Untethered Childhood

The Swap: Why Belize & Mexico City Work for Families with Young Kids

What if this was the year you made the swap? Same budget. Same week off. Just somewhere new — a little outside your comfort zone, but not as far as you might think. This week I'm sitting down with my real-life friend (and one of the savviest travel minds I know) Marion Donat, a travel advisor with Fora Travel who has a way of making international family travel feel less scary and way more possible. She's a mom of two based in Texas, and Marion and I have known each other for nearly two decades — I've admired her adventures and her work for a long time. In this episode, we dig into two destinations Marion keeps coming back to for families: Belize and Mexico City. Ready to be surprised? Both are closer, easier, and more affordable than you'd expect. What You'll Learn in This Episode * Ever since I started thinking about my own philosophy around family travel, one thing has gnawed at me: why do we keep going back to the same places? What are we missing? * Why Belize might be an awesome gateway international destination for American families (think: English spoken everywhere, US dollars accepted, short direct flights, same time zone, and nurse sharks your kids will talk about forever) * Why Mexico City is more manageable than it sounds for families, and how to find neighborhoods where you feel the city, not just see it * How staying in a short-term apartment rental puts you right in the middle of local life — pool, soccer field, supermarket downstairs, and all * The only Michelin-starred taco stand in the world—and why Marion's son still begs to go back * How Marion balances building a packed itinerary with leaving room to actually breathe and wander * What Marion hopes her kids carry with them from all of this travel when they grow up — this one will stay with you About Marion Donat: Marion Donat is a travel advisor with Fora Travel specializing in international trips for families with young kids. She has a background in hospitality and corporate meeting planning—which basically means she has spent her whole career figuring out how to make travel work, beautifully, for other people. Marion grew up in Newport, Arkansas (small world!) and traces her love of travel back to sitting around her grandmother's kitchen table as a little girl, hearing stories about Buenos Aires and African safaris, and thinking I want that. These days, she's the person who helps families stop scrolling "someday" destinations and start actually booking them. * Instagram: @mcd.travels [https://www.instagram.com/mcd.travels] * Marion Donat — Fora Travel [https://www.foratravel.com/advisor/marion-donat] Destinations Covered: Belize: * San Pedro / Ambergris Caye * Barrier Reef snorkeling * Swimming with nurse sharks * Mayan ruins + howler monkeys + carpenter ants * Fishing for your lunch * Golf cart transportation (kids lose their minds over this) Mexico City (CDMX): * Roma Norte neighborhood * The best children's museum Marion's family has ever visited * Museo Nacional de Antropología (giant artifacts that made her kids feel tiny in the best way) * Lucha libre wrestling at Arena México * Frida Kahlo Museum * The only Michelin-rated taco stand in the world * Day trip option: Teotihuacán pyramids + hot air balloons Thanks for listening to Untethered Childhood. We're raising explorers together. I'll see you next time.

You Don't Get Extra Time If You Give It Away: Peru with Heather Greenwood Davis

You Don't Get Extra Time if You Give it Away: Peru with Heather Greenwood Davis Some conversations stay with you. This is one of them. In this episode of Untethered Childhood, host Jordan Neri sits down with Heather Greenwood Davis, a travel journalist, on-air personality, and mother of two who left a law career behind to build a life around storytelling and travel. In 2011, Heather, her husband Ish, and their two sons spent an entire year traveling the world together — 29 countries, six continents, 365 days. National Geographic named them their 2012 Travelers of the Year. In this episode, we hear about what that time taught her kids and what it taught her as a mother. About Our Guest: Heather Greenwood Davis is a force — she's been kicking doors wide open. She was the first Black woman to hold a travel column at both of Canada's national newspapers, The Toronto Star and The Globe and Mail. For over 20 years, she's told travel stories that encourage parents to raise global citizens without sacrificing their own dreams. Her work has appeared in National Geographic (where she's been a contributing editor and columnist), Travel+Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, and AFAR. She's appeared on and hosted travel segments on Good Morning America, CBS Sunday Morning, CTV's The Social, and CHCH Morning Live. She's won multiple gold awards for her writing, was named the Family Travel Association's Person of the Year, and was a finalist for Global Travel Writer of the Year. Heather's approach to travel and parenting comes down to this: we each get a life, and living yours fully isn't something to apologize for. She believes the world is kind and that the best thing you can do for your kids is show them — by example — what it looks like to be fulfilled. What We Cover: * How Heather left a law career to return to journalism and travel writing and why creating that space changed everything * Peru as the family test drive before the year-long trip — what surprised them and what they learned about their kids * Why Heather believes the best trips leave breathing room instead of packing every minute * Raising global citizens at home, even before you book a flight * The truth about motherhood no one says out loud: being fulfilled as a person makes you a better parent Destination: Peru * Lima * Ollantaytambo * Machu Picchu * Cusco * Miraflores * Recommended tour company: G Adventures (partners with National Geographic) — gadventures.com [http://gadventures.com] * Hotel recommendation: SUMAQ Machu Picchu Hotel — family owned, incredible personal service, right at the bus stop to Machu Picchu — sumaqhotelperu.com [http://sumaqhotelperu.com] Resources: * Heather Greenwood Davis: heathergreenwooddavis.com [http://heathergreenwooddavis.com] * Instagram: @byheathergd * TV: CTV's The Social, CHCH Morning Live * Publications: National Geographic, AFAR, Travel+Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, The Globe and Mail * G Adventures family tours: gadventures.com [http://gadventures.com] Untethered Childhood: * Instagram: @untethered_childhood * Email us your topic ideas: hello@untetheredchildhoodpod.com [hello@untetheredchildhoodpod.com] ----------------------------------------

