Creating travel goals is the most important step to make when you are ready to plan amazing vacations for your family. What are you wanting to accomplish in your travels in this season of your life?
I really don’t remember the first time Sweetums and I talked about visiting all 50 states with our children. I can’t remember a time, since we’ve been married, that I didn’t think about it.
Maybe visiting all the states seems like a crazy goal to you…maybe it’s something you could care less about. Maybe vacation to you is staying in one place for a week. But…what do you care about when it comes to travel? Could it be you want to…
- Spend time relaxing on as many different tropical beaches as possible
- Ski every slope in the lower 48
- Visit every National Park
- Visit every church your congregation supports
- Shop in as many quilt stores as you can find
- Visit every Harley Davidson dealership in the world
- Stay at every Disney Resort
- Participate in as many medical missions across the world as you can
- Visit every country from where your ancestors came
- Visit every state park in Texas
- Visit every major league ballpark
- Ride America’s top 20 roller coasters
- Shop at every outlet mall in the South
- Eat your way across America’s major cities
- Visit every Civil War/American Revolutionary War battleground
The list is endless. But, you need to stop and think about what you would like to accomplish in your life in your travels.
Next, these goals will probably need to change over your lifetime. When you stop to look at your life stage or “season” right now, where are you?
- College
- Single
- Married and DINKS (Double Income No Kids)
- Married with young children
- Married with older children
- Empty Nesters
- Retired
- Widow/Widower
- Single Again
- Tight financial resources
- Comfortable financially
- An abundance of resources
As you move in and out of each of these life stages, you can re-evaluate your travel goals.
Sometimes the movement from one life stage to another is gradual and expected, but sometimes it is abrupt. Even when you are forced into a new season of life you didn’t ask for, you can make the most of it in your travels.
Take for example, my Aunt J. Almost 4 years ago, my Uncle D passed away unexpectedly. Aunt J never asked to be in this situation. She did make and act on a new travel goal, though. She went on a Medical Mission trip with her daughter to Kenya. It was an incredible experience for her!
Don’t let life pass you by without a plan. Be intentional! Don’t wake up one day and wonder where your life went and why you never made meaningful memories with those you love and care about.
What are your travel goals? It’s not too late to make some today! 🙂