Since becoming a dad, I’ve taken my family on some incredible vacations—Disneyland, Disney World, Universal Studios, Washington, D.C., and even a Caribbean cruise.

Each trip was packed with unforgettable experiences, and we cherished every moment.

Yet, when I asked my kids to recall their favorite vacations, they all pointed to the road trips we’ve taken together.

I’ve always had a love for road trips.

As a child, my family couldn’t afford the grand vacations that my friends enjoyed, so we made the most of what we had with trips to Louisiana to visit family.

I didn’t mind the six-hour drive because it felt like an adventure. We’d pass through farmlands and small towns, each mile revealing a world so different from the urban landscape I was used to.

Stopping at unique restaurants along the way was a treat, especially when I could hear the charming Cajun accents of the servers and attempt to mimic them as soon as we got back in the car.

Yet, the true magic lay in the quiet moments spent with my mother.

As a single mom, she was often busy with work or caring for my sister and me.

But on those road trips, we could press pause on the chaos of life, sharing stories and laughter for hours on end.

Those precious moments of connection were what I craved, and it turns out my kids feel the same way.

When we embarked on our first major road trip—a 20-hour journey from Houston to Key West—I was excited yet apprehensive.

To prepare, I installed a DVD player in the minivan and loaded it with movies to keep my kids entertained during the long drive.

At the time, they were just 1, 5, and 8 years old, and I worried that the full day in the car might be overwhelming.

On departure day, everything was going smoothly until my daughter piped up from the backseat,.

“Daddy, something’s wrong with the movie,” she said.

I asked her what was happening, and she explained that it had stopped playing. I instructed her to fiddle with the controls, but to no avail.

“I’ll pull over at the next exit,” I said, hoping to troubleshoot the issue.

We parked at a McDonald’s, and as I inspected the DVD player, it became clear that there was nothing I could do to fix it.

“Bad news, honey,” I told my wife. “The DVD player is broken.”

Concern washed over her face; we were only two hours into a 20-hour trip, and the kids had no form of entertainment.

My wife and I considered detouring to an electronics store, but then I recalled those childhood road trips with my mom—there were no DVD players back then.

“Let’s keep going,” I suggested. “When we get to Key West, we can get a new one.”

My family looked disappointed, but I reassured them, “Don’t worry; everything will be okay.”

And guess what? Everything turned out better than okay.

On that long stretch of highway to Key West, we talked, laughed, and sang songs.

We played travel games like “I Spy” and “Spot the License Plate,” and my kids learned geography as we drove through different states.

Each mile brought us closer together, and the absence of a screen opened the door to connection and conversation.

When we finally arrived in Key West, everyone was exhausted, but my kids were eager to explore.

Hotels have a certain allure for them—there’s something magical about staying in a new place, even if it’s just a few miles from home.

We spent three glorious days exploring the island, indulging in new restaurants, and soaking up the sun on the beach.

My daughter and I collected seashells while my 5-year-old son splashed in the water, and my 1-year-old cautiously experimented with the sand.

The highlight of the trip came unexpectedly.

While relaxing in our hotel room, my youngest pulled himself up on the couch, let go, and took his first steps. We all erupted in cheers, and his laughter filled the room, echoing the joy of that moment.

On our last day in Key West, I mentioned to my wife that I was going to find an electronics store to get a new DVD player installed.

She paused, then said, “Nah, we’re good.”

The journey home was enriched by the stories we shared, reminiscing about our adventures in Key West, making it perhaps the best 20 hours of my life.

Now, that my kids are older, those moments of connection don’t come as easily.

That’s why I make it a point to schedule short road trips with each of them individually. Whether it’s a quick day trip or an overnight stay at a hotel, these outings allow us to reconnect and cherish our time together.

I know that they will soon embark on their own journeys, but I hope they carry the memories of our shared adventures, even when their own kids are asking, “Are we there yet?”

In a world that often pulls us in different directions, the value of a road trip lies not just in the destinations we reach, but in the bonds we strengthen along the way.

---

Tweet us @mochamanstyle or leave a comment on our Facebook Page to share your thoughts on this article. Follow us on Instagram @mochamanstyle