I've Never Been Here Before: Our Family's Year of Budget Travel, Wandering the World, and Finding the Sacred

by Ashley Campbell

A globetrotting mom-of-five chronicles her family’s life-changing trip to over 20 countries in a year and shares transforming takeaways to inspire readers’ own adventures.

“When I step into a culture with people who look and think differently than I do, when I stand on a beach with sand unlike any I’ve felt before, when I hear songs in languages I do not speak, when I taste food with flavors I’ve never savored—I’m gaining glimpses into the awe-inspiring creativity of God.”—Ashley Campbell

In June 2022, Ashley Campbell and her family embarked on an ambitious, yearlong journey, all on a tight budget. What they experienced was a world filled with wonderful people, interesting places, unique foods, and most important, abundant examples of God’s exquisite creation.

As you travel along with the Campbell family to Morocco, Italy, Egypt, Japan, Ecuador, and many more countries, you’ll enjoy stunning photographs of exotic locales; learn how to overcome the fear and unease of exploring the unknown; get a taste of different cultures, cuisines, and customs; and discover how you can enjoy your own worldwide adventures for a fraction of the cost.

Let Ashley show you how accessible and welcoming the world can be and open your family's eyes to the beauty and wonder you can only find by “being there.”

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Memoir

272 pages, Hardcover

Published August 5, 2025

Reviews

[Lisa Burgos · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heartfelt, eye-opening travel memoir. Ashley Campbell invites you into her family’s year of exploring the world with five children, ages 10 to 18, who are actively involved in the experience and decision making. Beautiful photography. Their adventures are filled with honesty, humor, and insight.

[Elisabeth Ensor · Rating 5 out of 5]

More a travel memoir than a travel guide, Ashley takes the reader through her decades-long dream of taking her family around the world for a year. The photography is stunning, and their route—beginning in Morocco and moving eastward—is beautifully mapped out before each new country. With a love for the unknown, local food, and cultural understanding, this book is sure to inspire you to make international travel a reality for your family or to plan your next trip soon.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The ever-changing homebase and lack of routine had once sounded exhausting, but now was becoming a source of deep rest and a profound awakening to life.”

“When I step into a culture with people who look and think differently than I do, when I stand on a beach with sand unlike any I’ve felt before, when I hear songs in languages I do not speak, when I taste food with flavors I’ve never savored—I’m gaining glimpses into the awe-inspiring creativity of God.”

These are just two of the heartfelt, introspective gems Ashley Campbell fills her book’s pages with. A longtime follower of her inspiring blog, I adored her beautiful photography and her amazingly colorful home projects. Her kids were rambunctious and talented and homeschooled. They adopted their youngest from China. They were inspiring in so many ways! So following her family on their year round trip around the world in 2022 was a delight! This book isn’t a travelogue, though she does take you from country to country. It’s more of a memoir, or essays, or nuggets of wisdom and clarity their family received on their travels. It’s a blessing to read her thoughts and insights. Run to get this book! Not only is it gorgeous, but it screams (gently) to the rooftops of the goodness in this world. It’ll make you get out a map and make your next travel plans! 😉

[Victoria (hotcocoaandbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Over a decade ago (maybe 14 or 15 years ago as I type this), I started to read Ashley Campbell's blog. Her photography was always so beautiful, and I loved how she wrote things from her heart about her experiences in motherhood. I have watched her children grown up as I follow her IG as well.

When I saw she was going to release a book, I was thrilled! I knew it would be both beautiful in appearance and in content. I was not disappointed at all. I was happy to find out I had the chance to read this book by becoming a part of her book launch team. It helped me to get to know some of the ins and outs of the book's creation, and I asked a few questions she responded to as well which was insightful.

One of the things Ashley stated about her book (not in the book, but on IG), is that this is not a travel guidebook. This is a book for those who maybe can't even travel (such as me, who has never left the country but hopes to one day).

