Some people think traveling with children is a terrible idea. I’m here to tell you that I find it to be a highly rewarding experience.
I’ve always taken my kids with me on vacation – from the first Disney event when they were toddlers to our recent spring break adventures. Naturally, as their interests have changed, so too have the nature of our excursions. This year, we split the group – as their vacation preferences were split down some stereotypical gender lines.
My girls opted for New York City and all its trappings: Broadway musicals, museums, sight-seeing and, of course, shopping. Our NYC experience was perfectly encapsulated in the shock and awe of Times Square. The girls had never before seen the lights, the activity and the overall mass-ness of humanity represented there.
My son, on the other hand, had his sights set on the Rocky Mountains and baseball, so he and I took a separate 3-day excursion to Denver and Estes Park. There, the shock and awe was epitomized by the Rocky Mountains. For a 15 year old who had only flown over the mountains, as we drove or hiked through the majesty of Colorado, every other word was “awesome,” “cool,” or “wow!”
Interestingly, I found the people in NYC were just as friendly as those in Estes Park. This was especially true of the young adults working at the museums and hotels. Perhaps it was because I was traveling with young people, but I found the “locals” treated us with a more kindred sense of friendliness than when I travel for business. This is probably more about me than them. When I travel with my children, I generally don’t have the rush or demands I feel when I’m traveling for business. In other words, it really is through your own perspective that the color of the lens changes.
A few other observations I made:
- Travel time is an excellent opportunity for relationship focus. “Forced” time together can be challenging, but I can honestly say it never feels forced to me.
- Personalities are magnified on vacation. It can bring out the best and worst in us. I find if you focus on the best and forget the rest, vacations are much more enjoyable.
- Embrace your similarities and differences. One thing that I learned is that my children and I are all Type A personalities. I suppose this could be a lethal combination. But in our case, it’s a harmonic convergence of cramming as much into our time together as possible. Our motto: “We can always sleep at home!”
In general, I like traveling with my children because of the fresh perspective they bring. It’s wonderful to see something again through the eyes of child — even if that child has already reached adulthood. I highly recommend it.