"To raise well-rounded kids, who grow up to become global citizens, you must explore the world with kids." ~Travel Melodies
Max Smith, presently a 3-year-old who resides in Frisco, is the youngest American to visit all seven continents: North America, South America, Asia, Africa, Oceania, Antarctica and Europe. Remarkably, he set the record during his second year of life!
His mother, Lesley Carter, says she began planning trips while pregnant with Max. This step came naturally to her as founder more than a decade ago of travel blog Bucket List Publications. As a Canadian native, she says at age 8 she took her first solo flight to visit relatives. "I loved the feeling of independence," she recalls.
Once Lesley graduated college, she says she backpacked around Europe, and knew she "was hooked" on traveling. When she became pregnant with Max, she wanted him to break the record for being the youngest American to visit all 50 states, however COVID-19 interrupted those plans. Instead, she set their sights on him being the youngest American to visit every continent. She reveals Max’s traveling bags were packed before his first words were spoken.
During 2022, they touched down in Dubai, Ireland, Fiji, Rwanda and Uganda.
Since being born on April 13, 2020, Max has visited 22 countries and 18 US states. From riding sand dunes in New Mexico to sailing on ships in Maine, Lesley believes Max has crossed off more bucket list adventures than most adults. He’s cruised on the largest cruise ship in the world, learned to ski in Colorado, experienced lobster fishing in Maine, rode horses in Texas and raced go-karts in Oklahoma. His love of animals led him to swimming with stingrays, feeding rhinos, giraffes, elephants, llamas and goats, snorkeling with sharks and interacting with penguins and sea lions.
"While in Asia, Max swam at the largest water park in Dubai, held a falcon, surfed sand dunes and rode camels. He stayed at Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai’s most iconic resort and Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach, a luxurious 5-star resort with stunning views," she adds.
His African tour with Africa Adventure Safaris was filled with wild animals ranging from tree-climbing lions to hundreds of hippos. Max also trekked zebras on foot and met the Gorilla Guardians Chief. He crossed the international border between Uganda and Rwanda; even straddling the equator.
In Europe, Lesley relays Max passed sheep and castles on the way to the Cliffs of Moher. He sailed on Galway Bay and danced a local jig in one of the most famous pubs. Starting in Dublin, Ireland, he explored from coast to coast with stops in Cork, Galway, Limerick, Clifden and Sligo.
"Max enjoyed the laid-back life in Oceania," she says. "He visited Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, Fiji, where he took daily boat trips, hiked to a waterfall and snorkeled with thousands of fish."
All before he turned 3 years old, Max visited the final two continents during this February via a Celebrity Cruises’ Infinity cruise for a 14-night Antarctica cruise that visited Argentina, Falkland Islands, Uruguay and Antarctica.
Lesley says through these adventures, Max's tender heart soaked in the beauty of diversity. "He embraced new languages, tasted unfamiliar flavors and danced to distant melodies. He learned love is universal, found in warm smiles of strangers and shared laughter with newfound friends. The world became his playground."
Lesley admits she doesn't believe Max will remember all his travels from this young age, but says his experiences and exposure to different cultures and countries will shape him into a worldly, accepting, social child. "Those values and appreciation for the world will follow him throughout his life."