Family vacations don’t have to be lavish or luxurious to be life-changing. In fact, they don’t even have to be expensive. What they do need to be is intentional.
A well-timed break from the norm can breathe new life into your family rhythms. Whether you’re hopping on a plane or just driving a few hours down the road, changing up your surroundings can help everyone reset and reconnect. It’s in the switch-up of routines—the slower mornings, spontaneous laughter, unhurried dinners, and days with no “have to’s”—that some of our richest family bonding happens.
We just wrapped up our trip to Mackinac Island—our favorite place to slow down time and soak in shared experiences. The gift we gave our kids wasn’t just fudge and ferry rides. It was biking around the island, hiking up to Arch Rock, watching kites dance by the shore, trying to pet every horse that stopped, laughing at clever boat names in the marina, and letting history come to life in the beautiful absence of cars and noise. It wasn’t the presents we’ll remember—it was the presence.
Sure, we still do a few gifts here and there (especially for birthdays or special surprises), but more and more, our family is learning that the real gift is the time together.
Because when our kids grow up, they won’t look back and remember the toy we grabbed last-minute at Target.
They’ll remember how we all cheered when the kite finally took flight.
How Dad bought way too much fudge.
How Mom gasped at every cloud.
How we held hands, laughed until our stomachs hurt, and made time for each other.
And that’s a memory worth packing up and taking home.
Raising Light 