- My husband and I have loved a travel adventure even before we had kids.
- When they were born, it didn’t slow us down, and we kept exploring new places while baby-wearing them.
- We now allow our kids to plan our next vacation, and it’s led to great adventures.
My husband and I are avid adventurers who love to hike, camp, and explore the world through off-the-beaten-path trips. Before we had kids, we backpacked extensively in the US and India (where we’re originally from) and even spent our honeymoon on an 18-day off-grid RV road trip through New Zealand while being completely off-grid with no planned agenda.
When our kids were born, our travels didn’t slow down. In fact, some of my most vivid memories are of backcountry camping in Glacier National Park, and hiking 11 miles to Sperry Chalet with my son in a BabyBjörn carrier and my daughter in a Kelty kids’ hiking carrier.
Fast forward about a decade, and my teens started having their own opinions on where they wanted to go — often inspired by books they read or movies they watched. We introduced a fun tradition to let them have a say: writing down destinations on chits and drawing a winner from a fishbowl. Each child submits four options they want to explore, and we draw two contenders, assess them for feasibility and cost, and then narrow them down to one. If one child’s pick is chosen, the other takes the lead in planning the itinerary. If neither option works, we redraw until we find the perfect fit.
This process has led to some incredible — and sometimes unexpected — escapades for us. Here are a few of the most memorable ones.
Free diving in the Great Barrier Reef
Both of my kids are strong swimmers and have always loved the ocean. Before the pandemic, they wanted to spend a summer exploring a new country while learning to surf, so they chose Australia.
While we traveled to cities like Sydney and Melbourne, the most unforgettable experience was our trip to the Great Barrier Reef. Snorkeling through the vibrant underwater world, we spotted reef sharks, clownfish, and groupers. The true highlight, though, was free diving along a shallow section. Both kids ditched their snorkeling gear and swam among schools of fish, completely immersed in the serenity of the deep blue.
To this day, they still talk about that moment and the sense of wonder it gave them.
Staying in a bedouin camp in Wadi Rum, Jordan
Inspired by “The Martian” and “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,” one year, my 15-year-old daughter picked Jordan, which turned out to be one of the best trips. The sight of the soft pink hues of Petra’s Treasury building and the surreal experience of floating in the Dead Sea were unforgettable but nothing compared to our time in a Bedouin camp in the heart of Wadi Rum.
It felt like we had stepped into a different world, one where time slowed and the quiet of the desert took over. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the endless red dunes burst into shades of gold and crimson, leaving us in awe of its sheer beauty. And at night, the sky opened, revealing a million stars that seemed so close you could almost touch them.
Our Bedouin host shared the ancient art of navigation through the stars, teaching us how they use the planets as their compass. My kids were mesmerized by the stories and the feeling of being so small yet deeply connected to something that ancient.
Climbing an active volcano in Chile
Having two athletes in the family ensures that there’s always one heart-pumping activity during our travels. While my 15-year-old son picked Chile, my 19-year-old daughter planned a hike to the summit of Villarica, South America’s most active volcano. Standing at 9,340 feet, it offers breathtaking views of the Andes, but the hike is no walk in the park. The steep, icy slopes need crampons, an ice axe and a guide is mandatory for navigating the glacier crossings and loose volcanic scree.
Courtesy of the author
You only get about 10 minutes to take it all in, and if the volcano has been active recently, you might even need a gas mask to endure the sulfur fumes. But if conditions are right, you’re treated to a rare, jaw-dropping view of the steaming, lava-filled crater.
As we continue to draw our next adventure from the fishbowl, I cherish the thought that I’m not just instilling a sense of adventure in my teens but also teaching them to embrace the unknown and the unexpected — whether in life or travel.
