Photo memories from many family trips to Prince Edward Island.
I’ve been a bit distracted of late as there’s a milestone event fast approaching for our family. Katie graduates high school next month and starts university this fall. It’s such an exciting time for her but I have to admit that her upcoming move has me reflecting on how it truly does only take the blink of an eye for a child to grow up.
I haven’t booked any travel for this summer yet due to the necessity of planning it around Katie’s schedule once she finds a summer job. We have been discussing it for the last several months though because I want her to have a great summer before heading off to school. I expected her to rhyme off a list of European countries that she would like to visit but was surprised that her destination of choice is much closer to home. The only place that she wants to travel this summer is back to Prince Edward Island.
She believes (and I hope she’s wrong) that this will be her last family vacation and she wants to spend time on the island that we have returned to again and again for family holidays. I was a bit taken aback that my 17 year-old had become nostalgic about her childhood but I suppose it makes sense. She feels that she is moving on and we have so many wonderful family memories from our PEI trips that it’s natural for her to want to return one more time. Looking back at the photos from our many trips to the island is a reminder of just how fleeting childhood actually is.
PEI was one of the first places that we traveled with Katie spending a week late in the summer of 1998 before her 2nd birthday. We fell in love with the island and the cottage that we rented at Kindred Spirits and returned the following two summers. We even met up with Granny and Grampy there one summer while they were touring the east coast.
We skipped a year and then returned the summer that Katie was 5 after spending a week exploring coastal New Brunswick and it was just as much fun as it had been when she was a toddler.
Two years later we returned to the island again but as a family of four and Katie was able to introduce her baby sister to the red-sand beaches of PEI, Anne of Green Gables and Cows ice cream.
We wanted to explore more of the Atlantic provinces with the girls and they were becoming great travelers so we started planning a trip to Nova Scotia in 2006 but it became clear that we couldn’t go to the east coast without spending time at our favourite cottage in Cavendish.
A few years passed by and we had traveled to many places across North America and Europe with the girls before our most recent east coast trip to Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. After six years, it was surprising just how much it felt like returning home.
It seems like just yesterday that we were taking those first trips with a baby and worrying about whether she would cry on the plane or how she would sleep away from home. It was much easier than we had feared and we were soon traveling farther and more often to some amazing places around the world. Some of our best family memories from the past 17 years have come from our travels.
Not every destination has had the same impact on our family as PEI has but every memory of every trip is precious. My best advice for parents is to travel as often as possible from the time children are young instead of waiting for them to reach some magical age where they will be “old enough” to appreciate it. The years fly by and before you know it you will be waving goodbye as they leave home and start exploring the world on their own.
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Mary {The World Is A Book}
Oh Lisa, this made me tear up and love your advice especially about that magical age. I can’t even begin to imagine what you’re going through as Katie spreads her wings and talks of independent travels. I’ve seen my brothers and friends send kids off to college and it’s heartbreaking. I love all these photos of the girls when they were younger and so glad you have this special place as a family. Congratulations to Katie and here’s hoping you can book those summer trips soon. PEI looks so beautiful and I can see why it’s a family favorite.
Cathy Sweeney
I predict that Katie will have many more wonderful family trips with you. PEI brings back great memories for me, too. I was probably 5 or 6 when I went there with my family. Really enjoyed your pics. Congratulations to Katie!
Marlys
What a touching piece! And you are so right. It takes but a blink of an eye that our kids are suddenly ready to leave the nest. I’m sure this would make the memories all the more poignant. Good Luck to Katie and hope she enjoys her time at university!
Lisa Goodmurphy
Thanks, Mary – it’s really unbelievable how fast they grow up! Fortunately (for me), Katie has chosen a university that’s not too far from home so we won’t have to go months without seeing her but it will still be a real shift in the family dynamic to have her living away full-time.
PEI is a wonderful family destination – I need to convince you and your family to visit!!
Lisa Goodmurphy
Thanks, Cathy! I think PEI is one of those places where you can’t help but form great memories and I do hope we make it back again this summer!
Lisa Goodmurphy
Thank you, Marlys! She’s very excited about the move to university and I’m sure it will be a wonderful experience for her!
Jeff Titelius
Oh my, touch a heart-warming post my friend! What a lovely chronology of your times together as a family at PEI. You know, Suzy Bogguss (country singer) has a lovely song about all the emotions that are probably stirring within you as you prepare for Katie’s departure–“Letting Go.” Warning, if you watch the video, you’ll probably cry, I do and I don’t have any kids. I love to read posts like this!! Thank you for a wonderful journey through time!
