• We moved our family from San Diego to northern Spain and now have a lower cost of living.
• We've really enjoyed living in a walkable area instead of one that's heavily reliant on cars.
• Socializing feels like a priority in Spain, which has made it easier to have a work-life balance.

When we moved our family from sunny San Diego to rainy northern Spain, the weather wasn't the only major change.

Although some cultural differences took time to incorporate into our lives, there are others that we adopted immediately. Fortunately, many of these changes have allowed us to slow down and be more present in our lives — something we're grateful for each day.

Here are some of the biggest differences we've experienced between our life in California and our life in Spain.

We've enjoyed not having to rely on cars

Although there's public transit available in California, it's generally very challenging to get around the state without a car.

However, where we live in Basque Country, a region between northern Spain and southwestern France, we can get almost anywhere on foot.

It's nice to be able to get exercise and enjoy fresh air while running errands. If it's raining or we want to explore other coastal villages, we take the bus.

Fortunately, our local bus system is incredibly efficient and affordable (usually under 3 euros per ride).

We also have a local commuter train that takes us to surrounding towns or to the border of France. From there, we can easily explore French Basque villages, or hop on the train to Paris, our main European railway hub.

During a recent visit back to California, I spent 80% of my time in the car, in traffic, which is something I don't miss at all.

It's easier to make time for resting and socializing in Spain

In Spain, there's generally more work-life balance and a cultural emphasis on socializing, which takes place in the streets, cafés, bars, and plazas.

On Sundays, the majority of shops are closed so people can rest and spend the day with loved ones. At first, we found it frustrating and inconvenient to be unable to run errands and shop.

Soon, we began to appreciate that so many stores would lose a day of business in order to prioritize connection and relaxation.

Now, we use our Sundays for lengthy four- or five-hour lunches with family and friends, restful walks on the beach, and peaceful hikes in the local mountains.

Our meal schedules have completely shifted

Americans marvel at how late Spaniards eat dinner, but now that I live here, it makes perfect sense.

Our children start school between 8 and 9 a.m. and also get a two-hour lunch break. Kids can either eat at school or go home to have lunch with their families. Working parents can often take part in this, too, as most businesses in Spain close from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. for a midday break.

This has been a huge difference for us. In the US, we would usually eat a quick deskside lunch at work and not see our kids until the end of the day since they had just 30 minutes for lunch and recess.

The school day is also longer here because of that lunch break. Elementary school finishes at 4:30 p.m., and kids typically have their afternoon snack around 5 p.m.

In the evening, people often meet friends for a glass of wine or beer and a pintxo (bite-sized snack) before heading home for dinner around 9 p.m. … or later.

We have a lower cost of living

One of the biggest differences between life in California and Spain is our cost of living. In general, our money seems to go farther in Spain.

We've seen prices rise since we've been here, but they still remain incredibly reasonable to us, with the euro hovering near parity with the dollar.

For example, a café con leche (latte) is typically under 2 euros in Spain. In cafés that cater more to tourists, it can run between 3 and 4 euros. Still, both are a far cry from a latte in San Diego that'd usually cost us $7 (or $8 with a tip).

A glass of wine, on average, ranges from 2 to 4 euros here. In the US, a decent glass runs upward of $18 (similar to the cost of an entire bottle in Spain).

Spain's tipping culture has also helped save us money.

In the US, tipping for a service is expected. Here, rounding up or leaving 10% when you really enjoyed the service is appreciated but not expected.

Local hospitality workers tend to make a higher, more livable wage and thus don't heavily rely on tips — which isn't the case for many in the US.

• We love extending our Thanksgiving break for a more affordable, less crowded offseason holiday.
• Machu Picchu was mystical and breathtaking — and fun for the kids to explore history.
• Visiting the Galápagos was an incredible way to teach our kids about biodiversity and wildlife.

Instead of spending Thanksgiving at home, our family takes advantage of the school break to go abroad for unique experiences.

Swapping turkey for traditional dishes like empanadas in Buenos Aires, street food in Hong Kong, ceviche in Peru, and other dishes around the world has only reinforced our sense of gratitude.

