Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Lopes.
Hi Ashley, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started PA Family Adventures because I’m a busy mom of four who knows how hard it can be to find fun things to do as a family.
I wanted a place where I could share the adventures we were finding around Pennsylvania—family-friendly places, events, restaurants, hidden gems, and experiences that are actually worth getting out of the house for.
What started as me sharing our own family adventures has grown into a community where I can help other families discover new places, make memories, and find something fun to do together.
At the end of the day, PA Family Adventures is about showing families that you don’t have to go far or spend a fortune to create really great memories. Sometimes the best adventures are right in your own backyard.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Has it been easy? Honestly, no.
I started PA Family Adventures because I genuinely love exploring Pennsylvania with my family and sharing the places we discover. But building this into something bigger has taken a lot of work.
I’m doing this while being a mom of four, working full time, managing our busy family life, and trying to create content whenever I can find the time. There have been plenty of moments when I’ve questioned myself, felt behind, or wondered if all the effort was worth it.
I’ve had to learn about content creation, branding, social media, partnerships, and growing a community—all while figuring it out as I go.
But I keep going because I truly believe in what I’m building. I love helping other families find places to explore, giving them ideas for their weekends, and reminding them that some of the best memories can happen right here in Pennsylvania.
It hasn’t been easy. But it has been incredibly rewarding—and I’m just getting started.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m Ashley—a mom of four, a Programs Director at Tides Programs, and the person behind PA Family Adventures.
My life is definitely busy! I’m raising four kids, working in the grief-support world at Tides Programs, and building PA Family Adventures in the middle of it all. None of it has always been easy, and there are definitely days when I wonder how I’m fitting it all in—but I wouldn’t trade any of it.
Professionally, my work at Tides Programs is incredibly meaningful to me. I get to help oversee programs that support children, teens, families, and adults who are navigating grief and difficult seasons of life. It’s work that has taught me so much about connection, compassion, and the importance of simply showing up for people.
And then there’s PA Family Adventures—the fun side of my life! What started with sharing the places my family was exploring has grown into a community where I get to help other families discover things to do throughout Pennsylvania and, hopefully, make a few memories of their own.
Between my career, my family, and PA Family Adventures, life can be a little chaotic—but I think that’s what makes my story mine. I’m just a mom trying to do meaningful work, raise good humans, explore as much as we can, and make the most of the life we’re given.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
My biggest advice is to just start.
Don’t wait until everything is perfect. I definitely didn’t have it all figured out when I started PA Family Adventures, and honestly, I’m still learning as I go.
Be consistent, but don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle. Social media can make it look like everyone else has it figured out, but you don’t see all the work that happens behind the scenes.
Find what makes you different and lean into it. For me, it’s sharing real family adventures from a mom’s perspective and showing people what they can actually do with their kids.
And most importantly, don’t give up just because growth feels slow. There have been plenty of times I’ve wondered if what I was doing was working. Keep showing up, keep learning, and keep creating. You never know which opportunity, connection, or piece of content is going to open the next door.
You don’t have to know exactly where you’re going. You just have to be willing to take the first step.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pafamilyadventures?stkn=MWNrZzBueHZ4czZvZw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1EPQQwT86J/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@pafamilyadventures?_r=1&_t=ZT-99jfX8SjSAQ
