I was blessed to be raised in a family that believes very much in that quote, and made sure that we took a trip together every year, and it often included extended family such as grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and more.

Some of my best memories growing up involve family vacations, most of which included stays at Wyndham resorts. As a young child, I remember the excitement of racing to pick which bed you wanted and how we couldn’t wait to go find the nearest swimming pool. As a teenager, I have great memories bringing friends along and having a fun place to hang out together. As a college student, I was proposed to while staying with my family at Wyndham Nashville, and years later all of my siblings got engaged while on vacations at Wyndham resorts as well.

To me, no matter what location you’re visiting, the best part of traveling with family is the time spent together, and having a place to stay that seems like home is such a gift. Because even though the big activities such as area theme parks and beaches are so incredibly fun, some of our favorite memories involve much simpler things, such as huge family pancake breakfasts together in Grandpa and Grandma’s condo, or all the cousins getting together at night for movie marathons or card games.

And now as a parent myself, I have so many wonderful memories of traveling with my own children. From being eight months pregnant lying on a lounge chair at Wyndham Ocean Walk to the trip to Wyndham Oceanside Pier Resort we took last year with my now seven year old daughter and three year old son, our family vacations are constantly evolving but always worth the effort and sacrifice.

People who claim it’s not worth the hassle to travel with young children because they won’t remember it forget one thing: you will remember it. My daughter may not remember every detail from the first time she saw Mickey Mouse when she was 18 months old, but I will never forget that smile and the sparkle in her eyes as long as I live. My son may not remember the first time he crawled on a beach as a baby, but I will never forget the squeals and the sand we were finding for weeks later.

Is traveling with family, particularly young children, always easy?

Definitely not. There can be tantrums. There can be illnesses. There can be problems fitting all the diapers, bottles, blankies, toys, and 5,000 other child items into the number of suitcases you’re allowed. But at the end of the day, the stressful moments fade away, and you’re left with precious memories that will stay with you forever. Life is too short to not seize every opportunity to make memories with the people you love, and I hope someday my children will say the same thing.”

Terri Bartzatt
Lincoln, Nebraska