Paint a picture of your family: how many kids do you have and how old?
My husband and I live in Brooklyn, where we’re raising our two kids: Kai, who is five and a half, and Romy, who just turned 11 months. We made a vow to raise happy, curious travelers and not sacrifice our love of travel after having kids. We don’t change our desired destinations, we just approach our itineraries a little differently, and we still prioritize the must-see restaurant or gallery but with more built-in playtime at the beach or hotel pool. Our travels have spanned the Pacific and California coasts, New England, and Upstate. We’ve escaped East Coast winters for Costa Rica, Hawaii, and Jamaica and spent summer breaks exploring Portugal, Spain, the Cotswolds, and the Greek islands.
At what age did you start taking them on more challenging trips?
We started right out of the gate! Despite all of the extra gear, newborns are truly the easiest travelers. We took our son on a road trip up the California coast through Big Sur, Cambria, and Tomales Bay, up to Sea Ranch, when he was just four months old—viewpoint stopoffs were frequent, as were plenty of diaper changes. We also flew 13+ hours to Kauai with him at six months (get the airplane cot!). The first few days are always bumpy with jet lag, but it passes, and the memories are worth it.
What are a couple of the most successful trips you’ve taken as a family and why?
Tofino has never failed to be a magical place for our whole family, including my in-laws. We joke that it is our Disneyland—we keep going back year after year. The kids get to run wild and free on miles of endless beach, it means we get out of New York’s stress to breathe in the ocean air, plus the sunsets are some of the best in the world, it’s fun for everyone. Surfing, seafood, beach bonfires, rainforest hikes… even getting there is an adventure. You can break up the long, winding drive through Vancouver Island with stops to see the goats in Coombs or marvel at the towering 800-year-old trees in Cathedral Grove. If you can pack light, take a scenic zip plane over the ocean from Vancouver. We usually stay at a beloved Airbnb on Chesterman Beach, but our son has also loved the ocean trails and hot tubs at Pacific Sands.
Last fall, while pregnant with my daughter, we took our son to Sifnos and Milos. When your kids learn to swim, summer travel is infinitely less stressful. To travel from Sifnos to Milos, we slept on a sailboat for the night—he loved jumping off the gangplank, swimming to the “pirate” caves on the rocky beaches, and sleeping in our tiny cabin. We may have gotten the worst sleep of our lives, but he loved every minute. Travel advice can be funny—I had heard Milos isn’t kid-friendly, but he loved waking up early to traverse the moon-like rocks of Sarakiniko just after sunrise and staying in a seaside fisherman’s house in Fyropotamos.
Our first summer destination with two was a road trip of the Costa Brava that blew us away. We started our trip in Cadaqués (kids will LOVE the Dali Museum!) and then headed down to the coast of Begur. We were amazed by how many hidden inlets we could explore. After waking up and having breakfast on the patio, we would walk down one of the trails to a “secret” cove with shade for the morning (the baby carrier pulled extra duty on this trip!), and then follow that up with fresh seafood at one of the sun-drenched waterside chiringuitos (we loved Margarita) for lunch. The views were breathtaking, and it all felt so unspoiled—we can’t wait to go back.
Most disastrous one/the trip you’ll never repeat?
We loved our first road trip through Portugal so much that we were excited for our stopover in Lisbon on our way home from my brother’s wedding in Évora this summer. Turns out, many European hotels have strict room occupancy limits, even when your fourth guest is a five-month-old baby smaller than our carry-on. We learned this the hard way when they turned us away at check-in, and we had to haul two kids and three weeks’ worth of luggage up and down Lisbon’s hilly streets at night, looking for a hotel that would take us. Needless to say, we’ll be abiding by the fine print on guests per room next summer.
Do you do anything special to prepare your kids before a trip or certain destination?
We count down! We get our son excited in the run-up to every trip. We’ll spend the weeks ahead talking about some of the things we might see or do, or what makes each city or country unique. Other prep? Make it easier on yourself. Book the plane cot if they have one for long-haul flights. Get a room with a kitchenette. Call ahead to have the hotel crib set up and pre-book the car rental with a car seat. Buy diapers, wipes, and more snacks once you land—there’s no need to lug any of that stuff yourself!
