Known online as @TravelBabbo, award-winning writer, photographer, and influencer Eric Stoen loves traveling the globe — and bringing his kids along for the ride! A father of three, Stoen shares tips for traveling with children to his thousands of followers, posting blogs about his own family’s worldwide adventures.
Before becoming one of the world’s top family travel influencers, though, Stoen’s love for all things international was ignited in Florence. The American studied abroad in the Renaissance city, and he was instantly hooked. Since Italy, he’s traveled to 100 other countries across 7 continents. Even still, Florence remains a special place for Stoen; he’s returned over 50 times!
Learn more about @TravelBabbo, Stoen’s journey to travel influencing, and his tips for an unforgettable, culturally rich trip to Florence — the city that started it all.
International Encounters
While all of his own children posed for their passport photos as infants, Eric Stoen’s childhood wasn’t so travel-focused. He traveled internationally on occasion with his family, but his formal introduction to life abroad didn’t come until his college years.
Stoen chose to attend Pepperdine University because of its international program in Florence. “I was eager to get to college, but then get overseas and finally see Italy,” he says. Pepperdine students were encouraged to venture abroad as underclassmen, so Stoen spent his entire sophomore year exploring Italy — and as many parts of Europe as he could.
“It’s all those European cultures that are still, even with the EU, still distinct, which is really cool,” Stoen says, recounting his trips across the continent. “That made me absolutely fall in love with everything travel-related, everything Europe-related, everything culture-related.”
Stoen says studying abroad is an addictive feeling, one that led him to spend a semester in Germany a while after his yearlong stint in Florence. After graduate school, he found his way to the University of Oslo, continuing to immerse himself in different cultures.
“You become the local; you become the local at the bar that you like best, and that coffee place in the morning, and you find your favorite little lunch spot,” Stoen remarks. “And after you go back several times, they recognize you, and you’re no longer just a tourist. That relationship maybe is still formal, but there’s that familiarity to it at the same time that’s really what travel’s about.”
Stoen continued to foster his love for travel, even as he built a career in healthcare. He found success in the industry, but it never matched the passion he had for traversing the world. After working at the same healthcare position for almost two decades, Stoen decided he wanted to make travel his full-time job. “Friends thought I was crazy for quitting,” Stoen recalls. “I knew that there was more to life than being relatively unhappy in a field that you don’t care about.”
Now, with over 350,000 Instagram followers, Stoen’s growing collection of travel content has been hailed by CNN, Forbes, Fodor’s Travel, Feedspot, the Society of American Travel Writers, and more. Likewise, Stoen often receives everyday accolades from the families he’s reached through his travel content, something that he says “keeps me going.”
“I get a lot of emails and messages from people who I’ve inspired to travel one-on-one with their kids or break out of their comfort zone and go to Costa Rica or Africa,” Stoen says. “It’s nice actually feeling like I’m partially changing people’s lives.”
Finding New Corners of Florence
Stoen’s TravelBabbo account is full of stunning photos from around the globe, but snapshots of Florence appear again and again. Sharing photos of the Santa Croce church’s facade, the Duomo’s reflection in a puddle on the cobbled streets, and hot air balloons hovering above the city’s red-roofed skyline, it’s no secret that Florence is one of Stoen’s favorite cities.
As an Italian tourist hub, the streets of Florence are often crowded, especially around the iconic Duomo or the Ponte Vecchio. For Stoen, these bustling stretches motivate him to get off the beaten path. “It’s clichéd, but even now, even after 50-plus trips over the years, I try to get lost,” he says. “I try to zigzag different ways every single time.”
For Stoen, visiting Florence is less about following a rigid list of must-see attractions and more about spontaneity — the spirit of discovery. Every time he travels to this storied city, he finds a little shop or a new trattoria to enjoy. “I think Florence is more about the yellow buildings,” he says. “Stumbling upon things and getting away from huge tour groups.”
Stumbling upon enthralling art and culture is nearly inevitable on a trip to Florence. From marbled paper and artisan leather to handmade pasta and fresh gelato, Florentine culture offers memorable experiences for travelers of all ages. Over the years, Stoen says, his own kids have been partial to interactive Italian cooking classes.
“Our kids have had so much fun with all of that, like going back in the kitchens,” Stoen says. “Gelato making especially was always really fun for them.” Seeing the gelato creation process firsthand, he notes, helps foster a deeper appreciation for Florentine specialties.
Speaking of Florentine specialties, Stoen and his family have sampled Tuscan cuisine at countless restaurants in the city over the years. He can name some of his family-friendly favorites off the top of his head: Mammamia, located in the bustling Piazza del Mercato Nuovo, is a consistently good spot that’s open all afternoon, Stoen says. It’s perfect for both jet-lagged families just arriving in the city and travelers in search of an Italian-style dinner later in the evening.
Stoen also enjoys restaurants like Braceria All’11 in the lovely Santo Spirito neighborhood, BaccoMatto (they remember Stoen’s order every time!), and Cacio e Pepe, whose flavorful cinghiale, a Florentine specialty pasta featuring wild boar ragù, blew him away.
Popular among locals, Stoen also recommends 4 Leoni. Its menu is full of variety and flavor, making it one of the gastronomic focal points of Piazza della Passera, a little square just south of the Arno River that boasts several excellent eateries.
