7 Ways to Make Your Family Vacation Spiritually Meaningful

When you’re away from your usual routines, it can be easy to skip practicing your regular prayer and meditation habits. But it’s important to start each day centered in God’s presence, and when you do so on vacation, you’re welcoming God’s inspiration into your family’s trip. So, schedule a few minutes every morning together as a family to thank God for the day ahead and invite him to be part of it. 

You can say a short and simple prayer like: “Dear God, thank you for this day. Please guide us, keep us safe, and help us see your goodness in all we do.” 

Then, you can meditate on a Bible verse or passage that relates to something your family especially needs on that particular day. 

Psalm 5:3 says: “In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” 

Starting your day with prayer and meditation can give you all peace and purpose for that day, and remind everyone that no matter where you are, God is still the center of your lives together. You can rotate who leads your prayer and meditation time to involve everyone in your family who is old enough to lead it, including each of your children. 

Then, every evening at bedtime, schedule a short prayer time to thank God for what you all experienced on vacation that day and meditate on a Bible verse or passage about God’s love, peace, or joy. These brief times can keep you all focused on God together, which will help you notice God’s presence with you daily.

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On weekends during your vacation, visit a local church to enjoy the worship service and meet congregation members. Worshipping in a new place as a family reminds you all that you’re part of a much larger family of believers worldwide, with many brothers and sisters who share God as a loving Heavenly Father with you. 

If attending a church service isn’t possible with your family’s vacation schedule, consider having your own worship time outdoors in God’s creation, at a park in the area you’re visiting. Sing a few worship songs, read a Bible passage, and pray together. Being in nature while praising God can be awe-inspiring in ways that can help you focus on God’s presence with you. 

In Matthew 18:20, Jesus says: “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” 

God will be with you when you gather in his name anywhere – inside a church building, outside a park, or another place that works for your family. If you can attend a service at a local church, that can also be a great cultural experience. You may hear worship songs sung in different styles (or even a different language), meet believers with various backgrounds, and hear a sermon with a fresh perspective. 

Those experiences are powerful opportunities to teach your children about unity in God’s diverse church. Also, if possible, try to go on a pilgrimage to visit a place with special spiritual meaning for your family, such as a museum that features stories of people’s faith in action, a famous church or cathedral, an inspiring nature location that’s good for a prayer walk, or a retreat center that welcomes guests. Let your new environment inspire you to worship God in new ways together.

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God’s creation is full of wonder, and a vacation is a perfect time to enjoy it. Psalm 65:8 celebrates that wonder is everywhere when it says to God: “The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy.” 

When you’re on vacation, you’re free from your regular responsibilities and can take more time to devote your attention to searching for glimpses of God’s work around you. Explore the places you visit to discover and enjoy God’s wonder daily. Be alert to signs of God’s work that can inspire your family. Whenever you find those signs, celebrate them together! 

For example, you may spot a deer on a hike and thank God together for creating such a gentle and graceful animal. You may also hear a song your family loves on the radio and sing along with gratitude that God created music to enjoy. Talk about what inspires you every day of your vacation, and talk about it as a family. Ask each other what you’re learning about God from what you’re experiencing on vacation together. 

Deuteronomy 11:19 describes the importance of discussing faith concepts as a family– even while traveling: “Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” Discussing God’s wonders can be enjoyable, as can discussing faith as a family. 

You can even make a game out of discovering God’s wonder. Challenge your family members to see who can find the most interesting features in God’s creation, such as an especially majestic tree or a magnificent bird. Talk together about how creative and thoughtful God is in his design, and what nature shows you about God’s qualities. 

Please bring a small journal and your phones to take photos, and encourage each family member to capture something that amazed them each day. After your vacation, these can become like a spiritual scrapbook of your trip. You can also tie your family’s reflections back to Bible verses. For example, if you all watch ocean waves together, you can discuss Psalm 93:4: “Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea – the LORD on high is mighty.”

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One of the biggest distractions to connecting to God and each other is constant screen time. So, set limits on phones, tablets, TV, and other devices with screens during your vacation. Use that time instead to connect with God. Try playing games, reading together, or discussing your daily vacation activities. 

Please encourage your children to journal or draw what they experience. Don’t be afraid of boredom, because boredom can motivate you all to talk with each other in new ways that lead to good conversations. In Psalm 46:10, God says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” Slowing down and stepping away from technology can help your family be still enough to sense God’s presence with you all. 

Create tech-free zones or hours during your trip. For example, you can say that no one in your family uses devices during meals or after dinner. Replace screen time with spiritually meaningful experiences, like taking wonder walks or listening to worship music together. Explain the purpose behind unplugging to your children. Let them know the well-being benefits of making space to connect with God and each other. Involve them in choosing screen-free activities to give them a sense of ownership. Time without screens can help your family focus on what matters most.

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Choosing to practice gratitude every day on your vacation can help you celebrate the good times (making fun memories together) and put the bad times (plans that fall apart due to bad weather, illness, etc.) in perspective. 

The Bible encourages you in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.” 

Make it a daily habit to thank God for all the blessings he gives you on your trip, and for being there to help you get through the challenges you face. Before bed, gather together and ask every family member to share something they are thankful for from the day that just ended. Keeping a gratitude list during your vacation can also be powerful. 

Let each family member write down one or two gratitude items for each day. Then, review the list at the end of your trip. It can be eye-opening and heartwarming to see all the blessings piled up! Show your children how to find God’s goodness in all situations during your trip and to celebrate what God is doing in your lives together.

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Vacations often focus on what you can enjoy, but they can also be valuable opportunities to help others in need. Look for simple ways your family can serve others during your trip. You can help spontaneously, such as picking up trash on a trail or leaving a generous tip for a server at a restaurant. You can also plan before your trip to do a specific act of kindness, like bringing snacks to donate to a homeless shelter or joining a volunteer service project in the community you’re visiting. 

Galatians 5:13 advises: “Serve one another humbly in love.” 

Teaching your children to look out for others, even on vacation, helps them see the world more like Jesus does. Talk as a family before your trip about ways you can serve. Give your children the chance to develop their ideas as you plan together. Serving on vacation shows your children that sharing God’s love with other people is essential anytime and anywhere.

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As you experience new places and have more free time, you may find God speaking to you in fresh ways. So, talk as a family daily about what you’re learning spiritually. Ask each family member what they think God wants them to remember from every day of your vacation. These conversations can be similar to the ones you enjoy about discovering God’s wonder together. Still, they can also focus on other lessons God teaches your family during your trip. 

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 encourages families to discuss God’s lessons: “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home, walk along the road, lie down, and get up.” 

Vacation is a great time to practice this. When you have a conversation, please let each person respond in their way. The goal isn’t to preach but to share and listen together. Practicing this on vacation can encourage your children to become lifelong learners.

Family vacations can be great times to have fun and make valuable memories together. But they’re also powerful opportunities to grow spiritually as a family. So, as you plan your next vacation, remember that God goes with you. Invite God into every step of your family’s journey, and he’ll make it more meaningful than you ever imagined!

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