Jeff Titelius
That first sentence should read, “Oh my, such a heart-warming post…” Sorry about that.
Constance - Foreign Sanctuary
What a beautiful write-up!! I love how you presented the journey of your adventures through photos – just lovely! Atlantic Canada has some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world and some of the nicest people. So, I am not surprised that PEI is your daughter’s choice for vacation before she heads off to university.
Katie @ The World on my Necklace
I could imagine that PEI would be a fantastic place for children, it does have a magical feel about it. Cavendish actually reminded me a lot of the beach in the Coromandel Peninsula that I used to visit every summer as a child. I love where you said ‘My best advice for parents is to travel as often as possible from the time children are young instead of waiting for them to reach some magical age where they will be “old enough” to appreciate it’ – I will definitely be sure to remember that when I have a child one day
Marcia
Beautiful and touching, Lisa. I suspect you’ll be taking more trips together. You started a lovely family tradition, one that Katie will be proud to continue with her family one day.
Good luck to Katie as she embarks on her new adventure, and to you in yours!
Sophie
Completely understand about PEI; my daughters loved it too. My oldest (now 25) still comes along on family hols, so don’t lose hope 🙂
Hannah
Oh P.E.I! Would love to get out there one day. My friend went when we were 7 and she brought me back a container of purple sand and a sea shell from a beach there… I still have it 🙂
Michele {Malaysian Meanders}
You’ve always shown PEI to be such a great family getaway that I’m not surprised that’s where Katie wants to go. I didn’t realize you had been so many times. Hopefully, it’s not Katie’s last family trip. Perhaps in another 10-15 years, you’ll be doing a 3 generation trip there! (Okay, I’m really looking far, far into the future.) I think I’m going to feel lucky if I can stretch family travel until my kids leave for university. In my husband’s family, his brothers stopped traveling once they got high school summer jobs.
Jen Seligmann
What an exciting time for you right now but also a bit emotional too. I love reminiscing of past family trips and was only looking back the other day and some of the albums my dad made of our childhood road trips. So many good memories! I hope you enjoy the summer holiday.
Samantha
Aww your girl is adorable! I love the pictures through time, it looks like a great place to take kids and create wonderful childhood memories.
Leigh
What a lovely post Lisa. As much as Katie thinks it will be the last family holiday, I think otherwise – providing that you remain the kind and generous parent you have always been because nothing beats a vacation when you’re older when Mom & Dad pay for it. I speak from experience.
We too have had several memorable vacations with our kids in PEI. It’s a place made for families & summer and I think one of those places where everyone leaves feeling happy.
Hope it ends up being a great holiday. Where is Katie going to university?
Paul
Beautiful article Lisa, it’s wonderful to see photos from a range of time periods and see how travel has influenced your family. My family had a similar recurring holiday destination – We would travel to Cornwall (South West England), and stay in the dreamy village of Crantock – We would stay in the same cottage each time – I can remember every detail of it! It’s memories like this that keep family bonds strong
Lisa Goodmurphy
Thank you, Jeff! I’m not sure that I can watch the video but I will try!
Lisa Goodmurphy
Thank you, Constance! Atlantic does have some breathtaking scenery – I could go back again and again and never grow tired of it!
Alexandra C.
How sweet. My family didn’t travel together much. But my husband and I are making it a big priority for ourselves, and then down the line for our future kiddos too. What a lovely place for a family vacation! PEI is definitely on my top 10 Canadian locations list. But really pretty high overall. My husband and I got to visit Saint John, NB and Halifax / Peggy’s Cove, NS last summer.
Alexandra
Simply Alexandra: My Favorite Things
Shere
wow, your daughter starting university is a huge milestone!! From the pictures one can tell that you have great times in PEI, I think it’s also great to take pictures on the same place over the time. When you put them together, then you see how fast children grow.
Our little one just turn 6 month old and even though is not much, I have the feeling that the time is going too fast. I think family holidays are very important, it gives you the opportunity to spend time with your children, to not to worry about other things like cleaning the house or work. We have been already to Madrid and Tenerife with our little one and some more trips are coming up 🙂
Anu @ Country Hopping Couple
Lovely write up, and such a lovely family pictures they are! I have always enjoyed going with my parents and have beautiful travel moments with them. I am sure PEI has had a fab time with you all, and wishing her good luck as she capture the world on her own!
