Family vacations can be more than sightseeing and souvenirs—they can shape lasting memories that bring everyone closer together. Starting family travel traditions is one way to turn each trip into something meaningful, whether it’s a simple ritual, a special photo, or a shared experience that becomes part of every journey.
These are 11 family travel traditions worth starting on your next vacation that can add a sense of continuity, connection, and excitement to every trip. From small habits to bigger rituals, they’re easy to carry forward year after year, no matter where you go.
Ready to make your next getaway memorable in a new way? Start with one or two of these ideas and see how they grow into cherished parts of your travels for years to come.
Take the Same Group Photo Every Trip
Pick a signature pose or location for your family photo and repeat it on every trip—it might be standing in a line, jumping mid-air, or holding hands with a landmark behind you. Over time, these photos create a visual timeline of your travels, showing how the kids grow, how styles change, and how destinations leave their mark on your family. Whether you frame them, turn them into a photo book, or post them online, the tradition builds something meaningful you’ll look forward to every time you travel, adding structure and nostalgia to each vacation.
Start a Souvenir Collection
Instead of buying random souvenirs, start a collection that links your travels together. Choose something small—like magnets, keychains, or embroidered patches—that can be found nearly everywhere. Soon you’ll have a growing display that tells the story of your family trips without taking up much space in your suitcase. Each item sparks a memory, like the patch from your first camping trip or the magnet from that big city adventure. This tradition makes shopping easy, keeps everyone involved in choosing, and gives you a tangible reminder of each vacation that builds into a larger, shared family project over time.
Keep a Family Travel Journal
A travel journal can become a living scrapbook of your vacations. Bring along a notebook, and let each family member write something down every day—funny moments, favorite meals, sketches of places you visited, or even pressed flowers and ticket stubs taped inside. Over the years, these journals will grow into a family archive you’ll love to look back on. Younger kids can draw, teens can jot down highlights, and adults can add reflections. The journal becomes more than notes—it turns into a shared memory bank, capturing not just the trip but the voices and perspectives of your whole family.
Try One “Local Dish” Rule
Make it a tradition that everyone tries at least one dish the destination is known for. It could be paella in Spain, poutine in Canada, or pho in Vietnam—whatever connects you to the place. Even picky eaters might surprise themselves, and adventurous ones will have something to brag about. This ritual opens up conversations about culture and gives every trip a “taste” of where you’ve been, literally. Take a photo of each new dish and jot down reactions in your journal to turn it into part of the experience. It’s a simple rule that turns meals into memories.
Pick a “Vacation Song”
Choose one song during each trip to play often—it becomes the soundtrack of that journey. It might be a song you hear on the radio, one playing in a café, or something you pick ahead of time. By the end of the trip, that tune will always bring you back to that place and time. Whether you’re driving with windows down, cooking breakfast in a rental, or getting ready for a day of sightseeing, the song plays and ties the moments together. Years later, you’ll hear it again and be transported back to that vacation instantly.
Send a Postcard to Yourselves
Want to save this?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later when you're planning your trip!
Turn postcards into personal time capsules by mailing one to your home address on every trip. Write about what you did that day, a funny mishap, or something surprising you learned. When you get home, the postcard will arrive days later, giving you a fresh reminder of your vacation. Over time, you’ll build a collection that shows not just where you’ve been, but what you were thinking and feeling in the moment. Keep them in a box or binder, and you’ll have a colorful, handwritten history of your travels that becomes more meaningful with every trip.
Choose a Special Night Ritual
Establishing a nightly tradition adds a comforting rhythm to any vacation. It could be stargazing, playing a board game, telling stories, or reading together before bed. This simple ritual becomes the anchor of each day, giving everyone something familiar to look forward to no matter how busy the schedule. Whether you’re camping under the stars or staying in a hotel, the shared activity helps the family wind down and connect. Years later, you’ll remember not just the sights you saw but those small, repeated moments of togetherness that shaped each trip.
Create a Travel Jar
Start a jar where you collect little pieces of every trip—coins, ticket stubs, shells, sand, or pressed flowers. Each trip adds a handful of small items, and over time the jar becomes a layered memory of everywhere you’ve been. Kids will love searching for the perfect “jar item” on each vacation, and it turns something simple into an adventure. You can label each jar with the trip’s date or location, or keep one ongoing jar that holds years of travels. It’s a hands-on, visual tradition that grows with your family’s journeys.
Plan a “Yes Day”
Set aside one day on each trip where the family says “yes” to a reasonable request from each member. It might be visiting a quirky roadside attraction, trying a new dessert, or stopping to watch street performers. This tradition gives everyone a chance to shape the day and keeps trips from feeling like they’re only planned by adults. Kids look forward to their turn, and parents get to see the trip through their eyes. The surprises that come out of a “yes day” often end up being the moments you talk about long after you’re home.
Take Turns Planning a Surprise
Let each trip include one surprise moment planned by a different family member. It could be something big, like a hidden viewpoint, or something small, like packing a picnic. No one else knows until it happens, adding a sense of anticipation to every vacation. Parents can guide younger kids in planning their surprises, and older ones can take full charge. Over time, you’ll remember who planned the bike ride, who found the secret beach, or who brought sparklers for sunset. This tradition turns everyone into an active trip planner while keeping an element of excitement in every journey.
Return to One Place Years Later
Choose a destination you love and make a tradition of going back every few years. Take photos in the same spots, walk the same streets, and see how both the place and your family have changed. Kids might remember visiting as toddlers and compare it to coming back as teens, adding layers of nostalgia to the experience. Revisiting a destination turns it into part of your family’s story, a familiar place that feels like a chapter you keep writing together. Watching the changes over time gives the trip a deeper meaning that grows with every visit.
15 Flight Tips That'll Help Calm Your Travel Anxiety
Feeling anxious on board? Traveling by plane can be a source of anxiety for many people, but there are 15 flight tips that'll help calm your travel anxiety. Understanding how to manage stress during a flight can make the experience more pleasant and enjoyable. Simple strategies, from breathing techniques to choosing the right seat, can significantly reduce feelings of unease and help travelers feel more at ease.
Read More Here: 15 Flight Tips That'll Help Calm Your Travel Anxiety
13 Hacks for Comfortable Long-Haul Flights in Economy
Have a more comfortable flight with these tips! Long-haul flights in economy class can often feel cramped and uncomfortable, leaving travelers dreading the journey ahead. However, with the right strategies, it is possible to make these long trips more bearable. Here are 13 hacks for comfortable long-haul flights in economy that can help transform the flying experience into a more pleasant one.
Read More Here: 13 Hacks for Comfortable Long-Haul Flights in Economy
