In 2010, we started taking family trips over Christmas week. This became “the big gift,” and our wrapped presents became far fewer.
These holiday getaways have been the single best decision for creating distinct family travel memories and fostering adventure in our kids. As our kids got older and returned from college, they were always catching up with high school friends. Without these trips built into our family tradition, I’m not sure we would have seen our kids over the holidays!
As business owners, my husband and I find this timing perfect — it’s slower work-wise, with fewer client communications, and our team is on break. When we started, our kids were 6, 9, and 11. Yes, it interfered with basketball tournaments, but we decided these family trips took priority.
We’ve been flexible with timing — sometimes traveling over Christmas, sometimes leading up to it, depending on school calendars. Some years are modest getaways; others are bucket-list adventures. But the core purpose remains: slowing down and reconnecting as a family. (Insider tip: Traveling right before Christmas is usually more budget-friendly than right after.)
I hope these ideas inspire those wanting to start a new holiday travel tradition.
Turks and Caicos
The first family trip we took was to an all-inclusive resort in Turks & Caicos. Now, I know some people do not like an all-inclusive place, but I appreciate them. You don’t have to walk around with cash on hand to tip. You know what you are spending going into the vacation — there are very few surprises. They are typically built to accommodate a range of ages, keeping young and older kids entertained. And you do get a lot of bang for your buck.
We stayed at Sandals. It was windy and a bit cool, but we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The water was gorgeous, and we never left the property. We weren’t there to sightsee; we were there to relax and bond, and that’s exactly what we got.
Colorado
We have never stayed over Christmas, but we have skied right up until Christmas. Nothing puts you in the Christmas spirit like skiing in a snow village decked out for the holidays. We stayed in Beaver Creek, and we aren’t expert skiers. The apres-ski chocolate chip cookies being handed out, the ice rink, the warm outdoor pool to swim in, and the snow carriage ride to Beano’s Cabin made the trip a complete hit. Tired kids who fall asleep early also make for easier parenting … seriously.
Orlando
Three times, we took just a few days and went to Universal. My kids loved Harry Potter, so Universal’s Harry Potter World always won the battle between Universal and Disney. We stayed at an on-property Loew’s resort to get the extended hours and an express pass. We would get to the park early, head straight for Harry Potter World, leave after lunch for some pool time, and go back later in the evening.
We’ve done this for one, two, and three days. We have family just an hour away, so we’ve been able to piggyback these theme park vacations onto extended family visits. These mega parks seem to change regularly, and in a post-Covid world, the express pass situation may be drastically different. But, if you can shell out the dough, the highest form of paying to cut in line is the way to go.
The Keys
We’ve been to The Keys twice over Christmas. We like to fish, snorkel, and scuba dive, which makes The Keys, in my opinion, the best place within the continental USA to embrace all these things in one trip. We stayed at Anglers Reef, a community in Islamorada with several rental properties. It has a pool and a little beach. This location is great.
We’ve also stayed at Hawks Cay on Duck Key. The resort has been completely remodeled since we’ve been there, but I did like the layout. It felt safe for our kids to run around without direct supervision (they were all over the age of 10 when we went). There were lots of people from Europe staying there, which meant our kids were exposed to many different languages, which was an unexpected joy as well.
Bonaire
My knees are bad, which means skiing trips aren’t my favorite. I got a crazy hair that we all needed to get scuba certified, as it was a sport we could all do for decades to come, no matter how bad my knees got, and it would lead to many adventures. We all did our training at a pool north of Nashville. Then, the last thing needed for certification was our open water dive, which we completed on our holiday vacation in Bonaire.
Bonaire is part of the “ABC islands” — Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao — found just north of Venezuela. They are all Dutch-owned. Bonaire is great for two things: scuba diving and windsurfing. You really don’t go for any other reason. The beaches aren’t great, and the real beauty lies underwater. And, oh my, is it gorgeous.
Known as the shore diving capital of the world, Bonaire’s national park is the reef. It’s a wall of coral with incredibly clear water. And, for those scared of sharks, there are very few sharks. It’s actually a big deal to see any sharks, and people feel honored when they do.
Scuba diving is so prevalent here that the place we rented came with a pickup truck to lug scuba gear and tanks around! Once you have your scuba certification, you can have both an affordable adventure and a luxurious one. Buddy Dive has been around forever and allows for a hotel-restaurant-dive shop all-in-one experience, which is a good way to go for your first trip.
