Our Travel Why
Visiting the Senso-Ji temple in Tokyo, Japan.
From Diaper Bags to Boarding Passes: Why We’re Obsessed with Traveling the World
(With and Without Kids)
I’m Leah, mom of three (ages 11, 8, and 6), former pediatric nurse, and professional carry-on packer. Between my husband and I, we’ve visited 40 countries—sometimes with our kids in tow, and sometimes on trips just for the two of us.
Because here’s the thing: traveling as a couple and traveling with kids are two very different adventures. Both matter. Both have shaped how we see the world. But it’s the trips with our kids, the stroller meltdowns, the Goldfish cracker emergencies and the “are we there yet?” choruses that have given us the best (and funniest) stories.
We’ve been through all the baby stages while traveling and are now comfortably in a spot where our kids are more independent, although frequent bathroom breaks are very much still a thing. We are no longer dealing with dirty diapers mid air but there is still a lot of strategy involved in order to make our travels as smooth as possible.
Here are a few of the places that have left the biggest marks on us as a family:
Italy: Where our kids learned that lemon gelato is a food group and where we learned that traveling with kids means slowing down enough to notice things we would’ve rushed past before.
China: Walking the Great Wall was unforgettable (and extremely hot). Our kids powered through those endless steps and proved they’re stronger travelers than we sometimes give them credit for. They may have done better than the adults.
Vietnam: The kids were fascinated by the coconut boats in Hoi An, and we were reminded that sometimes the most magical moments are the ones with no itinerary at all.
Egypt: Standing at the Pyramids as a family felt surreal. It wasn’t just about checking off a wonder of the world, it was about watching our kids connect history books with the real thing.
France: Our first transatlantic trip with all three kids. Between jet lag, baguettes, and playgrounds tucked behind every café, we learned that kids don’t need “kid activities”—they just need space to run and have hot chocolate on demand.
Mexico: The beach days reminded us that simple is often best. Give a kid sand, water, and snacks, and you’ve got yourself a happy traveler.
Japan: Where vending machines and bullet trains were just as exciting as temples and sushi. This trip reminded us that kids don’t see travel the way adults do and that’s the best part.
Slovenia: A quieter stop on our journey, but one that showed us the joy of traveling off the beaten path as a family. Sometimes the places without big name landmarks create the best memories.
Spain: Between tapas, flamenco, and late-night plazas, Spain taught us that kids can adapt to new rhythms more easily than we think and where as parents we may have made one of our biggest travel mistakes to date.
We’ve traveled in just about every way possible: as a couple, as a family, with babies, with big kids, and on the rare glorious trip with no children in sight. Each version of travel has taught us something different.
When it comes to traveling with kids, we’ve made all the mistakes—lost luggage, meltdowns in customs, snack shortages and we’ve also figured out what actually works. This blog is where I’ll share all of that: the hacks, the mindset shifts, and the hilarious moments in between.
Because my goal is to help you swap stress for adventure, and make international travel with kids feel less like survival mode and more like… home.
So buckle up. Stick around for tips, stories, and the real behind-the-scenes of family travel.
