Staying on a farm in Crete, Lucy got invited to help exercise the horse, Whiskey.

Greece is Warm and Welcoming

Greece has many draws–history, food, Mediterranean Sea–without the crowds and prices you might find in other European locations. Greeks are known for their warm and welcoming nature, making it easy for worldschooling families to feel at home and integrate into local communities.

Of course, there are areas that have a high concentration of tourists, but my personal take is that Greeks are welcoming because they have not been overwhelmed by swarms of tourists. Once, on the island of Tinos, we stopped in a small village for lunch and a visit to the church. An old man in a fedora patted the empty chair next to him and offered me tea (or was it ouzo?). We giggled and gestured our way through a conversation. This openness was characteristic of the people we met everywhere.

THE FOOD

Greek cuisine is known for its delicious flavors and healthy ingredients. Children can learn about traditional cooking methods, local ingredients, and the importance of a balanced diet. As vegetarians, we found the Greek diet especially easy. 

Rusk salad. I could eat this meal every day.

We especially enjoyed Greek salads, rusk salads, baked gigande beans, local fish, and octopus. Many areas also serve Middle Eastern staples like hummus and pita. Some memorable foods include pickled hyacinth bulbs, baklava (from an entire bakery that only made varieties of baklava), and fresh cheese. On the island of Naxos, we took a family-friendly food tour with Philema. We met candy makers and cheese makers and learned the ins and outs of pressing olive oil.

The History

Greece is steeped in history, with a cultural heritage that dates back thousands of years. Worldschooling in Greece offers the opportunity for children to explore ancient ruins, visit historical sites such as the Acropolis in Athens, and learn about famous philosophers, mythology, and the birthplace of Western civilization. The country is home to numerous archaeological sites, making it an ideal place for hands-on learning experiences. Partial reconstructions, active excavation, and computer generated modeling of ancient temples and cities make for inspired learning.

There’s also the small and humble chapels and sanctuaries that dot the hillsides. Even some three-thousand-year-old chapels are open for you to explore on a hike. Maybe say a prayer, enjoy the mosaic artwork, light some incense, and continue along your way.

For more current history, the nearby tragedies of the war in Syria and poverty of northern Africa have made their way to the shores of Greece. You will see recent immigrants and current events become real, prompting discussion and learning through empathy. And exposure may prompt action from near and far.

Greek Mythology and Kids are a Magical Mix

At the tour of Minos Palace on Crete, my kids shared the story of Minotaur, recounting it with wonder.

One of my three kids had studied ancient Greek mythology before we left. Her curiosity rubbed off on my younger two and we loved to study as much as we could. We read classic versions of the tales and even the Percy Jackson series (although not exactly traditionally correct) fanned the flames of passionate interest. Once, at King Minos’ palace on Crete, my third and fourth graders answered the guides’ questions and proceeded to regale their favorite stories to the tour group. 

We visited temples built for the gods, wrote our own myths to explain natural phenomena with the gods as main characters, and recognized the symbols and stories we saw on murals and paintings throughout Rome, London, and other European cities. When exploring ruins, countrysides, and caves, the myths are palpable.

Natural Beauty

From picturesque islands with beautiful beaches to stunning mountains and charming villages, Greece offers a diverse range of landscapes. Worldschooling in Greece allows children to learn about geology, natural history, and environmental science firsthand. Greece offers various outdoor activities, such as hiking, swimming, and sailing. Children might gain a broader respect and love for the ecosystems of the Mediterranean. 

From the islands to the interior mountains, from picturesque olive farms to pine forests, from views of the ocean floors to the snow-capped peaks, Greece offers it all.

Recreating a temple to Demeter on Naxos, you can see archaeologists at work.

Art and Culture

Greece has a rich artistic and musical heritage, and children can learn about traditional arts, crafts, and music through workshops and local events. Stone quarries, sculpture, and architecture might also play to your child’s interests.

Greek is a unique and ancient language with a fascinating history. The alphabet dates back to the eighth century BC and both Romance (Latin) and Cyrillic languages are based upon it. You might learn the sounds that are unfamiliar and then sound out items in the grocery store. 

The Odyssey has been modified and abridged for all ages. For older travelers, they might read Homer’s original or immerse themselves in the works of Aristophanes, Euripides, or Sophocles. 

Budget-Friendly

In the month of May, the weather is just right, prices are low and you can always find a chair.

From our experience, Greece is less expensive than other Western European countries. Travel by ferry, short-term rentals, and off-peak travel (anything other than August) can drastically lower the costs for families. You can also choose lesser-known islands and destinations like the island of Tinos or the city of Thessaloniki. Santorini Dave is a website that is dedicated to everything you need to know to travel to and around Greece. 

For all of these reasons, we hope you Greece becomes one of many destination inspirations for family travel!

The post Destination Inspiration: Greece appeared first on Wonder Year Travel.

VISIT WISH-LIST DESTINATIONS

What have you always wanted to see and experience? Do you have inspirational travel photos posted on your computer or fridge? Are there places that are just calling your name? Spin the globe. Choosing your worldschooling destinations is a great time to involve the whole family. Being curious about a place will make your kids all the more engaged once you’re there.

What does your family like to do together? Kayaking? Exploring the mountains?

CHOOSE PLACES TO PRACTICE MULTILINGUALISM

You might plan some or all of your itinerary in order to learn a new language or reinforce a second or third one. Are your kids taking language classes at school and you’d love for them to converse with native speakers? Adults, too, may see great value in language immersion.

