When parents-to-be worry about the sacrifices theyll have to make after having children, travel often sits at the top of their list. While its true that traveling with little ones will be different than what youre used to, its still possible to indulge your wanderlust and explore new places as a family.

As you may have gathered from your paltry parental leave, the U.S. is not always the most welcoming country for families with children. Many other nations show more consideration for kids and parents in both their public policies and their cultural practices. Not all of these locales feature bathroom changing tables or stroller-friendly streets, but there is often a shared expectation that kids will be integrated into daily life, whether theyre riding public transit, dining out or visiting a national monument.

During one of our early forays abroad as parents, my wife and I took our 1-year-old to the Dominican Republic. We looked pretty ridiculous maneuvering our stroller through the cobblestone streets of old Santo Domingo, but everyone we interacted with was helpful and kind. A waiter in a traditional restaurant even picked up our baby and cheerfully walked around with him for a bit so that we could use both hands to enjoy our food. All our fellow diners got to watch our son return their smiles and bestow on him the standard Dios le bendiga (God bless him) that Dominicans offer every child who crosses their path.