I think both are necessary and important. However, it depends on your stage in life, including the ages of your children.<BR><BR>For many years from our children's infancy, we took beach vacations with the extended family. Those were great, very similar year after year, and are actually a blur to us all ~ same condo (differnt units) same restaurants, attractions etc. Very comforting and relaxing, BUT they often became the 'dads vacations' (golfing) moms (shopping) and kids (as they played together under the moms watchful eyes. We seldom had our kids TOTALLY to ourselves.<BR><BR>When they started getting bored by the middle of the first week, we began our cross-country adventures. And so for the past seven years, we've done 'familiar' things ~ driving in the mini-van from place to place, schlepping in and out of countless hotels from place to place, but ALWAYS exploring NEW parks, cities, villages, attractions and adventures. <BR><BR>Each spring break, we also travel somewhere, Disney World mostly, and often indlude extended family at that time. <BR><BR>So in a sense, we have joined the familiar with the new on each cross country trip. The BEST part? On these wild and wacky three week jaunts, we have our kids TOTALLY to ourselves. No friends, extended family, neighbors etc. Its been the best bonding experience of our family, as you all know, the GLUE that holds us together. <BR><BR>Also, as teens now, they STILL want to travel with us! Imagine that, wanting to be seen with Clark and Ellen Griswold! LOL Will miracles never cease??!!!

Okay, everyone, keep an eye out for a travel article on this subject over the next three weeks. We've done somebody's homework here.

I vote both too. The "usual" most often, but the occaissional "learning experience" trip.

plagar ism,<BR>so what! good question....and we all enjoy a chance to reminisce. no harm, no foul!

When our children were young we visited Grandparents who do not live nearby. One set was able to meet us different places, so we were with the same people, different locations. Ideal! I think when they are very young, it matters less where you are, and more that you are together.<BR><BR>We generally go to different places every year, now, as well as visiting family. There are so many things we want to see, and we feel it benefits the children to visit places they are studying, or locations they have heard about. Plus, we love seeing new places, too.<BR><BR>The kids often attend the same summer camp, so get some of that experience of continuity.<BR><BR>

Like so many others here I like to do both. Last year we went on our first overseas trip and had a great time but we were sure glad the next month to go back to Sunriver, 2 hours from home, and be in familiar surrounds to relax and do 'nothing' together. We also have a place we go for Thanksgiving. <BR><BR>I distinguish between the two - trips are for exploring the new and vacations are for going back to the familiar. I am very glad I have found places close to home to relax - even just for a long weekend. <BR><BR>I think it is vital to expose children to new experiences, people, places, it helps to broaden their mind and make them less fearful of the unknown. Married a man who never traveled and it has been fun to show him new places but he is also fearful of the unknown and it can be challenging to encourage him to get out.<BR>

Our family opts for different locations on our once a year trip to see and experience new places and try new things. Hopefully we can revisit our favorite places someday. In reading the previous posts I am impressed with how lucky our children are to be able to travel to the extent they do, whether it is to the familiar spot or new destination.

To plag - as stated in my first post - I'm not a travel writer. I post here regularly and happen to be interested in what other people thoughton this issue. I thought the comments were well thought out and interesting. It sure beats reading the 400th post about how to get from Logan to a hotel in Boston. If someone uses this string to start an article more power to them.

We have found that familiarity was more important to our kids when they were younger, and now that they are teenagers, visiting new places is as exiciting to them as it is to us. It also has the advantage of being a place filled with strangers - so if parents do embarassing things like breathing or walking the "wrong way" it doesno't matter all that much since they do not know anyone there.<BR><BR>We have never had a summer or vacation home, but several friend's families do and they are finding that as the kids get older, no matter how comfortable they are at the vacation home and how many friends they have made there, as they get older they are less interested in spending long periods of time there. (Not that kids get to decide where their parents vacation! - but some input makes everyone happier)<BR><BR>The other aspect is that places to which we returned more frequently were usually cottage-type places, and as we have had more money to travel and budgeted it as more of a priority, places where Mom does not have to clean and cook have become more appealing.

Parents took us to Tahoe (from S CA - 10 hour drive 9 pm to 7 am) every summer. As we got older they asked us if we'd like to try something different. The question alone nearly caused a riot! We loved that we returned every year to the same spot and hooked back up with the kids from the year before. Continue to go there as an adult and have been taking my kids there every year as well. They won't give up their Tahoe vacation either though we don't do two weeks now like we did growing up. 1 week there and the other week somewhere else. Lately it's been Mammoth but also try Yosemite, Monterey, Lake Oroville....<BR><BR>Fortunately for us we get more time off so we can take 4 or 5 weeks a year and try different things. Going to Maui in the fall.