Just because they won't remember, doesn't mean you shouldn't do it

When talking to friends and family, and reading articles about travel with kids, I am constantly surprised when I hear and read comments like: "Why bother going, the kids won't remember anyway?"  Frankly, I can't remember what I ate for breakfast this morning, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't have bothered eating any.

We've had the opportunity to travel with B to many places around the world and I'm sure he has little memory of many of the places we've been to.  Does he remember building sandcastles with Mommy on the beach in Maui when he was 15 months old or visiting the Panama Canal a few months later? Well, no, but my husband and I do, and they are happy memories we will always have.

B often surprises me with what he does remember from our travels to date, and he has only recently turned 3.  Just last week he was asking when we could visit our other house again and drive the blue car.  It took me a few moments to catch on... we don't have another house, and what blue car?  But I soon realized he was referring to the apartment we rented in Reykjavik and the blue rental car we used to explore the sights.  That trip was a year ago!

Does it really matter if B remembers all the specific places he's visited?  I don't think so.  But what I hope DOES stick with him is that the world is more than just our own little neighbourhood - that it is a place full of different cultures, sights, experiences and foods.
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Where have you travelled with your kids and what do they remember?