Traveling to faraway lands with small children? The family behind Sweet Little Journey proves that it’s possible: Dalya Gershtein and Danny Yaroslavski are offering their daughters the world – in the most literal (and beautiful) sense of the word.
From America to Asia and Europe: software developers and travel bloggers Dalya Gershtein and Danny Yaroslavski have been traveling with their daughters for five years. Mom Dalya reveals what makes family globetrotting so special.
What’s changed for you since you started traveling with your children?
Our mindset and our expectations! It’s important to trust your gut and not just do something because it looks great on social media; every child is different. At the same time, it’s important for us to pass on ourlove of travel and curiosity about other cultures to our daughters.
As an expert: what are the three most important things to keep in mind?
First of all: don’t pack too much! The basicswill suffice, even with children. Second ofall, involve the little ones in the planningprocess. For our five-year-old, it makes a bigdifference to know what to expect and tohave a say as well. It’s also important not toover plan, and to keep your expectationsreasonable. We used to plan every minute ofthe day. As a family, we have a rough list of priorities, but we like to be spontaneous.
How do you choose your destinations?
We usually do a lot of research and decide according to the variety of things to do and places to see. Nature, wildlife, culture, food and good emergency healthcare are non-negotiable points on our list as well.
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Is there anything you miss while you’re on the road?
After a while, the girls miss their friends and teachers. We never really miss anything, but we’re always happy to be back home.
The Aloha State is a popular destination for families. Its stunning beaches, lush nature and overall versatility didn’t just win over Dalya and Danny – it also captured the hearts of their daughters. The family enjoy going on jungle hikes to places like the Manoa waterfalls on O’ahu. Poke, the unofficial national dish, is on the daily menu – and if singing whales aren’t exciting enough for you, you can visit the volcanoes on Big Island.
During the pandemic, Dalya Gershtein and Danny Yaroslavski decided to explore their adopted country, the US, with their two children in a camper. From Colorado, they drove to Utah, Wyoming and Arizona to see the fabulous natural scenery. The breathtaking rock formations and canyons, which glow red and gold in the sun, took the family by storm – they are ideal for climbing tours, long hikes and taking pictures.
There are countless national parks, great hiking trails and climbing spots around Dalya Gershteins and Danny Yaroslavski’s home base in Colorado. The state has become their playground: from climbing rock tubes in the canyons to crossing crystal clear rivers, there’s not a dull moment here. For more spontaneous trips, the family opt for campsites in the wild, as official ones often have to be reserved months in advance.
A veritable land of extremes, Chile is home to the Atacama, the driest desert in the world. Venture through rock valleys, past salt lakes, the world’s highest geyser field and along blue lagoons full of pastel-pink flamingos. The Pacific coast has a variety of beaches, such as Viña del Mar (pictured); in Patagonia, the southernmost tip of the continent, visitors can admire stunning glaciers and peacefully grazing guanacos, which are related to llamas.
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