What’s your packing strategy for the kids and do you have any good organizing hacks? What suitcase(s) do you use?
My kids aren’t old enough to wheel their own suitcases, but I’m keeping an eye on this for when my son is a little older. In the meantime, I find the easiest kids’ bag for short and long trips has been this unassuming Patagonia duffel. It’s endlessly stuffable, can be thrown on your back or used as a carry-on in a pinch, and is seemingly indestructible. It’s been squished under small European rental car seats, splashed by waves while boarding ferries, and still looks brand new.
I will never go as far as to pack individually pre-planned outfits for my kids, but I do separate their bottoms, tops, and swim/hats into separate packing cubes. I like these smaller Baggu top-zip pouches for when they’re babies and these larger ones when they get a bit bigger—both mean less digging and less mess once you arrive. It’s not novel, but removing half of the stress is just knowing where things are once you get there. Separation helps. We have pouches for diapers, chargers, Legos, and markers, and this Oso & Me one for toiletries—we keep it pre-packed with kids’ sunscreen and Tylenol.
For us adults, we always bring at least one rolling carry-on, which can hold any breakable souvenirs (RIP the Sifnos pottery I put in a beach bag). We place our kids’ carry-on on top—always an LL Bean tote packed to the brim, I prefer the one that zips for trips so nothing is lost when it topples over—as we whiz through the airport.
I don’t bring much makeup, but I recently replaced my toiletry bags with this Saie leather vanity case for makeup (beautiful and functional) and these Cadence parcel bags for everything else (I LOVE the magnetic closure). I also have my eye on this Floyd suitcase as a Christmas present. I’m obsessed with the longboard wheels, and I’ve heard great things about how it maneuvers through an airport.
Do you have a favorite travel uniform?
An easy pant! I live in Le Set when I travel. I’ll wear the Lauren pocket pant—cozy but not sloppy in the fall/winter and the Kyoto carpenter pant in the spring/summer with the Margo white T-shirt. I always wear a classic thin crew-neck merino or cashmere sweater that gets extra mileage later in the trip and layers well. For items you can wear en route and almost anywhere, invest in an MVP trench (I love this one from Toteme) that’s multi-season and works over anything.
If we’re going somewhere hot, I’ll throw a cotton pareo in my bag (Chan Luu has the best accessories) that can double as a wrap in too much AC. And I always toss in a pair of flip-flops for myself and everyone’s swimsuit if traveling somewhere warm. There’s nothing worse than sweating through a transfer at the airport or not being able to go to the pool or beach right away because your swimsuit is lost in the black hole of your bag. Otherwise, I always pack this J.Crew cashmere wrap for other destinations because someone will get cold on the plane (usually me).
What are your essentials in your carry-on when traveling with kids?
Everyone’s iPads (pre-downloaded for when the wifi inevitably goes down), headphones and water bottles (nothing compares to this Yeti for kids). Oh, and a spare set of clothes in case our luggage gets lost (tracked by handy AirTags). Remember a light muslin blanket for the baby (shades the stroller for naps and can be a park or beach blanket in a pinch!). For toys, we love these magnetic blocks, and we always bring these Crayola markers because you can never lose a cap under an airplane seat. If you have a baby, busy books can buy you some time, but as they get older, I always make sure my son has a little sketchbook to color in and cards—teach your kids hangman and Go Fish early and you will reap the benefits.
How do you keep them engaged/avoid meltdowns on a flight?
My kids are naturally pretty easygoing, but sometimes you have to give in to the second or third movie with in-air entertainment. It’s not going to hurt them.
Any on-the-go snacking strategy?
It’s not revolutionary, but this Gobe snack spinner remains the best travel invention. Fill it with a mix of fun and healthy snacks, and even the healthy choices will get eaten eventually. I pack easy go-tos for the inevitable “I’m hungry” that comes right after the plane meal arrives. The apple that was thrown in at the last minute always gets eaten. We keep Ziplocs in our carry-on tote, which are great for a half-finished airport sandwich or for stashing a wet onesie after an inevitable spill. When traveling with a baby, something is bound to get wet, dirty, and stained—trying to remain unflappable gets you 95% of the way there when traveling with kids.
How do you get your kids to sleep on the plane?
