I was once told that you’ll never regret money or time spent on travel. I concur and submit that’s doubly true when it’s travel you are doing with your kids.

Over the years, I’ve enjoyed taking my kids to all of the normal vacation destinations, like Disney World, the beach and various popular spots across the three states we’ve lived in. But, as they are getting a little older – my daughter now 15 and my son 10 – I’ve really enjoyed taking them to new cities every chance we get. There doesn’t necessarily have to be a special event going on wherever we are visiting. It’s just a lot of fun showing them around a place they’ve never been.

Traveling to new places has always been a lot of fun to me. And I know most people try to avoid looking like a tourist when they visit new places, but I enjoy how most cities have unique cultures all their own and don’t mind standing out as a visitor. It’s even more fun when I get to show my kids these places and watch them experience it for the first time. And that has become an accidental tradition with the three of us. We don’t necessarily travel according to season, holiday or event, so it’s often just for the sake of them seeing something new.

A few years ago, for example, we spent spring break in New Orleans, a place I’ve visited more times than I can count, but that I know I still haven’t experienced everything there is to see and do in. That particular trip wasn’t even the first time for the kids, but it was the first time they were old enough to really engage in some of NOLA’s more innocent activities. On that trip, we definitely hit the normal spots: The French Quarter, the WWII museum and Cafe Du Monde were all on the itinerary. But, it ended up being an impromptu walking ghost tour that was the consensus favorite. 

Also a few years ago, when my daughter was in the middle of an anime phase, she and I spent a week in Atlanta for a convention. She had never been to Atlanta and I had no experience with anime beyond what she had shown me. So, needless to say, we both learned a lot on that trip. 

So far, we’ve still only amassed a handful of cities on our quest to check out the Southeast’s best travel destinations, but next week we’re headed to Nashville for their fall break. Why? I don’t know. Why not? They’ve never been there before and it’s been years since I have, so we’re going to go see what it has to offer. Obviously, we’re going to check out the Grand Ole Opry and there is a football game on the schedule when the Titans and Colts play Oct. 13. Aside from that, we’re just going to see what looks interesting to us, and that’s usually when the most enjoyable and memorable things happen to us.

It probably goes without saying that entertaining a 15-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy at the same time can be a tall order. Those demographics don’t tend to have many interests in common. But I have to give my kiddos credit: They’re both usually pretty good about indulging the other one’s interests. Maybe I should knock on my desk as I’m writing this, but we typically don’t encounter too many problems in that area. Although I’ll admit the brother-sister car fights can be pretty epic. But, at least for me, it’s all part of the experience. And when they look to me to referee, I like to jokingly remind them I’m an only child, so they’re just going to have to come up with their own cease-fire agreements.

When all is said and done, though, we all typically enjoy our trips and I’m hoping next week’s will be more of the same. Colin is smack in the middle of a growing obsession with football and Sawyer is starting to discover country music, so it feels like this particular trip is coming at the right time. That said, We’re always on the hunt for something fun and new to check out in a new city, and sometimes finding something that is kid-friendly can be a little tricky. Each and every one of you has my email address and I’ll be checking it frequently, so any Nashville suggestions are both encouraged and appreciated.

Blake Bell is the general manager and executive editor of The Vicksburg Post. He can be reached at blake.bell@vicksburgpost.com.