Family in Newport Beach Whale Tour

Before They Fly the Nest… Take the Trip: Family (Re)Connection Before the Next Chapter Begins

/ / / /
ByRachel K. Belkin
With graduation season here, those of us with family members graduating are wondering how we’re already at this point. Wasn’t it just yesterday that they started kindergarten?
 
Whether you have a graduate this year or not, there’s something special about this time of year. 
 
It’s a reminder that our kids are growing up fast, and the window for those “just us” family trips is getting smaller.
Family in Newport Beach Whale Dolphin Tour
New Port Beach Dolphin Watching Tour
When my son graduated from high school, we decided to celebrate with a family trip. 
 
Nothing fancy or overly complicated, just something built around what he loves most: baseball. 
 
We bounced around Southern California, catching games, exploring beaches, eating, catching more games, and laughing a lot (mostly the kids laughing at my husband’s expense, all in good fun).
Costa Mesa - Factory Records with Teenagers - Rachel K. Belkin.
Costa Mesa Record Store
And somewhere between the stadiums and the ocean, I remembered how rare it is, and will be, to get uninterrupted time together at this stage of life.
That’s why I’m such a believer in graduation trips. They don’t have to be big or expensive. You can go across the country, across the world, or just across your city.
Angles Stadium fans catch baseball - Rachel K Belkin.
Angles Stadium (My sons were disappointed that they didn’t catch the ball.)
What matters is the pause… the chance to mark the moment and soak up time with your almost‑grown kids before jobs, responsibilities, and adult life start filling their calendars.

If you’re thinking about planning one (or just want a little inspiration), I wrote about our experience here: A Boy Mom’s Baseball-Centric Vacation That Hit It Out of the Park—From Ballparks to Beaches, the Whole Family Scored Big (Mom Included)

Whether you go big, go small, or keep it local, I hope you find a way to celebrate the milestone and each other.


Itching to go somewhere?
Ready to travel for connection, purpose, or just veg out and be pampered? Whether you have a destination in mind or are looking for ideas, Rachel will help you get there.

Let's start planning!
In most cases, it's free to work with Rachel. So there is no cost to you for trip-planning services. Email Rachel.


Share:

Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on LinkedIn Share on SMS Share on WhatsApp
Rachel K Belkin Profile Pic

Rachel K. Belkin is an Austin‑based and Pittsburgh-based educator, writer, marketing director, and travel advisor. She is the founder and editor‑in‑chief of Probe the Globe, a travel publication with content syndicated on national and global outlets. Rachel collaborates with businesses and community organizations to tell stories and create content that informs, inspires, and strengthens connections. Her travel, lifestyle, and health reporting has appeared on MSN, Yahoo News, AP News, HuffPost, Matador Network, EuroNews, the Associated Press, WGN, Hometalk, and in on‑air segments for Fox 7 Austin, KXAN, and CBS Austin. She also speaks at community and industry events, sharing stories on travel, marketing and branding strategy, and breast cancer survivorship.

Next: