Good morning traveler,

"So our daughter called me from a pub in London today." That's how my husband started our dinner conversation last night. I couldn't help but laugh as it just sounded a little surreal. It reminded me of a feeling I had two weeks ago. I realized I was in South Africa, one of our daughters was in Aspen, the other in Berlin, my husband was at a meeting in Israel and our son was home in NH. It felt like we had entered a different chapter. One where our family was old enough to be scattered across the globe.

I'll admit I have a romanticized version in my head that all of our kids will eventually live near us as adults. But I freely admit that there is no way that will happen. When you expose your kids to the world, when you show them all of the adventures to be had, the wonderful people to meet and the cultures to explore, it's hard to expect that they will stay planted.

This fall I have lived vicariously through Jessie's adventures - to London, Paris, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Sevilla, Lisbon, Copenhagen, Berlin and Dublin. She's adopted the practice of hygge from Denmark, learned about WWII first-hand in Germany, studied art and churches in southern Spain, done a home stay in Barcelona, interned for a charity in Sevilla, explored the Christmas markets of European capitals and realized Galway is "such a cute town. It reminds me of Portland, Maine but with a bunch of pubs." The reason Jessie called Jason from a pub in Dublin yesterday was to share her experience singing American Pie and Wagon Wheel with a bunch of Irishmen and expats in the iconic Temple Bar.

For now I will relish in the fact that this week all five of us will be together for the first time in six months. When your adult kids are away from home, I've learned when they come back they'd like the traditions front and center. Cue the chopping down of the tree, the Christmas music, the roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, the cheese fondue, Christmas Eve celebrations with friends and neighbors and Hanukkah latkes. Another benefit of older kids - one of them takes charge of the Christmas cards. Ours tend to be New Year's cards, but regardless, I enjoy someone else toiling over the photo choices instead of me.

Having them all back in our cozy home is all I need for my gift this year. I imagine for many of you it is similar. I wish you all a very cozy Christmas or Hanukkah with your families.

For the many families we have traveling in and outside of London during the next two weeks, they chose to celebrate this time of year on an adventure together. Here are a few of their activities:

• professional soccer games
• traditional afternoon teas
• creating street art
• tasting tours through Borough Market
• watching musicals
• learning about British music history
• singing carols in a small village church
• shopping at Harrods
• visiting the Churchill War Rooms
• wild swimming
• laser skeet shooting
• wooden spoon carving
• and of course visits to the British Museum, Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey and the London Eye

There is so much fun to be had in London and the countryside and I am so excited for the memories they will make. Check out this week's Highlight for some recommended stops for your next London trip.

Our Where to Next? choice this week is from the itinerary of our clients currently traveling in Vietnam. It's a bit of an unconventional sounding choice. Would you be up for it?

Lastly, a huge congratulations to Argentina for their World Cup win! As the clock was winding down, it felt like a fairly uneventful game. Well that changed quickly when France scored twice in 90 seconds and came back from 2-0 to tie it, send it to OT, where both teams scored and ended up in PKs. Argentina pulled it off and Lionel Messi finally won his World Cup. And what an exciting way to get it. International soccer at its best! Our clients who went to the World Cup this year had an unforgettable experience! Reminder the next men's World Cup is in North America in June-July 2026. So much closer for most of us! I'm hopeful to take my son, Trevor. If you want to go, plan early to get exactly the hotels and tickets you want.

Enjoy your holidays!