I only wish we’d done it sooner.
My family took our first notable family vacation a few years ago. And it was fabulous.
I’ve always recognized the importance of family vacations. And my husband and I had good intentions of making them part of our family’s story.
Yet the excuses not to go had been numerous and easy to justify.
Time. Money. Getting off work. The challenge of taking young children on long trips.
But as the years ticked by, we realized we were missing precious opportunities to create memories and strengthen our family bond.
So, when our daughters were four and six, we set all the excuses aside and planned a trip.
And boy are we glad we did.
The perfect vacation…
For budget reasons and time constraints, we chose a destination within driving distance. It was a long road trip. And I’ve got to be honest…I was a little nervous about it.
But it went better than I could’ve hoped! We enjoyed the scenery, stopped at interesting places along the way, and made the most of our time in the car together.
And when we finally arrived at our mountain cabin…
Well, it was a little slice of heaven.
Quaint, cozy, and nestled into the edge of the Smoky Mountains. It was pretty much perfect.
So, we settled in and thoroughly enjoyed the next few days.
We hiked mountain trails and visited amusement parks. We ate one delicious meal after another.
My husband and I enjoyed early morning coffee on our cabin deck. Our girls giggled through late evening splashes in the hot tub.
We played games, watched movies, and just soaked in the time together.
It was everything a vacation should be.
And it reminded us of why these trips are so important to the family dynamic.
There are endless reasons to make family vacations a priority. But here’s the top five that stuck out to me after our first one.
Five thoughts on the importance of family vacations…
Memories your whole family will remember.
The memories that happen on family vacations are unique. Filled with the kind of stuff you just can’t replicate. We have so many from our trip…
The crazy mountain road that I still to this day have no idea how we navigated. All while our girls shouted with glee and my husband and I sweated buckets of anxiety.
The breathless hike to a mountain waterfall. The early morning drive home as the sun rose over the mountains.
The list goes on and on…
And little of that could have been experienced from our own hometown.
Opportunities to bond that can’t be replicated.
Whether it was long hours on the road or quiet nights snuggled in front of the cabin fireplace, our vacation was full of opportunities to grow closer.
Getting away from it all puts things in perspective. It removes the distractions of everyday life. Pulls us away from our busy schedules and normal priorities.
Gets us out of routine-in a good way.
And all of that provides the perfect opportunity for family bonding.
Discover how to make your next family road trip a huge success in “Family Road Trip Essentials.”
The chance to slow life down.
In today’s fast-paced culture, it’s easy for families to move at warp speed without even realizing it. Rushing from one activity to the next. Then dropping into bed at night just to do it all over again the next day.
But family vacations force a change of pace. Even if you pack your trip full of activity, it’s still a different kind of feel.
One that’s usually more relaxed and less pressured. And it’s just another reason why the importance of family vacations can’t be overlooked.
A wide-open classroom.
This might seem surprising, but some of the most vivid memories of family vacations from my own childhood have an educational spin.
Almost like it’s yesterday, I remember one road trip to Texas and all the stops we made along the way.
I have a clear memory of standing in front of the Oklahoma City bombing memorial. Decades later, I can still picture the Alamo and The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza.
Those parts of our family vacations were meaningful and memorable. And while I never would have guessed it at the time, those are the memories that have stuck with me.
I want to provide my children with the same kind of experiences. It doesn’t mean we’ll fill every trip with historic stops.
But it does mean I’ll capitalize on those opportunities when I can.
Seeing history first-hand is so much more powerful than reading about it.
Many family vacations happen in the summer. But the end of a school year doesn’t mean that education stops.
In fact, it might be the perfect opportunity for everybody to learn a new thing or two. And you might be surprised at how many of those lessons your kids will remember!
Experiencing new things together.
While technology has undoubtedly made the world seem a bit smaller, it’s still a pretty big place. There’s more to do and see than any one person could ever take in.
Whether it’s an overnight stay in a city a few hours away or a trip halfway around the world, new experiences are everywhere.
Our world is vast and beautiful. And bursting with opportunity for adventure.
I don’t know about you, but there’s no one I’d rather explore with than those closest to my heart.
Want to know exactly what to pack in your car to make the most of time together on the road? Check out “A Practical Family Road Trip Packing List.”
The time is now…
Granted, not every vacation will be perfection. In fact, some may turn out absolutely miserable.
And most will probably have their fair share of challenges.
But isn’t that part of what makes them memorable?
How many of us have stories of childhood trips gone wrong?
And don’t we all enjoy laughing about some of those experiences together? Or even more importantly, remembering how we made the best of those situations?
So, whether it’s the perfect trip, a complete flop, or somewhere in between, the memories you’ll make are priceless.
The importance of family vacations simply can’t be measured.
So, what are you waiting for? There’s a great big world out there. Just waiting for your family to discover it together.
There’s no denying the importance of family vacations. What’s your favorite family vacation memory? Please share in the comments below!
I like that you pointed out how the memories that happen on family vacations are unique. My family has quite a lot of free time next month, so we are thinking of going on a vacation. For that, we should probably ask for some assistance from a Disney cruise planning agent.
Luke, I hope your family was able to take that vacation and make some great memories!