The Campbell family made plans to travel the world for a full year (she homeschools her kids) so that they could all explore, learn, and have some wanderlust dreams taken care of a bit. This was not the first time they have been to other countries, but it was the first time they would take such an extensive trip. They sold their cars, they made sacrifices, and they saved to be on a budget. They didn't go to all the resorts, but wanted to experience the cultures and communities in the places they would stay in. Each person had just a backpack to survive off of for a full year.

I loved seeing all the photography while learning about the experiences everyone had. She talks about things they ate, things they saw, and fun things they got to experience that they never had done before. On top of it, they learned a lot of hard histories from locals in some of the places they went to. Throughout the book, there were smaller portions of each of the six other family members as they talked about what they learned and enjoyed about the trip (starting from the youngest to the oldest).

The best part of the whole book was learning what the family learned from interactions with those around them. I really enjoyed how much community they found together while away from their home. They learned about the differences between their own perceptions of countries compared to being in them and seeing how the people acted towards them or what they heard from locals about things going on. They also went to countries at times that you wouldn't think would be ones normally chosen for people to visit, and I loved that.

Another thing you will find in this book is how respectful Ashley and her family are of those who believe differently from them. They are Christians, but were willing to listen and learn from Muslims, Bhuddists, and Jewish people to try to understand them better. It was also cool that they got to experience visiting their Compassion International child they have supported for so long.

The hardest chapter to read was about their time back home. I could feel the pain that they would feel in being back, being glad they are back, but sometimes being emotional that they were not in one of the countries they stayed at. It was cute to hear that they went back out a few months later to visit another country again. I am sure they will get those urges again from time to time. You can really feel from reading Ashley's words how much this trip impacted them. I am sure they will always think back on their year away from home and embrace those parts and what they learned throughout their lives.

I have no complaints about this book whatsoever and it is rare for me to give a five-star review, but it deserves it. You can see how hard she worked on this. I am sure narrowing down experiences from every country in the way she did was not an easy task either.

[Callie · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I wanted my kids to realize so much of the world didn’t need to be changed. It needed to be celebrated. It didn’t need to be feared, it needed to be experienced. Instead of focusing on changing the world or raising world changers, I wonder what it would look like if the goal was to find ways to experience the world (even from our homes) and change our view of it instead.”

To me, this quote perfectly captures the essence of Ashley‘s book and her family’s 12 month journey around the world. Their trip was not one just to check off sites to see, but to truly experience the people and cultures of each country they visited. While our family loves to see important and popular sites when we travel, we also love to stay off the beaten path and experience the way people in different cultures live around the World. The Campbell family showed us how to do this more intentionally and Ashley’s tips on how to do this on a budget make these experiences even more attainable. This is not a travel how-to but rather a book showing a different perspective on travel. I know that I will definitely look at vacations in a different light from now on. Our family might not be able to take a year to explore the world, but when we do travel, we plan to be more intentional about where we stay and the experiences we have together. If you love to explore other cultures and countries, you must buy this book! The stories and photography of the Campbell’s adventures will draw you in, introduce you to parts of the world you hadn’t thought to visit, and quite possibly make you think differently about how you want to spend your next vacation.

[Luminous Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌼 “When I step into a culture with people who look and think differently than I do, when I stand on a beach with sand unlike any I’ve felt before, when I hear songs in languages I do not speak, when I taste food with flavors I’ve never savored–I’m gaining glimpses into the awe-inspiring creativity of God.”

🌼 Do you long to experience the world and explore new places? In I’ve Never Been Here Before, Ashley Campbell warmly invites readers to embark on a year of global exploration alongside her family.

Ashley shows readers how international travel can be both budget-friendly and family-oriented, especially when approached with the right mindset and priorities. With an adventurous spirit and a genuine curiosity about different cultures and communities, the Campbell family's journey will leave you inspired to broaden your perspectives of the world around you.

One of my favorite features of this book is its stunning photography. Through the lens of an artist, landscapes and communities come alive in vibrant colors and striking images, transporting readers alongside the family on each beautiful adventure!

This book is for you if:
🍊 You have a wanderlust heart and dream of traveling the globe.
🍊 You would like insight and practical ideas on how to travel meaningfully while staying within a budget.
🍊 You are looking for a beautifully designed gift book.



