School
Northeastern State University
Expertise
Neurodivergent Travel, Family Travel, Music Festival Traveling
- A huge fan of quirky roadside attractions and museums, Kristi has traveled to 30 U.S. states and is constantly searching for obscure theme parks and curiosities hidden off the beaten path.
- A parent of three quirky, creative teens, she has written extensively about family travel and autism advocacy for her award-winning TulsaKids Magazine parenting blog "Coffee Nebula" on TulsaKids.com.
- Kristi has taken many road trips to watch her favorite bands play. She's seen more than 300 concerts and traveled to Bonnaroo Music Festival seven times.
Experience
A native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Kristi has been a professional writer and editor since 1998 when she started writing music, film, and event reviews for a local rag called Infinity Press. A proponent for neurodiversity-inclusive travel, she has been sharing her neurospicy family's adventures for years on her TulsaKids Magazine blog Coffee Nebula, which earned the 2021 and 2022 Parenting Media Association Gold Blogger Award. Her takes on everything from Disney to TikTok travel hacks can be found on Explore.
Education
Kristi earned her associate's degree in humanities at Tulsa Community College. She finished a bachelor's of English and political science and most of an M.A. at Northeastern State University in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.
Islands content is created by a team of veteran writers and editors passionate about travel. Outside experts with deep field knowledge sometimes inform our work with additional context and perspectives by way of exclusive commentary. Our goal is to offer readers well-rounded and diverse articles that inform, entertain, and inspire.
Our editors consistently review and update articles to ensure they're providing current, relevant, and useful information. Complete information on our editorial process is available here.
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If you're taking the plunge and heading out on that dream adventure to Aruba, we've put together the ultimate list of resorts to cater to every travel need.
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Tips and Hacks
By Kristi Roe-Owen
Before heading out for a long and tiring road trip, put your (and your family's) safety first and plan your driving days using the handy 3-3-3 rule.
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Florida
By Kristi Roe-Owen
Summer means splashing, slides, and sunshine fun in Florida's water parks. We did the hard yards to find the best family-friendly spots in the Sunshine State.
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Tips and Hacks
By Kristi Roe-Owen
Night markets are among the best ways to immerse yourself in the local culture of a foreign travel destination, but they're also fertile ground for thieves.
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Travel Gear
By Kristi Roe-Owen
Seasoned travelers always carry a few things on their journeys, for both convenience and safety. Here are a few of 2025's trendiest travel items.
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Tips and Hacks
By Kristi Roe-Owen
Spontaneous trips offer travelers flexibility and the chance to explore their destinations at leisure. However, a little preparation can save a lot of stress.
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Air Travel
By Kristi Roe-Owen
Many a flight attendant will not hesitate to share that cleanup between flights can be hasty and encourage all airplane passengers to disinfect their seats.
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Air Travel
By Kristi Roe-Owen
While we don't want to get too caught up in the "good old days," it is no exaggeration to say that the airport experience gets worse with every passing year.
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Cruises
By Kristi Roe-Owen
Cities can be notorious for overcrowding, overtourism, and traffic, which is why cruises through their waterways are sometimes the best way to get to know them.
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Air Travel
By Kristi Roe-Owen
Traveling and going through airport security with autism can be overwhelming. However, these TSA resources and tips can help make the process less stressful.
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Hotels and Resorts
By Kristi Roe-Owen
If you're traveling with neurodiverse family members and are not sure where to go, these family-friendly resorts pull out all the stops for autistic guests.
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Cruises
By Kristi Roe-Owen
A cruise holiday isn't cheap at the best of times, so the last thing you need is to lose more money on the many tourist traps waiting aboard the vessel.
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Oklahoma
By Kristi Roe-Owen
This impressively designed, pedestrian-friendly Tulsa suburb is the place to go for festivals, food, and family-oriented fun all year round.
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Oklahoma
By Kristi Roe-Owen
This park in the heart of Tulsa is a dream destination for children and families with a massive playground, riverside views, and protected wildlife.
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Hotels and Resorts
By Kristi Roe-Owen
Of the top 15 Maya Riviera resorts Islands identified, these 10 got the most votes from readers. Beautiful scenery, luxe amenities, and excellent service await.
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Cruises
By Kristi Roe-Owen
Cruises are a fun and easy way to vacation, but most first-timers aren't in the know, so we consulted a travel expert on the do's and don'ts of a cruise ship.
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Cruises
By Kristi Roe-Owen
What happens at sea, stays at sea? Not quite. There are plenty of things that might get you banned from all cruises for life. Don't make these mistakes.
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Cruises
By Kristi Roe-Owen
Before getting stressed about what to squeeze into your case ahead of that dream cruise adventure, read up on these fantastic packing tips and tricks.
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Air Travel
By Kristi Roe-Owen
If you're a nervous flyer who's worried about lightning hitting your airplane, there's a major unexpected reason why you have nothing to stress about.
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Kansas
By Kristi Roe-Owen
You can't beat a good road trip, and one underrated state is seemingly tailor-made for exploration. Like canyons and historic towns? You'll love this.
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Disney Parks
By Kristi Roe-Owen
Disney vacations are notoriously expensive, and that includes the food. Thankfully, one easy grocery tip can help you save money without going hungry.
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United States
By Kristi Roe-Owen
The world grows smaller with every passing trip, but the United States is still full of unique items that Europeans go wild for when hitting the shops.
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Air Travel
By Kristi Roe-Owen
While you can't make the journey any shorter than it is going to be, there are plenty of ways to make those ultra-long-haul flights a little less miserable.
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United States
By Kristi Roe-Owen
The legendary Route 66 has several sights for you to check out during your road trip, including one of the country's most iconic drive-in movie theaters.
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Air Travel
By Kristi Roe-Owen
Here are some easy and useful tricks and tips to make traveling with your kids easier - from a mother who travels often with her little ones.
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Air Travel
By Kristi Roe-Owen
There's something about a long flight that does disastrous things to our personal hygiene, but it doesn't need to be this way. Frequent fliers have the answers.
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Cruises
By Kristi Roe-Owen
If your cruise ship is lacking in something, don't despair. There is a good chance you can ask the good people of the ship crew to save the day.
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