When did you and your family last take a vacation? For many families, fitting quality time into the daily routine is a real struggle. Work and school consume our time–often running into our evenings as well. With only so much time in a day, connecting with loved ones is difficult. A family vacation is that necessary pause from everyday life. In case you’re not convinced, here are ways your family could benefit from a vacation.

Your Children Develop a Greater Appreciation for the World

It’s important to keep in mind that distance is not key to a great trip. Local travel offers numerous places for your family to explore–often at a more financially feasible cost.

Visiting different parts of the country that your children call home enables them to “step out of the box” and experience different cultures and sights they didn’t realize their country could offer. These opportunities can increase a child’s connection to their home country and even spark an interest in travel that could stay with them well into adulthood.

Ultimately, vacation may take you overseas or further into your own backyard, either way, it will leave you with a greater appreciation for the world in which we live.

New Experiences for the Whole Family

Whether it’s visiting historical sites, local attractions or enjoying a different view of nature, vacation has something to offer the entire family. At the very least a family getaway is a healthy break from daily practices.

Enjoy Quality Time As a Family

Last but certainly not least is quality time. Potentially, the most important factor to family vacation, quality time compliments all prior points: exploring new places and having first time experiences with those closest to you can bring your family closer together and create memories that last a lifetime.