Why do you want to travel? Or do you? I know there are so many varying opinions on this and I always find it so interesting to hear what a person’s dream vacation would look like. Would it be an all-expense paid trip to Disney World? Or the Galapagos? Would it be a hut over the water in at a 5 star resort in Tahiti? Or a camping excursion through New Zealand?
(The Jud Wiebe trail overlooking Telluride)
We just booked a beach getaway with my side of the family to the beautiful and serene beach of Sullivan’s Island and I couldn’t be more ecstatic. We’ve done a pretty good job over the past few years at getting an annual Stathas family vacation on the books. Last year we went to Pigeon Forge, the year before that it was Hilton Head, and the year before that it was Edisto. We also are looking forward to a return to trip with the Dixon side of the family to Bald Head Island this summer, which we haven’t been to since Kaitlyn was just a few months old.
These trips fill my heart because they are opportunities to create incredible memories with the people I love the most. That is one of my favorite reasons to travel. It takes us out of our day-to-day element so we can’t be distracted by laundry piles or home projects, leaving us to just focus on where we are and who we are with.
I’ve realized that bonding happens in the little moments. Though we may take pictures of the sandcastles at the beach, it’s the conversations at the breakfast table over coffee or game of charades after the kids go down or trying something new together that really strengthen our connections.
Travel is something that is very important to both David and me. It’s been confined to driveable distances since we become parents, which has been pretty wonderful since we live there are so many options to reach by car in the Carolinas. Now we are out of the baby phase though, and we see the possibilities opening up to a broader array of possibilities.
So why do you want to travel? For me, it’s about experiencing new things with the people I love. It’s creating memories. It’s exploring new places and meeting new people. It’s about getting outside my bubble. I hope one day to be able to do the kind of traveling that really allows you to get to know a culture. Sure, I want to see the Eiffel tower, but to stay in a small town outside of Paris for a couple weeks and get to experience life like a local? That lights me up inside!
I also think it would be incredibly exciting to travel by boat (like we did in 2013 to the BVIs) or RV- I’ve had this road map of how to hit 47 national parks on one epic road trip saved for a few years now. The only thing I’m openly nervous about is small planes. Not my jam. But still, I might do it if it means seeing parts of the world I otherwise would not because I feel there are so many places, people, and foods I have yet to experience.
“Travel is the only thing you buy that makes your richer.”
How do you feel about travel?
What would your ultimate dream trip entail?
Who would you go on it with?
John J. says
I understand, and have lived, the value of travel. If life is to have adventure, certainly travel must be a significant part. Our family has that in our blood. Glad you and David are enjoying that in your life.
Brittany Dixon says
And you have some pretty awesome stories to tell.. like running with the bulls for example? 😉 I want to hear more about that and your other adventures on our next visit, please!
Rachel says
I’m 24 years old, and traveling with my family growing up remains some of my absolute favorite memories! I totally agree that it is the conversations and the time spent that you remember, not necessarily the excursion or the weather. My family also had an RV and spent summer weekends for almost 10 years traveling to different state parks across Michigan. I love these memories and was incredibly sad when my parents sold the travel trailer once my brother and I moved out!
Rachel says
One more thing to add… my family also did “family reunion vacations” a few times, where our whole extended family rented a big beach house and stayed together for a week. I still remember my brother and I making a pact (as 16 and 15 year olds) that we would continue the tradition with our families, too.
Brittany Dixon says
I love that those family reunion trips impacted you so much that you and your brother made a pact to continue them! That is seriously special and I hope to continue on the same kind of tradition with our girls. Thank you for sharing!
Nadine says
We’re leaving for an Everest Base Camp trek on Thursday. We’re feeling all sorts of nervous right now, but we are pumped for an amazing experience! The trek itself is 16 days and around 80 miles, up to 18,000 ft. Everest Base Camp or BUST!!!
Brittany Dixon says
WHAT?! THIS IS AMAZING!! Did you see that Mandi Moore was just there, too? Haha, I am embarrassed that I even know that. What an amazing adventure. Have a WONDERFUL time!!
Blair says
Before settling down I wandered the world alone, they were amazing experiences and some of my most favorite memories. I cannot wait to take my littles along however my husband was an inexperienced traveler prior to getting together so it has been so much fun to show him the world. Now we are just anxiously awaiting our daycare bill to drop so we can fund travel with five!
