Beachy Adventurous Mom On The Street: Alisha Dos Santos

Beachy Adventurous Mom on the Street Alisha dos Santos lives her life with a vivacious spirit and open heart. We love how she and her family embrace any new travel destination they experience and the culture, cuisine, and fun that comes with it! Read on to learn more about her!

Meet Alisha

I’m Alisha dos Santos, an adventure-seeking mom of two young kids ages 5 and 9. I’m a professional writer, editor, and content creator who writes about family adventures, travel, motherhood, and the Florida lifestyle.

I founded AdventureSeekingMom.com in 2018 to share family adventure ideas, travel tips, and more. From exploring the outdoors, traveling, and experiencing new foods to discovering new worlds through books, I believe every day can be a beautiful adventure if we have an open mind.

As a Brazilian American family, we value diversity. One of my deepest desires as a parent is to encourage my kids’ curiosity about the world and all the different people in it. As a blogger and social media influencer, I’m passionate about creating content that encourages hearts, builds community, and shines light in the world.

Beachy Adventurous Travel Beginnings

Have you always been adventurous and have loved to travel?

I’ve always felt most at peace in nature, especially around the water. I grew up in Pennsylvania, away from the water, but we spent summers in the pool and always vacationed at the beach. I dreamed of being Ariel from The Little Mermaid. Looking back, I see I loved Ariel, not just because she was a mermaid, but because of her curiosity about the world and different cultures. I always enjoyed books and movies that transported me to new worlds or helped me explore other cultures. I was thrilled when my parents took our family on trips beyond the East Coast to Hawaii, Aruba, and Mexico. Those experiences ignited my love for travel.

When did you decide you wanted to travel more?

As a teenager, my family visited Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, where we explored the Mayan ruins at Chichén Itzá and experienced Christmas in Cancún. That trip inspired me to want to experience more cultures and wonders of the world.

As a Florida resident, what are your top 3 favorite things to do with your family in Florida?

We’re water people, so we’re always out boating, paddleboarding, or relaxing on the beach. In addition to adventuring around Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, we enjoy exploring Central Florida’s refreshing natural springs and beautiful forests. We also like to explore through food, so we’re always trying new restaurants and cuisines. We love the Latin flavors that have a huge influence on the Florida food scene.

Beachy Adventurous Travel Goals and Tips

What are your go-to tips when traveling and adventuring with a family?

When traveling, be flexible and don’t try to pack too much into your schedule. I tend to over plan and push everyone too far when I’m too focused on doing all the things on a trip. I have to check myself and be intentional about slowing down, relaxing, and enjoying the moments.

For Florida outdoor adventures, being prepared for the weather is a must. We typically wear sunscreen plus protective clothing and hats. We bring lots of water, and snacks are vital for keeping kids from getting too cranky. My husband is always on top of the weather, especially when boating – you never want to get caught in a storm.

What are some of the adventures and travels you have planned?

We just returned from a summer adventure in the Florida Keys, where we explored Key West and took a day trip to Dry Tortugas National Park. I’ll be sharing a lot of Florida Keys’ content on social media and my blog in the coming weeks. I’m always planning my next adventure, and if you follow me on Instagram, you’ll see us out this summer exploring Florida in a variety of ways – from water adventures and wildlife encounters to short nature hikes, historic tours, indoor activities, and foodie fun.

Beachy Adventurous Life Online

Where can people find you on social media and online?

Beachy Adventurous Style

Which three words best describe your style?

Beachy, boho, colorful

What are your favorite places to shop?

Ocean-inspired brands with a sustainability focus like Carve Designs, Mermade Florida, and Lilly Pulitzer.

Who’s your favorite style icon?

Blake Lively

What’s your best style advice?

Stay true to yourself. Don’t be a slave to trends.

What article of clothing/accessory would you not want to live without?

A long-sleeved sun-protective swimsuit.

Which trend would you want to see make a comeback?

I love that ’90s fashion has already made a comeback! Growing up in the ’90s, I loved Gap overalls and butterfly clips. This year, my daughter picked out an adorable crushed velvet swimsuit that reminds me of my ballet costumes growing up.

What should NEVER make a comeback?

Low-rise jeans.

What fashion/style did you love at the time but now cringe when you see old photos?

Skinny eyebrows

What’s your best style secret?

As a busy mom, I’ve found that having a closet full of cute, comfortable dresses that can be dressed up or down makes getting ready easier.

Stilettos or flats?

Flip flops

Beachy Adventurous Family

What’s your favorite way to spend time with your family?

Adventuring on the water.

What’s been your best family vacation?

Adventuring around the Florida Keys.

Best parenting advice:

Parent bravely. Don’t let fear and ‘what ifs’ control your life and how you parent. If you want your kids to live bravely and reach their full potential, you have to step out of your comfort zone and model courage yourself. Don’t let fear hold your family back from experiencing all the adventure life has to offer.

Parenting true confession:

When we’re not out adventuring, my kids get plenty of screen time.

What’s your go-to family dinner?

We’ve been eating a lot of fish at home lately, like salmon and mahi-mahi.

What’s your favorite family restaurant?

Small Latin cafes and sushi restaurants

Beachy Adventurous Life

What’s your favorite show to binge-watch?

Lucifer was the best series my husband and I watched recently.

What’s your favorite beach read?

Ocean-inspired adventures like Fable by Adrienne Young.

What song would you dance to when nobody’s watching?

Shania Twain’s “Man! I feel like a woman!”

If you could go shopping with anyone from history, living or deceased, who would it be?

Audrey Hepburn

What’s at the top of your travel bucket list?

Greece, Italy, Spain, and more in Europe.

What’s your favorite way to unwind at the end of a long day?

Watching the sunset over the water with a glass of wine in hand.

Beachy Adventurous Florida Life

Alisha dos Santos makes us want to hop on a plane soon to a tropical beach somewhere! We love how she inspires others through her love for visiting new places through her blog and social media presence. She inspires us to explore your local area, whether it’s your local hiking spot, beach, or even the closest city; get out there and explore somewhere new this summer!

Be sure to follow Alisha on Instagram to keep up with her fashion, family, and other beachy adventurous travels. And for more exciting and inspiring moms, be sure to check out FamilyApp’s Mom on the Street page!