Exposing our kids to different cultures and expanding their global perspective through travel is one of the biggest gifts we think we can give our children, and these are some of our favorite trips.

Our friend invited us to Hong Kong

When one of our friends, a chef, was based in Hong Kong, we jumped at the chance to visit.

For Thanksgiving, he took us to Temple Street Night Market, where he perused buckets of fresh fish, explained the differences to our kids, and ordered a feast. We pulled up plastic stools and got our chopsticks ready, and as soon as the food was served, our 5-year-old made the instant connection and yelled, "We're eating REAL fish!"

The rest of the trip included a traditional tea tasting and a visit to Big Buddha and Po Lin Monastery on Lantau Island.

From there, we spent a few dreamy days in the Maldives, swam with sea turtles, and played tag on picture-perfect beaches.

Hong Kong taught our kids to make connections about where their food comes from, and the Maldives introduced them to the beauty of life under the sea.

We saw Bruno Mars in Argentina

Thanksgiving in Buenos Aires meant empanadas, choripan, and Bonarda wine. Our apartment overlooked the Recoleta cemetery, and we spent days exploring the colorful streets of La Boca, admiring street art in Palermo, and experiencing a polo match.

When we saw a poster for a Bruno Mars concert, we scrambled to get tickets, enjoyed the show, and afterward found ourselves immersed in a world of makeshift front yard parrillas in the streets surrounding the stadium venue.

In Mendoza, we went wine tasting, horseback riding in the vineyards, and enjoying a beautiful lunch at the foot of the snow-capped Andes.

Argentina taught us to drop expectations (cemeteries can be interesting) and embrace spontaneity.

Peru should be experienced once in a lifetime at least

A sojourn through Peru started in Cusco, accompanied by good friends. We stayed in a former monastery where incense and Gregorian chants filled the hallways, stocked up on textiles from the local market, discovered chicha and made chocolate from raw cacao.

In Ollantaytambo, we enjoyed a traditional Pachamanca feast where everything was baked underground and rode the Inca Rail to Aguas Calientes where our hotel was nestled on the Urubamba river. There, we learned how to make the country's specialty (and our Thanksgiving meal), ceviche.

Machu Picchu, the crown jewel, is a mystical, magical place that everyone should experience once, if possible. Our local guide did a great job providing history and entertainment for the kids as they were given magnifying glasses and tasks to complete while exploring.

Peru brought Indigenous history alive and out of the textbooks and introduced us to new flavors and cooking methods, sparking some culinary interest in my kids.

We fed a kangaroo in Australia

My brother-in-law studied in Australia, making lifelong friendships that have, in turn, become ours as well.

From visiting friends in Sydney's Bondi Beach (where their boys introduced our kids to their favorite ice cream shop) to staying with friends further south, where we had a fish and chips dinner on the beach for Thanksgiving, Australia remains high in our core memory bank.

How can you ever forget the first time you fed a kangaroo, cuddled a koala, and went glamping in a zoo with views of the Sydney Opera House?

Australia reinforced how friendships are timeless and know no boundaries.

We got a spiritual cleanse in Ecuador

Ecuador was our first trip abroad post-COVID, and while masks and COVID tests played a prominent role, so did nature and endangered species.

We went high above Quito in the TeleferiQo to glimpse the surrounding volcanoes while enjoying decadent hot chocolates from the cafe in the clouds.

We chased waterfalls near the Otavalo Market, planted our feet on both sides of the equator, received a spiritual cleanse in the Cuenca market, searched for the elusive blue-footed booby, and had a Thanksgiving dinner guided by Raymis, the Indigenous agricultural cycles.

In the Galápagos, we swam in crevasses cut between towering lava cliffs and shared secluded, white-sand beaches with marine iguanas, manta rays, and sea turtles.

Ecuador reminded us not only how lucky we are to be able to travel but also why we must continue to protect biodiversity and wildlife.

Regardless of the destination, our journeys give more than they take, and we are always grateful for that.

Michelle Arellano Martin is the founder of Travara. She splits her time between California and Spain's Basque Country, where she lives with her family.