They Won't Remember the Toys

Quick question. Can you name five things you got for Christmas when you were eight?

Most of us can't. We might remember one big present, and even then we're fuzzy on the year.

Now think about a family trip from when you were a kid. It's different, isn't it? You probably remember the long drive, who got carsick, the hotel pool, and that one restaurant your family still brings up. The details stick around for decades.

We see the same thing with our own four kids. The toys they couldn't live without end up in a bin somewhere by spring. The trips are what they talk about at the dinner table. That's a big part of why we started Friebe Family Travel, and it's what I want to talk about here.

What a week in Destin did for our family

Last summer the six of us headed to Destin, Florida. We stayed in a beachfront condo, and for once we didn't pack every day full of plans.

I won't pretend getting there was relaxing. Packing for four kids is a full-time job on its own. But once we got to the beach, the whole mood changed. The kids spent hours in the water and digging in the sand, and our evenings ended outside watching the sun go down over the Gulf. When it was time to leave, nobody wanted to go. Honestly, neither did we.

We didn't bring home much in the way of souvenirs, and I couldn't tell you where the few we bought ended up. What we did bring home were stories. More than a year later, the kids still bring that trip up out of nowhere.

Kids remember time, not things

I'm not against presents. Our house has plenty of them. But after a lot of birthdays and Christmases, I've noticed a pattern in what actually sticks with our kids.

They remember when we were all paying attention. At home there's always laundry, work emails, practice, and dinner to figure out. On a trip, most of that goes away. The kids notice when you're really there with them, and they hang on to it.

They remember the countdown. Half the fun of a trip happens before you leave. Crossing days off the calendar, looking up the pool slides, arguing over which ride to hit first. A toy is exciting for about an hour. A trip can be exciting for months.

They remember firsts. The first time they see the ocean, meet a character they love, or stand on the deck of a cruise ship as it pulls away from the dock. You can't wrap that up and put it under a tree.

And they remember the stories. The funny stuff, the stuff that went wrong, the inside jokes that come out of being together all week. Those get retold for years, and every time they do, the memory gets a little stronger.

A few ways to trade stuff for trips

You don't have to swear off gifts forever to make this work. Here are a few ideas that make it easier.

Make the trip the gift. With the holidays coming, a trip can be the big present. Wrap up a clue, a pair of mouse ears, or a printed boarding pass and let the kids figure it out. That reveal video will be one you watch again and again.

Get the grandparents in on it. A lot of grandparents ask what the kids want every year. Instead of another toy, they could cover a special dinner, a snorkeling excursion, or a day at the park. They get to be part of the trip even if they aren't on it.

Pick your dates early. School breaks are when everyone travels. The best condos, cruise cabins, and resort rooms go first, so the earlier you settle on dates, the more options you'll have.

Spread out the cost. Many Disney packages and cruises can be held with a deposit and paid off over the months before you travel. That's a lot easier on the budget than paying all at once in December.

Start small if you need to. A long weekend at the beach or two days at a theme park still counts. The goal is time together, not the biggest trip possible.

Where we come in

We're a family of six working from home, and Friebe Family Travel is still new. We're not going to pretend we've been doing this for twenty years. What we can promise is that we plan every trip the way we'd plan one for our own kids.

Here's the part that surprises most people: it doesn't cost you anything extra to plan with us. You pay for the trip itself, the same as you would booking it on your own. We handle the research, the comparing, the reservations, and the little details that eat up your evenings.

We plan Disney and other theme park vacations, cruises, all-inclusive resorts, and beach trips like our week in Destin. Whether you already know exactly where you want to go or you're just starting to wonder, we're happy to help you sort it out.

If this is the year you want to give your family a trip instead of another pile of stuff, send us a message on Facebook or Instagram, or reach out at FriebeFamilyTravel@gmail.com. Tell us a little about your crew and what you're dreaming about, and we'll put together a free quote with no pressure.

They won't remember the toys. Let's give them something they will.