Brittany Dixon says
David and I are your opposites! He was in international sales for a while so he is much more experienced in world travel than I am. Now I am determined to play catch up 😉
Erin says
I love to travel for so many of the reasons you listed. I love experiencing new places, different cultures, having a break from day to day life to reconnect with my family, and seeing just how beautiful this world is. I love how experiencing different places, even just seeing different parts of our country expands your world view.
One of the things I especially love about traveling is the confidence it builds. When I was 24 I spent a month backpacking around Europe. When I returned, after spending a month navigating countries where I didn’t speak the language, landing in a new place not knowing where I was going to sleep that night (this was all before smartphones and on-line bookings) and becoming instant friends with strangers from all over the world, I felt like I could do anything. The same was true after taking our first big trip with my son when he was a baby. We felt that if we could travel with a baby by plane and survive a time change, we could do anything with him. It made us realize that while we all love a solid routine at home, we don’t need to be a slave to that and kids are really quite adaptable. I have realized on a few national park trips that my kids are capable of hiking pretty darn far despite sometimes whining while walking down the street:) Our two kids are early elementary school age kids now, but even when they were younger we didn’t let that stop us from knocking things off our bucket list including a big international trip (20hrs on planes, 12hr time change) when they were 4 and 7. Our confidence grows with every trip ; our dreams get bigger and our bucket list gets longer.
Brittany Dixon says
Oh I love this point! It’s funny because as much as I love to travel, I’m not naturally very good at it. However, you are right- with every slightly more adventurous trip we take, the more my confidence grows. And while I do love a good routine at home, it’s ok for us to break out of it at times (especially now as the kids are 6 and almost 4). Thank you for sharing. Where is next on your list?!
Laura says
I love to travel and really feel energized and most alive when I visit someplace new and everything is unfamiliar! We have flown many times with our kids as lap passengers and at the ages of 2 and 3 and have never had any major issues with it, but for the past few years I have been craving more road trips, and discovering the charms of regional Americana. In fact, the last big airplane trip we took was Hawaii (Big Island and Volcanoes NP) and it was a good trip, but we’ve had just as much fun driving to the Grand Canyon and other Southwest US destinations (in the end, the hassle and cost of Hawaii wasn’t really worth it to us). Of course, after spending much of my 20’s and early 30’s searching for the perfect beach (I blame that Leonardo DiCaprio movie:)), I finally came to the realization that I’m not really a beach person, or at least not a “lay out on the beach all day” person. Our best beach experiences involved something else, like swimming in caves on the Greek islands, or strolling a black sand beach in Iceland. My husband and I have had some pretty amazing adventures. Before kids it was Europe every year, and we even traveled to Russia when I was 5 months pregnant with my first as a last “hurrah”. I do have plans to travel internationally again when my boys are in elementary, maybe when the youngest is 6 or 7. I have always put a priority on travel and even saved up my waitress tips when I was 22 to backpack for 3 weeks through Europe (staying at hostels and taking trains and ferries/ sleeping on the deck!). Lately though I have really enjoyed the national parks, and I was actually counting in my head last night, and realized that my 4 year old has already been to 11 national parks (and countless national monuments), and is about to visit his 12th and 13th (Badlands and Wind Cave)! I really good resource is The Greatest American Road Trip- A Year in the National Parks.
I also really enjoy extended family vacations! One of my favorites was spending the Christmas season in Santa Fe in a large house rental. I was pregnant at the time and have fond memories of spending half the day hiking with my family and then consuming loads of fresh sopapillas with warm honey and red chile enchiladas for dinner! We found an amazing restaurant and ended up going about 5 times during our stay. New Mexico has such an amazing culture and has so many hidden gems. I could talk all day about travel!! Oh- and love your Melanzana top from Leadville! I wear mine throughout the summer on those cool mountain nights.
Brittany Dixon says
I can just feel the magic of all your travel adventures through your words and Russia?! How amazing! There are so many places I want to see, and like you, I prefer doing something rather than just chilling on a beach. Thanks for the National Park resource- those are definitely high on our list, too.
PS- I love that you could recognize my Melanzana 😉
Sarah says
What a fun post! You have me daydreaming now. My favorite trip of all time was a trip to Greece that I took with my dad during my senior year of high school. We spent time in Athens, did a day cruise to three islands, and then attended a conference (for him) at a fairly remote seaside resort. We made friends with locals at the conference and I loved getting to know them over the few days we were there. I also loved spending a month in Honduras doing medical mission work in four mountainous communities.
My favorite “couple” trip was when my husband and I went to San Francisco, Yosemite, and Napa/Sonoma. We were gone 10 days and enjoyed EVERYTHING about our trip.
