For many families, the search for meaningful, affordable vacations often leads to unexpected discoveries. One such journey unfolded over eight consecutive summers in Vermont, where a family of five found not just a getaway, but a shared rhythm of growth, simplicity and lasting connection. What began as a practical solution to the challenges of traveling with young children—including one with significant disabilities—evolved into a cherished tradition that shaped childhoods and provided respite from the demands of daily life.
The family’s annual trips to South Burlington, Vermont, were made possible through the generosity of a friend who offered the use of his townhouse. This arrangement removed the financial pressure often associated with family travel, allowing the focus to shift from logistics to presence. Each year, they drove from their East Coast home, stocked the refrigerator with groceries from Trader Joe’s, and settled into a routine built around low-cost or free activities: fishing from a dock, hayrides at Shelburne Farms, visits to the Ben & Jerry’s Factory, and leisurely explorations of Lake Champlain’s shoreline.
Over time, the vacations grew alongside the children. As the kids aged from toddlers to teenagers, the family expanded their adventures—paddleboarding on Lake Willoughby, kayaking, biking along waterfront trails, and even making a cross-border trip to Montreal after obtaining the children’s first passports. Yet, despite the expanding itinerary, the core appeal remained unchanged: the quiet, predictable pace of returning to a familiar place where the children could safely explore, learn, and simply be.
Research consistently shows that repeated exposure to natural environments during childhood supports emotional regulation, physical activity, and family cohesion. A 2019 study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that children who regularly engage in outdoor recreation demonstrate improved attention spans and reduced stress markers, particularly when experiences are shared with caregivers. While the family’s Vermont trips were not part of a formal study, their pattern aligns with these findings—offering a real-world example of how accessible, nature-based getaways can contribute to long-term well-being.
Courtesy of Jaclyn Greenberg.
The consistency of the destination offered psychological benefits beyond recreation. Returning to the same townhouse each August created a sense of continuity—a temporal landmark in the children’s lives. Psychologists note that such routines can strengthen familial bonds by providing shared reference points and reducing the cognitive load associated with planning novel trips. For this family, the predictability of the journey allowed them to focus on interaction rather than logistics, turning travel into a ritual rather than a task.
Activities were intentionally adapted to include all family members. When the youngest child, who uses a wheelchair, wanted to participate in outdoor exploration, the family modified trails, selected accessible fishing docks, and utilized adaptive equipment where available. Shelburne Farms, a nonprofit working landscape and educational center located along Lake Champlain, offers universally designed paths and sensory-friendly programming, making it a recurring destination. The organization’s commitment to inclusivity has been recognized by the Institute for Human Centered Design, which highlighted its efforts to ensure access for visitors of all abilities.
Financial accessibility played a central role in sustaining the tradition. According to data from the U.S. Travel Association, the average domestic family vacation costs over $4,500, a figure that can be prohibitive for households managing medical expenses or caregiving responsibilities. By contrast, the family’s Vermont trips relied on free accommodations, self-catered meals, and low- or no-cost recreation—demonstrating how meaningful travel need not come with a high price tag. Public resources like Vermont’s state park system, which offers discounted or free entry for residents and visitors alike, further supported this model.
Courtesy of Jaclyn Greenberg.
As the children grew, so did their independence and interests. The daughter, who once rode a pink scooter down Church Street in Burlington, eventually biked for miles along the Colchester Causeway Trail—a paved, scenic route connecting neighborhoods and parks. By her teenage years, she looked forward to shopping trips with her mother in Burlington’s Church Street Marketplace, a pedestrian-friendly district known for its local boutiques and seasonal events. These small milestones, witnessed year after year, became markers of time passed and growth achieved.
The decision to visit during the third week of August was deliberate. Timing the trip just before the school year began allowed the family to decompress from the rhythm of therapies, appointments, and routines that often dominated their home life. Educators and child development specialists note that transitional periods—such as the end of summer—can be emotionally significant for children, particularly those with neurodevelopmental differences. A predictable, calming experience before returning to structured environments can help ease anxiety and improve readiness to learn.
When the townhouse was eventually sold, the family felt a genuine sense of loss. Yet, rather than viewing it as an end, they saw it as an invitation to expand their horizons. Subsequent trips have taken them to the coasts of Maine and New Hampshire, the deserts of Arizona, the tropical shores of Key West, and most recently, to cities across Europe. Each journey brought new perspectives, but the family acknowledges that Vermont remains a touchstone—a place where foundational memories were made.
Courtesy of Jaclyn Greenberg.
The story reflects a broader truth about family travel: its value often lies not in extravagance, but in consistency, presence, and shared experience. In an era where social media often highlights far-flung, luxury getaways, the quiet power of returning to the same lake, the same dock, the same mountain view year after year offers a compelling counterpoint. It suggests that belonging—not just to a place, but to each other—can be nurtured in the simplest of settings.
For families considering similar traditions, resources exist to support accessible, budget-conscious planning. The National Center on Accessibility provides guidelines for inclusive recreation, while state tourism offices—such as Vermont’s Department of Tourism and Marketing—offer detailed information on free events, accessible trails, and seasonal programs. Tools like the Vermont State Parks website allow users to filter activities by accessibility features, cost, and proximity to services.
the eight summers in Vermont were more than a vacation. They were a collection of mornings spent fishing in silence, afternoons spent chasing ice cream trucks, and evenings spent telling stories on a porch as the sun dipped behind the Green Mountains. They were, in the truest sense, time well spent—not because they were expensive or exotic, but because they were shared.
As the family continues to explore new destinations, they carry with them the lessons learned in Vermont: that joy can be found in routine, that connection grows in stillness, and that some of the most enduring gifts we give our children are not things, but moments—repeated, remembered, and held close.
If you’ve built your own family traditions through repeat visits to a meaningful place, we invite you to share your story in the comments below. What place has become your family’s anchor? How has returning year after year shaped your memories?