As parents we all want to create vacation memories for our children that they will remember forever. We sometimes have this image in our minds of the “perfect” vacation for our kids. Maybe it’s staying at the prettiest hotel or having a luxurious backdrop for your family vacation. Maybe it’s traveling to a new place to explore and discover. We all have our “dream” in our head of the perfect family vacation.

Vacation Memories I Hope They Remember

When we travel as a family it’s always chaotic because we have a lot of people. I watched many of my friends do quick getaways this summer around New England and started to get that feeling to do the same!  Vacation memories are made anywhere, not just on international getaways.

My favorite vacation memories from my childhood revolve around us trying to squeeze 6 people into a room made for 4 because I knew my parents couldn’t afford 2 rooms. It revolved around my parents finding the best stuff for us to do on a shoestring budget. These are the memories I cherish because (truthfully) I didn’t know about budgets “back” then.

On a whim we decided on Saturday morning to take a quick trip to New Hampshire. We wanted to go somewhere where it was open and in the wilderness because we didn’t want to be around lots of people. We also didn’t want to spend a ton of money and we knew heading to New Hampshire meant we could do lots of nature explorations (which I hate, but the kids love). We’re talking vacation memories right there for me!

We found a cheap hotel in New Hampshire and booked it. It wasn’t anything special, but it accommodated our family of 7 (even though we were short a bed). We were just excited to get away for 2 nights and 3 days.

Looking back on our trip, so much went “wrong,” but I know now that it’s these vacation memories that ALL of the kids will remember throughout the years.

What do I hope my kids remember from this quick New Hampshire Summer 2020 CRAZY getaway?

I hope my kids remember that I overpacked. I hope they always get a kick out of the fact that I packed 5 outfits for them for 2 days. Don’t even get me started on how much I packed for myself. They still don’t get the concept of options.

I hope they remember dad forgetting to fill up the gas tank before we went up Mount Washington. When William asked, “What’s that beeping?” And Matt said it was the gas gauge alerting us that it was almost empty, you could hear a pin drop in the car. Those vacation memories are perfect within themselves.

I hope they remember that we were all crammed into two small rooms and had to share beds. Nobody complained, they saw it more as an adventure.

I hope they remember that we lost one of Victoria’s flip flops somewhere in New Hampshire.

I hope they remember that we made them recreate photos from when they were little kids. Matt pulled up old photos and made them stand in the exact spots.

I hope they remember that I got eaten alive by flies at the creek. They all laughed at me slapping away at my arms and legs, pretending I was trying a new TikTok dance.

I hope they remember that Henry took an hour to finish his ice cream cone. We all sat there just looking at him as he slowly (like a sloth) licked his cone.

I hope they remember that we made them wait in the hour long Dunkin’ line so I could get coffee. There were tons of groaning and moaning, but we filtered it out. I hope they have those kinds of vacation memories when they pass Dunkin’ locations.

I hope they remember that dad snored all night. He literally kept us up all night long with his snoring!

I hope they remember that I was afraid of getting lost in the woods, so I wanted to tie ribbons to trees. I’m not a nature girl, so I was totally out of my element.

I hope they remember that dad didn’t want anyone talking on the way up Mount Washington because the road was so narrow. You gotta watch our YouTube video of the drive up, OMG! CRAZY scary.

I hope they remember that Victoria wouldn’t give up any of her chips to any of the brothers (even though they begged!). It was funny watching them “fight” in the car because it brought me back to my childhood with my siblings. Now they all “fight” back in their own ways.

I hope they remember that we watched Goonies and The Police Academy and Rocky at the hotel.

I hope they remember that I forgot bug spray and made Matt drive around to every store we could find open trying to buy some.

I hope they remember that I was worried to eat inside any restaurants, so we did takeout and ate in the car! 

I hope they remember that we said NO to mini golf because we were concerned about being around too many people. The kids weren’t happy, but these kinds of vacation memories they will smile about someday.

I hope they remember that the hotel was dated as can be, but it was the only one we could find. 

I hope they remember pulling off the highway to explore a creek.

I hope they remember that I was horrified that I didn’t book anything. You couldn’t get in ANYWHERE without reservations (tubing, kayaking, canoeing, Echo Lake). They laughed trying to watch me talk my way around reservations.

I hope they remember all these little, but BIG things that made our quick getaway special.

It was one of the best getaways we’ve ever taken because it was all about US. It was being together and staying together. It was about making the best out of what we could do.

These are the vacation memories I remember from my childhood and I hope they remember from theirs, too. It’s not about how much you spend, it’s about how much you do together that will make long lasting memories.

Thank you to New Hampshire for bringing me more happiness in 3 days than I ever thought possible!

Check out here why everyone needs to explore needs to explore Mount Washington.