Creating Memories: Five Reasons to Travel as a Family
Family travel is hard. But that’s the point.
When my oldest was born, I was too anxious to travel. How would she sleep or stay on her “schedule?” (Cue eyeroll.) How would she do on the plane? Would it be worth the trip? Would she remember anything?
Looking back, I realize how anxious and ridiculous I was as a new mom. So by the time my third daughter turned one, she had a passport stamp, several plane trips, and the chicken pox from an unvaccinated country. Since then, we’ve been trotting the globe and our travel experiences have a profound impact our family. But if the thought of air travel with little ones is daunting, visit Clarice in Wanderland for some tips on traveling with toddlers.
If you’re still unsure about taking your little ones on that big trip, here’s five research-based reasons to travel with your family:
Strengthen Family Bonds. When we’re away from daily distractions and busy schedules, we’re actually CONNECTING. We’re more present, engaging our kids, and sharing experiences together. A 2013 report from the University of Massachusetts, The Benefits of Travel: Family and Relationships Review of Literature, revealed that shared family travel experiences led to increased family cohesion, improved communication, and stronger emotional connections between family members.
Build Confidence and Resilience. Adventure travel, in particular, helps kids (and adults!) push their limits and discover new strengths. When my youngest was four and fearless, we sent her on 2500ft long zip line in Costa Rica. I may have questioned my parenting as she sailed through the rainforest, but today she’s brave, confident, and can withstand heights. In 2024, Anthropologists at Dartmouth College found that risky play boosts self-esteem and internal motivation.
What’s more, dealing with unexpected situations and new experiences helps kids become adaptable and manage anxiety. A 2024 study, The Psychological Benefits of Adventure Tourism, found that travel builds confidence and cultivates resilience. I was always terrified my kids would get sick on vacation and, lo and behold, they’ve contracted everything from Strep to swimmers ear and stomach bugs while traveling. But we managed, and now we’re all less afraid of it happening.
Promote Physical Health. Despite my girls’ protests, traveling, for us, often involves physical activities like hiking, kayaking, biking, or swimming. As much as they complain at the outset, everyone (usually) enjoys the healthy, physical experience and our oldest now anticipates biking everywhere on certain vacations. According to a 2022 study, Family Travel, Positive Psychology, and Well-Being, participants reported reduced stress, better health, and improved well-being from traveling.
Foster Cultural Awareness. Our fairly homogenous, suburban New Jersey town is not representative of the “real-world.” Traveling, however, has provided a healthy dose of reality as they witness, first-hand, how others live, practice new languages, try new foods, and listen to local music. In a 2010 study, Columbia Business School professor Adam Galinsky found that travel “increases awareness of underlying connections and associations.” So try to venture beyond the big resort and rent a car, greet locals in their native language, and ask them where they like to eat to fully immerse yourself in their culture. As always, consider safety and if crime is an issue hire a tour guide or driver.
Create Lifelong Memories. While this might be stating the obvious, family travel creates core memories. A survey conducted by the U.S. Travel Association, for instance, found that the majority of adults reported their first memory being of family vacation between ages 5 and 10. These memories were significantly stronger than their memories of school or birthday parties. Although my kids can’t recall much from early childhood, they vividly remember details from our trips and travel traditions, like biking at the beach, eating local pineapple, feeding monkeys, climbing waterfalls, and all the visits to urgent care and pharmacies in other states and countries. These travel experiences are not only remembered, but also passed on to younger generations as we share stories about family vacations.
Still, research can’t fully illuminate the benefits of family travel. You need to experience it. If you’re still hesitant to travel with little ones, start with a road trip! It doesn’t matter where you go, it’s about the time spent together, connecting. Please share your advice on traveling with kids!
