Melissa's Travels

Why Moms Make The Best Travel Partners

My entire life has been shaped by travel-related experiences with my family. Some of my best memories are of trips with my mother. One of the most memorable trips with my mom was when we went to Paris to look for my wedding dress. We spent a weekend visiting our favorite places and discovering new ones, marking the milestone in our own special way. When I became a mother, it was important to me to experience the world with my kids. My daughter, in particular, shares my appetite for adventure and we've visited destinations both of my choosing, and hers (from Lisbon and Iceland to India and Nashville). This year, we selected Colombia for our annual spring break trip. While there, she paid homage to a photo of my mother who posed on the back of a Bimbo bread truck in Mexico.

From sharing special moments with my mom to laughing with my daughter over her 2018 take on her grandmother's photograph, travel with my family will always be a part of our history. Many members of the Indagare team have also enjoyed traveling with their moms. I hope their stories inspire you to plan a trip with your mother, whether it is a weekend away or a longer journey.

Australia Adventure

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When I was living in Australia, my mom flew out to visit me for a whirlwind two-week trip. We did a sunset helicopter flight over Uluru and Kata Tjuta, explored the Museum of New and Old Art in Tasmania, and stuffed ourselves at Otto in Sydney. It was the first time we spent a significant amount of alone time together since I moved away for college and it was the first time I really saw her as more than just my mom, but a person in her own right. We’ve made it a point to do a trip like that every year since." ~Colin Heinrich, Trip Designer

Holidays in Paris

"One of the best trips I've taken with my mom was to Paris for New Year's Eve. We hit some of our favorite spots on the Left Bank—Le Bon Marché for fashion, Buly 1803 for bath products and Démodé for home goods—and explored the neighborhood she used to live in after college. One of our best decisions was to skip dining out on NYE; instead, we picked up a spread of cheese, charcuterie and bread, which we enjoyed with a movie in our room and a night in at La Réserve. After the trip, I ordered her a print photo of us in the Tuileries Garden. She said it was one of the most thoughtful gifts she has ever received." ~Emma Pierce, Destination Editor

"My mom and I did a foodie trip to Paris, during which we savored soufflés, wine, cheese and steak frites—anything we could get our hands on, really! But the trip was about more than just food. Exploring Paris—a place that elicits a childlike wonder in all who visit—allowed me to see my mom in a new light." ~Missy Weil, Trip Designer

Related: Travel Photo Albums and Memento: Memorializing Trips

Magical Mexico

"One of the best trips I've taken with my mom was to Puebla, Mexico for a long weekend. We explored the city's bustling cobblestone streets filled with candy-colored buildings and sampled street food, visited beautiful churches and modern art museums, meandered through pottery markets and took a cooking class complete with a mezcal tasting. There was something about traveling to a relatively tourist-free, off-the-beaten-path destination that made us feel like we were sharing in a secret together. The rest of my family will forever be jealous!” ~Blair West, Integrated Content Editor 

Easy Weekend in D.C.

"Washington, D.C. is perfect for a mother-daughter getaway in the spring. My mom and I have been traveling there together for years, and we always stay in Georgetown, which has great shopping and restaurants and picturesque cobblestone streets. Our favorite hotel is the Rosewood, which combines feminine elegance with a modern edge. For a "Girls Day," head out from the Rosewood after breakfast to the Newseum for a short morning tour—and be sure not to miss the Pulitzer Prize photographs gallery. Then, have lunch at the charming French bistro Le Diplomate, followed by a stop at Salt & Sundry, the boutique next door, which is filled with adorable housewares and accessories. Return to Georgetown to browse the stores on M Street, then enjoy a cocktail on the rooftop of the Rosewood—it has incredible views of the monuments at sunset. For dinner—and celebrity sightings—try Café Milano, the Georgetown go-to for young locals and diplomats alike, or Il Canale, which serves incredible pizza." ~Elizabeth Harvey, Copy and Creative Coordinator

Related: 10 Mother-Daughter Trips

Serenity in Santa Fe

"For my Mom's birthday last year, I planned a long weekend in Santa Fe. The most memorable experience was with a local guide, who took us to the Santa Clara Native American pueblo to meet a well-known potter, Madeline Naranjo. She welcomed us into her home and told us about how her mother and grandmother taught her to make pottery without a wheel and using only her hands. Madeline's gratitude for the earth made my mother and I want to incorporate more of a respect for the planet into our daily lives." ~Rose Allen, Operations Manager

“My mom is one of my favorite travel companions! One place we find ourselves over and over again is Santa Fe. We love waking up early at the Four Seasons Rancho Encantado, lighting the fire and drinking a cup of coffee from local roaster 35 North before heading into town to peruse galleries and visit our favorite shops, such as Santa Fe Vintage Outpost. We'll grab a juice at Modern General or pick up some local produce from the farmers market along the old railroad after visiting Shiprock gallery. Santa Fe is all about wellness and reconnecting with and appreciating the earth, and there's lots to do even if you’re not a Georgia O'Keefe fan!” ~Shoshana Balistierri, VP People, Culture & Social Impact

A trend that we have seen in the past year is mothers and daughters joining our Insider Journeys. Some favorite choices have been our Mii amo retreats and adventure trips to places like Rwanda and Morocco. Check out upcoming Insider Journeys.

Contact Indagare  for assistance brainstorming destinations for a trip with your mom. Our travel specialists can match you with the best hotels, arrange great meals and activities and organize special excursions.

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