I received an advance reader copy from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Fallon · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5 stars)

I’ve Never Been Here Before: Our Family’s Year of Budget Travel, Wandering the World, and Finding the Sacred is a thoughtful, often moving travel memoir that blends family adventure with spiritual reflection. The premise—a family setting out to explore the world on a tight budget while seeking meaning along the way—is compelling, and there are moments of genuine insight and beauty throughout.

The strongest sections are the quieter, reflective passages, where the author grapples with faith, uncertainty, and what it means to find the sacred in unfamiliar places. These moments feel honest and grounded, especially when the narrative acknowledges discomfort, fatigue, and the emotional strain of long-term travel with children.

However, the book can feel uneven. Some travel anecdotes read more like a highlight reel, skimming past places and cultures without lingering long enough to fully explore them. At times, the spiritual insights feel repetitive or underdeveloped, which softens their impact.

Overall, this is an engaging and sincere memoir that will resonate most with readers interested in faith-based travel, slow living, and family journeys. While it doesn’t always dig as deep as it promises, it offers enough warmth and reflection to make it a worthwhile, if imperfect, read.

[Amanda Reimer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started a long time ago reading Under the Sycamore's blog for photography tips, and also she is a fellow Oklahoman. I bought this book for a travel-loving friend, but read through it before I gave it to her. I knew I needed my own copy when I wanted to highlight on the pages and to take some notes!
This isn't a travel recommendation book of locations or hotels, it is more of a thoughtful and colorful journey of family life being lived out internationally, and what this family noticed and how they learned and grew and evolved in this year of travel.
The first page I wanted to mark was her youngest daughter's personal thoughts, I liked when she said about trying new foods (but applies to many other things), "..I would rather regret what I did than regret what I didn't do." As a 40-something mother, there are lots of things I am proud of working up the guts to do, and plenty I wish I had done. It was a great reminder to push yourself to try new things, food and more!
Great book to read if you want some gentle nudges and reminders of putting yourself out there, SEEING people more than just seeing them, and living and loving people everywhere, Out in the World or In Your Own Town.

[Lance · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not know what to expect going into this book. Frankly, I only came to know about it because of the giveaway on Goodreads, so I had no prior affinity for this author, and I was not specifically looking for a text in this genre.

Earlier this week I read Nan Jeffrey's "Adventuring With Children," and Campbell's account of her family's year of travel around the world was a beautiful, modern compliment to Jeffrey's work from the 1990s. After reading Jeffrey's accounts of their travels 3+ decades ago, I found myself wondering if the same thing could really be achieved in today's hyper-connected world. Campbell's story shows that, by and large, it can be.

My wife and I both travelled extensively around the world before we were married. Since we began our courtship, and now just over 10 years into marriage, we have left the country only once. As our family grows and matures, though, I have developed a desire to expose our children to more of the world and to have that experience together as a family. This book is inspiring and, together with Jeffrey's book that focuses more on adventuring with children under 10, helps me to feel more confident that the ideas I have for global family travel can be brought to fruition.

[Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first began following Ashley on Instagram shortly after her family set out on their year-long trip around the world. It was a delight to see a fellow homeschooling, Oklahoma family adventuring together. So when Ashley announced this book, I hit “Pre-order” without hesitation—and it did not disappoint.

A feast for the eyes and soul, this book is filled with Ashley's stunning photography and engaging stories of her family encountering the wonder, beauty, and complexity of the world and humanity. Ashley writes with honesty about both the highs and lows, offering nuggets of wisdom alongside vivid accounts of their adventures. Her humility, respect for other cultures, and ability to give dignity to those she meets make this book a joy to read. I especially loved the “Wisdom and Wonder” sections at the end of each chapter.

This book is great for a wide variety of readers. You don’t have to want to travel the world to appreciate this book. Ashley’s story encourages readers to embrace their own version of adventure and to treasure the opportunities to learn, grow, and experience the wonder all around us.

