FreeWill LabsFreeWill Notes
FreeWill Notes
Product updates, family travel ideas, field notes, and founder letters from FreeWill Labs.
Latest posts
Founder Notes
What Field Testing Adventure Quest in Europe Taught Me
I took Adventure Quest through Paris, Amsterdam and Iceland. Some assumptions held up. Others didn't.
August 2026 · 6 min read
Founder Notes
What Europe Changed About How I Plan Family Trips
Paris, Amsterdam and Iceland changed how I think about pacing, downtime, flexibility and what a well-planned family trip really means.
August 2026 · 6 min read
Founder Notes
Planning Christmas in Moab & Arches
Why I'm considering a winter family trip to Moab and Arches for Christmas — and why I'm intentionally leaving part of the plan flexible.
August 2026 · 3 min read
Family Travel Guides
Things to Do on a Cruise with Kids (Including Port Days)
The best things to do on a cruise with kids — how to handle sea days, make the most of port days, and turn each stop into a real family adventure.
August 2026 · 4 min read
Family Travel Guides
How to Plan a Multigenerational Family Trip Everyone Enjoys
How to plan a multigenerational family trip everyone enjoys — balancing grandparents, kids, and different energy levels without carrying it all yourself.
August 2026 · 6 min read
Family Travel Guides
Things to Do in Boston with Kids This Fall
The best things to do in Boston with kids this fall, plus a simple 2-day itinerary and how to turn the Freedom Trail into a real family adventure.
August 2026 · 5 min read
Announcements
PaddlePin is Now Available on the App Store
PaddlePin, the newest app from FreeWill Labs, is now available on the App Store — a simpler way to remember every paddle.
July 2026 · 3 min read
Development Update
Adventure Quest 1.7 Is Almost Here: Building the App I Always Wanted for Family Travel
A behind-the-scenes look at Adventure Quest 1.7 — a bigger marketplace, a better recap experience, and a clearer story about what the app really is.
July 2026 · 2 min read
Development Update
What Building Adventure Quest Has Taught Me About Family Travel
After months of building — and traveling with my own family — here's what Adventure Quest has taught me about how families really experience a place.
July 2026 · 2 min read
Development Update
Behind the Scenes: What It Takes to Build an Indie Travel App
Research, missions, screenshots, videos, bug fixes, and support — what it actually takes to build an indie travel app as a solo developer.
July 2026 · 2 min read
Family Trip OS
The Mental Load of Family Travel
Why travel planning is harder than it looks—and how Family Trip OS is here to help.
July 2026 · 2 min read
Collection Announcements
New in Adventure Quest: The South Florida Collection
Beaches, art deco, palms, and wildlife — a new premium collection for sunny days from Miami to the coast.
July 2026 · 4 min read
Family Trip OS
What Europe Taught Us About Building Family Trip OS
Lessons from 18 days across France, the Netherlands, Iceland, and beyond.
July 2026 · 3 min read
Product Updates
Adventure Quest v1.6: A More Premium Family Adventure Marketplace
What's new in the latest Adventure Quest release, and how the destination collection marketplace is evolving.
July 2026 · 4 min read
Founder Letters
FreeWill Labs Update: Building Family Apps for Real Adventures
A first look at Adventure Quest, Family Trip OS, PaddlePin, and the family-first product vision behind FreeWill Labs.
July 2026 · 4 min read
Family Travel
How to Turn a Local Park Day into a Family Adventure
You don't need a plane ticket to make a memory. A few simple prompts can turn an ordinary park afternoon into something your kids talk about later.
July 2026 · 3 min read
Founder Letters
Why I’m Building FreeWill Labs Around Real Family Adventures
A founder letter on why FreeWill Labs is building technology for real family adventures before, during, and after the moment happens.
June 2026 · 2 min read
Field Notes
PaddlePin Field Notes: Mapping the Route Is Only Half the Story
PaddlePin is being designed around the full paddle experience: route, workout, and the moments worth remembering.
June 2026 · 1 min read
Field Notes
Testing PaddlePin at Oleta: What Makes a Paddle Worth Remembering
Early field notes from testing PaddlePin on the water at Oleta River State Park.
June 2026 · 3 min read
Product Updates
Why Adventure Quest Is Moving Toward Destination-Specific Family Adventures
Adventure Quest is moving toward destination-specific collections because real places deserve adventures that feel connected to them.
June 2026 · 1 min read
Field Notes
Taking FreeWill Labs Into the Field: Europe 2026
FreeWill Labs heads into a real Europe family trip to field-test the ideas behind Family Trip OS and Adventure Quest.
May 2026 · 2 min read