The pandemic has been a boom for bucket lists. The inaccessibility of much of the world has inevitably inspired dreams and prompted the formulation of plans. Of course, such lists are not just a current phenomenon. Over the years, one of the questions I have been asked most often is “Which countries should be on my bucket list for future family vacations?” Lately, I have come to realize that there is a golden period for family travel when the upcoming generation is bold and strong enough to go anywhere, and before careers, other relationships and adult responsibilities begin to get in the way. It is when children or grandchildren enter the magical 16 to 24 age range that the entire world becomes a realm of possibility.

Although I have been fortunate to travel with my own family on many occasions, our bucket list remains surprisingly intact. At the top of it is Botswana’s Okavango Delta. Where could be a better place for a family to acquire indelible shared memories than beside a fire in the African dark, with the lions audibly on the move? But I hear murmurs of protest. What of art and culture and cuisine? Japan recently opened its borders to all fully vaccinated visitors. I suspect that it would be a truly life-changing experience to encounter the country’s complexity and beauty as a family group. Anyway, in response to persistent inquiries, I have decided to publish an extended version of my bucket list for family travel. So be sure to look for it on our website soon.