Families

Faith-based holidays offer families a chance to pause, reconnect, and grow together — spiritually as well as emotionally. Whether you’re planning a weekend away or a longer summer break, travelling with children while keeping Christian values at the centre can be both rewarding and memorable.

This guide offers practical tips and ideas to help Christian families plan travel that balances rest, faith, and fun.

Choosing the Right Type of Holiday

When selecting a holiday as a Christian family, consider what balance you’re looking for between rest, spiritual nourishment, and shared experiences.

Retreats for Families

Some Christian retreat centres welcome families, offering flexible accommodation, prayer spaces, and activities suitable for children. Look for locations with:

  • Onsite chapels or regular worship

  • Outdoor areas for play and quiet reflection

  • Optional family-friendly devotional sessions

Christian Holiday Camps

Faith-based camps often combine worship with games, teaching, and community. These are especially popular with older children and teens.

  • Options include family weeks, children’s camps with parental attendance, or mixed-age programmes.

  • Look into organisations like Scripture Union, Urban Saints, or Christian Endeavour for UK-based options.

Self-Planned Breaks with Purpose

You don’t have to attend a structured event to have a Christian family holiday. Plan your own trip with:

  • Visits to historic churches or cathedrals

  • Walks with devotional readings or nature reflections

  • Time set aside for worship, journaling, or creative responses

Preparing Spiritually as a Family

Travel is a chance to grow in faith together — especially when space is made for spiritual habits, questions, and conversation.

Family Devotion Time

Pack a short family devotional book or download a daily app. Even 10 minutes each morning or evening helps children experience prayer as part of everyday life.

Music and Worship

Create a travel playlist of Christian songs for the car or evenings together. Singing as a family helps build joy and familiarity with worship.

Bible Verses for the Road

Choose a memory verse for the trip, or write verses on small cards and hide them in backpacks, lunchboxes, or suitcases as encouragements.

Managing Practicalities

Family travel has its challenges. A few simple preparations can make your time away run more smoothly.

Packing Tips

  • Bring a mix of clothes suitable for church, walking, and messy play.

  • Include quiet-time toys or books for use during reflective or devotional moments.

  • Pack familiar bedtime items to help maintain routine.

Meals and Rest

  • Plan meal times that allow for shared prayer and conversation.

  • Allow space for rest — especially after long walks, travel days, or busy events.

  • Keep expectations flexible. Not every day needs to be deeply spiritual; ordinary moments can still hold meaning.

Ideas for Faith-Centred Activities

Church Visits with Children

Explore churches and cathedrals not just for their beauty, but as places for family learning and prayer.

  • Many larger churches offer activity packs or trails for children.

  • Light a candle together and pray aloud or in silence.

  • Talk about church architecture, stained glass, or symbols and what they represent.

Nature Walks with a Purpose

Frame walks as opportunities to notice God’s creation.

  • Bring binoculars, sketchbooks, or a camera.

  • Use Psalm 104 or Genesis 1 as starting points for reflection.

Creative Responses

Encourage children to reflect on their travels through:

  • Drawing or painting scenes they’ve visited

  • Writing thank-you prayers

  • Keeping a family travel journal

Travelling with Teens

Teenagers benefit from holidays that include freedom, purpose, and connection.

  • Invite their input in planning the itinerary.

  • Attend youth-friendly Christian events, music festivals, or mission weeks.

  • Offer time for personal journaling, reflection, or volunteering as part of the holiday.

Attending Worship as a Family

Joining worship at a church away from home can be a refreshing experience for the whole family.

  • Look for family services or informal gatherings.

  • Let children explore pew books, lighting candles, or joining in song.

  • Encourage them to observe what’s different — and what’s familiar — from your home church.

Keeping Faith Going at Home

After your trip, reflect as a family:

  • What did you enjoy most?

  • Where did you feel closest to God?

  • Is there anything you’d like to carry into daily life?

Continue the conversation and let the holiday inspire future family rhythms of faith.

Would you like this turned into a printable PDF or paired with family-friendly devotional material? I can also suggest image themes or titles if you’re building this into a blog post.

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