The Greek Islands

This summer, we were among roughly 1.792 billion Covid-19 revenge travelers who flocked to Greece and its fabled islands. Or at least that's how it felt -- that is, until we docked on the tranquil island of Naxos. Unspoiled, lively, yet family-friendly, Naxos was the ideal base camp for our 12-day adventure.

The water. Those shades of blue. The crisp and salty Aegean Sea. It called to us every day of our trip -- and still does, even from our living room couch. Our preferred mode of exploration was by boat, so that we could go in search of the clearest water in the deepest shades of royal, cerulean, azure blue. (Conclusion: it's everywhere.)

Naxos sits in the center of the Cyclades islands and is reachable by plane or ferry -- but mercifully, not by cruise ships, which means the island isn't overrun by tourists. Shopkeepers and restaurant servers were friendly and helpful, not overwhelmed and cynical. There were no lines starting at 8 a.m. for loungers on the beach, and we never had any trouble finding incredible food without a wait (ahem, Disney World).

Naxos is also a short ferry ride away from Mykonos, Santorini and Paros, so you can even take day trips to the other islands and avoid packing and un-packing your suitcases and potentially interrupting your peaceful island getaway vibe. We chose to visit the latter two, where we (unsurprisingly) discovered more charm, natural beauty and breathtaking views.

Whether it was the volcanic geology of Santorini, the white sand on Naxos or the quaint coves of Paros, the beaches offered unique features that made each special in their own way. Kind of like with your children, you can't pick a favorite and really have to spend time with them all.

Not only was the food easy to come by, it was all delicious. Even our worst meal was still really good. And the prices were jaw-droppingly low. A substantial meal of souvlaki skewers cost as little as €2.5, which equaled $2.50 this summer -- yay, dollar! Loukumades (picture above) are the pillowy Greek donuts that weaseled their way into more of our nightly after-dinner strolls than I care to admit.

We spent our last two nights on Santorini, which was exactly the right amount of time to enjoy two excellent dinners, charter our last boat ride, then escape the cruise ship masses and oppressive summer heat. Because we kept our time on Santorini brief, we were able to relish every single minute of it. We cherry-picked the most special experiences of the island -- the views (facing out and facing in), the water, the undeniable cool factor. This strategy made a decidedly kid-unfriendly destination the perfect place to cap off a trip that was perfect for the whole family.

Go to Greece... with your kids... really, really soon. See their heads bobbing above the crystal blue water, watch them taste all the flavors of loukumades you never knew existed, set off on a new adventure together every single day. And let Whereabout Travel. Co. help!