Hi, I'm Emily! I'm a midwest mom to three tweens. I love to explore new cities, and I'm a firm believer that every adventure is better with snacks.

Our family vacations used to look something like this: My partner and I picked the place, planned everything, packed everything, and dragged the kids from stop to stop while they dragged their feet. It wasn't much fun for anyone and I quickly realized it wasn't fair either.

Kids are so capable and curious, and they deserve a say about where and how they explore. After all, it's their vacation too. Sometimes we just need to hand them a map and get out of the way! That's why I created The Curiosity Route.

Our city guides provide a framework that empowers kids to lead the way through the city while adults provide navigation support (and snacks, obviously). Along the way, they practice important life skills like independence, decision-making, and collaboration.

Are you ready to let kids lead? Grab a guide, pack your snacks, and let’s go! 

Hi, I'm Rye! I'm an urban pigeon and the founder of the Department of Snacks & Secrets (DoSS for short). I hatched inside a natural history museum and spent my earliest days believing that I was an artifact! I enjoyed life at the museum and especially loved watching curious kids make discoveries as they explored the exhibits. 

One morning, after a tragic but delicious incident in the museum cafeteria, I was escorted out of the only home I had ever known. (I found out that day that I wasn’t an artifact, and most museums don’t allow boarding pigeons.)

I stepped out into a world filled with exciting sights, strange sounds, and so many new snacks to try! That’s when I made my greatest discovery: kids are even more curious than I thought, and they eat a lot of snacks, just like me! 

 I created the DoSS because someone needed to help curious kids explore cities with purpose (and grown-ups kept forgetting to pack enough snacks). So I partnered with The Curiosity Route, and together we built a whole guide system centered around kids leading the way. 

Ready to explore? Grab a guide and pack your snacks. I’ll be cooing you on.