Ecuador Unlocked: Quito, Galapagos, and Otavalo

Think Ecuador might be too ambitious for a family trip? Kevin Wagar would disagree—and after hearing about his family's two-week adventure, you might too. Kevin is a journalist, photographer, and dad of two who's taken his sons to over a dozen countries since they were toddlers. He and his wife Christina plan trips around activities that build confidence, and Ecuador delivered: volcanoes, cloud forests, the Galapagos Islands, and the Amazon rainforest. In this episode, Kevin walks us through their itinerary, sharing why Ecuador turned out to be such a memorable trip. About Our Guest: Kevin Wagar is a journalist, photographer, and travel writer based just outside Toronto, Ontario. He's the creator behind Wandering Wagars, where he documents family adventures. Kevin's approach to travel is rooted in curiosity and intention. His family chooses culture and meaningful experiences over convenience and routine. They're happiest hiking through wild landscapes, sharing meals that tell a story, and staying in places with character. For Kevin, travel is about learning how the world works, understanding different perspectives, and growing together as a family. His work exists to show other families what's possible when you choose to travel with purpose. In this episode, we dig into these places in Ecuador: * Quito: Valley of the Volcanoes, incredible food scene, equator museums * Otavalo: Textile market, animal market, Indigenous music workshops * Cotopaxi National Park: Wild horses, volcano views, rustic lodge experience * Quilotoa: Crater lake, steep kayaking adventure, downhill mountain biking disaster (in the best way) * Galapagos Islands: Small boat cruises, marine iguanas, sea lions, hawks, snorkeling * Ecuadorian Amazon (via Coca): La Selva Lodge, piranha fishing, canopy walks, Indigenous community visits Resources: Wandering Wagars: www.wanderingwagars.com [http://www.wanderingwagars.com] * Detailed Ecuador itinerary with accommodation recommendations * YouTube videos showing the Quilotoa hike, Galapagos wildlife, Amazon adventures * Instagram: @wanderingwagars Untethered Childhood Instagram: @untethered_childhood

