Leading and Love

Activities, Travel & Vacation

For many families, travel is a way to step away from the daily grind. Vacations provide rest from work, a change of scenery, and opportunities for recreation. But when seen through the lens of leadership at home, travel is more than escape—it is a chance to deepen relationships, create shared meaning, and strengthen family bonds. Travel can either become a string of disconnected activities or a deliberate rhythm that fortifies connection.

The Temptation of “Escape-Only” Travel
High-achieving families often treat travel as relief from relentless schedules. The focus is on entertainment: all-inclusive resorts, packed itineraries, or amusement parks designed for distraction. While enjoyable, this approach risks turning travel into temporary avoidance rather than lasting connection. Children may remember the roller coasters or beaches, but not necessarily deeper conversations or shared values.

Leadership in the home reframes travel not merely as escape but as investment. The question becomes: “How can this time together shape who we are as a family?”

The Power of Shared Experiences
Research shows that shared experiences, especially outside routine environments, build stronger relational bonds. A 2019 study by Newman and Tay found that families who engaged in collective leisure activities reported higher satisfaction and greater relational cohesion. Travel offers opportunities for these experiences because it disrupts normal routines and creates space for intentional interaction.

For example, a family hiking in the mountains is not just exercising; they are problem-solving together, encouraging one another, and facing challenges as a team. A trip to a historical site becomes a conversation about heritage and values. Even long car rides can foster connection if approached as time for storytelling, laughter, or reflection.

Connection Through Collaboration
One way to transform travel is to involve every family member in the planning. Instead of parents dictating the itinerary, children can contribute ideas. Teens may suggest activities that reflect their passions, while younger children can choose simple excursions. When everyone has a voice, ownership increases, and the trip feels like a collective mission rather than a parental project.

Collaboration also teaches leadership skills: negotiation, compromise, and decision-making. For instance, choosing between a museum visit and a beach day can become a practice in balancing diverse preferences while staying united.

Rituals That Travel Well
Families that thrive often establish small rituals that carry across locations. This might be a nightly “highs and lows” discussion, a shared prayer before bed, or a tradition of trying local food together. These rituals create continuity, signaling that even though the environment changes, the family’s identity remains consistent.

Rituals also become the anchors of memory. Years later, children may not remember the name of the hotel but will recall the family tradition of sharing ice cream at the end of each day.

Learning and Growth Through Travel
Travel provides fertile ground for teaching values and developing resilience. Delayed flights, language barriers, or unexpected weather challenges offer opportunities to model patience, adaptability, and problem-solving. Instead of shielding children from inconvenience, parents can use these moments as lessons: “How can we stay positive? What can we learn from this challenge?”

Exposure to new cultures and perspectives also broadens empathy. Families who travel intentionally encourage children to ask questions about different ways of life, fostering curiosity and respect. According to a 2016 report from the Student and Youth Travel Association, students who traveled abroad demonstrated increased cultural awareness and openness to diversity.

Travel, when approached intentionally, becomes a tool for embedding these memories and values into the fabric of family identity. Children carry forward not just snapshots of destinations but the relational patterns they experienced: collaboration, laughter, resilience, and gratitude.

Travel can be more than an escape from routine; it can be a practice of leadership within the family. By focusing on connection, collaboration, and shared meaning, families transform trips into experiences that build trust and belonging. The destinations matter less than the way families engage with one another along the journey. Done well, travel does not just break routine—it strengthens legacy.