[Melinda Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve Never Been Here Before is an inspirational book about one couple’s realized dream of traveling the world with their five children. After planning and saving for many years, they all set out for a global adventure with hearts full of excitement and a backpack. Homeschooling mom and author, Ashley, is a true artist with her camera and pen. The colorful photography and passionate words reflect her positive, bright perspective of the world around her. The book itself is divided up by country visited, with each section concluding with budget travel tips, cultural insights, and provoking questions to the reader. Ashley has such beautiful insights for appreciating cultural differences whether traveling abroad or interacting with others in your own community. She wisely recognizes that “the feeling of being seen and appreciated is universal,” (pg 52) and her book is about slowing down, listening, observing, and seeing others! It’s about meeting others where they are, appreciating differences, and learning from them. It’s about celebrating and experiencing the world! (pg 233) After reading this book, one can’t help but be inspired to see the world differently.

[Lindsay Esco · Rating 5 out of 5]

While my own family may never travel around the world, I’m eager to share I’ve Never Been Here Before with my children—because its message reminds us that beauty and wonder are always within reach.

Ashley’s photography and prose foster a spirit of observation, curiosity, and purpose. She doesn’t just capture moments—she also shares the value of long-term planning and the determination it takes to make dreams a reality. As she writes, “Proximity breeds empathy—we were traveling the world for that reason.”

In her words,

“All over the world, contrast is evident. I witness some showing extreme kindness while others are rude, people picking up trash as another person tosses litter to the ground, and flowers blooming alongside weeds choking out life. I don’t see the world through rose-colored Venetian glass, but I am captivated by the lovely that marks every corner.”

More than just a book for travel enthusiasts, I’ve Never Been Here Before invites readers to see the world through the author’s eyes, to look for beauty wherever they are, and to be inspired to set bold goals—and pursue them with intention—wherever life leads.

[Alaina Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part travel book, part memoir, part gorgeous photography coffee table art, but what I’ve Never Been Here Before really is, is the author offering you a chair to pull up to her kitchen table and share a pot of coffee while she brings you along the extraordinary journey of traveling the world with her family. You’ll hear the good, the beautiful, and the hangry as Ashley brings you along the joys and challenges of budget world travel as a family of seven. In these pages you’ll walk down streets that are too old to count, and sit across tables with people that have never ventured beyond their own village. The Campbells embody what it means to walk this world as adventurers and travelers, carrying with them a sense of awe, wonder, and curiosity that can turn every corner of this earth into both a classroom and a sanctuary. You’ll be challenged and inspired, and leave feeling as though this earth is a magical place, worth the fear and sacrifice to venture somewhere you’ve Never Been Before.

[Lexi McKechnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is so much more than a book about traveling. This is like a coming of age book, just instead of one person coming of age, it’s an entire family. I am in awe of with not only the intentionality of how Ashley and her husband planned this trip over years, but of the intentionality of how they’ve raised their five children. Ashley’s writing is so genuine and she does a beautiful job conveying what it is to relax and be present in each country and situation. She relates that the world is a place full of joy and teeming with opportunities for connection and understanding. This book not only challenges stereotypical ideas about traveling but also challenges us to reach our full potential as families. There is a whole world outside of phone and computer screens if we can encourage our children (and ourselves) to be connection builders, to be curious and to welcome new experiences. You’ll want to read this and then you’ll want your kids to read it too! Let inspire you to dream big!

[Kate Eschbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ashley is an incredible writer. Within a few sentences, you find yourself walking with her on her adventure.

The photography is absolutely beautiful. The color story for each country sweeps you gently along on their journey.

She respectfully includes her family in the story - sharing the joyful and the hard - the beautiful of everyday parenting. I read the essays her children wrote with my children. We talked about who was closest in age and how they would feel traveling around the world with a backpack. My children are now scheming about which countries they would like to visit!

Nestled in her story are helpful tips for traveling and budgeting to make travel attainable on any budget.

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It is perfect for dreamers, photographers, travelers, and would be a wonderful addition to any homeschool geography curriculum! I encourage you to grab a copy and a cup of coffee, swing in a hammock, and savor every word!

[AnnMarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I followed along on social media in (sorta) real time while Ashley planned and documented this trip as it unfolded over 2022-23. She definitely shared more specific details of the trip there, and I believe you can still go check out her Instagram and blog for those thoughts. This book is more like a summary and—what it was meant to be—a reflection on her experience with her family, with some prompts for would-be travelers to consider when planning their own trips, or for those who “seek the global, locally” as she says. I don’t mean that as a criticism! I love how she shares the insights she gained and what she learned about her own country and culture in the process, and I appreciated the invitations to do the same wherever the reader is.

TL;DR: Gorgeous photography, amazing advice for world traveling on a budget and/or with a big family, lovely reflection on humanity and the world and how travel can open eyes and hearts and offer perspective.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend running out to buy this book as soon as it becomes available! Ashley Campbell is a master of capturing images of beauty with her camera and pen. Her descriptions of life as her family travels the world - the unexpected, the planned, the usual and the exciting - are all filled with honesty and wonder. Through the lens of her writing and her camera, we are able to experience different cultures, foods, landscapes and peoples. She relates stories of sharing a cup of tea, playing basketball with the local kids, hearing peoples stories firsthand. This is a book about finding joy in the unexpected, broadening perspectives and being able to find the lovely in the simple things. In her chapter on Italy, Ashley says "proximity breeds empathy - we were traveling the world for that reason".

[Lauren Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

As one who lives overseas and does a lot of budget travel with our family it is actually pretty awesome to go through this book and see the world through Ashley’s eyes. She gives great travel advice, takes stunning photos of her family and their adventures and her writing is very engaging and authentic. I feel like I’m listening to a friend tell me about her adventures as I read through it.

We have lived in and visited a number of the places she and her family explore and her descriptions of the day to day local life is spot on. I have thoroughly enjoyed every single page of this book.

I am excited to share it with my loved ones and to continue adventuring with my family more and more, remembering to take notice of the simple and beautiful things that surround us… as Ashley so effortlessly describes. I can’t recommend this book enough!

[Meredith Schrier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve followed Ashley Campbell and her family’s adventures on Instagram for years, never missing a story as they traveled the world. When I heard she was writing a book, I couldn’t wait to preorder it, and it did not disappoint.

Having taken an online photography class from Ashley years ago, I already knew she had a gift for capturing beauty in both images and words. I’ve Never Been Here Before is filled with vibrant colors, heartfelt stories, and moments that make you want to pack a bag and explore. It’s more than a travel memoir, it’s an invitation to see the world with wonder.

Her storytelling transported me to places I’ve never been, and left me feeling deeply inspired. I hope one day I can experience even a fraction of the adventures she shares here. A beautifully written and beautifully lived journey.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is more than a travel book- it’s about humanity, family, life goals, purpose, and values.
I’ve followed Ashley Campbell’s blog for 12 years and what has captivated me the most was her way of writing intertwined with her beautiful perspective of life and humanity.
To get an entire book of her whole experience traveling the world as a family of 7 for a year on a budget- I knew her words would prompt thought and personal perspective. I would be inspired and also require to challenge my own curiosity and thought process of the world.
It’s so much better than I thought.
The photos are all her own and are gorgeous .
Warning: you will want to travel and go on family adventures after reading her book!

[Nicole Ambriz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book a lot. I followed their family's adventures live via I Instagram that year. Her stories of what they learned about themselves and the world in each place they went were so refreshing. In a time when we see the other, she reminds us to see the beauty and humanity in each other.

Each family member had a chance to reflect on their year traveling and it was great to hear teens share their growth. zi love how each chapter ends with a reflection to push you out of your comfort zone. It's a great read whether you have wanderlust and are looking for your next stop or if you want to live vicariously through their travel. The book is full of color and pictures and is just fun to look at too.

