Family Embarks on Year-Long World Travel with Young Children

Jessica Gee, known as "The Bucket List Mom," and her husband Garrett have been traveling the world with their three children for the past eight years, visiting over 90 countries. The family's globetrotting lifestyle began in 2014 when Garrett sold his app to Snapchat for $54 million, enabling them to quit their jobs and explore the world.

Initially planning a few months of travel in Southeast Asia, the Gee family ended up spending three years traveling full-time, immersing themselves in diverse cultures across the globe. Jessica Gee has found long-term travel easier than short-term vacations, involving her children in the planning process and making travel an experience for them.

While the Gee family's situation is unique, they share tips for making travel with young children as painless as possible, such as maintaining a positive attitude and having backup plans. The Bucket List Family's social media accounts, with nearly 3 million followers, help support their ongoing travels.

Why this matters: The Gee family's story inspires others to prioritize unique experiences and quality family time over material possessions. Their journey challenges traditional notions of work-life balance and education, showcasing the potential for personal growth and global understanding through immersive travel.

Another family is considering a similar year-long world travel with their two toddlers, aged 1 and 3.5 years old. They are weighing the option of selling their house, cars, and possessions to reduce responsibilities at home and fund the trip with their savings. The family plans to visit Southeast Asia, Australia, and the Middle East before returning home after 12-18 months to buy a new house.

However, concerns have been raised about the feasibility and practicality of such a trip with young children, including logistical challenges, lack of routine, exposure to potential health risks, and the difficulty of re-establishing a stable home and school environment upon their return. Some suggest that the family should consider renting out their house instead of selling it, providing them with an income source and a place to return to while avoiding the additional costs of buying a new home.

As the family weighs their decision, they are carefully considering the potential drawbacks and disruptions of such a long-term trip with toddlers. Jessica Gee, reflecting on her own family's experiences, emphasizes the importance of flexibility and a positive mindset when traveling with young children: "It's not always easy, but the rewards of seeing the world through your children's eyes and creating lifelong memories together are priceless."

Key Takeaways

• Family of 5 has traveled to 90+ countries in 8 years after $54M app sale.
• Traveling full-time with young children requires flexibility and positive mindset.
• Another family considers selling home to fund 12-18 month world trip with toddlers.
• Concerns raised about logistical challenges, health risks, and re-establishing home/school.
• Renting home instead of selling may provide income and stability upon return.