📍 Itinerary at a glance: Athens → Sparta → Crete (Agios Nikolaos, Rethymno, Heraklion) → back to Athens
✈️ From milestone moments to Freddo breaks (and one very photogenic Flat Mike), this was our Big Fat Greek Family Vacay.
🗺️ Read the full adventure → Dreaming of Greece: My Big Fat Greek Family Vacay]
Photo Gallery: Big Fat Greek Family Vacay
The Big Fat Greek Family vacay begins..nine relatives, one Flat Mike, and zero personal space.
Rest stop by the Corinth Canal: When your fear of heights meets your love of Greece and photo ops.
Some brought snacks... Nia brought a Freddo Espresso for her cousin's stand-in.
First stop: Sparta — because you can’t visit without paying respects to King Leonidas and the 300 Spartans who made history (and Hollywood).
Mavrovouni Beach in Githeo near Sparta. Sun, sea, and shade... the holy trinity of vacation goals.
Agios Nikolaos, Crete: Best boat day ever... and zero mutiny!
Boat day took us to St. Pantes Islet — I'm anchored here mentally forever.
St. Pantes Islet — floating, laughing, and pretending we live here!
St. Pantes Islet. My nephew said take a picture, then dove in headfirst.
Found... serenity floating off St. Pantes Islet.
Rethymno, Crete: Wrapped in golden sunsets. One of my favorite towns!
Rethymno’s old town is a maze you want to get lost in — bougainvillea, beautiful boutiques, and amazing bistros at every turn.
Palace of Knossos near Heraklion, Crete — home of legends, labyrinths, and one very famous bull.
Palace of Knossos: It just hits different when you get to walk through myth and history.
Back where it all began — Athens with the full crew (and Flat Mike, of course).
Final night in Athens — dinner, laughter, and the Acropolis glowing goodnight.
Bucket list moment in Athens: a night at the ancient Odeon Theatre under the stars.