family-vacations

“The traveler sees what he sees. The tourist sees what he has come to see.”
~G.K. Chesterton

Slow has become a four-letter word in our accelerated culture. And yet … when it comes to travel, how can we possibly expect to truly experience a place at a breakneck pace? How can we savor a blur?

My husband and I are currently planning a mini-break. With three kids, three dogs, three cats (see a pattern developing here?), we’re lucky to escape at all, but we’re working toward a three-day getaway.

But as we plan, we’re recalling our most memorable trips, hoping to recapture whatever made them great.

And we discovered the common denominator: In every instance that we remember as truly outstanding, we were doing something other than what we had planned … and we were taking our time.

This year is shaping up to be an expensive one for travel. As gas edges near $4 a gallon, airlines struggle and hotel prices escalate, this summer may be one to opt for simple adventures that are low in cost and resources but high on adventure and camaraderie. For our family, nothing fits that bill like a traditional camping trip, with opportunities to hike, play and look for wildlife.