10 Beautiful Ways to Give Back on Your Family Holiday
Travel has the power to open hearts and widen horizons, especially for our little ones. As a family, we’ve found some of the most meaningful moments weren’t the five-star resorts or epic theme parks, but the times we gave back. Whether you’re traveling across the globe or exploring your own backyard, here are 10 intentional ways to give back and sprinkle a little magic wherever you go.
1. Pack With Purpose
Before leaving, pack an extra bag of school supplies, hygiene products, or lightly used clothes and toys. Many communities and local charities happily receive them.
Summer Wanderlust Tip: Let your kids help choose what to pack, it’s a great way to teach empathy before you even leave home.
2. Stay at Ethical & Eco-Conscious Resorts
Support family-owned lodges and eco-resorts that give back to their local communities through education, employment, and sustainability.
Tip: Look for places with certifications like Fair Trade Tourism or EarthCheck.
3. Visit Animal Sanctuaries, Not Attractions
Skip elephant rides or dolphin shows. Instead, spend the day at a rescue or rehabilitation center that focuses on animal welfare.
Tip: Do your research, true sanctuaries never allow direct contact with wild animals.
4. Join a Beach or Park Clean-Up
Make it a family morning adventure! Gloves on, buckets out, and collect litter in your area. It’s a simple way to care for the planet together.
Tip: Turn it into a game, who can collect the most plastic?
5. Volunteer for a Day
Many organizations welcome families to help with local school programs, farming, or conservation efforts. A little help goes a long way.
Tip: Choose age-appropriate tasks so little hands can help too!
6. Support Local Artisans
Buy handmade souvenirs from local vendors instead of mass-produced goods. You’ll take home more meaningful memories, too.
Tip: Ask the artisan their story, it adds magic to the keepsake.
7. Eat at Social Enterprises
Look for cafés and restaurants that support vulnerable communities through training and employment.
Tip: Many offer cooking classes that are perfect for families!
8. Book Experiences Through Community Projects
Opt for cultural tours and excursions that are run by locals, especially those supporting women or Indigenous communities.
Tip: These experiences are often the most enriching and unforgettable.
9. Teach and Learn
Swap skills for smiles! Teach English, help in a classroom, or just sit with kids and play, it means the world.
Tip: Bring some picture books or games to share and leave behind.
10. Practice Gratitude Daily
Take 5 minutes every evening to write or draw something each family member is grateful for. It keeps hearts open and moments meaningful.
Tip: Keep a Travel Gratitude Journal to look back on the memories for years to come.
Travel is more than ticking boxes on a map — it’s about connection, compassion, and contribution. These small acts of giving back don’t just make a difference in the places we visit — they shape our children into thoughtful, global citizens.
Let’s raise a generation that wanders with purpose.
