Jackie, good comments on taking kids to Europe. Like you, I want to travel with my kids. I have been to Europe every year since 2004 and love the culture, experience, and the things I have learned. I want the same for my kids. My wife and I just had a our first child 2 weeks ago and I can't wait to take him to another country. I want it to be a time and age where he can take things in and enjoy it. However, I would really be interested in your experiences as a kid traveling with your dad. Did you like it? What did it look like through your eyes? How did your travels shape you as a young person? How does it compare to your experience now that you are on your own? And what effect has traveling all your life had on your view of the world? I would be interested in your responses and comparing your experiences now to those growing up as I look forward to taking my kids places as well.

Posted by: Jeremy B - Jul 03, 2008 10:28 PM

Hey, Jackie, great blog so far! Thanks for updating so frequently, it gives your blog a contemporary, "real-time" feel. As far as kids are concerned, just remember one thing: Don't let society push you into getting married and starting a family. Do those things when YOU feel the time is right, and not what your parents or girl friends think is the right time. My parents have been married for 46 years, but I'm 33 and single and wouldn't change that at all right now, despite my parents' desire for grandkids, LOL. Have fun and stay safe over there, and thanks for your insights!

Posted by: Joseph - Jul 03, 2008 11:01 PM

Jackie, it has been a pleasure to read your blog. I too have traveled since a young age. I was very fortunate to go border to border and coast to coast in the U.S. with my parents in campers. Since I have been married we have taken our children since babies on various trips ststeside. Your thoughts as an older teen are interesting to me. We took the family to Paris when the kids were 15, 13, and 9. The youngest, now 17,has been back to Paris and Southern Germany recently. I hope I have instilled the wonder and joy of traveling in their minds. Time will tell. It seems that this website and others are preaching to the quior. Out of my family (4 sisters and myself) I am the only one that travels with any regularity. Good luck and stay safe.

Posted by: John - Jul 04, 2008 7:36 AM

Wonderful blog and very insightful. My parents started our travels the summer before I entered the third grade. I still have memories of that first trip! It started a life long pursuit. My brother does not like to travel so ther must be a travel gene! We started my daughter traveling with a move across country just before she entered 3rd grade. We can't stop her once she got started! We just reserved our place on a RS 2009 tour. Happy and safe travels! Will you be in France July 14th for Bastille Day?

Posted by: Audre in Keizer, OR - Jul 04, 2008 9:10 AM

My parents traveled with us across the USA from an early age. One of my first memories is landing in Dallas, TX at age 3. I didn't make it to Europe til I was 15, but I actually think I wouldn't have appreciated it before then. Certain things are better suited for older children, and I think the amount of energy it takes to go to Europe, handle the jet lag and long flight times, and appreciate the history, art, and beauty of Europe, make it one of those things best suited for post-high school graduation trips.

Posted by: Liz - Jul 05, 2008 11:31 AM

Considering you have just graduated from high school, I think this is more a matter of what YOUR age will be when you bring your future kids to Europe! Ha! There are ways of making the trip exciting for kids who are younger. My cousin and her husband lived in Europe for 6 years (military folk). My cousin's attitude was that she was not going to miss out on fantastic museums, etc. just because her kids were 3 and 6. Once solution - her kids loved to shop, so before entering a new room in the museum, they were asked to look for a painting, etc. that they or a loved one might like (kept them connected with a grandparent, or an aunt or uncle, that lived thousands of miles away). It gave them a "task" - and often they would study the art in that room more carefully than most adult tourists! They were the only grandschoolers I knew that had a Picasso or Van Gogh poster in their rooms. In other words, if a husband and wife can afford it and they can go... they shouldn't let kids stop them from going where they want to go or doing what they want to do. Kids will gladly go "along for the ride" if you are creative in making it fun for them! This is of course for use in the future, or for those who already have kids... thanks, Jackie, for reminding me what it felt to be 18 again... and what it might have been like if I had been brave enough to do a trip like this!

Posted by: E. - Jul 06, 2008 12:34 AM

Kari and I are enjoying reading your blog. Paris is my favorite city of the places I've been in Europe (though the list isn't long). Kari and I did a trip to Italy before Corinne was born (my other trips were to U.K. and France). I don't know that we'd have been able to swing it otherwise. Several things factor into the Europe equation after you have kids - namely time and money. I don't think we'll have lots of either until our daughter is much older. Peace, Mike and Kari (your cousin-in-law and cousin) P.S. - Saw your mom tonight at the swim trials in Omaha.

Posted by: Mike and Kari - Jul 06, 2008 8:14 PM

I enjoy reading your blog each day. Don't feel you have to "grow" and like all the art. Some of it is way overrated. Best wishes!

Posted by: Jerry - Jul 07, 2008 6:36 AM

I'm enjoying your blog, it's been exciting to see what you are discovering eveyday. I'm actually in Guanajuato MX right now, a small, beautiful colonial city wih my husband and 6 yr old daughter. My daughter has traveled to Europe and other countries since 10 months old and I've felt she's grown up with some price-less expeiences she's able to share with others. She's seen the poverty of 3rd world countries but the richness and warmth of the children. She's enjoyed the museums and cathedrals and now loves to sing her own gregorian and byzantine chants. She's open to all people no matter the culture and langauge and acclamated better to the language and customs of the countries than even I have. A whilrwind backpack tour would not be something that I would bring my daughter to but that would not keep me from traveling with her frequently especially from a young age. Kids just need more time at one place in order to appreciate culture and tradition ..i.e. more slow travel. Anyway, I wish you the best, Jackie, on your travels, can't wait to read some more.

