3 Family Travel Experiments I'm Trying This Summer

A few weeks after returning from our three-week multi-generational family trip, I found myself thinking less about where we traveled and more about how we traveled.The more I reflected on the experience, the more I realized I wasn’t looking for a different destination, a better hotel, or a more optimized itinerary. What I was really searching for was a different way to experience family travel itself.I kept coming back to a few questions. How do we create trips that feel more present and less rushed? How do we share responsibility instead of placing it on one person? How do we create meaningful experiences without feeling like we have to orchestrate every moment? And how do we return home feeling restored, connected, and energized rather than depleted?Instead of searching for answers online, I decided to approach this summer’s travel differently. I came up with three experiments that we’re going to test as a family.One experiment gives every family member—including the kids—the opportunity to plan and lead a day of the trip. Another builds dedicated restoration time directly into the itinerary for each adult. And the third explores what happens when we stop trying to create all of the magic ourselves and allow local guides, teachers, and facilitators to help shape the experience.In Episode 64 of The WandHERwild Podcast, I’m sharing the realizations that inspired these experiments, how they are already influencing the way we think about travel inside Wanderwild, and why I believe the future of family travel is less about seeing more and more about experiencing it differently.In This Episode* The biggest realizations from our recent multi-generational family trip* Why “I choose to have a great day today” has become our family travel mantra* How food, flexibility, and giving back can shape the travel experience* Family Travel Yes Days: giving each family member ownership of a day of the trip* How travel can teach kids leadership, planning, and decision-making* Scheduling restoration into the itinerary for parents and grandparents* Why solo time, trail runs, sound healing, and cold plunges are part of our travel plans* Letting local guides, teachers, and experts create meaningful family experiences* 3 family travel experiments I’m trying this summer with my family* How these ideas are influencing the way we approach family travel at WanderwildWho This Episode Is For* This episode is for you if you’ve ever come home from a trip already thinking about what you’d do differently next time.* If you want family travel to feel more joyful, restorative, and enjoyable for everyone involved.* If you’re curious about sharing responsibility and creating more ownership across the whole family.* If you’re looking for fresh ideas that go beyond typical family travel tips and itineraries.* If you want to create more space for connection, restoration, and meaningful experiences while traveling.* And if you’re interested in a different way of approaching family travel—one that leaves you feeling energized instead of depleted.An Invitation For YouSome of the questions I’m sitting with right now are:* What if family travel didn’t depend on one person holding everything together?* What if everyone carried a little more ownership?* What if there was space for restoration, flexibility, and a little more room to simply enjoy the experience as it unfolds?These are the kinds of questions that are influencing the way we think about travel inside Wanderwild.Whether through our family retreats or custom travel planning services, we’re always exploring ways to create experiences that feel lighter, more connected, and more enjoyable for the whole family.If you’re planning family travel and would love support creating an experience that reflects your family’s interests, pace, and travel style, we’d love to help.Learn more here: https://www.wanderwildfamilyretreats.com/hello.Links & Resources* Summer Mother–Child Retreat* Winter Mother-Child Retreat* Family Travel Planning Services* Subscribe to my work on Substack* Listen to more episodes of The WandHERwild PodcastThanks for being here! Subscribe for free to receive occasional notes and new episodes directly to your inbox. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wandherwild.substack.com