A Zoologist's Guide to Family Wildlife Travel: Namibia & Australia

Want to see wildlife with your kids but not sure where to start planning? This episode is your roadmap. Host Jordan Neri sits down with Dearbhaile Ni Dhubhghaill, a zoologist, conservationist, and founder of This Wildlife of Mine. Dearbhaile has worked with cheetahs in Namibia, sea turtles in Cape Verde, and researched wildlife on every single continent. We're diving deep into two family-friendly destinations: Namibia (Africa's best-kept secret for safaris) and Australia's East Coast. Dearbhaile walks through exactly how to plan these trips—where to go, what to expect, how to research ethical experiences, and why some of the best wildlife encounters require a little patience and a willingness to "earn it." This isn't about checking boxes or getting Instagram shots. It's about fostering empathy in your kids, teaching them to observe and wait, and giving them experiences that books and documentaries just can't replicate. What You'll Learn: * What a cassowary is and why your kids will think they're seeing dinosaurs * Why Namibia beats South Africa and Kenya for family safaris (hint: you won't be surrounded by dozens of other vehicles) * The red flags to watch for when researching wildlife experiences * How to self-drive through Etosha National Park and actually see leopards in the wild * Why Australia's East Coast is one of the best road trips in the world for wildlife * Why stillness and silence in places like Namibia might be exactly what your overstimulated family needs About Our Guest: Dearbhaile Ni Dhubhghaill is a zoologist, conservationist, writer, photographer, and founder of This Wildlife of Mine. She graduated top of her class at University College Dublin with a degree in zoology and animal biology, earning the zoology medal for her achievements, and continued her studies at Linköping University in Sweden focusing on applied ethology and animal biology. Her real education? The field. She's worked as a researcher at the Cheetah Conservation Fund in Namibia, as a field research assistant with OSA Conservation in Costa Rica, in wildlife rehabilitation in Ontario and Malawi, and studied kestrels in Spain. She's been to every continent and now lives in a medieval town in Italy (next door to a castle, naturally). Most importantly? She has an infectious passion for animals and a gift for making wildlife conservation feel approachable, not intimidating. Untethered Childhood Instagram: @untethered_childhood This Wildlife of Mine: www.thiswildlifeofmine.com [http://www.thiswildlifeofmine.com] * Travel blog with wildlife-focused destination guides * Instagram: @thiswildlifeofmine_ Destinations Discussed: * Namibia: Etosha National Park, Skeleton Coast, Caprivi Strip * Australia: Fraser Island (K'gari), Great Barrier Reef, Whitsunday Islands, Cape Tribulation, Brisbane to Cairns stretch ----------------------------------------

Conquering Jet Lag: A Sleep Scientist's Guide to Travel with Kids

Is anxiety about how your kids will sleep holding you back from booking that international trip? You're not alone—and this episode is here to change that. Host Jordan Neri sits down with Dr. Erin Flynn-Evans, a Harvard-trained sleep scientist with over 15 years of experience in sleep medicine, to tackle one of parents' biggest travel fears: jet lag and sleep disruption. Dr. Flynn-Evans breaks down the science of circadian rhythms in a way that's actually practical (not overwhelming!) and shares actionable strategies for helping your kids—and yourself—adjust to new time zones. From understanding why your toddler is wide awake at 2 a.m. in Paris to learning which items actually matter on your packing list, this conversation is packed with expert insights that will make you feel equipped and confident to plan that trip you've been putting off. What You'll Learn: * The science behind circadian rhythms and what's actually happening in your child's body during jet lag * Specific strategies for eastward vs. westward travel * Why traveling with infants might actually be easier than you think * How to embrace cultural norms (hello, 10 p.m. Italian dinners!) without derailing sleep * The essential vs. unnecessary items for your travel packing list * Helpful phrases to use when negotiating with your wide-awake four-year-old at 2 a.m. * How to protect your own energy while managing your kids' sleep schedules abroad * Why Dr. Flynn-Evans believes the transformative power of travel is worth the temporary disruption About Our Guest: Dr. Erin Flynn-Evans is a Harvard-trained sleep scientist who worked in the Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital for over 15 years. She's a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Society for Research on Biological Rhythms, with 65 published peer-reviewed articles examining the effects of sleep loss and circadian misalignment. She's co-author of "Baby Sleep Science Guide: Overcoming the Four-Month Sleep Regression" and co-founder of Baby Sleep Science, a resource center providing parents with customized, science-backed sleep solutions. She holds a PhD from the University of Surrey in the UK and a Master in Public Health from Harvard School of Public Health. Most importantly? She's a mom of two who has traveled the globe with her kids and has a refreshing perspective on integrating motherhood with her career. Key Takeaways: ✈️ Light is your secret weapon: Use bright morning light when traveling east, evening light when traveling west to help reset circadian rhythms 🌍 Embrace the culture: Sometimes staying on home time and enjoying late dinners abroad is easier than forcing a shift 👶 Infants are portable: Young babies' flexible sleep schedules can actually make them easier travel companions than older kids 🧳 Pack smart, not heavy: Familiar sleep cues (sleep sack, lovey) matter more than recreating your entire home routine ⏰ Compromise is key: Start with later bedtimes when traveling east, gradually shift earlier each day 🛏️ Routines still matter: Maintain shortened versions of bedtime routines to signal sleep time 💡 Creative solutions work: Aluminum foil on windows in Iceland's 24-hour daylight? Totally valid! Resources Mentioned: Baby Sleep Science: www.babysleepscience.com [http://www.babysleepscience.com] * Free blog with comprehensive sleep resources * Free jet lag travel guides for planning your trips ----------------------------------------