Let's Bust a Recap : Bucket List Family Travel

Okay, so I discovered the Bucket List Family back in 2019 while I was trying to decide if I wanted to have an Instagram or not (*SPOILER* I decided not to have one) and I've been following them ever since. I was mesmerized by their beautiful videos visiting the most amazing places all over this globe, and I came to have a real affection for this sweet family. Social media is really weird that way. There are people on this planet that I have never met and probably never will meet that I feel are friends. Like, my fictional book friends but they're real. It's weird. 

Anyway, last summer they announced that Jess (the wife/mom of the family) had partnered with National Geographic to create this Bucket List Family travel guide and that the preorders would be opening to purchase it prior to its February 2024 release date. I immediately preordered and as a result, I got a signed copy! (Which has only reinforced this fictional friendship I have with this family in my head.) I fully expected this to be a beautiful coffee table book with lots of gorgeous photography and maybe a little travel inspiration from the 50 promised itineraries. 

And it is. What I was not expecting was to actually read every single word in this book from cover to cover. Which I did. Every caption on every photo, every word of all 51 itineraries. I read it all. And loved it. 

I have been privileged in my life to do a fair amount of traveling, and while I'm nowhere close to the Gee family's impressive 90+ countries, I'm up to over fifteen now spanning five of our seven continents, and Cody and I have started our own Bucket List journey of visiting all 50 of these United States. 

But about the book itself: it starts with a very sweet foreword from Jess's husband Garrett and then an introduction from Jess. After that, the book is divided into three parts: Planning, En Route and on the Ground, and Where to Go. The Where to Go section is made up of 51 itineraries of amazing places to go and is the biggest chunk of the book—well over half. The book is wrapped up with a small epilogue and acknowledgements page. 

I immediately felt a connection with Jess as I was reading her thoughtful book. We're about the same age and have a lot of the same values. I really appreciated how she incorporated the theme of service throughout the book and included organizations that they have worked and volunteered with in the different countries they've visited. My first international trip was a missions trip with my church and a lot of my international travel has been centered around service projects. 

Another thing I appreciated about the Bucket List Family Travel guide is how down-to-earth and transparent Jess is. She doesn't try to hide the fact that her family's unique circumstances have afforded them the ability to do things that a lot of people will never get to do in practicality, and she doesn't skirt around the fact that their lifestyle is not attainable for everyone. She also doesn't apologize for it, and she still gives common sense advice and tips and tricks for how to travel according to your own tastes and budget. Her 51 itineraries include trips for all budgets, all over the globe. Even though my husband and I do not have children, I found a lot of helpful advice in this book and would recommend it to anyone looking to get into international travel. You can benefit from Jess's travel experience whether you are single, married, with kids, or without kids. I like that her itineraries included several U.S. destinations along with destinations all over the globe so that no matter where you are in the world reading this book, one of these trips is probably attainable for you. 

And the photography! I fell in love with this family through their amazing youtube videos, and with every turn of the page reading this book, I got to look at beautiful, full-color stills from their awe-inspiring travel. This book is sure to be a treasure for their own family, but it is visually stunning for everyone else too. 

I would highly recommend the Bucket List Family Travel guide to anyone who likes to travel or who is looking to get started with more intentional traveling whether internationally or domestically. Since discovering this family, it's become a personal bucket list goal of mine to swim with whales which I did not know was even possible but I'm now obsessed with. In all actuality, I may never get to do it but I will continue to live vicariously through the Gees every time they go to Tonga and get to be in the water with those magnificent creatures. What a beautiful world we live in!

Jess, if you ever find yourself reading this little blog post, consider this your family's official invitation to crash our home anytime if you find yourself in our neck of the woods. We live in Western North Carolina in the land of waterfalls and would love to show you around! Thank you for sharing so much of your family with the world and bringing us along as you swim with whales and walk with penguins. ❤️💙💚