For more on the best restaurants in Florence: Dine like a pro in with Artviva’s upcoming ebook, The Ultimate Guide to Eating and Drinking in Florence: Your Essential 2025 Guide! Full of curated restaurant recommendations, traditional dishes, and a ton of food history, it’s a must-have for foodies in search of authentic Italian flavors. Learn how to make delicious dishes like cinghiale with step-by-step recipes, or read up on delightful eateries like 4 Leoni, a well-loved Oltrarno trattoria touted by family travel influencer Eric Stoen.
FAQ: Eric Stoen’s Florence Travel Tips
With decades of experience traveling the world, Stoen has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to making the most of an international trip. One key piece of travel advice he shares with his followers? Consider hiring a private tour guide. Here’s why Stoen thinks small-group tours from renowned agencies like Artviva are “the way to see the city.”
What are some of the benefits of hiring a private tour guide?
Compared to crowded, large-group tours, Stoen says private tours bring you closer to the cultural wonders you’ve traveled so far to see. With the right guide, explorations of cities such as Florence can be custom-fitted to your interests and passions.
“That’s such an easy way to do everything,” Stoen says. “To get off the beaten path, to find out about little things that are going to impact you more based on you and your family and what you like. A good private tour guide can do that.”
Artviva is a fully licensed private tour guide, offering travelers incredible experiences in Florence and beyond. What might a tour with Artviva look like?
During one of Stoen’s return trips to Florence, he chose Artviva to help show him even more of the city’s marvels. On this particular trip, Stoen was eager to reach new heights — literally — and climb up to the Duomo’s terraces.
“I knew there was a way to see the Duomo terraces, but had no idea how to do it, and had never been up to that level of the Duomo,” he recalls. “And (Artviva) arranged that, which was really cool.”
Artviva booked Stoen’s tickets for a tour of the terraces; he learned even more about Florence’s iconic cathedral and looked out at the city skyline from a new angle. With a passion for the wonders of Italy, Artviva is eager to curate breathtaking experiences like Stoen’s for even more curious travelers.
How do companies like Artviva add memorable, personal touches to their private tours and experiences?
On the way to a unique Alchemist’s Walk through the Boboli Gardens, Stoen and his expert Artviva guide stopped to look at some of the city’s quaint piazzas and vibrant street art. Before crossing over the Arno River, his guide also took him inside the Santa Trinita church.
There, Stoen was greeted by masterpieces on the walls, frescoes adorning a basilica he’d only ever admired from the outside. “I loved that not only were the Artviva tours whatever I signed up for, but they included little stops like that,” Stoen says. “They gave me a much better feel for the places I was walking by on a regular basis.”
Explore Florence Like @TravelBabbo With Artviva
1. Duomo, Baptistry & Opera del Duomo Museum Tour – Florence
With the help of Artviva, Stoen took in the incredible view from the Duomo terraces during a trip to Florence. Discover the wonders of the Duomo yourself with our extensive private tour of the magnificent Duomo complex. Get a chance to visit the Museum Terrace and even climb Giotto’s Bell Tower or Brunelleschi’s iconic dome!
2. Florence For Kids – Original Florence Walk
Bringing younger travelers with you to Florence? Led by specialist guides, Artviva’s Florence for Kids tour is full of engaging history, incredible stories of Florentine culture, and boundless fun!
3. Masterpieces in Florentine Churches Tour – Florence’s Most Beautiful Churches
One of Stoen’s favorite memories from an Artviva tour was stepping into one of Florence’s many beautiful churches and admiring the frescoes. Let Artviva show you the city’s most breathtaking masterpieces from legendary artists like Michelangelo on your very own private tour of Florentine churches.
4. Private Gelato Making Class in Florence
Stoen says his kids enjoy Florence’s interactive cooking classes, especially the ones focused on gelato making! Perfect for travelers of all ages, discover how Florentine gelaterias craft their signature dessert in a private gelato making experience. This personalized, hands-on class is the best way to appreciate authentic, delicious gelato in the city that created it!
5. The Alchemist’s Walk – A Florence Garden Visit
With Artviva, Stoen explored the enchanting Boboli Gardens, encountering trails and alcoves he’d never seen before. Follow in the footsteps of this master traveler and book our Alchemist’s Walk. Immerse yourself in the beauty of the mystical Boboli Gardens and learn about the alchemical inspirations behind this green oasis. Then, see real-life alchemists in action during exclusive visits to an artisan jeweler and specialist perfumer in the heart of Florence.
Why Book With Artviva?
Artviva is a fully licensed Destination Management Company (DMC) with over two decades of experience. You can trust our team to guide you through Italy with care, passion, and world-class expertise. Artviva’s curated activities and experiences set us apart from other tour operators; our knowledgeable guides will share Italy’s authentic culture with your exclusive tour group, from hidden gems in the heart of Florence to bespoke excursions in scenic Tuscany.
Praised by top travel influencer Eric Stoen of Travel Babbo, Artviva’s nearly 200 different exclusive tours are perfect for those in search of a unique adventure! Book now to fall in love with Italy, all while enjoying a hassle-free travel experience.
