Do You Have Annual Vacation Traditions?

Ever since Sadie was born, we’ve slowed our roll a bit with taking trips for leisure simply because our energy and finances were seemingly focused on other things. One kid didn’t slow us down, but two little ones certainly (and justifiably) did. Now that our youngest is nearing two and seemingly much more manageable and able to go with the flow, we’re feeling more ambitious about putting getaways back on our calendar (once we get settled down from this move, of course).

When I think about planning vacations, I initially think about where we want to go and who we’d like to travel with. At the top of our priority list is to take one family vacation every year that’s just the four of us, but it’s also really important to us to plan fun getaways with our families and friends as well.

As a military family who lives 12+ hours from all of our family and friends, we have spent so much time traveling to them (and gratefully receiving them as well), but we’re ready to do more traveling with them as well. I think planning getaways with friends and family is often such an investment into your relationships, and the memories you make are so good for you, and your kids too.

When I think about some of my favorite memories from growing up (or really my entire life in general), many of those times involved travel. My parents took us on a ton of vacations growing up (or at least it seemed like it), and though we never went anywhere super fancy (besides a Bahamas cruise once in high school), we always had such a ball going away together. I want my girls to think back on their childhood and have those same kind of memories.

So, if you can’t tell, my mind has been all wanderlust-y this week thinking about future travels. We agreed a while ago that we weren’t going to plan any family vacations until a few months after our move so that we could get truly settled in our new state with Jamie’s new job, but now that that window is getting closer and closer, I can’t help but be excited to start throwing around ideas of where to visit in 2019 and beyond.

My question for you is: Do you have vacation traditions, meaning do you go on the same type of vacation with the same people year after year? Do you enjoy this, or do you feel obligated to go? If you travel with friends, what kinds of trips do you go on together? Cruises? Rent beach houses? Neither Jamie nor I grew up having any annual vacation traditions, so I’m curious if this is something other families or friends’ groups enjoy and if we should start doing something like this too. Would love to hear your thoughts and what works and is enjoyable for other people.

More:

Our first family vacation to San Diego and our second to Disney World

One of my favorite extended family vacations to Panama City Beach

A wonderful trip with girlfriends to Asheville

Finally, our dream belated honeymoon to Costa Rica

To see more vacations and posts about our travels, click here.