If you want a defining moment to dive with your family or learn to dive, Bonaire is amazing.
Belize
English is Belize’s official language, which makes it appealing to those worried about a language barrier. Plus, there are many direct flights to Belize, including some on Southwest, which further appeals.
We stayed at El Pescador Lodge because we wanted to saltwater fly fish and have access to some fun excursions. We loved the family-style dinners, with everyone staying at the resort sitting down together each night at assigned tables. The owners gave an overview of the day, including calling out which fish the guests had caught. The triple crown of fishing here is catching a tarpon, a permit, and a bonefish all in one trip!
We also scuba-dived, saw ancient ruins, and went cave tubing.
One thing to note, there is a LOT of trash in Belize, and I wish I had been prepared for that. However, when you are at the resort, it’s not an issue.
North Carolina Mountains
Four hours before we were leaving for Argentina, our true “big-time bucket-list” family vacation, our middle daughter tested positive for Covid. This was 2021, and Argentina had just opened for tourism weeks before. We canceled our trip, grateful we had trip insurance.
Every family is different, with different risk tolerances. For us, we decided that if one was going down, we were all going down. We loaded up in the family car and headed to our family cabin in Western North Carolina. It’s been in the family for over 70 years, is remote, and while it doesn’t have any insulation, it does have a large fireplace, floorboard heaters, and electric blankets.
We ordered groceries, grabbed the dogs, and had a fantastic time. No one else got Covid, and our daughter didn’t get very sick, but our cozy escape made for a great trip. We cooked all our meals, read books fireside, sat by the creek, and watched movies projected onto the wall.
Renting a home this time of year in North Carolina is typically less expensive than in the summer. You can hike trails without crowds, there are almost no bugs, bears are hibernating, and snakes are hiding for the winter. With the leaves off the trees, the views are incredible. And, since winter sunsets are scientifically proven to be better than summer ones, those added views pay off.
SB Note: With the devastation of Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina, many areas that can accommodate visitors lost their fall tourism revenue and are begging for visitors. As the holidays roll around, there may be beautiful places to stay, and you can likely find ways to volunteer and give back as well. Honestly, deciding to spend your holiday in Western North Carolina will warm your heart in many ways this year.
Argentina: Patagonia
This was our big bucket list trip. We spent several nights in Buenos Aires, landing right after they had won the World Cup, which meant the entire country was on cloud nine. We flew from the capital to El Calafate for the start of the real reason we were there: the hike in Patagonia.
We went with Backroads, an adventure travel company. Not only do they have excellent itineraries, but their guides are top-notch. They will also book you in the best rooms at each location and have everything set up to make the trip “easy.” Your job is to show up and give your all to the adventure.
St. Lucia
St. Lucia is a remote and beautiful island branded as the honeymoon capital. But it’s also a good one for a family escape. It’s mountainous; many people compare it to Hawaii. The scuba diving is fantastic and, in many locations, accessible by only a five-minute boat ride.
We stayed at Anse Chastanet, an all-inclusive eco-luxury resort. While I enjoyed it, there was no air conditioning. Even with fans, our rooms at night stayed a little too warm for us to sleep well at first. We got used to it, but I know this is a no-go for some people, so I want to point that out upfront.
This is the sister property to Jade Mountain. Both are on the side of a mountain, so it’s a vertical climb everywhere you go. From the beach to the dining options to your rooms, you will be climbing up and down. We loved this aspect, but others may not.
The beach was beautiful, the people were so nice, and there were plenty of activities to keep everyone happy.
To Recap
For us, traveling for all but one school holiday break has bonded us as a family, taken the emphasis away from opening up presents, and given us a passion for travel and other cultures. It’s not for everyone, but if this pulls at your heartstrings, I can’t fully express the joy it’s given our family!
Where are we going next? This year, we’re soaking up our family farm in Alabama. Next year, we’re celebrating my mother-in-law’s 80th birthday in North Carolina. But, in 2026, we already know we’re headed to Hawaii for likely our last “big family” trip.
Our oldest will be 27. Our youngest will be in his first year of the Space Force, so we’re hoping he can get off. Our middle daughter will be stationed in Hawaii as part of her tour with the Navy. So, with everyone’s schedule, it may not happen. And, if it doesn’t, it’s okay. We made the most of it while we could!
The days are long, but the years are short …
**********
Be sure to sign up for our daily emails — an email you’ll actually look forward to having “take up space” in your inbox! Sign up here.
