How many of us have dreamt of abandoning our responsibilities and exploring the world in the style of *Eat Pray Love*? For many, practical concerns quickly intervene: children need caring, pets require attention, and bills demand payment. However, for certain adventurous families, the desire to travel isn’t just a fleeting thought—it’s a way of life, with some spending years exploring both land and sea. Get ready to be motivated.
The Gifford Family
Living the Sweet Life on Deck
Behan Gifford was sailing through the St. Vincent and the Grenadines, navigating a route across 32 islands, when we connected. “Can I get back to you?” she inquired. “We may be off the grid for about a week.”
Since 2008, Behan, her husband Jamie, and their three children have been adventuring worldwide. “Our initial plan was to be away for two to five years after departing from Seattle,” Gifford recalls. With children aged four, six, and nine at the time, she expresses disbelief that they’ve now entered their tenth year of this lifestyle with no definitive end in sight.
Although successful in their professional lives on land, Gifford and her husband longed for a lifestyle that embraced minimalism and harmony with nature. “We explored various options but kept returning to the idea of living a nomadic life at sea,” she says. “A sailboat transforms into the ultimate vehicle for global exploration.”
Guided by the winds, the Giffords often shift hemispheres to evade hurricanes, embracing spontaneity. “We have to adapt constantly,” Gifford shares. “We can select the destination or the dates, but not both!”
This lifestyle has instilled in them a sense of flexibility as travelers and as parents. For instance, their children’s education has taken an unexpected turn. “Homeschooling wasn’t part of my initial plan, but it became essential,” Gifford shares. Their maritime life serves as a unique classroom experience.
“Our children form opinions based on real-world experiences instead of media narratives,” explains Gifford. “They’ve listened to islanders in Papua New Guinea narrate their battles against foreign exploitation for resources. They’ve dived in enough coral reefs to distinguish between thriving and damaged ecosystems due to overfishing or climate change. Such firsthand knowledge enriches their understanding of options in life and reinforces their sense of agency, which is invaluable.”
To explore the Giffords’ adventures, visit: sailingtotem.com
The Kosman Family
Creating Memories from Hong Kong to Costa Rica
Hailing from Canada, Charles and Micki Kosman have rarely spent time at home since 2003, as they have traveled to over 40 nations.
While they have adapted their travel style—moving from budget hostels and rickety buses to more standard lodging and transport methods—the arrival of children sharpened their commitment to traveling. “We always knew that having kids would complicate our adventures, but we had encountered plenty of traveling families, which assured us that we could continue,” remarks Micki.
Their son was only three weeks old when they embarked on an 800-mile journey. By age two, he had already explored most of North America, Cuba, Hong Kong, and the Philippines. “Many believe traveling with children is exceedingly tough,” she states. “I find that to be an untruth.”
Now with their son in his early teens and a daughter a few years younger, the family recently spent ten days snorkeling in the Galapagos alongside turtles, sharks, and sea lions.
“Our son fondly reminisces about boogie boarding in Costa Rica,” shares Micki.
Check out more of the Kosmans’ travel experiences at thebarefootnomad.com
The Jones Family
Creating a Community of Wanderers
Libryia Jones has always yearned to travel, but faced numerous hurdles. After an internship opportunity in China was curtailed because her school prohibited her from bringing her daughter, she encountered similar resistance with a program designed for long-term travel that also excluded children.
“I grew weary of being thwarted in pursuing my dreams,” she reflects. In response, Jones launched Wandering Moms with a friend—a community of over 10,000 traveling women, predominantly single mothers. “These moms give their children the world!” Jones exclaims.
Additionally, she created a program called “My Wander Year,” which offers participants the chance to relocate to four different locations for three months at a time, with recent stops in the Czech Republic, Thailand, South Africa, and Colombia.
According to Jones, the belief that a North American lifestyle is essential for a child’s stability is misguided. “Their true stability stems from their parents,” she asserts. “If they have us, they have their foundation. Whether it revolves around a traditional routine or shifting to a new country every quarter, it’s about the bond.”
Traveling with a teenage child presents unique obstacles, such as providing the companionship and independence teens desire. “I made it a point for her to join soccer teams in each location,” Jones shares. “This allowed her to bond with peers her age.” Jones also highlights the increased independence many countries afford, noting that her daughter comfortably rode public transport and arranged Ubers in places like Prague and Thailand.
Finding suitable educational options for older children can be a challenge. Jones suggests exploring diverse educational strategies, including homeschooling, unschooling, and virtual schooling.
For her, the advantages of this lifestyle greatly surpass any hurdles. “We transform lessons that children typically learn from textbooks into real-world experiences,” says Jones. Among her daughter’s standout memories are visiting Anne Frank’s secret annex and standing in the very spot where Nelson Mandela first addressed the public post-incarceration.
“At any stage in life, you can select the lifestyle you desire,” Jones shares. “Your children should not be an obstacle; instead, they can be the impetus for adventure. Would you like to instill in them the belief that they can achieve anything in life? There’s no better way to demonstrate this than by living it yourself.”
To learn more about Jones and her passion for travel, visit wanderistlife.com