Tire them out! I’m not against a race to the gate or a good crawl session in the airport or kids area in the lounge. I also love a night flight so everyone gets a rest before we arrive.
What “rules” go out the window when you’re on vacation?
We stick to our no-whining rule, but we never say no to ice cream and are a little looser with bedtimes.
How do you deal with picky eating when you travel? Or eating out at “grown-up” or fancy restaurants with kids in tow?
When our son was younger, we used to go out to dinner, and he’d sleep happily with a travel sound machine in a car seat next to us or under the table (those were the days!). Now that we have two, we eat earlier. Or we’ll make lunch at a destination restaurant so we can have an easy kids’ dinner at the hotel. If they’re getting fussy, one of us will take a lap around the grounds. We’re not against ordering the standard kids’ fare. We encourage them to try different foods, but forcing kids to eat doesn’t end well.
What’s your approach to bringing kids to museums and other cultural institutions?
While we may have hit every cultural must-see on trips pre-kids, we now try to pace out the days so there’s a happy mix. An art museum we want to see one morning, like Hauser & Wirth in Menorca, might mean we spend more time relaxing at the hotel pool in the afternoon. Encouraging curiosity while staying flexible has been key to keeping everyone happy while travelling.
Do you have any travel rituals with your kids that have become tradition?
We pack lots of film and let our son take turns snapping away, too. Nothing comes close to developing film a few months after a trip and reliving those golden memories.
Any favorite travel gear you can’t imagine traveling without?
- Swimsuit – I love a classic silhouette, and one-pieces are necessary when riding waves with your kids. This Matteau square maillot is the GOAT of all swimsuits (even post-partum), and I love the low back of this one from Anemos.
- Sunscreen – This DUNE sunscreen stick is easy to use and goes on sheer.
- Face wash – Everything Sofie Pavitt does will work wonders for your skin. Love her minis!
- Makeup – Do more with less when traveling with kids! I love this multi-use stick from Westman Atelier for a flush of color on lips and cheeks. 1999 was also designed around this philosophy, and all of their products are multi-functional.
- Pareos – Matteau, Soleil Soleil and Chan Luu. Throw them on with the above swimsuits, and you’ve got an outfit.
- Earrings – Earrings are the immediate dress-up. I love Lie Studios and BOMI. They will make even your airplane outfit appropriate for dinner.
What are your favorite family-friendly hotels you’ve stayed at and why?
We were so impressed by Menorca Experimental this summer. It’s not necessarily family-focused, but our son immediately made friends at the relaxed pool and spent hours running free around the beautiful grounds. They offered babysitting, rooms with private outdoor patios, and staff who couldn’t have been kinder to our kids. They even gifted our baby the sweetest pair of hotel slippers!
Kids club—yes or no? Any favorites?
We aren’t a kids club family, but while traveling with both kids alone for the first time this summer, I did let my son explore the newly opened kids club at Sublime Comporta’s sand wing and was very impressed. Arts and crafts, splash session water games in the kids’ private pool, and even mini chef lessons. The bambini menu at their restaurant Davvero was also delicious. We’ve done Comporta twice with little ones, and it is always the perfect family-friendly, but still design-forward, vacation.
Favorite cities with kids and why?
We have loved exploring the SoCal coast with kids. El Capitan cabins in Santa Barbara, safari tents in the woods at Ventana in Big Sur, Airstreams in Ojai, cottages in Crystal Cove, A-frames in Lake Arrowhead—pick your adventure! There are so many beautiful spots to hike and soak up the outdoors, and it’s all just a few hours’ drive outside of LA. We’ve had some of our best family trips on the coast.
Parents whose travel style you admire or best sources of inspiration for family travel?
Joyce Lee has the best travel style (and packing tips!). Mohawk General Store’s Bo Carney just moved to Paris from LA, and I love witnessing how she’s adapting her style across the pond. And Reva Luft from Troupe always! Everything she packs extends her real life. She originated the advice to try your outfits on before you pack them, and you’ll have a 99% success rate.
How do you like to preserve a big family trip after the fact?
We’ve started creating Blurb photo books of our bigger trips that we can flip through with the kids at bedtime. We also put up a map in my son’s room so he can see where he’s been and where he wants to go next. Next up, a spinning globe!
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