- Karen Edwards has traveled to 93 countries, 57 of them with her young children.
- Edwards said her family enjoyed exploring underrated places more than popular ones.
- Her favorites are Tanzania for her safari tours and Abu Dhabi for its vibrant festival scene.
This told essay is based on a conversation with. Karen Edwardswho blog About her family's trip around the world. The following has been edited for length and clarity.
Since 2000, I have visited 93 countries, 57 of them with my four children under the age of 10.
I have a nursing background and have been blogging about my travels with my husband and kids since 2014. I cover a lot of off-the-beaten-path places, write itineraries of places I've been, and explain how they work. For families with children.
Many popular family-friendly destinations tend to be crowded. They are usually the ones that get a lot of media exposure or appear in viral videos on social media. For Americans, it might be places like Disneyland in California or Disney World in Florida, and for Europeans, it might be a resort in Spain.
My family and I have visited these places and always come back disappointed. They often lack educational experience and feel like a pointless event.
I think visiting underrated spots can make your trip feel more special, help you learn more about the culture of the country you're visiting, and also keep you away from tourist traps.
I went on a safari tour in Tanzania.
Our family visited Tanzania in 2019 in collaboration with a tourism brand. We stayed there for 12 days.
Our flight ticket to that country was a bit expensive. We paid about $9,000 for our family of four at the time, including a stop in Zanzibar at the end of our multi-day trip. But overall, the whole trip didn't cost that much.
We had a truly unique experience in Tanzania. We went to Mt Wa Mbu village below the banana plantation and took a safari tour of Lake Manyara National Park.
Interestingly, Tanzania is one of the few places in the world where lions are known to climb trees. I remember seeing them sitting in a tall tree. Although it was very unusual, the children were very happy to be so close to the animals.
During our trip, we felt like we were really experiencing life in Tanzania. Our campsite was located on the banks of a river deep in nature. I was glad I didn't feel like I was surrounded by tourists.
My kids fell in love with Abu Dhabi's culture
Many people mistakenly think that Dubai is a country, but it is actually a city in the United Arab Emirates, whose capital is Abu Dhabi.
My family and I moved to Abu Dhabi in 2021 and lived there for 18 months. The city has many similarities to the glitz and glamor of Dubai, but with a more down-to-earth experience.
Abu Dhabi has amazing festivals that showcase culture in many forms, including local food and crafts. It's usually attended and hosted primarily by locals, which makes it feel authentic.
The city is located at the foot of Jebel Hafeet, one of the highest mountains in the region. On the way up, you can find many ancient relics, including beehive huts that have been there for thousands of years. At the top you can see a wonderful sunset.
The city is also home to the Al Ain Oasis, which uses an ancient irrigation system. There are beautiful paved paths that look like cobblestone streets.
My children love Abu Dhabi and always ask me to go back. They really liked all the cultural celebrations.
We love Sri Lanka so much that we are building a villa there.
In 2022, my family and I moved from Abu Dhabi to Sri Lanka. We thought we would be able to spend more time with our family here and that it would be an affordable place to live.
We are building a family vacation home here and expect it to be completed by August. There are lots of nice cafes, bars and restaurants near the area where we are building.
Overall, Sri Lanka is a great country with so many diverse experiences. There are tea plantations, mountains, and the ocean. When it comes to wildlife, the national park is full of elephants and leopards.
One time we went on a safari boat tour to an isolated national park and watched elephants swim across a lake to a small island. It was amazing.
Sri Lanka's beaches are pristine. It offers beautiful views of swaying palm trees, crystal clear water, and perfect waves. Our favorite is Kabalana Beach.
Since we are always at the beach, the kids learned how to surf. I think it's the most fun thing to do with your family on the weekends.
Andorra's ski resorts and spas are amazing
We visited Andorra in 2018 for about 6 days. It is a small country sandwiched between Spain and the Pyrenees Mountains. He is a two-hour drive from Barcelona and three hours from Toulouse, France.
The city has a unique blend of cultures, but I think the Catalan influence is the strongest. During our trip, my family and I visited many old churches.
We also went to some amazing spas and resorts in Andorra. The hotels and ski system there are really family friendly.
During our visit to Grandvalira Ski Resort, my daughter learned to ski and my husband took up snowboarding. The resort has a kindergarten at the foot of the mountain, where children can play and ski.
Andorra also has great spa facilities for different age groups, suitable for families.
Our trip was in collaboration with the Andorra Tourism Board, but I feel like it wasn't too expensive compared to other places in the world.
In Macedonia we were treated like family.
Macedonia is a country on the Balkan Peninsula just north of Greece. I've never been there with children, but I don't think it would be a problem to bring them there.
It is full of beautiful small villages and is also great for skiing.
The country is also home to one of Europe's oldest and deepest lakes, Lake Orchid, which borders Albania. This beautiful little village on the lake has a charming restaurant and the perfect atmosphere to relax and enjoy a delicious meal.
I visited this country in 2008 and again in 2012 with my then boyfriend and now husband.
The first time I visited, my girlfriend and I were backpacking. We arrived by bus in the middle of the night and had no idea what we were getting into. The bus driver just called and a stranger drove up to pick us up. I thought I was going to die.
The opposite happened. He took us back to his home with his family where he stayed for several days. He and his family were so wonderful that we ended up extending our trip.
They couldn't speak a word of English and we couldn't speak a word of their language. We just gestured to each other and they gave us food and red wine.
I completely fell in love with them and their country.
