Liz Kohler

My husband, Mike and I come from families that have always traveled extensively. I have grandparents who traveled to over 120 countries. My parents rarely spend more than 10 consecutive days at home and at any time might be found in Bhutan, Botswana, or Barbados. They are the only people I know who have actually been to both Timbuktu and Tazmania! Mike's mother grew up in Switzerland and as a travel agent has spent her life exploring the world. Our kids actually have four grandparents who have all been to Antarctica.

The first trip I took to Europe as an adult with kids was when my oldest was three and my daughter was a year old. I have done it many times since then and I can tell you how to make traveling with children easier.

I have been to 45 of the United States, and my children have been to about half. They have also been to Switzerland, England, France, Kenya, Tanzania, Peru, Costa Rica, Italy, Mexico, Greece, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and Quebec. I have been to an additional ten or so. I know what it is like to be a traveling kid and a parent traveling with kids. I started early with my first international trip at the age of 3 months old.

I wish I had known how to make travel easier and more fun when I first started traveling with children. There are lots of books on places to visit, but not many on how to make travel with kids easy. Despite all the hassles, there is still nothing I would rather be doing than traveling with my kids.

My husband and I launched our company, The Family Odyssey in December of 2012 and we take families on group tours all over the world. We make it easy on the parents because they don't have to organize anything or worry that the kids won't have a good time. We make it fun for the kids since they are with other kids and seeing fun, kid-oriented things all over the world. Check us out at www.TheFamilyOdyssey.com!