Unexpected Highlights

We’ve all been there. You’ve envisioned how a trip would go and what would amaze and delight your children. The magic of the Eiffel Tower sparkling at night. The immense power of Niagara Falls. The thrill of exploring a coral reef with a snorkel for the first time. And yet, when you ask your kid to recount their top memories, often times what sticks out the most to them aren’t these grand places, but rather more mundane (in our minds, at least!) or ordinary things. These unexpected highlights from a trip are simply small moments that tickle their brains in some way and leave a lasting impression.

On one particularly hectic travel day last summer, we were visiting Kravica Falls in Bosnia and Herzegovina before crossing the border back into Croatia to drive south to Dubrovnik. It was a long day, but the highlight was supposed to be these waterfalls where we would swim in the emerald waters surrounded by lush nature. My kids were excited, and I was certain this memory of swimming in the Bosnian waterfalls would become a top trip moment.

On the drive through the mountains to Dubrovnik, however, our little rental car was stopped, literally, by something apparently more impressive. An unattended herd of cattle just waltzed along and stopped in the middle of the road. We were stuck. Not wanting to risk damage to the rental car, my husband wisely decided we needed to wait them out. Our wimpy rental car horn did nothing to persuade the cattle from moving along. Yet while Mom and Dad were frustrated (“We’ll be so late to check in! What about dinner plans? Why won’t they MOVE?!”), our children were utterly fascinated and entertained. These lazy mountain cows didn’t care one bit about us and had zero intention of getting a move on. There were so many jokes made and at many points my kids were in fits of laughter, especially as my husband’s annoyance grew at the wayward Balkan bovine.

When we reminisce on that trip, there are many moments that are “top” memories for the kids, but what always sets off the giggles is when someone says, “But remember THOSE COWS?!” A seemingly insignificant, and certainly unplanned interaction became an unexpected highlight of the trip. You just never know what will stick out in a child’s mind!

Why a road trip is a great decision…even with kids

Some of my fondest memories as a child revolve around piling into the back of our Ford Aerostar minivan and setting off to destinations unknown. From our home in Texas, we ventured all up and down the East Coast, out to Niagara Falls, down through the Appalachians and covered a lot of ground all around the Gulf of Mexico. It was memory-making at its finest.

And yet, the thought of a road trip…with kids?!…can be quite daunting. Here are our top three reasons we think a roadtrip can be worth it.

Explore more places

Ever been to Castine, Maine? How about Sylva, North Carolina? The reality is that road trips allow you to explore so much more of a country. A few summers ago, as our family made our yearly trip to Santa Rosa Beach, we made a pitstop in Montgomery, Alabama and explored the National Memorial for Peace and Justice. It was by far one of the most impactful experiences in my life…and we would’ve missed it if we had taken our normal flight down to the beach. Could we make a separate trip to some of these smaller places? Sure. But road trips can be a natural way to explore these smaller but no less beautiful and impactful areas.

Take your time

Is it just me, or is making sure you’re constantly running on time- can’t miss that flight/train/tour/restaurant hours/shop- one of the most stressful parts of travel as a family? When you take a roadtrip, you more fully control your own schedule. If you need to stop to play at a park to get some wiggles out? Do it. Forgot to pack enough diapers? Detour at a local grocery store or pharmacy. Someone need a potty break, after a potty break, after a potty break? Annoying, but possible when you’re on a road trip.

The costs are usually lower, and the time together as a family is so valuable

While gas prices aren’t exactly low these days (who remembers filling up a tank of gas for $20?!), generally speaking, roadtrips in your own vehicle are significantly less expensive than flying. Yes, they sometimes take more time (thought when you add in getting to the airport early, security, etc etc, maybe not)- but the time spent as a family really can be so valuable. When we travel, my husband or I read a world history book out loud to our kids and discuss what we’re learning as we go. The kids now ask us to read any time we’re in the car, even on short trips around town! Audible has excellent children’s books options. Or maybe you just need to hand your kid a tablet and some headphones so you can stare out the window in peace for a little bit. And that’s ok too- because what matters most is that you’re wandering well, together.

What are some of your favorite roadtrip memories or tips? Share them with us on our Instagram, @wanderwelltravelers

Confessions From A Reformed Over-scheduler

I get it. You’re on a long-awaited vacation with your kids. There is SO much you want to see and experience in this new place. You’re itinerary is perfect, you have all the maps and local information you need, and nothing can get in your way! Except…for that one little variable you brought along. Your children.

As much as we’d like to think otherwise, bringing kids on vacation changes things. It makes the experience different and brings so many opportunities to learn together, see new interests blossom, and create lifelong memories as a family. In my mind, there’s nothing better! But as someone who loves to plan, I’ve also learned that sometimes you need to put that schedule aside.

The most vivid example of this was our last big vacation as a family to Croatia in August 2023. This was a trip planned for 2020 (womp, womp), and to say I was excited to finally be there was an understatement. My husband gave me full authority to plan our 15 days adventure and I did so with gusto. Towards the end of our trip, we were staying in Dubrovnik in the southern tip of the country. Just an hour’s drive south (plus summer traffic, plus border crossings) was the glorious Bay of Kotor, Montenegro, a place that had been on my bucket list for a while. In my mind, this was an obvious day trip.

In the morning, I was up early to pack snacks and make sure everyone had a change of clothes and necessary things for the day. As my husband and I put together a quick breakfast, our children came out of their room all bleary-eyed and decidedly NOT enthusiastic about getting in the car and driving again. To put this in perspective, we had already driven quite a lot. We’d taken the kids down the entire Dalmatian coast, across the island Bol, in and around eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina…and the next day we were going to spend the whole day driving back north.

“Mom…”, my 9-year old started, “I really don’t want to take another day trip.”

“What?! But this place is going to be so beautiful! I really think you’ll love it!”

My 7-year old chimed in next. “Yeah but I like this place. Can’t we just go to the beach?”

By the time my 2 year old made his opinions known, it was clear that no child wanted to go anywhere other than the beach and out for gelato.

I was shocked. My heart sank and I felt my whole body deflate a little. And then I realized that while this was my vacation, it was also theirs. And I had tried to squeeze every bit of magic out of every beach, fortress, castle, or vineyard we visited, without stopping often enough to assess what it was my kids needed.

My husband and I looked at each other and knew that today, we were going to have to throw out my perfectly crafted schedule. Not because it was bad but because in some moments you need to be flexible enough to adjust course and listen to the needs of your tiny travelers.

And you know what? The day ended up being blissfully near-perfect. We ate fresh goodies from a bakery, played for hours on the beach, strolled amongst the throngs of tourists inside the Old City walls, and ate gelato all at the pace our kids needed. The kids had so much fun that day and I knew we made the right call.

I’m a reformed over-scheduler, and I’m so grateful for my kids helping me to embrace the more leisurely pace of vacation.