The Big Leap, The Plan, and Everything In Between
We have always said we had at least one more big adventure in us.
And sometime in late 2024, we found ourselves reflecting on just how fleeting this chapter of life really is—Evelyn was 7, Daxton was 3, and for a short window, we’re living in this rare and magical moment where both kids are young enough to come along for anything, but old enough to really take it in. They’re still ours, fully and completely. School hasn’t swallowed them up yet, and they aren’t asking for their own rooms or slamming doors (yet). So we started asking ourselves: What would it look like to take a year and really live life differently?
We’re not looking to escape anything. We love our lives in Brooklyn—our friends, our school, our neighborhood, our routines. But we also love the world. We love travel. And we realized that while it’s always easy to say “someday,” the truth is: this is the moment. Right now.
So we’re doing it. One year, four people, dozens of flights, a bunch of backpacks, and a whole lot of trust.
Not a Vacation—Our Life for a Year
This isn’t a gap year or a sabbatical or a long vacation—it’s just… life, lived a different way. When we talked to other families who had done something similar, one of the biggest pieces of advice we heard was: pace yourself. You can’t sprint your way through a year like this. It’s not sustainable.
So we’re structuring our year around a rhythm: the “running arounds” and the “sit-downs.”
The running arounds are where we explore, move fast, see the sights. The sit-downs are when we slow it down—stay put for a while, get groceries, do schoolwork, find a rhythm. We’re building in space to breathe, even as we chase after the things that excite us most.
One World, Five Chapters
Chapter One: Asia
(September–December 2025)
We kick off our adventure on September 10th, flying to Japan to begin the first chapter of our journey—Asia. Japan has always been high on our dream list, and we’ll start in Tokyo before traveling to Kyoto and Osaka, then circling back to Tokyo for a few final days (and yes, we’re making time for Tokyo Disney, which Evelyn is extremely excited about).
From Japan, we’ll fly to Taiwan for a short five-day stay to explore the food, culture, and city life.
After that, we’ll head to Bali for our first real “sit-down”—a full month in one place. We’ve booked a kid-friendly Airbnb with a pool, and the kids will have daily swim lessons while we all settle into a slower rhythm and a more grounded routine.
From Bali, we’ll travel to Jakarta, followed by Kuala Lumpur then move on to Singapore for four days of city exploration, heat, and hopefully some great food.
Next comes Thailand, where we’ll start in the beach island of Koh Samui, followed by a week in Bangkok and then head north to Chiang Mai for a three-and-a-half-week sit-down, giving the kids more structure and time to settle into a rhythm. We’re also excited that Elisa’s brother Dan, his wife Jen, and our niece Cassidy are planning to join us there.
After Chiang Mai, we’ll move on to Vietnam—a country we already love—starting in the north among the rice paddies, traveling down the coastline to Da Nang, and ending in Ho Chi Minh City.
From there, we’ll hop over to Cambodia to visit the country’s two main towns and explore Angkor Wat before closing out the Asia chapter and preparing to shift continents.
This leg of the trip is the most planned so far, with a mix of fast-moving adventure and longer stretches to breathe. We’re embracing the idea that this chapter is not just about movement—it’s about how we move together.
Chapter Two: Oceania
(January–February 2026)
After wrapping up our time in Asia, we’ll head south to Oceania to kick off 2026 with something unforgettable—New Year’s Eve in Sydney, Australia.
We’re hoping to ring in the new year with fireworks over the harbor before spending a couple of weeks exploring Australia’s unique blend of cities, coastline, and nature.
From there, we’ll head to New Zealand for a full-month sit-down, and this stretch feels especially meaningful as Mike’s parents will be flying out to join us.
We’re planning to road trip across both islands—hiking, exploring small towns, and embracing the slower pace of life.
There’s also a possibility we’ll add a stop in Fiji, depending on how the weather looks—January is cyclone season, so we’re holding that part of the itinerary loosely for now.
The Oceania chapter is all about reconnecting with nature, with family, and with a sense of calm after the intensity and movement of our time in Asia. It’s a chance to breathe, stretch out, and enjoy long days outdoors with the kids.
Chapter Three: South America
(February–May 2026)
After our time in Oceania, we’ll begin the South America chapter by hopping over to Santiago, Chile in February.
From there, we’re planning about two and a half weeks traveling south into Patagonia—a region that’s been at the top of our dream list for years, filled with dramatic landscapes, glaciers, and quiet, wide-open space.
After Patagonia, we’ll cross into Argentina and settle into Buenos Aires for a two-week stretch. We’re excited for the rhythm of the city, the food, the music, and the chance to experience a different kind of pace as we explore daily life there with the kids.
From Buenos Aires, we’ll travel to Uruguay, where we’ll be meeting up with members of Elisa’s dad’s extended family—another powerful piece of this journey, as we connect with people and stories that are part of her family heritage.
Finally, we’ll head to Brazil for the last two weeks of this chapter—soaking in the energy, vibrancy, and beauty of a country that feels like a celebration all on its own.
South America is about nature, family, and city life all woven together—and we’re especially excited to experience this continent through connection and culture.
Chapter Four: Africa
(Mid-April–June 2026)
We’ll begin the Africa chapter in mid-April with a return to a place Elisa and I have visited before and absolutely loved—Cape Town, South Africa.
It’s a city that holds a special place in our hearts, and we’re excited to share it with the kids this time around. While we’re there, we may do a safari, though we haven’t locked that part in yet—we’re weighing the right age and setting for that kind of experience with little ones.
After Cape Town, we plan to fly to Mauritius, an island we’ve been dreaming about for years. It’s a stunning, culturally rich destination off the southeast coast of Africa that offers a bit of rest and tropical beauty before we keep moving.
From there, we’ll spend a week in Madagascar—another wild, one-of-a-kind place that feels like something straight out of a nature documentary.
Now, before we head to our final stop, we’re likely to make a detour to the United Arab Emirates for a few days in Dubai. We know—it’s not Africa! But stick with us. The timing might require us to delay our arrival in Kenya slightly so we can catch better weather, and Dubai makes for an interesting and practical pause.
Once in Kenya, we’ll spend two to three weeks wrapping up our Africa chapter—connecting with local life, exploring landscapes, and reflecting on the final leg of this journey.
This stretch will be all about contrast—coastlines, cities, wildlife, and winding things down as we move toward the close of our adventure.
Chapter Five: Europe
(July–August 2026)
By July and August, we’ll be entering the final stretch of our journey—and also the most open-ended part of our itinerary. This chapter is still very much evolving, and while it’s the furthest out and the least planned, we’re starting to dream about possibly heading up to Europe for a late-summer chapter.
Right now, we’re considering spending time in Turkey, Croatia, Slovenia, and maybe Montenegro—countries that offer history, beauty, coastline, and a slower pace that feels right for winding down.
Greece is also on our minds as a place to explore, especially if we find we want a bit more sun and sea before returning home.
Depending on timing, weather, and when we’re able to move back into our apartment in Brooklyn, we might even head up to France for a short stay. But the truth is, we’re intentionally leaving this part open.
After nearly a year of movement, structure, and planning, we’re giving ourselves space to follow our instincts—and maybe, for once, make a decision at the last minute.
