I think even if your kids don't fully remember the details of the trips years later, the trip still shapes their development and way of thinking about the world.

I took my son on a trip to visit my sister in California when he was about 18 months old. I think the time spent together and seeing new places contributed to an explosion in his vocabulary and our connection. I took my daughter on a similar trip to visit my sister when she was 5 and everything we saw was completely magical in her eyes. They don't necessarily remember these trips, but I do and they were some of the happiest memories of my life. I believe they were important developmental experience for my kids and wish we had even more opportunities to travel. We're going to take another trip soon with both kids at 7 and 9. I'm more excited about a family adventure than what each kid remembers in the long run.

It depends upon the trip. Disney world would be magical at 6/7 and they’d probably remember it. I went on a trip to Europe — several days, several countries. I don’t remember what hotels we stayed in or anything like that — but I remember differences between US and European hotels. I remember some things about the food, talking with people in different countries, quite a lot about tourist attractions that we visited, and how different some of the shopping was from what I was used to. So nice memories for what did turn out to be the trip of a lifetime for my family of origin. I also remember quite a lot about a family trip to Florida when I was 8. So it depends upon the kid and it depends upon the trip.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:minimum of 12 but the older the more they will remember.

Shut up

What? What is wrong with you?

Anonymous wrote:minimum of 12 but the older the more they will remember.

Shut up

Anonymous wrote:I don’t like the idea of once-in-a-lifetime trips. Too much pressure.

This. We did wait until DC was 10 for a big trip and then Covid happened. I refused to describe our Spring Break trip to Europe last year as a once in a lifetime trip.

My DC is a young adult and remembers quite a bit from 12 forward.

Anonymous wrote:My DD remembers some big things from trips she took beginning around 5. But even though she doesn't remember the details I remember them. DH and I have such great memories from so many trips. That's important too.

I agree with this. DH and I had kids later in life, and if I wait too long to take them on big trips, we may be less energetic or have health issues. We do plan to wait until they’re 8 and 10 before we take them on more than a 10 hour flight. However that’s out of a desire to enjoy the trip rather than concern they won’t remember it.

At 10, I did a 3 week trip to my dad’s home country on the other side of the world. I’m 40 and have some pretty clear memories (definitely not based on photos). It’s enough to feel some connection to his culture. My siblings were 7 and 9. The youngest one doesn’t remember the trip. However I have a couple memories from our previous trip there when I was 5- nothing specific to the country. Just memories of being at the house with relatives.

I recently found photos I took at Disney when I was probably 13. I didn’t remember anything about the photos I took. I DO remember writing notes to my crush while on that trip (it was deep in the two-diamond folded note era, if others are of a similar age); picking out the perfect Disney outfit (which was just a tshirt and shorts and new white Keds— nothing like the Disney inspired outfits people wear now), and being really annoyed that we had to walk around the world showcase at Epcot because it was boring.

That’s not to say I didn’t have fun, but I certainly didn’t remember much about the actual Disney part of the trip!

We are traveling with our young kids now, but I know they probably also won’t remember a lot of things. And I’m OK with that.

My parents took us on a once in a lifetime trip to Disney World when I was 14. I am currently in my 40s, and sadly I can’t tell you a single detail about that trip. And I love Disney! I just don’t remember anything from it. My parents do but I don’t.

I have a teenager who barely remembers (or cares) what we did two years ago.

I think kids remember stuff in bits and pieces. They’ll probably remember parts of a trip, but not many particulars. They’re more inclined to remember the places that were re-visited often. Our annual beach trip to the same town in Florida every year growing up is etched in my mind like stone. I remember every single detail and think fondly of those trips.

I remember a lot of my trip to France at 14. I’m in my 50s

Personally, I have lots of memories of once-in-a-childhood trips I went on to DC at about 9 and to NYC at about 10. Memories of my first trip ever to the ocean at 5 or 6 as well.

My DD remembers some big things from trips she took beginning around 5. But even though she doesn't remember the details I remember them. DH and I have such great memories from so many trips. That's important too.

There's remembering and loving

I remember Thailand at age 10. I remember Tokyo at age 8 I think. Hawaii maybe 11?

I remember everything about London at 13 because I loved what we did there. Seeing Les Miserable first run, shopping, riding buses, it was so neat. Not that Hawaii wasn't beautiful but you know it's a beach like many others and at age 11 I didn't really care how pretty it was - beach was all I needed - any beach worked!

Anonymous wrote:I'd say a minimum of 12, preferably older.

When DC was a teenager, one day he said "I'd really like to go to the British Museum some day." I reminded him that he had been there when he was 8, and showed him pictures of him there. He said that he sort of remembered the lions. He vividly remembers getting bitten by the goose he was feeding in St. James Park, though.

So you can't go again?