I LOVE to travel. Like, can’t get enough of it. The world is full of so many amazing places, natural wonders, history, manmade spectacles, and just simple beauty - I have to see it all! And then see it again, and share it with my kids and friends and anyone who is crazy enough to get in a car or plane with me. Because, like every other aspect of my life, I cram a lot into every trip.

I credit my parents for instilling in me this sense of awe and curiosity for seeing the world. From the time I was young, they prioritized family vacations and we always took at least one trip - often more than one - each year. Wait…am I crediting my parents for this? Because I think my budget might blame them. 🤨🤔 But I digress….

We had a few standard vacations that we would repeat every year. The annual February road trip to see my grandparents in Florida, the annual Fourth of July camping trip with my cousins. These trips happened every year without fail and they were some of the cornerstones of my childhood around which I have the most amazing memories. Like going to Mixon’s and eating orange ice cream with my Grandma Schick, or when my cousin Jonathan flung a flaming marshmallow straight into his forehead. Ah yes, good times.

At Mixon’s eating orange ice cream with my cousins, Jonathan and Andrea, on our much anticipated senior trip. 🍦

However, when it came to our annual family vacation, we never went to the same place twice. My parents wanted us to see the country. My mom was a master vacation planner. I would like to think I learned that skill from her. (Trying to make Lesa proud, here!) She would choose our destination, make a general plan, and we would get in the car and drive. We didn’t have the internet back in those days, kids. So I remember her sitting in the front passenger seat, scouring the AAA book of whatever state we were in, looking up the hotel recommendations, comparing it to our position on the (paper!) atlas, and stopping at pay phones along the way to call and check for vacancies. Before I went to college, I had visited 35 of the 50 states, plus Mexico, Canada, and six Caribbean islands.

As we got older, we eventually got on some planes and even made it to Hawaii for my mom’s dream vacay before I left the nest. 🌴🌸🌋

When my kids were born, I knew I wanted to instill that same love for travel in them. While they were still babies, I bought a book called, “500 Places to Take Your Kids Before They Grow Up.” This book has become our second Bible and I recommend it to anyone who will listen. Unfortunately, it has gone out of print but, if you’re lucky, you can get a used version on Amazon here. (Hey, Frommer’s - if you’re looking for an author for an updated version, I’m your girl!🙋🏻‍♀️). The book is organized a couple different ways. Primarily, it is divided into seventeen chapters:

Awesome Vistas
Exploring the Scenery
Weird & Wonderful
Walk with the Animals
Lost in the Mists of Time
The Ancient World
Positively Medieval
War & Peace
Settling America
For Budding Scientists
Holy Places
A Dose of Culture
Historic Homes
Out & About
On the Water
Calling All Sports Fans
Rides and Thrills.

I love this book because, as shown by these chapter titles, it captures all of the must-see places around the world, as well as so many unique, off-the-beaten-path sites that we may have never found on our own. It also does an amazing job of including a good mix of art, history, culture, amusement, city life, science and so many other interests. There is an index in the back where you can search points of interest by state and country, or alphabetically. There are Top 7 lists sprinkled throughout for things such as Famous Bridges, Presidential Homesteads, and Super Beaches, and maps of each continent to make planning easier.

I have planned all of our family vacations using this book as a resource, and we have seen significant portions of the country, major landmarks, and quirky not-so-known points of interest along the way. Most importantly, the kids and I have incredible memories from these trips and always look forward to planning the next one. We’re using this book as a checklist - slowly, but surely checking off as many of the 500 places we can before they head off on their own adventures without me someday.

First adventure navigating the airport! ✈️

Some people collect jewelry or art or postage stamps. Some families do the whole travel sports thing. All of this stuff is great. For us, this is what we do. We collect memories and (soon) passport stamps. We just absolutely love to travel together. My kids have an insane appreciation for exploring and learning and experiencing new things. And I love the focused time that traveling together allows us to have. Because their dad and I share custody, my kids and I already spend half of our lives apart…and the other half that we’re together is really busy! So prioritizing our time and finances on this type of focused, quality time with my kids - exploring the little nooks and corners of the world, learning about different cultures, witnessing the beauty of creation, and learning about each other in the process - is a pretty easy decision and one I will make over and over again.

Where does your family love to travel? What resources do YOU use to plan your family vacations? Leave a comment in the section below!

Our Family's Obsession: 500 Places to Take Your Kids Before They Grow Up