Did you remember the passports? Mom, I forgot to pack my toothbrush. Are we there yet?
These phrases all bring to mind the two words in the English language that somehow epitomize familial discord, and compassion: family vacation.
First, family. That one word alone can bring out many different emotions in a person. Whether it be love or dread, family are the ones you’re stuck with, and for better or for worse, you love them.
Now, vacation. The root word of vacation is to vacate, meaning simply to leave home, empty and far behind. The fun, however is optional. A bit of luck thrown in by fate, that you will board your plane on time, that your hotel will have your reservations, and that you will reach your final destination with your luggage, rather than without all the essentials that you somehow remembered in the first place. If all these things go as planned, your chances of having fun are heightened. If not, you can always laugh about it later.
My family’s favorite time to travel has always been the holidays, and we often spend Christmas away from home. We pretty much only have one requirement, other than affordability. Where we are going has to be colder than where we are. Where we are is always
Of all our escapades, our trip to
We flew into
So, though our vacations might not sound like the type that travel magazines would award five stars to for being the most relaxing, exotic, delightful or all around favorite, they have ghelped us become the loving, tight-knit family that we are today. We have found that going through miserable conditions together bring us closer, and I wouldn’t trade that for any five star resort in the world.
Dear Reader: This page may contain affiliate links which may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Our independent journalism is not influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative unless it is clearly marked as sponsored content. As travel products change, please be sure to reconfirm all details and stay up to date with current events to ensure a safe and successful trip.