5 reasons we travel as a family

Wall of travel memories

1. Brings us closer together.

We are guilty of spending money on material things just like everyone else.  But over the years we have noticed we get much more joy out of experiences.   Most of these experiences come through travel.  We have to wait in traffic together, get through airport delays together, and we laugh and yell together.

2.  The more we travel the better we get at it and the more lessons we learn.

We were nervous to fly 4.5 hours to Aruba but we got over it and the kids came out better travelers.  It's the same with long car rides, they learn to adjust and cope with sitting in a car seat for long chunks of time.  We have talked ourselves out of Hawaii a few times over the year saying it's too far to fly with kids.  Bologna! We can do it and plan to in the next year or so.  Take the plunge it's worth it, book that trip.  Time is finite.

The more we travel the more our confidence grows.  Not just the adults but the kids too.  They become more comfortable talking to people and asking for things.  The kids learn to appreciate things.

Waiting in line teaches patience.  It doesn’t always work especially when they miss a nap but they learn that if they want to do something they may have to wait in line for it.  (Macie waited 80 min for the 7 dwarfs ride in Disney!)

As you travel more it becomes less stressful.  It becomes a habit.  Long road trips become more bearable.  Getting through the airport becomes a routine.  You figure out how to lug car seats around and get them installed in a flash.  

I (Keith) also learned early on that the time to be cheap is not on vacation.  Back in 2008 I took a trip to Germany to see family and experience Oktoberfest.  For context, I was just a year or so out of College and didn't utilize points, so I was pinching pennies.  In Berlin I got pulled off a train by an undercover policeman for buying a ticket for a dog instead of an adult to save a few bucks.  I ended up running away from him as he tried to talk me into paying my fine in cash.  This is something that is funny now but wasn't funny then.

Later on in that same trip we booked a train to Prague and I bought us tickets to a suburban train station instead of the downtown Prague station.  We ended up getting dropped off at a tiny station in the middle of nowhere.  Somehow we got lucky and flagged down a nice little old lady to drive us into town.  We offered her money or a bottle of wine in return and she just pointed to a crucifix hanging from her rear view mirror and shook her head.  There are nice people in the Czech Republic!

That trip taught me not to be cheap on vacation!!!

3.  It exposes us to new things and new people.

In the customs line in Aruba we talked to a family from Turkey for a half hour and our kids played together.  It's fun to learn about different experiences and cultures.

It’s fun to see the kids grow on vacation.  They play and meet the kids next to us on the beach.  They meet families from different countries and cultures.  They eat different foods; they get out of their comfort zone.  Yes they have meltdowns and kick and scream but these are learning experiences. 

4.  Creates traditions and memories.

We have a few traditions started.  We buy a picture frame from every new place we visit and put in on  a wall shelf in our office.  It is fun to be able to look back and see our family picture from each trip.  It's something that will never get old.

For the past four years we have visited Ocean City, Md.  It's become our summer tradition.  The trips come up in conversation all the time with the kids - remember in ocean city....

I'm assuming more traditions will start as the kids get into school and we have to tailor vacations around breaks.

5.  Requires you to be present. 

This topic is discussed a lot in happiness pod casts and readings.

We make an effort to not bring our phones down to the beach or pool when we are on vacation.  We want to be able to build sandcastles with the kids or splash in the water without looking at our phone.  The screen is very addictive; if it isn’t around I can’t look at it.  On vacation you can’t just send the kids to their rooms or waste a day watching a movie.  It forces you to be involved and present.

Why do you travel?

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