Posted by: Bella - Jul 07, 2008 10:46 AM

It was refreshing to see your comment about going to Mass on Sunday. It shows an uncommon maturity & confidence. Your parents have done a great job of building your character base. LT Columbus, OH

Posted by: LT - Jul 11, 2008 4:55 AM

Great to read your perspectives on Europe! I just spent 4 months there, armed with your dad's guides. My humble opinion: the earlier kids get to travel, the earlier they will learn to be critical thinkers (like yourself, who, clearly, can see that even issues that appear to be black and white in Seattle have shades of grey in Amsterdam, or in Nevada even). But I totally get what you mean about dragging kids around... I don't have kids and sometimes feel sorry for parents I see sometimes who are frustrated that their toddler isn't "cooperating"! But I figure they have many moments of joy and wouldn't have it any other way. Enjoy the rest of your trip!!

Posted by: Mona - Jul 11, 2008 8:04 AM

Traveling with kids, It think I heard Rick steves say once, I'd rather change diapers in Europe that Seattle. And I would agree, but my 20 month old was a lot work during our last trip to Scotland and England, she had good days and bad days, mom and I never at breakfast together at the B&B's and we only ate take out, We almost caused an international incident when i left the stroller unattended at the London eye, and had 3 London Cops get on my case about it, guess it never dawned on me some one would think there was a bomb hidden in it. My daughter is 3 and a half now and she still remebers the castles in Scotland, following down and busting her lip in from of shakesspears home, and riding a kids toy train on the isle of mull. We are planning to take another trip back to the UK, next year, my son will be 20 months, and my daughter 4 and a half. We planned our trip in Scotland based on Rick's Scotland video episode, Oban, Glen Coe, Ben Nevis, Fort Augustus, Inverness, and took an over night train from inverness to london.

Posted by: Dan B - Jul 11, 2008 10:25 AM

Hi!!! It is so fun to relive some of the feeling of Europe through this blog! My husband and I started planning our trip (we went last summer) almost from when we met 20 years ago. We also thought it would be better to wait till our kids were older, for the same reasons (you are so wise!). Our kids (Kristen, 12; and Austin now 15) loved it, appreciated it, helped so many times with pulling their own bags, for example, and really learned how much planning it takes to travel. We also did not have to worry about losing them, or them wandering off, at these ages. They have traveled all over the U.S. at all ages, but waiting until this age for Europe was perfect!

Posted by: Nancy Paine - Jul 11, 2008 1:09 PM

Hi, Jackie. Hard to believe five years have zoomed by since I and my nephew Joseph met you all on a Village Italy tour. Your blogs are excellently-written and very insightful! Through your eyes, I am happily reliving my own first experiences in Europe as a traveler and then an "au pair" way back in (ulp!) 1970. There's nothing like travel, the world's best education, is there? Have fun, travel well, keep on blogging, and take care of yourself. Gute Reise! Ann in Atlanta

Posted by: Ann Lombardi - Jul 12, 2008 5:57 PM

Love the blog! We just came back from taking our two small kids (three and five) through Italy, with the help of your dad's books! It's the second European trip we've done with them; we spent a month in Paris shortly after our second son was born. (I was so sleep-deprived, I packed 144 diapers and hardly anything else.) We cut back on other stuff because we want our kids to see the world, and so far, it's worth it. They love it, and we love it. We travel at their speed (a LOT of gelato breaks) and we spend a lot of time in piazzas and parks. And we all kept travel "journals" filled with postcards, maps, gelato spoons and soccer stickers. As long as we can afford it, I don't see any reason to wait till they're older; I'll be older then, too, and there are a lot of countries I want to see and experience. Have fun on your trip -- I can't wait to read more.

Posted by: Shelley - Jul 15, 2008 9:18 PM

looking at these Impressionist paintings is like eating sweet candies that have all the nutrients of vegetables. What a great line of prose. Well done Jackie!

Posted by: Murray - Jul 18, 2008 6:04 AM

I'm a year too late but...I took my 2 kids to Europe, backpacking solo as a single parent when I was 28 and they were 9-months old and 2.5 years old. It was very hard, and my eldest doesn't remember that particular trip very much just bits and pieces, but it was still an incredible experience to share as a family at the time. 1/2 my backpack was diapers for 2, and formula and I discovered how much of southern Europe is NOT stroller friendly (Venice...ouch)! Then I took them camper-vanning in New Zealand at 2 & 4 yrs old. We drove across Canada coast to coast and back again (camping) when they were 3 & 5. Now I have to stick close to home because the cost of flying is just too high, but I would take them almost anywhere in a heartbeat. My son (8) has his heart set on Egypt! (as a single mother, I'm not too interested in the middle east atm). I'm going into teaching and I hope work abroad with the kids when they are in about grade 5-8. so they can experience real immersion into another language and culture. It can be done, even on the tightest of budgets if you are determined and flexibly organised. Good luck with your future travels, travel writing would be my dream job =)

Posted by: Jenn - Jul 06, 2009 9:13 PM