Traveling for the Holidays: Why Memories Matter More Than Gifts

There’s something quietly magical about this time of year—the way airports fill with families rushing to be together, highways glow with headlights heading home, and small towns come alive with twinkling lights that seem to whisper, “Welcome back.” Holiday travel has woven itself into the new normal, and honestly, it feels like we’re returning to something sacred—something we forgot while drowning under wrapping paper and rushing through store aisles.

More and more, people are choosing plane tickets over presents and moments over merchandise. And maybe that shift is exactly what our hearts have been craving.

Gifts Fade. Memories Don’t.

Think back to five Christmases ago. Do you remember what you unwrapped? Maybe one or two things… but not the dozens of small, forgettable gifts that seemed important at the time.
But do you remember who you were with?
Where you gathered?
What you laughed about?
The way your house smelled with those warm goodies being made?
The feeling of squeezing close together on the couch?

We remember moments—because moments shape us.

Travel is one of the most powerful ways to build those memories. Being somewhere new—or somewhere meaningful—opens up a space in our hearts that gifts simply can’t fill. Whether it’s waking up in a cabin in the mountains dusted with snow, chasing your kids through an airport terminal, or sharing hot chocolate under unfamiliar stars, traveling becomes the gift itself.

Scripture reminds us of the significance of presence over possessions. Jesus taught, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). For many families today, travel is becoming a way to intentionally place their “treasure”—their time, attention, and presence—where their hearts truly are: with the people they love.

Why Travel Is Becoming the New Tradition

In a world that moves faster each year, people are craving connection more than consumption. Travel creates the space to slow down, breathe deeply, and step outside the routines that often bury us.

Travel forces us to pause.
Travel reconnects us.
Travel reminds us that life is bigger than our to-do lists.

And let’s be honest: the memories made while exploring a Christmas market, walking beside the ocean in winter, hiking a snowy trail, or simply gathering in a rented home filled with family laughter—those moments last far longer than the newest trendy gadget ever will.

Families are realizing that the most meaningful gift they can give each other is simply time together. With so many distractions pulling us apart, traveling becomes a way to say, “None of those things matter right now. You matter right now.”

A Return to What Matters Most

The Bible is filled with stories of people traveling—sometimes out of necessity, sometimes out of faith, sometimes simply to be present for sacred moments. Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem before Jesus was born. The wise men traveled far to honor a King they had never met. Even Jesus Himself traveled from town to town, choosing presence over comfort.

There’s something deeply spiritual about movement, about going where love leads us.

And while we’re not trekking across deserts on camelback, boarding a plane to see family or driving eight hours to spend Christmas around a new table is its own kind of pilgrimage—a journey toward belonging.

Psalm 133:1 says, “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” Sometimes unity means meeting in one place, even if it takes a trip to get there.

The Cozy Joy of Shared Experiences

Imagine this holiday season…

• Waking up somewhere beautiful, sunlight peeking through unfamiliar curtains
• Sharing breakfast with the people who make your heart feel at home
• Exploring a local coffee shop, laughing over pastries
• Bundling up to stroll through holiday lights in a town you’ve never seen
• Ending the night by a fire—whether real or electric—retelling stories that your family will remember for years

That is the kind of gift you can’t lose, break, or outgrow.

This Year, Choose What Lasts

There’s nothing wrong with presents. They can be thoughtful, fun, and meaningful. But the shift toward holiday travel is reminding us that experiences shape the soul in a way objects can’t.

When the holidays roll around, kids won’t remember how many presents were under the tree.
They’ll remember who sat around it with them.
They’ll remember where they were.
They’ll remember the feeling of being together.

So whether it’s a big trip, a weekend getaway, or simply deciding to gather somewhere new this Christmas—lean into the beauty of making memories. Lean into presence. Lean into one another.

Because at the end of the day, the greatest gift we can give isn’t wrapped in ribbon.

It’s wrapped in time, intention, and love.