Favorite family trip destinations-Watersound, FL, Telluride, CO and Spokane, Washington.
I prioritize traveling with our kids and can’t wait to show them the Tetons, Yellowstone, the Redwoods, volcanoes in Hawaii, museums and historical sites in DC, the lake country in Austria, Paris, and to go together to new locations that I haven’t been to yet!! I want to go to Iceland, Italy, and Bali. I also want to check out Vermont, which is slightly less exotic but looks beautiful!🙂
Brittany Dixon says
Sarah, I think you are my travel muse. Truly! Greece is so high up on my list and I’ve never been to San Francisco, but really want to. And the Tetons? Yes, please! Honestly, everywhere you named. There is just so much to see and I can’t wait to explore it all with my family! Thanks for sharing all your awesome location ideas!
Amber says
Your post really resonates with me. I left my teaching job to stay home with my son when he was 8 months old and he is now 3 1/2. However, I do still work from home super part time so that we can continue to travel. We are going to homeschool and I believe our boys will learn so much from the trips we take… Why just study geography? Go explore it! Why just look at pictures of monuments? Go and see them personally! My husband and I have had our best memories when traveling and believe it is totally worth it for me to work a little at home in order to create the same experiences for, and with, our boys. You are right, most of the memories happen in the small moments of the trips, but what a blessing to clear your calendar to even make the trip.
Brittany Dixon says
Oh Amber, we are so on the same page! A large factor of why we chose homeschool was the flexibility. I hope and plan to do a lot of what you mentioned, with the exploring and learning tangled together.
Brittany Greer says
Yay! I always love reading about people coming to Charleston 🙂 Did you get a rental house on Sullivan’s? I know how much you love Mexican – you have to try Mex 1! The Bangin’ Shrimp Bowl is the best!!! Margs are great too 😉 Loud and very casual (aka great for kids), reasonable prices too. And do Sunday brunch at High Thyme (assuming you’ll be here on a Sunday).
Brittany Dixon says
That Mexican place sounds right up our alley- thank you! That is assuming we don’t end up cooking our meals at home because… kids 😉 Yes, we got a great rental on Sullivan’s- I’m so pumped. I love the Charleston area SO much!
Stephanie says
I’m dreaming of taking my kids to Disney World one day. I never went as a kid because my parents couldn’t afford it. We aren’t in a place to be able to do it right now, but I’m hoping to save enough to take them in the next few years.
sherry says
I can hear the excitement in your voice as I read this blog 🙂 We have enjoyed so many wonderful trips and I don’t think I could pick a favorite, as they are all favorites in some way. Loved Italy and the Amalfi coast. And visiting the Greek Isles by boat with day excursions was so much fun. I’ve enjoyed the five star hotels as well as the holes in the wall–all have created fun experiences, stories, and a life time of good memories. Go create those memories!! Looking forward to creating some more with you soon.
Allison says
I have to travel to stay sane! Haha! But truly I feel most like myself when traveling. My best memories with my husband are of travel! I prefer European travel and have been all over! My husband is from Eastern Europe so we have a good excuse to go back there. I have two kids ages 3 and 1 and we will be taking them to belgium, the Netherlands, and serbia( where my husband is from) this fall. When my oldest was 1 we went to France for three weeks. Europe with young kids is so easy— so many wonderful park and the people I found are more tolerant about children being around and in restaurants. I recommend at least going for 3 weeks if you can swing it because the flights for a family can add up so you might as well maximize your time over there. Most european museums and trains are free for children as well!
Emily says
I agree 100% travelling makes us richer, and it’s silly to grudge money when it comes to travels. Also, I I share your passion for authentic impressions rather than touristy icons (Eiffel Tower VS the real life among locals outside of Paris). However, I like sightseeing too.
Why do I travel after all? That must be my inner explorer who drives me, the urge to experience something new and unusual, to engage in small or big talks with strangers and probably make friends around the world. I believe travels are so powerful as to answer our questions, clarify things you don’t understand, and reorder life priorities, inspire our creative genius, and even fight depression. While travelling one not only makes life-long memories, but I dare say—adds more meaning to one’s life. And travel experience must get even more rewarding when you have someone to travel with—either your family or good friends. You’re so lucky to have such a travelling team 🙂 I wish I also had one.
Speaking of my dream adventures, I’d love to conquer a cross-country trail making stops by locals. It could be a hike, or a bike ride (weather-permitted). But I haven’t found a companion for such an adventure, and don’t venture to set off on my own. But maybe one day I will.