Westfield Family Travels Around The World From A To Z

Westfield, NJ -- What started as a passion for new experiences and adventure has turned into a full-fledged job for Westfield mother and traveler, Grace Roth.

Roth and her husband Dean were always avid travelers as a couple and continued that on as they got married and had children.

She ran The Town Bookstore in Westfield for almost 10 years, where many locals would come into the shop not only to browse new paperbacks but to grill Roth on her latest adventure.

"People would come in and ask 'Where did you go to this time?!'" Roth told Patch.

Her travels with her family were a fun escape from reality but over time it dawned on her to open her own agency.

"Friends, family and everyone were asking me for advice on where to go, what to do, it seemed like a natural fit," Roth said.

Roth closed her book store and started ABC World Vacations from her home in 2009.

The name of her business is fitting for her adventures as Roth and her family literally traveled to a different country for every letter in the alphabet from A to Z, in order or close to it.

"We started with Aruba, then Bahamas and then Canada. That's when our son Nick realized we had a trend going," Roth said. "So we decided to keep up the theme."

The entire Roth family -- Grace, Dean and their two children Nick and Kim -- began traveling the world. They went to unique locations such as Paris, London, Dublin and countries with poverty such as Kenya and Guatemala.

"It was a great learning experience for the children, to expose them to so many new cultures," Roth said.

Roth recalled visiting Kenya when her daughter Kim observed a girl, maybe 6-years-old caring for her younger sibling.

Kim turned to Grace and said "Mom are we spoiled?"

As the years went on, the Roth family would give trips instead of presents. On Christmas they would open a gift filled with gear needed for a safari to prep them for an upcoming trip.

The entire process became a family tradition. The kids would join in on selecting the next country to visit.

"By beginning our travels when they were very young, and continuing throughout their school years, our children have routinely visited places that they have studied, and studied places that they have visited," Roth stated on her site.

Nick and Kim, who are fifth generation Westfielders, have literally traveled from the time they were an infant to an adult.

By 2012, the family had visited 57 countries and all 50 states. They traveled from Aruba to Zambia.

Many friends and families who were used to just traveling to Disney or the Jersey Shore began to inquire about Roth's unique adventures. Roth offered personal advice to each person and helped them create their own memories.

Using her experience, not only just traveling but traveling with children of all ages, Roth is able to offer advice on what works best for each client.

"I customize and personalize the trip to the client's needs," Roth said.

The client will provide the destination and some information on their interests such as a love of food or wine or adventure. Then Roth will customize the trip to find activities revolving around those interests to keep all members of the traveling party happy.

For more information on how Roth can help you book your next adventure visit www.abcworldvacations.com or Facebook or call (908) 416-0225.

(Photos, Grace Roth: The Roth Family on their many adventures)