Exploring new places with my family is one of my favorite things to do. I think everyone should take time out for a family adventure. That’s why I am excited to partner with The Travel Channel to tell you about their new family travel show, Big Crazy Family Adventure. I was provided the following assets including images and videos, as well as compensation for the blog post. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.
Big Crazy Family Adventure, Source: Travel Channel
A few years ago, my husband handed me an envelope with plane tickets to Hawaii inside. Surprise! The plane was leaving the very next day! I had less than 24 hours to get my family, including our 18-month-old baby and 4-year-old child, ready to go. We lived in Alaska at the time and it was the dead of winter. You weren’t about to hear me complain about a last minute escape to a tropical island! I tossed our swimsuits and toothbrushes into a suitcase and we were set.
That trip was the first time I truly appreciated the miracle of air travel. We drove through a snowstorm to get to the Anchorage airport. We boarded the plane in subzero temperatures. Five hours later, we stepped off the plane into the hibiscus-scented Hawaiian breeze. I was just as amazed as our 4-year-old at how fast we could go from an Arctic blizzard to a tropical climate. Airplanes are like magic!
Travel makes me happy, and experiencing new places and things with my family are what life is all about. We live in Utah now, and spend most weekends and holiday breaks taking road trips. We typically explore US destinations within a 12-hour driving radius of our home. I would love to take our four kids even further one day. We have dreams of traveling abroad as a family.
But what about a family trip that goes halfway around the world and takes more than three months to complete? Oh, and by the way, NO AIRPLANES are involved.
Source: Travel Channel
The Travel Channel’s new show, Big Crazy Family Adventure, follows the Kirkby family as they travel more than 13,000 miles from British Columbia to the Himalayas…WITHOUT TAKING A SINGLE AIRPLANE. In the series premiere episodes, they will cross the ocean on a container ship, take bullet trains through Korea and eventually cross the border into China!
Source: Travel Channel
Bruce Kirkby, Christine Pitkanen and their children, 7-year-old Bodi and 3-year-old Taj are on an epic 96-day journey that will take them halfway across the planet. You may think it sounds impossible (I did!) until you watch the show and quickly realize this is a family of seasoned adventurers. They wake up on Day 1 and hop into canoes for a 5-day river journey without batting an eyelash. Even the kids! This family really knows how to start an adventure off on the right foot.
I am excited that we get to follow as the Kirkbys travel through different countries and climates on their way to their final destination, a remote monastery in Ladakh, India, where they will live for three months. Along the way, they will experience different cultures, see four Wonders of the World and grow closer as a family.
Source: Travel Channel
Of course, we can definitely expect the unexpected on an epic trip like this! The Kirkby family takes an unplanned detour to Russia, misses trains and more. I have to say, Bruce and Christine are amazing when it comes to rolling with the punches. They are a loving family that truly enjoys their time together. I am totally inspired by their courage to dream big when it comes to traveling with kids.
“Travel returns each of us to a state of childhood,” says Bruce. “For a moment we look upon the world, crowded with the unrecognizable and incomprehensible, with the same eyes as our kids. And in doing so, the distance between us shrinks, just a bit. These shared experiences, with all their uncertainties, challenges and enchantments, are like fertilizer for family bonds.”
Source: Travel Channel
Everyone is invited along for this BIG CRAZY FAMILY ADVENTURE. Tune in Sundays beginning June 21 at 9pm/8c. Catch up with episodes available online at TravelChannel.com. Join the conversation and get more exclusive content on Facebook and Twitter.
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Do you like to travel? Have you watched Big Crazy Family Adventure on Travel Channel? Let me know what you think in the comments below.
Lyndsay says
I love traveling and am so happy to have air travel as an option too since most traveling is to family that lives far away!
Natalie says
How amazing to do this with small children! What an adventure for all of them. I am going to check this show out!
Robin Rue (@massholemommy) says
We do a lot of traveling in our family! I definitely want to check this show out.
Nicole says
Hi Robin! I think you will really enjoy the show. Warning: It will make you want to pack up the kids and buy plane tickets to exotic locations! LOL Thanks for stopping by today. –Nicole
Amy says
I am actually terrified of planes. We just drove 12 hours to Virginia from Ma to avoid air travel. I do think I would enjoy this show though.
Melissa Pezza says
This sounds like it’s going to be a great show. Just the pictures make me want to go globe trotting with the family.
Mickey says
I would love to travel like that once the kids are a little older. It would be such an amazing experience!
Dawn says
I LOVE this idea! Especially the no planes part. Planes terrify me. Just watching them horrifies me.
Nicole says
Hi Dawn! One of the really neat reasons they are traveling without planes is to give their kids a sense of how big the planet truly is – I think that is an awesome idea, too. Plus they are seeing some really amazing places along the way. You can’t really do that when you hop from airport to airport. Thanks for your comments! –Nicole
Amanda says
Not sure if I could do a 3 month vacation, all without flying. But, it will be fun to watch this family do it! And how amazing is your drop of the hat trip to Hawaii, can’t wait to go there one day.
Debi- Lifestyle Blogger says
We love to travel. We try to make each trip, even a small one, an epic trip.
Chelley @ AisForAdelaide says
This is so cool! I cannot wait to watch the show! I don’t get to travel, so I like to live through others!
Nicole says
Hi Chelley! This will be the perfect show for doing just that. They are going some really amazing places this season! Hope you enjoy the series! -Nicole
Nancy @ Whispered Inspirations says
I would love to go on a big family adventure! I have to check out this show!
Liz Mays says
Wow that family is going on a serious adventure. It would be fun to keep up with them through the TV series.
Maria says
Wow! I would love to go on an adventure like this. I will definitely have to check out the show.
Marina John says
That is soo awesome! Impromptu treats are the best. Especially Hawaii?!?!?! Your hubby sounds awesome.
Nicole says
Hi Marina! Yes, that Hawaii trip was probably the best spur of the moment trip we have ever taken. 🙂
Ann Bacciaglia says
I have never heard of this show before. I will have to look it up in my guide so i can watch it.
gingermommyrants says
I have always wanted to go to Hawaii. That would be an amazing surprise. I will have to check out this show, It would be great to go on a family adventure.
Seattle Travel Blogger says
I think everyone should travel if able. It leaves you with so many great memories.
Debra says
WOW – a 3 year old in a canoe. That is impressive (and a bit intimidating as I’m not sure I’d like that)…….but I’m an avid traveler so I would get hooked on this show!
Sabrina @ Dinner, then Dessert says
We love to travel! Our favorite way to travel is to go on a cruise. We can’t wait for our next trip!
elaine massey says
This was an interesting story! I didn’t know you lived in Alaska at one time. My dad was stationed there for 4 years in the army and then transferred to Florida. He said it was like dying and going to heaven! I used to be terrified to fly, but now that is how I prefer!