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Great Neck Today
By the People, for the People
Family Embarks on 13-Month Global Adventure
Lucas family rents out home, travels to Japan, US, and Netherlands with two daughters
Published on Feb. 23, 2026
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Lisa Lucas and her husband rented out their London home, stored their belongings, and spent 13 months traveling the world with their two young daughters. The family lived in three different countries - Japan, the United States, and the Netherlands - for 3-4 months each, immersing themselves in the local cultures and school systems. Despite some initial hesitation from the children, the family bonded over the shared experience and learned valuable lessons about adaptability, minimalism, and the importance of slow time together.
Why it matters
In an era of busy schedules and packed calendars, the Lucas family's decision to take a year-long global adventure highlights the desire many families have to slow down, disconnect from the daily grind, and create lasting memories together. Their story provides inspiration for others who may be considering a similar unconventional lifestyle change.
The details
The Lucas family planned their trip meticulously, securing legal residency in each country to allow their daughters to attend local schools. In Japan, the original plan was to homeschool, but the 8-year-old daughter surprised her parents by asking to attend a Japanese school, where she and her sister learned to walk to school alone, change into indoor shoes, and help with classroom chores. In New York, the girls experienced the contrast of riding a yellow school bus and participating in active-shooter drills, while in the Netherlands they attended an international school and biked along the canals. Living out of backpacks forced the family to embrace minimalism, which expanded their mental bandwidth and allowed them to focus on the experience.
- In July 2024, the Lucas family rented out their London home and began their 13-month global adventure.
- The family spent 3-4 months living in each of their three destinations: Tsukuba, Japan; Great Neck, New York; and Leiden, the Netherlands.
The players
Lisa Lucas
The mother in the Lucas family, who pivoted her marketing consultancy to focus on travel writing and speaking during the trip.
Lucas family
A family of four - Lisa, her husband, and their two young daughters - who embarked on a 13-month global adventure, living in three different countries.
What they’re saying
“We wanted to freeze time. So we hatched a plan to leave our "normal" life for a year and have a wild adventure together as a family.”
— Lisa Lucas (businessinsider.com)
“When we first told the girls about our plan, our youngest cried. They loved their friends, their teachers, and the rhythm of school. They couldn't imagine leaving and not coming back.”
— Lisa Lucas (businessinsider.com)
What’s next
The Lucas family is already dreaming about their next extended adventure, having been inspired by the transformative experience of their 13-month global trip.
The takeaway
The Lucas family's story demonstrates that it is possible for families to step away from the daily grind, embrace a minimalist lifestyle, and create lasting memories through extended travel and cultural immersion, even with young children.