[Kelly Meyerhoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

The adventure of a life time was in the pages of this book. Ashley, her husband Chris, and their five kids had planned for over a decade to take a year long trip around the world. “A whole year of summer” as Ashley put it. They explored countries and cities slowly. Taking the time to observe the different cultures that they immersed themselves, learning bits about the differences and similarities found all around the world. It was a delight to hear how they settled themselves into the culture in whatever country they were in - walking tours, cooking classes, eating the local foods, drinking coffee, and making friends along the way. I enjoyed the thoughtful questions at the ends of the chapters and the little tidbits of travel info they learned along the way. This will be a well loved book for the knowledge but also for the beautiful photos.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been anticipating this book for months as I've followed Ashley for many years. So when they finally made it on this year-long adventure, I was eagerly following along. The book is stunning - Ashley is a fantastic photographer- and the writing is wonderful. The connections they made, the experiences they had, the food they explored - all such a fantastic read! This book is perfect if you love to travel, if you want to travel, or if you don't travel but are interested in the world and cultures around you. It is such a celebration of people and places and the beauty of our differences and similarities. Highly recommend!!

[Crystal Pelkey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been following Ashley for years. Her family traveled the world, budget style, a few years ago. Since returning to normal life, she has been writing, and writing, and writing. This is the result of all that writing and it is amazing! It’s so inspiring to read about all of her adventures and see that, yes, even “normal” people can travel the world. Seeing different countries and cultures through Ashley’s eyes is so inspiring. She sees beauty in everything, including people. This is not a travel guide, but more of a travel tale: a collection of stories and experiences that have been carefully curated with amazing pictures!

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this but I’ve followed Ashley for years and LIVED for her IG stories during the year trip that they took. For someone who didn’t follow along on their adventure, I’m honestly not sure what they would think of this book. It didn’t have a ton of helpful travel information and didn’t dive too deeply into family dynamics (ie, traveling the world with a family). It had lots of significant moments that were shared with empathy and grace (teachable moments for sure). Again, for someone who was super invested in their trip, I felt this was a great companion piece to what she had already posted online. If you are new to this story, borrow this one from the library.

[Cory Beyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not only a travel book but a budget travel book? Yes please! Ashley Campbell from Under the Sycamore is a blog I have followed for years and years - before the adoption of her youngest and when her oldest was in elementary school. After years of planning and saving, the Campbell family traveled the world - 20 countries to be exact over the span of a year. Her insights, her intentional travel and her budget suggestions are amazing. I don't buy full price books but this one spoke to me and the pictures are nothing short of spectacular. Read it, borrow it, buy it! #IveNeverBeenHereBefore #AshleyCampbell #HarvestHousePublishers

[Candy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been an #underthesycamore follower for a very long time. I watched in awe a few years ago, when her and her family went on their great year long world wide adventure. It was so awesome to see posts every day, I felt like I was experiencing their trip too. This book is a true love letter to her family. The book is beautifully made, the photos are awesome. It took me right back to reading those posts. [So I can only imagine what a special keepsake this will be for your family] I’m thrilled that Ashley was able to make this dream of year long travel into reality. And I love the budget tidbits scattered throughout the pages.

[Nicole Jennings · Rating 5 out of 5]

After following along with Ashley's family during their year of traveling the world, I was so excited to read her book that further explores her and her family's experiences and observations in 21 counties. If you're looking for a travel guide book--this probably isn't it. But if you are looking for a travel memoir that gives you insight to looking beyond the travel guide, then this is probably for you!

Plus, the photography, questions at the end of chapters, and ideas made this book a rich reading experience.

And, of course, I now I have a few more places on my bucket list ;)

[Josie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Campbell’s writing is thoughtful and conversational. This is not a how-to-travel book, but rather a reflective and curious reflection on a year abroad with kids. Unlike much of what we see online, the Campbells were very frugal in their journey. They packed light, ate simply, and passed up many experiences and adventures along the way. Instead they chose to live in the places they went, going to grocery stores, playing sports with locals, and having lots of conversations. It is both inspiring and restful to read. And the photos and book itself are gorgeous!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved following the Campbell's international travels online, and I loved even more the chance to go deeper into what Ashley had shared online. Her traveling tips were realistic and helpful, some of the tips I wished we had known before my family spent a year traveling around the US.

I also really loved the chance to get glimpses into the uniqueness of cultures that were geographically close. In my American mind sometimes I lump together Indonesia, the Philippines, etc. but I loved how Ashley's book gave a look into what makes each culture distinct.