Slow travel isn’t about a specific destination or itinerary—it’s more of a mindset. The idea is to avoid rushing through everything and instead immerse yourself in the local rhythm. We observe, pay attention, and connect—not just with the scenery, but with the people we’re with. Slow travel is the opposite of vacations that leave us more exhausted than when we started.
This kind of travel isn’t about how many places we visit, but how fully we show up where we are.
For years, my friends and I have made it a tradition to spend a summer weekend at Lake Balaton. It started with just three of us—now there are eight, including five kids. We usually gather at a simple, charming family cottage with a green yard, no boat trips planned, and no packed schedules. The first thing we agree on every year is to let go of expectations.
Experiences Without Expectations
This is the one decision we make almost before we arrive—and it’s the most important. Not everyone will get hungry at the same time. Not every night will end with everyone well-rested. We won’t plan big, showy activities every day. And that’s okay.
The kids play in the yard while we watch from the porch, glass of wine in hand, grateful to share these moments together.
I truly believe that at the end of my life, these weekends will be the memories I cherish most. Real summer memories don’t come from grand gestures. They come from moments like kids learning to whistle with a blade of grass and entertaining each other for half an hour. Or lying on a blanket at the beach, watching clouds and imagining which ones look like dogs, boats, or dragons.
Of course, some kids do better with at least a partly consistent routine—like going to bed around the same time or knowing when to expect snacks. But from my experience, vacations tend to shake up usual rhythms anyway. When that happens, it’s much easier and more relaxing to accept it flexibly rather than trying to force the usual schedule.
Slow travel doesn’t mean nothing happens—it means not everything has to happen. There’s room for boredom, surprises, and spontaneous ideas. A simple afternoon walk can turn into lakeside foot-dangling, or an ice cream break can become a long chat on a shady bench.
Slow travel teaches us that the journey isn’t just a goal—it’s the experience itself. Especially when traveling with kids, it’s one of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves: permission for things not to be perfect, just real, loving, and shared.
