The Best Souvenir You Can Give Your Kids Is Time Together

Make every year count and the memories last forever.

Apr 27, 2025

When we travel, we collect a lot of souvenirs—postcards, T-shirts, little trinkets from gift shops. They’re fun reminders of where we’ve been.

But the souvenirs that matter most aren't things you can pack in a suitcase.

They're the moments we share.

The little inside jokes. The way a sunset looked on the first night of a trip. The awe on your child’s face when they see something for the first time.

The best gift you can give your kids while they’re young is your time, exploring new places, trying new foods, getting a little lost together, and making memories that don't fade with the seasons.

Why It Matters

If you have kids, you've probably heard it before: "The years will go by fast." It couldn’t be more true. It can seem slow in the moment, but suddenly those 18 years are gone.

One day you’re helping them build sandcastles, and the next you’re visiting college campuses.

The days that felt endless when they were small suddenly feel like they're slipping through your fingers.

It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day rush—school schedules, soccer practices, music lessons, work deadlines.

Travel pulls you out of that cycle.

It gives you a rare gift: time without distractions, where your whole focus can be on experiencing something together.

Those experiences create a story your family will tell and retell for years to come:

"Remember when we got lost trying to find the Colosseum?"
"Remember how the whales swam right next to the boat?"
"Remember the ice cream in Venice?"

Those moments are the real souvenirs…the ones they'll carry in their hearts long after the T-shirts don't fit and the postcards fade.

📋 Quick Ideas for Easy Family Adventures

You don’t have to fly across the world to create memories that last. Here are a few easy ideas you can do in a weekend (or even a day):

Visit a nearby historic town you’ve never explored.
Find a scenic hike or nature trail an hour away.
Pick a city on the map within driving distance and go have lunch there.
Take a ferry or boat tour, even if it’s just across a river or bay.
Plan a "one tank" road trip — wherever you can get on one tank of gas.
Visit a local museum, then grab ice cream after.
Go to a minor league or local sports game and sit up close.

🧭 It's not about distance. It's about discovery.

18 Trips I'm Grateful We Took

Last year, I sat down and made a list of 18 travel experiences I’m grateful we did before our kids turned 18.

From climbing the Eiffel Tower in Paris, to whale watching in Boston Harbor, to taking a tour of Real Madrid’s stadium, every experience added a new chapter to our family story.

Some trips were grand—crossing oceans to explore new countries.

Others were simple—a weekend camping trip, a day at a national park, a road trip a few states away.

But all of them mattered.

It’s not about how far you go or how much you spend.

It’s about being intentional: carving out the time to go somewhere together, even if it’s just an hour away.

Because kids remember how you made them feel far more than they’ll remember the destination.

Those little adventures stack up over time into something irreplaceable. The become a deep well of shared experiences that connect you even as they grow up and start making their own journeys.

Making the Memories Last

One thing I learned along the way: even the most incredible moments fade if you don’t find a way to capture them.

We think we’ll never forget... but life moves fast.

That’s why I built DuckAbroad—to help families record and remember the places they explore and the moments they share.

If you're looking for a simple way to keep track of your family’s travels—whether it’s a once-in-a-lifetime trip or a simple weekend adventure—consider joining our Founding Family.

You'll get free lifetime access to the DuckAbroad app while it’s still available.

👉 Become a Founding Family Member

Because a vacation doesn't just last a week—it can last a lifetime, if you hold onto it the right way.

Download our new app from the Apple App Store.

Bonus

How to Build Your Own "18 Before 18" Travel List

One of the best ways to stay intentional about family travel is to set a simple goal:
18 memorable travel experiences before your kids turn 18.

Here’s how to start building your own list:

1. Think about variety, not just distance.
Big trips and small getaways both matter.

2. Brainstorm with your kids.
Ask what they'd love to see or experience someday.

3. Include “firsts.”
First flights, first hikes, first snorkels—firsts are unforgettable.

4. Be flexible.
Let the list grow and change as your family grows.

5. Track your adventures together.
Celebrate each one you complete.
Write about it, snap a photo, or log it in an app like DuckAbroad.