My daughter Mackenzie just turned 7. At her birthday party at the Playseum[1], she stood in front of a child’s version of a world map—no country names, just illustrations of objects like whales and palm trees and pandas. I watched, astonished, as she pointed out dozens of places—Paris[2], Antarctica[3], China[4], Australia[5]. Then it dawned on me: She really knows her geography.
I believe the world is the best classroom we have and that a passport is every bit as important as a diploma. This idea—and my kids—inspired me to write 100 Places That Can Change Your Child’s Life[6], which explores our planet with those values top of mind.
I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to travel and learn firsthand about different cultures all my life — starting when I left what was then the Belgian Congo, my birthplace, at age four — and it’s something I wish for every child, including mine.
I took my first-born son, Adam, abroad when he was just three months old. Since then he has traveled extensively—from the Grand Canyon[7] to the Norwegian fjords[8], from Big Sur[9] to Berlin[10], from the Andes[11] to Alaska[12]. Now, my other two children, Chase and Mackenzie, are following his lead.
Here’s a glance at their emerging view of travel, and what it’s added to their experience of childhood:
Q: Of all the places you’ve been to, which ones are your favorite and why?
Mackenzie Bellows (Age 7): New York City[13], because I went to the Museum of Modern Art[14] and saw “The Starry Night[15]” painting, and Florida[16] because I love the water and Sea World[17]. I like Jamaica[18], too, but I scraped my leg there and almost needed stitches.
Chase Bellows (Age 8): The Galápagos[19]—there are amazing animals that you can get close to. Seals come right up to you. One was a baby that had just been born. He lay on my foot.
Q: What places are on your travel dream list?
Mackenzie: I want to go to Paris and see the Eiffel Tower[20] and eat real French bread. And see the “Mona Lisa[21]” and lots of Monet paintings. I want to go to Ireland[22] because I love the color green and there are so many horses there. And I want to see leprechauns.
Chase: The Amazon[23]. It’s this giant river with a jungle attached. I want to see piranha—they can eat a cow really fast. I want to go to Egypt[24] to see the pyramids and the tombs. And I want to go back to Wisconsin[25]. We went there in the summer.
Chase and Mackenzie pose with a baby chick in the Galapagos. (Photograph by Keith Bellows)
Q: What do you do on a long flight to make the time go faster?
Mackenzie: I draw animals like dolphins and monkeys and bears—oh, my!
Chase: I draw and play on the iPad. You can’t play chess because the planes tip over.
Q: What are your favorite foods to eat while traveling?
Mackenzie: That’s a good one. When I was in Ecuador[26] I ate all the free cookies in the airline lounge. French fries and chicken tenders, of course.
Chase: Oh, mango juice. Mushed-up ham and cheese sandwiches. I really like cake. But I will have nothing to do with fish.
Q: What exotic foods have you tried?
Mackenzie: Plantains in Ecuador. And crab is pretty weird–it tastes mushy–but I like it.
Chase: Rice pudding.
Q: When you’re packing for a trip, is there anything you just can’t leave home without?
Mackenzie: My blue blanket.
Chase: My favorite toothbrush.
Q: What advice would you give to another kid going on a trip?
Mackenzie: It’s good for the brain and you will have a good time. And to bring water, of course.
Chase: Don’t cry about security. Be patient.
Q: What’s your favorite thing about traveling?
Mackenzie: It’s really fun to go on planes. And I get to be with Dad and Mom and my brother Chase.
Chase: Eating new foods and staying in hotel rooms. Oh, and, playing on the piano—if I can find one.
Mackenzie learned about cormorants on a recent trip to the Galapagos. (Photograph by Leslie Magraw)
Q: What’s your least favorite thing about traveling?
Mackenzie: When I’m in the plane and my ears hurt.
Chase: When my sister leaves things behind. But I love traveling. It takes me out of my mind.
Q: What animals have you seen while on a trip?
Mackenzie: In the Galápagos I saw blue-footed boobies and pelicans. I also saw sea lions, frigate birds, flamingos, and parrotfish. Oh! And sea turtles and bottle-nosed dolphins. And a whale bone.
Chase: Seals, lizards, dolphins, manta rays, giraffes, and starfish in the Galápagos. Crabs on Chesapeake Bay[27].
Keith Bellows[28] is the editor in chief at National Geographic Traveler magazine, where he spearheads efforts to encourage parents, corporations, and schools to view travel as a critical learning tool.
Related:
References
- ^ Playseum site (www.playseum.com)
- ^ National Geographic Travel – Paris Guide (travel.nationalgeographic.com)
- ^ National Geographic Travel – Antarctica Guide (travel.nationalgeographic.com)
- ^ National Geographic Travel – China Guide (travel.nationalgeographic.com)
- ^ National Geographic Travel – Australia Guide (travel.nationalgeographic.com)
- ^ National Geographic Shop – 100 Places That Can Change Your Child’s Life (shop.nationalgeographic.com)
- ^ National Geographic Travel – Grand Canyon National Park Guide (travel.nationalgeographic.com)
- ^ Fjords site (www.fjords.com)
- ^ Big Sur site (www.bigsurcalifornia.org)
- ^ National Geographic Travel – Berlin Guide (travel.nationalgeographic.com)
- ^ Wikipedia site – The Andes (en.wikipedia.org)
- ^ National Geographic Travel – Alaska Guide (travel.nationalgeographic.com)
- ^ National Geographic Travel – NYC Guide (travel.nationalgeographic.com)
- ^ MOMA site (www.moma.org)
- ^ MOMA site – “The Starry Night” (www.moma.org)
- ^ National Geographic Travel – Florida Guide (travel.nationalgeographic.com)
- ^ Sea World Orlando site (seaworldparks.com)
- ^ National Geographic Travel – Jamaica Guide (travel.nationalgeographic.com)
- ^ National Geographic Travel – Galapagos Island Guide (travel.nationalgeographic.com)
- ^ Eiffel Tower site (www.tour-eiffel.fr)
- ^ Louvre site – “Mona Lisa” (www.louvre.fr)
- ^ National Geographic Travel – Ireland Guide (travel.nationalgeographic.com)
- ^ Mongabay site – Amazon (rainforests.mongabay.com)
- ^ National Geographic Travel – Egypt Guide (travel.nationalgeographic.com)
- ^ National Geographic Travel – Wisconsin Guide (travel.nationalgeographic.com)
- ^ National Geographic Travel – Ecuador Guide (travel.nationalgeographic.com)
- ^ Chesapeake Bay site (www.chesapeakebay.net)
- ^ National Geographic Traveler – Keith Bellows (travel.nationalgeographic.com)
