COVER STORY
Family Travel Isn't One-Size-Fits-All
There is a version of family vacation that exists on the internet.
Matching outfits. Smiling children. Beautiful dinners. Everybody peacefully watching the sunset.
And then there is traveling with actual children. 😂
Kids get hungry at inconvenient times. They get tired. They need bathrooms immediately. They love the thing you thought they'd hate and refuse the thing you planned the entire day around.
And for children with sensory differences, disabilities or additional support needs, travel can add another layer entirely.
New sounds. New smells. Crowds. Lines. Different beds. Different foods. Constant transitions and almost none of the familiar routines that make home feel predictable.
That doesn't mean they aren't made for travel.
It means we may need to rethink what successful family travel looks like. Maybe success isn't doing everything. Maybe it's creating enough flexibility, support and breathing room that everyone gets to experience the adventure in a way that works for them.
