Top Trips to Take with Mom

Top Trips to Take with Mom

Mom and daughter jumping on London Bridge
Photo Courtesy: Rohi Pandya

This Mother’s Day we celebrate moms who love to travel! What are the top trips to take with mom? We invited community members from our Families Who Love to Travel Facebook group to share their favorite mother and child travel stories. These top trips to take with mom illustrate how amazing travel can be (the joys and the failures!), especially with the ones we love. We have compiled the stories in this article to celebrate traveling mamas all over the world! Happy Travels – and Happy Mother’s Day!

“Consider experiences over things the next time you’re looking for gift ideas.”

Dana Gaulke

Mom and daughter in New York City
Photo Courtesy: Dana Gaulke

“When my daughter was a little girl, I made a promise to take a vacation together when she turned 13. Well, that day came on October 29th, 2019 and I held up my end of the deal! We boarded a plane from Minnesota to New York City, and had the most amazing time! One of my favorite things we did was hire a photographer to capture moments in the city together! This city has everything to offer from Broadway shows, to historic sites, to amazing food. Teens often act like they want nothing to do with us, but more than anything, they just want our time and attention! Consider experiences over things the next time you’re looking for gift ideas. It doesn’t need to be a big trip, but even a photo session together or a trip to an amusement park might just do the trick!”

“Visited Los Cabos, Mexico on a ‘tres generaciones’ trip when my daughter was 7!”

– Carrie Fiore Andrews

Family in a boat in Los Cabos
Photo Courtesy: Carrie Fiore Andrews

“My mother, daughter, and I (and my father too) visited Los Cabos, Mexico on a “tres generaciones” trip when my daughter was 7. One of the highlights of the trip was a boat ride out of the Cabo San Lucas Marina to snorkel, whale watch, and visit the Cabo Arch. We chose this destination because you can go out in town and there are many options for excursions (swimming with dolphins, horseback riding, zip-lining to name a few). Additionally, it meant being at an all-inclusive resort that accommodates kids with pools, beach access, a kids club with a water park, movies, and live shows, and food any time they’re hungry.”

“The trip I will always remember is our four generations trip to Cantons de l’Est.”

Émilie Brillon

Family enjoying picnic in Quebec, Canada
Photo Courtesy: Émilie Brillon

“I LOVE traveling! I traveled a lot with my mother. It was during one of our mother-daughter trips that I met my husband. We went to Croatia when I was pregnant with my oldest, and France when I was pregnant with my youngest. The trip I will always remember is our four generations trip to Cantons de l’Est (Quebec, Canada).  My boys and I went with my grandmother, mother, aunt, cousin, and her two girls. We loved the famous Zoo de Granby and saw animals from the Lion King (my oldest son’s favorite movie!). Additionally, we visited an alpaca farm and spent time by the lake. Most importantly, my grandmother had the luxury of spending a full week with her daughters, granddaughters, and great-grandchildren. It was just perfect! Seeing the “cousins” and siblings play together and taking time to be with each other; that’s what makes travel so enjoyable.”

“I love seeing places I’ve been before, renewed through their eyes!”

– Alyson Aurigemma

mom, grandma and kids in Disney Paris
Photo Courtesy: Alyson Aurigemma

“I took mom and my two boys (ages 5 and 8) to Paris and Disneyland Paris for the little one’s 5th birthday.  Paris is such a perfect mother/daughter location.  Even though we were only there for one day, we made the most of it – champagne, macrons, and the Eiffel Tower.  We did a private guided tour of the Eiffel Tower. It was perfect for the kids because our guide tailored her talk to things they were interested in learning. In addition, she was able to answer my 8-year-old’s questions about the construction and design of the tower. We left Paris for Chessy for two rain-soaked but fun-filled birthday days.  My kids are troupers and love experiencing new things even in the pouring rain; being promised a new Disney toy helps too!! I love seeing places I’ve been before, renewed through their eyes.” 

“I learned my mother was indeed my ultimate traveling companion.”

Elizabeth Merrill

Mom and daughter in front of Great Wall of China
Photo Courtesy: Elizabeth Merrill

“For over 20 years, my mother and I have journeyed across the globe together. We have braved the Zambezi River’s class five white water rivers, eaten the infamous Shanghai “stinky tofu,” taught Thai mountain villagers “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes”, and pursued San Juan’s sultry salsotecas. Over time, we not only discovered that our passion for learning is experiential, but we inspire each other to remain curious about and pursuant to a diversity of encounters. Perhaps our most pivotal adventure involved exploring the Galapagos Islands. Here, I learned my mother was, indeed, my ultimate traveling companion. To her, a challenge was delightful and a risk highly motivating. So, when offered the opportunity to swim with hammerheads, she did not hesitate. Diving into the choppy Ecuadorian waters, she delighted in the prospect of encountering a shark. I discovered my mother’s infectious spirit through travel and vowed to relish every opportunity to explore.”

“So worth having these memories…and the one-on-one time.”

Rohi Pandya

I have taken both my children to London, England, on mommy and me trips! With Maiya (age 9), on our girl’s trip, we did Afternoon teas, the Christmas Light B Bakery Bus tour, and the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory tour.  We loved both, but Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was fancy, so we liked that about the tea.  We also saw shows – we saw Mamma Mia! and a comedy about a bank robbery (so funny, slapstick humor!).  Plus we went shopping and went to a couple of museums – the British Museum and the National Gallery.  It was a whirlwind of 3 1/2 days, but it was it was worth having these memories with her and the one-on-one time.

I also went to London with my son, Jaanan (age 8) in 2016. We scored Harry Potter show tickets, and we traveled to London with a couple of friends of mine (also big Harry Potter fans!).  We saw the show over 2 nights. Additionally, we did the Harry Potter WB Studio tour during the day and went to the London Eye. We also saw Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the show, visited the Tower of London to glimpse at the Crown Jewels, and went on a Beefeater tour (Not to miss!  Kids love it).  We were able to go to the British Museum as well. We had 4 1/2 days in London and we packed it in!

“Watching my daughter run in and out of the water was pure joy!”

Antonia Grant

“My daughter and I traveled to Prince Edward Island when she was almost 3. We went with my mom and grandma, which made it extra special! This vacation was truly memorable and one of my favorites. We chose the location because it was a new destination for everyone – a hard feat in a well-traveled family! We enjoyed a full week of sun, sand, and seafood. PEI is definitely one of the top trips to take with mom! It is easy to get around, has outstanding food, and has amazing BEACHES! We went to the beach every day – which was incredible. Watching my daughter run in and out of the water was pure joy! Basin Head Beach was our favorite because of it’s “singing sands”. Wiggling your feet in the sand creates a wonderful “song”. I highly recommend PEI to families looking for delicious seafood and a day at the beach!”

“London, England, is an amazing city to explore, especially as a mom and child.”

Megan Tucker

Mom and son in London enjoying Tea Time.
Photo Courtesy- Megan Tucker

London, England, is an amazing city to explore, especially as a mom and child. When my 6-year-old (at the time) and I last visited, what made it so amazing was that there was something for everyone – even in the same neighborhood or attraction. For example, Harrods has a food hall, book section, and toy area to appeal to all ages. Or, in Westminster, you can take in the history of parliament. Then, walk across the Thames River to the London Eye and the adjacent playground. And let’s not forget about a great equalizer – afternoon tea with a chance to reset and enjoy treats! While there were many great moments just exploring sites and neighborhoods, an absolute highlight was getting professional photos taken. It captured memories to last a lifetime.”

“It’s not always what you do, but how you respond when things go awry.”

– Quentin Ball

Mom and daughter in Paris
Photo Courtesy: Quentin Ball

“Our first-ever mother-daughter trip was to Paris! My daughter (then age 6) thought she “spoke French” because she could say bonjour and read Madeline. I planned a few excursions in advance. But I didn’t pre-plan seeing the top of the Eiffel Tower. A lot of waiting ensued. Then, we arrived at the middle level only to discover we did NOT have tickets to the top. I was disappointed. My daughter pointed to the stairs, “Hey, why don’t we walk down? It’s only 674 steps”. I raced triathlons but still groaned. This was the most amazing failure ever! We met so many people. The views were spectacular. It was so much fun. During our trip, we had many failures, and I considered the role of adversity in travel. It’s not always what you do but how you respond when things go awry. It makes the trip that much more interesting!”

“I am determined to continue traveling with my little son.”

Swati Sinha

Mom and son in front of Banff National Park sign
Photo Courtesy: Swati Sinha

“I grew up in a small town in India and did not travel much when I was a kid. But now, I have visited 14 countries and have the travel bug! I took my son on his first plane ride when he was three months old. When my son was 1.5 years old, I went through a divorce. I booked a last-minute trip to Banff National Park and Lake Louise in Canada to mend my broken heart. Banff was my favorite trip with my son. We enjoyed walks along the lakes, picnicked on river banks, hiked up the mountains, and took in the views from lookout points. We returned last year with my mom and had an equally amazing time exploring Jasper National Park. I am determined to continue traveling with my little son and have learned to enjoy traveling as a single mom.”

I look forward to uniquely special moments with my kids!”

-Jolie Balido

Mom with baby and a toddler in  front of a lake
Photo Credit: Jolie Balido

“I’ve traveled across the globe, but one of my favorite family destinations is Lake Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. I initially resisted going there, thinking there would be more magical places to visit than Idaho. When I finally visited, I fell absolutely in love with Lake Coeur d’Alene and cried when the trip ended. We returned in 2013 when our daughter was a toddler and again in 2015 when our son was about six months old. There’s something special about Lake Coeur d’Alene that makes us feel more “alive” and connected to nature. Now, as a single mom, high on my 2020 travel list is returning with my kids to this one-of-a-kind place. I look forward to uniquely special moments with my kids, like quietly contemplating nature, where the air is crisp, natural beauty and open parking spaces abound, where people are polite, sidewalks are clean, and life is deliciously simple.”

Read: Best Spa Weekend Getaways for Moms in the Northeast

“My mom and I will remember this for the rest of our lives!”

– Jo Ann Byrne

“Growing up in Kansas during the ’70s, I dreamt of far-off places. I remember watching my favorite shows (Hawaii 5-0 and Fantasy Island) and begging my mom to take us on vacation.  Unfortunately, she couldn’t afford it. But the dream didn’t die! I surprised her with a trip to Honolulu, Hawaii! She flew from Kansas to NYC, thinking she was visiting me. I met her at JFK with two suitcases, one for each of us. I bought her a new beach wardrobe! She was shocked! I never realized how much this trip meant to her. We had the time of our lives! Our itinerary was simple, highlighting Pearl Harbor, a sunset catamaran tour, and the Polynesian Cultural Center. My mom and I will remember this for the rest of our lives. We frequently talk about going back. It was truly a bonding experience and something that we will always share!”

Read: 14 Best Moms’ Getaways / Girls’ Trip Ideas In The U.S

Happy Mother’s Day!

There are so many top trips to take with Mom. We hope you enjoyed these wonderful mother-and-child vacation stories! Additionally, we hope these top trips to take with your mom become an inspiration for future travels you will have with your mom or your kids—happy Mother’s Day to all the traveling mamas in the world. For additional inspiring travel articles and stories, check out the Interests section of our website. 

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