BUILD AROUND YOUR FAMILY’S FAVORITE ACTIVITIES

Think about how you like spending time as a family. Do you prefer being outdoors? Camping, biking, or trekking can drive an itinerary. Are you drawn to water? You might build your trip around kayaking, surfing, or diving hot spots. Maybe you are more of a big-city crew, with a love of museums and restaurants. Building in some of your family’s favorite activities can help keep everyone engaged.

How do you want to travel? Fast or slow?

CONSIDER NATURAL SEASONS AND CULTURAL EVENTS

Research the best time of year to visit your high-priority destinations. Some places will work any time of the year; others might have peak times for desirable weather conditions or seasonal flora or fauna: wet or dry salt flats in Bolivia, butterflies returning to San Juan Capistrano, monsoon seasons in Southeast Asia, or the fall foliage in New England. You can choose worldschooling destination to coincide with festivals, events, or cultural celebrations you want to attend, such as the Thai New Year celebration water fights or Day of the Dead happenings in Oaxaca. Prioritize key events and anchor your trip around their locations.

CHOOSE SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL

The choices we make about travel—destinations, transportation, accommodations, and even souvenirs—have an impact on the local environment and people. Asking questions and being aware of how our presence in a place affects the local community is a responsibility we can all embrace. And it’s not just about doing the right thing; many travelers note that their most memorable experiences had a strong local flavor. What a great way to embed critical thinking into your journey: choose worldschooling destinations that have positive impact.

TRAVEL TO FIND COMMUNITY

More Wonder Year families are arranging their itineraries so they can connect with other traveling families at schools, summits, hubs, pop-ups, and informal gatherings. Sparks fly when worldschooling kids connect with each other! 

OTHER LENSES FOR CHOOSING DESTINATIONS

Here are some other ways you might create your itinerary:

• Around homestays, home swaps, or volunteerism
• Via around-the-world air travel, which often requires that you travel in only one direction: east or west
• Off-season all the way to maximize easier bookings, lower costs, and fewer crowds. One downside: you may find accommodations, sites, restaurants, and tours closed for the season, or you may encounter construction and repairs underway.
  

  Are there far flung locations that have always been on your bucket list?

• Country collecting: some travelers want to visit as many countries as possible. Just make sure you keep it meaningful by taking time to really appreciate the local people, places, and culture.
• By theme: you may wish to choose a worldschooling theme, such as historical events or interesting flora and fauna, as you go. 
• Educational programs: alternative schools, experiential programs, and immersive experiences geared toward worldschoolers are rapidly proliferating, offering families the opportunity to enroll their children and build itineraries around their attendance.
• Personal history or connection: some families like to visit their ancestral homes or retrace their forebears’ migration paths.
• Friends and family: extended travel can offer the chance to visit those you might not often see, or to stay with them for longer periods of time than is usually possible. This can also provide a nice break from being alone on the road, give the kids friends or cousins to play with, and save some money, too.
• Convenience: sometimes you just have to choose what is easy and makes sense—a good stop between two of your favored destinations, or somewhere inexpensive to spend a few nights. If you have the right attitude, you can almost always turn these sojourns into wonderful opportunities.

ADDITIONAL ITINERARY CONSIDERATIONS

Travel Advisories

Before choosing your final worldschooling destinations, check current safety conditions, travel advisories, and warnings for the places you are interested in visiting. The US Department of State website is an excellent place to start, with tour companies and travel blogs providing additional insight about real-time safety considerations.

So many magical places to visit!

Seeing the Sites

When you first commit to extended travel, six, twelve, or eighteen months might seem like a long time. Once you fill it with your planned itinerary, you might realize that there will never be enough time to see everything you want. In the places you visit, please try to let go of the notion of covering everything. No matter where you are or how long you’re there, you’ll still have to choose the things you most want to do. Savor what you are fortunate to experience, and release the rest. For those places you don’t want to miss, be aware that booking lead times for hot destinations and activities are picking up. As our society has become increasingly mobile and more travelers are hitting the road each year, some national parks, museums, tours, top-rated campgrounds, and other popular attractions are newly requiring advance bookings, and reservation lead times have gotten much longer. Nearby accommodations and transportation may also be affected, so monitor what you’ll need to book in advance versus on the ground.

Planning versus Winging It

Try to find balance between planning before you depart and figuring things out while you are on the road. A fellow traveler shared this: “When you’re planning, you don’t know everything that’s there. You only see the tourist stuff before arriving, but once you’re on the ground, you can really see all there is to experience with your family.” Leave room for some spontaneity and changes of plans, while of course keeping in mind the cost of adjusting or canceling reservations.

Scheduling Downtime

One of the most important pieces of advice we can offer is to leave downtime in your itinerary. As much as you think you want to cover a lot of ground and see as much as you can, travel fatigue is a very real thing. When you are traveling full time, occasionally it can start to feel more like work than play. In fact, sometimes you’ll need a vacation from the traveling. In addition, you’ll likely need days set aside for future travel planning, laundry, cooking at “home,” and catching up on worldschooling lessons.

If you find this helpful, stay tuned for more travel planning tips coming to our blog soon. Or, consider pre-ordering our book, Wonder Year: A Guide to Long-Term Family Travel and Worldschooling.

The post Where Will You Go? Choosing Destinations for Worldschooling appeared first on Wonder Year Travel.