Alison Major 7/16/24 Alison Major 7/16/24

How to Play: 4-Card Golf

We recently learned the card game Golf, which was easy to teach to a group. It requires mostly luck and not a lot of skill. Despite your score mainly being out of your control, the game encourages math skills, social skills, and fine motor skills.

Alison Major 7/16/24 Alison Major 7/16/24

How to Play: Spoons

The card game Spoons has been a go-to when visiting new friends on another boat or hanging out with a group. This game is great for math skills, social skills, fine motor skills, and focus. Our kids love the fast pace, using sneaky strategies, and the excitement of getting a spoon before none are left.

Alison Major 7/8/24 Alison Major 7/8/24

Preparing Kids with Boat Skills for the Great Loop

Preparing your kids for your Great Loop Adventure by involving them as crew members keeps them engaged and helps them learn confidence, responsibility, safety, and teamwork. This post will give you ideas and an age-appropriate list of jobs for your kid-crew!

Alison Major 7/5/24 Alison Major 7/5/24

🇺🇸 Learning About Our Independence

In the United States, we celebrate Independence Day each year on July 4th. On this day, we celebrate our independence from Britain as the anniversary of the Second Continental Congress's adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.

Alison Major 7/4/24 Alison Major 7/4/24

Friends & Family Back Home: How to Stay Connected

Embarking on your Great Loop adventure brings a thrilling sense of freedom and exploration. Still, it can raise concerns about maintaining relationships with those you leave behind. Whether you’re worried about staying in touch or your friends and family are anxious about staying connected, there are plenty of ways to bridge the distance and keep everyone in the loop (ha!).

Alison Major 6/28/24 Alison Major 6/28/24

Gator or Croc? Homeschool Learning in the Everyday

One of the joys of traveling on the Great Loop as a family is the ability to find learning opportunities in normal situations. We often practice math when charting courses, learn about ecosystems and animals in parks and preserves, and use journals to practice writing and learning.

Alison Major 6/18/24 Alison Major 6/18/24

Navigating Remote Work on a Boat: Tips and Challenges

Many dream about living full-time on a boat, but fewer embrace it. With the modern rise of remote work, life on a boat while cruising is more attainable than ever. I have worked remotely for over a decade, even before it became popular. By leveraging available remote work options, I've made the dream of taking my family on America’s Great Loop a reality.

Alison Major 6/3/24 Alison Major 6/3/24

Passage Day Prep

Traveling along America's Great Loop involves a lot of movement. Progress along the route must be made regularly to stick with the seasons (and warm weather). As you embark on your adventure, you'll figure out what each passage day looks like. We've compiled some of the things we've found most useful for a successful passage day for us as a family.

Alison Major 5/8/24 Alison Major 5/8/24

Book Recommendation: The Waterman's Widow

As you approach the quiet, serene coastal town of Solomons, Maryland, our recommended book for the area will immerse you in mystery and historical detail. The Waterman's Widow will provide new perspectives into the harsh life of the Chesapeake Bay watermen in the early 20th century.

Alison Major 5/3/24 Alison Major 5/3/24

Find Interesting Reads Along America's Great Loop

My family and I love to read, and I've found that as we travel along America's Great Loop, books can become even more immersive and our imaginations more vivid when we explore and see the different areas in which they take place. Both fictional and nonfictional books set in the areas we travel to are great ways to learn about the areas we explore.

Alison Major 4/30/24 Alison Major 4/30/24

Norfolk, Virginia

The most prominent feature of Norfolk is the presence of the Navy. Your ability to explore and understand more about the Navy firsthand is convenient and epic if you check out the Nauticus Museum and board the USS Wisconsin. Visiting and touring the ship is a must-do activity.

Alison Major 4/25/24 Alison Major 4/25/24

Book Recommendation: Chesapeake Bay Skipjacks

The book Chesapeake Bay Skipjacks documents the skipjack and its role in the oyster dredging industry. Reading will offer insights into the natural and manmade disasters that affected the trade, including a storm in August 1933 that swept vessels into pastures!

Alison Major 4/24/24 Alison Major 4/24/24

Boat Cards

Unlock one of our favorite tools for making connections on the water and forging friendships on our Great Loop Adventure.

Alison Major 4/11/24 Alison Major 4/11/24

Book Recommendation: Battleship Marine

While visiting Norfolk, Virginia, consider reading the book BattleShip Marine: A Combat History of the USS Wisconsin in Desert Storm. This is a personal, first-person account from a marine who served in the last detachment on the last battleship the U.S. put to sea, the USS Wisconsin BB-64.

Alison Major 4/10/24 Alison Major 4/10/24

Conch Horns

As the sun dips below the horizon, a bright sound fills the air – the beautiful notes of conch horns echoing across the water. Conch horns have a long history that dates back to ancient civilizations, where they were used for communication, signaling, and ceremonial purposes. Conch horns became essential tools for sailors and fishermen, signaling important events, warnings, and celebrations.

Alison Major 4/3/24 Alison Major 4/3/24

Embarking on the Great Loop: Our Family’s Journey and Why I’m Here to Guide You

My name is Alison, and I’m the founder of Loop Life Academy. With my husband Chris and two amazing kids, we’ve embarked on an incredible journey – the Great Loop.

Alison Major 3/30/24 Alison Major 3/30/24

Getting Creative in the Galley

Have you ever faced the challenge of cooking on a boat with limited supplies? I'm not much of a cook. Honestly, I used to let Chris do most of the cooking. But we've done a bit of job-shifting lately, so I've been in charge of many more meals.

Alison Major 3/20/24 Alison Major 3/20/24

What is America's Great Loop?

A collection of rivers, lakes, and canals forms a continuous waterway called America's Great Loop. This measures about 6,000 statute miles (the miles you're measuring by on the road); if you want to say that in boat miles, it's about 5,200 nautical miles.

Alison Major 1/16/24 Alison Major 1/16/24

Welcome to Loop Life Academy!

My name is Alison, and my passion is transforming dreams into reality. A few years back, a seemingly crazy idea took root in my mind—to embark on a remarkable journey with my family along America's Great Loop, navigating its waters on a sailboat.