We turned visiting colleges with our teens into family vacations

February 28, 2026 - 21:38

For many families, the college search process is a stressful marathon of campus visits. However, a growing number of parents are reframing this necessary journey, transforming obligatory tours into cherished family adventures dubbed "tour-cations."

The strategy is simple: instead of a whirlwind trip focused solely on lecture halls and dormitories, families strategically select regions with multiple schools of interest and build a vacation itinerary around them. A day spent exploring a university might be followed by a day hiking in a nearby national park, visiting a museum, or enjoying local cuisine. This approach alleviates the pressure on the prospective student, making the evaluation process feel less like an interrogation and more like a shared discovery.

Parents report that these blended trips offer invaluable, low-pressure family time before their teen leaves the nest. They provide a broader context for the college decision, allowing the student to assess not just the campus, but the community and lifestyle surrounding it. For younger siblings, it becomes an educational glimpse into future possibilities. Ultimately, by weaving fun and exploration into the college tour schedule, families are creating positive memories and reducing the overall anxiety of this major life transition. The journey itself becomes as meaningful as the destination.