The Countdown We Never Talk About

Yawen Hsu
Sep 3
2 min read

20–30 school breaks.

That’s it. If things go well—if my boys still want to travel with us through their teens—that’s how many chances we have left to step out of the everyday and into something unforgettable together.

Most days are errands, homework, rushed dinners. I want magic… but I’m also juggling schedules, cooking, bedtime, emails. I picture the boys building confidence in their second or third languages, skiing in the Alps, and discovering nature and different cultures—but some weeks I can barely plan Tuesday’s dinner.

Travel isn’t just a vacation. It’s a legacy.

When I look back on my childhood, I don’t remember how tidy the house was. I remember the trips. Roadside snacks. The laughter. Summer camps with my brothers. The way my parents seemed less stressed. The quiet message: this time is just for us.

I want my boys to feel that too. Because if I don’t make these moments happen, they’ll slip away unnoticed, just like everything else that fills up my days.

So we started Small World Explorers.

For families like ours—curious, tired, globally minded, short on time, big on heart. We curate experiences that are equal parts ease and awe. Kids dive into immersive camps—language, sports, art, and local culture. Parents get to explore, rest, reconnect.

Sometimes together. Sometimes apart. Always in a way that makes space for real memories.

Because these aren’t just holidays.

They’re the raw material of your child’s memory. The ones they’ll hold onto when they’re 20, 30, 50. The ones you’ll hold onto long after the suitcases are unpacked.

What will your family's memories be made of?

So the question is: What will you remember?

That last email you sent over break? Or the look on your kid’s face as they bit into their first gooey, Nutella-filled crêpe under falling snow in the shadow of Mont Blanc.

Join us—and make it count

Vote your next destination → 30-sec survey
See our winter pilot → Chamonix (Dec 27, 2025 – Jan 3, 2026)

You don’t get more time. But you can choose what to do with the time you’ve got.

We can’t wait to explore the world with you.

By: Yawen Hsu, Co-founder, Small World Explorers