The Great Family Adventure Begins: Letting the Boys Choose the Destination

After writing about the irony of living in a holiday destination and wondering where on earth to escape to for our own summer adventure, it was finally time to make a decision.

Well... almost.

One thing I really wanted this trip to be was our adventure, not just mine. So before I disappeared down a rabbit hole of flight comparisons, travel blogs and spreadsheets, I sat the boys down and asked a simple question:

"If you could go anywhere, where would you want to go?"

I already had a pretty good idea of Albie's answer.

He's happiest when life is simple.

Give him the outdoors, wildlife, the ocean, forests, mountains or somewhere he can get muddy, and he's in his element.

He doesn't really mind where we go, as long as there's nature to explore and adventures to be had.

Archie, on the other hand...

Well, getting an answer out of him was a little more challenging.

After much persuasion, a few shrugs and several "I don't know" responses, he eventually came back with three ideas.

Not one.

Not two.

Three completely different adventures.

• An American road trip from Florida to Texas (which, let's be honest, sounds pretty epic!)

• South Africa

• Australia

Random?

Absolutely.

Very Archie?

Without a doubt.

I couldn't resist throwing a few more suggestions into the mix.

"What about Costa Rica?"

"No."

"Sri Lanka?"

"No... not this time, Mum."

Fair enough!

So suddenly we had three incredible possibilities sitting on the table.

Each one offered something completely different.

Could the three of us travel there comfortably?

Would there be enough adventure to keep two teenage boys entertained?

Could we make the budget work?

Would we have enough time to really experience it?

And perhaps most importantly...

Would it become one of those unforgettable trips we still talk about years from now?

What followed involved far more spreadsheets than I'd like to admit, countless browser tabs, comparing flight, researching itineraries, looking at wildlife, beaches, activities and deciding what would give us the biggest adventure for the time and budget we have available.

It's funny how planning a trip becomes part of the journey itself.

The dreaming.

The researching.

The imagining what it might feel like standing somewhere you've never been before.

Eventually, after plenty of discussion (and changing my mind more than once), a decision was made.

But...

I'm keeping it a secret.

For now.

Partly because I love a surprise, but mostly because I think not knowing is part of the adventure.

There's something exciting about counting down to a trip when the destination is still wrapped up in mystery.

So, for the next week, I'll be sharing the planning process, the preparations and everything that goes into creating a family adventure before finally revealing where we're heading.

Will it be wide open roads across America?

The incredible wildlife of South Africa?

Or the vast landscapes and beaches of Australia?

You'll have to stay tuned to find out...

One thing I can promise is this: wherever we end up, it won't just be another holiday.

It'll be an adventure.

And hopefully one that inspires you to start planning your own.

Have you ever let your children choose the destination for a family holiday?

I'd love to know where they picked—and whether it turned out to be everything you hoped for. Leave a comment below and let me know!