the players sleep, what the Cooperstown All Star Village bunkhouses are really like, and what everyday life looks like once they move in with their teammates. Since my kids have both spent years away at…
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Is the National Baseball Hall of Fame Worth Visiting During Your Cooperstown Tournament?
Is the National Baseball Hall of Fame worth visiting during your Cooperstown tournament? For our family, the answer was an easy yes. Visiting the Hall of Fame felt like an essential part of the Cooperstown experience, and it ended up being one of our favorite stops during the week. What we didn’t know ahead of time…
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Best Cooperstown Souvenirs for Tournament Families: What’s Actually Worth Buying
Cooperstown tournament souvenirs are one of the highlights of tournament week, but with so many shops and keepsakes to choose from, it’s hard to know what’s actually worth bringing home. By the end of our week at Cooperstown All Star Village, we had picked up everything from personalized keepsakes to practical mementos that now remind us…
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Is the Cooperstown All Star Village Photo Package Worth It? My Honest Review
If you’re wondering whether the Cooperstown All Star Village photo package is worth the cost, you’re definitely not the only one. I knew before we even arrived that I wanted professional action shots from the week. As parents, it’s almost impossible to capture every big play while also cheering, watching the game, and simply enjoying the…
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Cooperstown Spirit Gear: The Best Ideas for Opening Ceremonies and Tournament Week
Cooperstown spirit gear is one of the most fun parts of tournament week. From Opening Ceremonies to cheering from the stands during games, it’s a chance for families to show off their team spirit and have some fun together. Before we arrived, I knew families would wear team shirts, but I had no idea how creative…
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Cooperstown Pin Trading Tips: What We Learned After Our First Tournament
Cooperstown pin trading tips can be hard to figure out before your first tournament. We knew trading pins were a big part of the Cooperstown experience, but we had plenty of questions before we left. How many pins should we order? What kinds of designs do kids actually want? Is it worth spending more for specialty…
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Welcome to Stack the Miles
Hi, I’m Mel — a teacher, mom, and family travel planner helping families travel farther, spend smarter,
and make unforgettable memories using real-life tested advice from our own trips.
All content © Stack the Miles. Photography and imagery include original family travel photos and select licensed stock for visual storytelling.