Chase_adventure
As a child that traveled with my mom, I can say with some certainty that this will not be your last family vacation. It may be the last for a few years (or 10 years) while Katie finds her own sense of identity, but at some point I think she’ll realize that family vacations are a part of what makes her who she is and she’ll want to make that a part of her life again someday. It may not be the same, she may get married or have children, but that just makes for an even better family vacation!
I took, what I thought to be my last family vacation when I was 22, after graduating college. This past year, 12 years later, I found myself on a Mexican beach with my mom 🙂
In any case, enjoy PEI this summer! I’m well overdue for another trip back there as well 🙂
Tam @ Travelling Book Junkie
It’s great to hear that Katie wants to return to a place that holds so many memories for her – it sounds like it will be one of those places that she holds dear and you never know in years to come will probably be one of those places that three generations return to! My parents started taking me on holiday when I was just 8 months old, can I remember those holidays, no but I have the photos to prove it and the stories that they relive with me even after 33 years still bring a smile to my face. Why have I mentioned this – we still return to those magically places today the only difference is we are all slightly older, I now have a husband in tow and my two siblings have children of their own – but as a family my parents started this whole cycle of memories off! Sounds like you have done exactly the same thing! 🙂
Matilda
I’ve never been to PEI but sounds like such a lovely place to visit. Your post was very touching and I so enjoyed reading about your wonderful family memories.
IntrovertlyBubbly
Just a simple reminder that it matters alot what children are exposed to…it is amazing that pictures have captured your time on there as a family over the years…so beautiful…some thing I hope to capture diligently when I am a mother one day
Chris Boothman
Heather has mentioned to me several times that she would love to visit Prince Edward Island. We received a brochure through the mail a few months ago that advertised this part of the world and it looked really appealing. After reading your great post, it certainly encourages us to head there also so hopefully we can check it out for ourselves sometime soon!
Freya
The years indeed fly by very quickly. Some great memories you build up there, it also shows that it was very much appreciated as she wants to return there. Congrats on Katie’s graduation an wishing her all the best on university.
Lisa Goodmurphy
Thanks, Marcia!!
Lisa Goodmurphy
Those summer beach holidays that we remember from our childhood do always seem to take on a magical quality!
Lisa Goodmurphy
Thanks, Sophie – I’m hoping she will still come along on holidays too!
Lisa Goodmurphy
What a great memory – you must visit yourself some day!!
Lisa Goodmurphy
The summer job almost interfered this year, Michele, but we found a way to make it work!
Lisa Goodmurphy
Thanks, Samantha – we have great memories from PEI!
Lisa Goodmurphy
Thanks, Jen – photos from family trips bring back the best memories, don’t they?!?
Lisa Goodmurphy
Thanks, Leigh – I’m hoping that will be the case once she realizes that she can’t travel too far on her own dime! 😉 She’s off to McMaster University – so not too far from home at all!
Lisa Goodmurphy
I agree, Paul – as exciting as it is to travel to far-flung places, it is nice to have once place that you go back to again and again!
Lisa Goodmurphy
I didn’t have the opportunity to travel as a child either, Alexandra, and I think that’s why it was such a high priority for me to travel with my kids. I’m glad to hear that you have enjoyed the east coast of Canada!
Lisa Goodmurphy
Keep travelling with your little one, Shere – it’s amazing how fast the time does pass!
Lisa Goodmurphy
Thanks so much, Anu – she has done some travelling on her own and is keen to do more!!
Lisa Goodmurphy
Thanks for your insight! I think that she’ll come to that realization as well once she has had the opportunity to do more on her own!
Lisa Goodmurphy
I think it’s lovely to have a holiday destination that generations return to – I hope that we have that in PEI!
Lisa Goodmurphy
Thanks, Matilda – PEI is definitely one of our favourite places in the world!!
Lisa Goodmurphy
Thank you! They complain sometimes about me taking so many photos but I think they are happy now to have them to look back on!
Lisa Goodmurphy
You should definitely visit PEI – it’s an incredibly beautiful, friendly, and laidback island – perfect for a summer holiday!!
Lisa Goodmurphy
Thank you, Freya – it’s a very exciting time for her!!
Francesca (@WorkMomTravels)
Assure Katie that this will NOT be her last family vacation. I went away to university for four years (including a semester abroad in Australia) and, almost twenty years later, I’m still taking trips with my parents and siblings, along with our own kids. I love your last paragraph, too. It states exactly why I’ve chosen to travel with my kids. Have a wonderful time on PEI!
Lisa Goodmurphy
Thanks, Francesca! It makes me feel better to hear that there are many people who started travelling with their families again once they finished school!