For the past three spring breaks, my mom, younger sister, daughter (now 9 years old), and I have ventured off on unforgettable girls’ trips. What started as a spontaneous decision has become a much-anticipated tradition. Each year, we explore new places, make memories, and embrace the beauty of three generations traveling together. I look forward to choosing the destination and planning the itinerary, and we all love visiting new places, but it’s not just about the where. Laughing, trying new food and experiences, and—sometimes—getting lost bind us in a special way.
Our first trip was born out of a serendipitous discovery. After the passing of my grandmother in August 2023, I was planning to visit my grandfather, Dandy, in Kentucky a few days over my daughter’s spring break and asked my mom and sister to tag along. When I saw a Michael W. Smith concert was taking place at the same time—just 45 minutes from my grandfather’s house—the adventure wheels started turning. I mapped out a route from Kentucky to Chicago, where we could visit our cousin and her Southern-French bakery, take my daughter to the American Girl Doll store, and—of course—eat some deep-dish pizza. By the time we started our 12-hour drive home (at 2 p.m.!), we were already planning next year’s trip to none other than Pawkuska, Oklahoma.
We’re all fans of Ree Drummond, “The Pioneer Woman,” on Food Network, including my daughter. Unbeknownst to us at the time, less than two months after that Chicago trip, my sister and her husband would adopt a newborn baby girl. The following spring, Oklahoma became the perfect place to take a 10-month-old on a laid-back adventure. We visited “The Merc,” the Drummond Ranch, shopped the quaint downtown, and did all the quirky things the tiny town had to offer. We tried several great restaurants, visited a boutique olive oil shopped—and bought so many bottles that we had to ship them home—and discovered delicious prickly pear lemonade at the local pharmacy. On the way to the airport, we stopped at a few landmarks seen in the Tulsa King series and a spot known as the center of the universe. We ended the trip by barely getting my mom and daughter on our flight home, while my sister, the baby, and I missed it and set up camp in a Chili’s until our rescheduled plane left a few hours later. A true adventure!
This year, we continued the tradition by road-tripping to the charming town of Oxford, Mississippi, with a side trip to Memphis to check out John Mark’s and, of course, Graceland. We were even joined by my mom’s second cousin, who brought a new dynamic and plenty of laughs to the group. We hit the highlights—Ole Miss, The Grove—shopped at Neilson’s Department Store on The Square (established in 1839, it is known as “The South’s Oldest Store”), and loaded up on the best kolaches and donuts from a tiny shop in town. My daughter and I left the others to finish shopping at John Mark’s (we did a quick run-through) and ventured off to Graceland. We had a great afternoon stepping back in time before meeting up with everyone again for Memphis ribs.
Generational travel—whether it’s a road trip, a weekend getaway, or an international adventure—offers a chance to bond, learn from each other, and to just have fun together. For families considering a summer getaway, I can’t recommend traveling with grandparents, siblings, and/or cousins enough. Whether it’s a short road trip, a visit to a small town, or exploring a new city, there’s something incredibly special about exploring together. Coming in 2027: You’ll find us deep in the heart of Texas.