That postcard from my 13-year-old daughter, sent while we were still enjoying our California trip, hit me harder than I expected. Arriving a week later, its simple message was profound. “Even though we still have two days of adventures ahead,” she wrote, “I am just so grateful for everything we have experienced together on this trip. I am so glad we got to take these adventures together.” In that moment, the core truth about Travel In Family crystallized.
My youngest is nearly eleven, and remarkably, this Southern California trip marked our first true family vacation of four to a completely new destination. While we cherish our visits to our Vermont family home, those are familiar grounds. We’ve also enjoyed incredible vacations with extended family to places like Ireland and Maine. And of course, the global pandemic put a pause on much of anything for a while. This trip, however, felt different. It was our dedicated time to explore, discover, and create memories as just our immediate family unit. And it underscored why prioritizing travel in family is so essential – it’s about building a treasure trove of shared experiences with our children.
The Fleeting Years: Why Family Travel is a Now-or-Never Priority
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It’s a common parental refrain: “Where did the time go?” Next month, my youngest turns eleven, and shortly after, our eldest turns fourteen. These ages feel both wonderfully present and fleetingly brief. It’s precisely at these ages that travel in family becomes so rewarding. They’re old enough to truly absorb and remember these adventures, forging genuine core memories.
I’m confident they will recall the rattlesnake encounter in Malibu, the playful seal pups in La Jolla, the exhilarating dash through Disneyland to conquer Rise of the Resistance at Galaxy’s Edge, and even their dad’s unwavering “fan-tastic!” response to every restaurant server. They are capable now in ways they weren’t when younger. We can embrace more active pursuits, explore diverse cuisines, pack lighter, and generally, they adapt readily to the ebb and flow of travel.
They even participated in planning, expressing interest in surf lessons and a dance class. We made both happen. Yet, amidst their growing independence, they still showed us glimpses of their younger selves. Throughout our nine days, both daughters spontaneously held our hands – a gesture rarer now than in their toddler years. In crowded Disneyland and Universal Studios, those small hands sought ours. But it wasn’t just for security; they walked hand-in-hand with their dad on Coronado beach at night, and strolled hand-in-hand with us down Hollywood Boulevard, taking in the Walk of Fame. These are the quiet moments, the unexpected hand-holds, that become etched in memory. And yes, I will absolutely remind them of these moments the next time they resist holding my hand! These are the subtle yet powerful benefits of travel in family.
New Horizons, Shared Joy: The Power of Experiencing Firsts Together
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Exploring new destinations and engaging in novel activities as a family amplifies the memory-making process. While my husband had visited Southern California before, it was only my second time, and the girls’ very first experience on the West Coast. Even for my husband, we uncovered new facets of the region together.
We navigated e-bikes for the first time, a comical and exhilarating family challenge. We witnessed our younger daughter’s awe as she explored fighter jet cockpits aboard the USS Midway. The genuine wonder on their faces as they stood before a real space shuttle at the California Science Center was priceless. And of course, we captured fun, silly photos in front of the iconic Hollywood sign – quintessential travel in family moments.
A highlight of our family bonding was our surf lesson in Santa Monica with Aqua Surf School. None of us had surfed before, though it was something the girls had expressed interest in. The pure joy radiating from their faces as they stood on their boards, riding waves, was infectious. We shared laughter as one daughter narrowly avoided other surfers, and even more laughter at our inevitable wipeouts. These shared “firsts” are the threads that weave stronger family connections through travel in family.
The Enduring Value of Extended Family Travel
While our focus here is on the nuclear family unit, it’s crucial to acknowledge the continued importance of travel with extended family. As my mother wisely says, “We’re not getting any younger.” We have plans to visit Arizona with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law, and my parents are organizing a trip to Israel with us, my brother, and his children. These extended family trips offer unique advantages.
Traveling with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins nurtures connections across generations. It provides invaluable bonding opportunities, allowing family members of all ages to learn from and grow with each other. These trips reinforce familial identity, as stories and traditions are shared and passed down. The precious memories forged between grandchildren and grandparents are irreplaceable.
My parents and mother-in-law find immense joy in spending time with their grandchildren (and us, I suppose!), experiencing the world through their eyes. My dad, not a Disney World enthusiast, still treasures the memory of watching our children and their cousins experience its magic.
My daughters adore their cousins; they are inseparable. For them, extended family vacations are the ultimate treat, akin to an extended sleepover and playdate. Cousins, after all, are often built-in best friends, and nurturing those bonds is a gift.
For me, traveling with my parents and brother as an adult evokes cherished memories of our family vacations growing up. We were fortunate to experience incredible trips: skiing out west, hiking the Grand Canyon, a Yellowstone horseback riding and camping adventure, Niagara Falls, and more. These are the core memories of my childhood family life. And it is these very memories that inspire me to continue creating similar, wonderful experiences – new places, new adventures – with my own husband and children. This is the enduring legacy of travel in family: creating a lifetime of shared joy and unbreakable bonds.
