This Was Never Just a Vacation
Reflections on Two Weeks, Five Countries, and the Family We Became Along the Way
This Was Never Just a Vacation
Reflections on Two Weeks, Five Countries, and the Family We Became Along the Way
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Reflections on Two Weeks, Five Countries, and the Family We Became Along the Way
Brian Schwan
7/16/2025
Why We Took This Trip
Why We Took This Trip
We didn’t set out to check countries off a list. We weren’t trying to do it all or prove anything. What we were looking for was a break from the routine, a chance to reconnect, and a shared adventure that would challenge and delight us all—together and individually.
This wasn’t just a vacation. It was a reset. A stretch. A living experiment in how far we could go (literally and figuratively) as a family when given a map, some backpacks, and a whole lot of curiosity.
And as it turns out? We found more than just castles, coasters, and cliffside restaurants. We found pieces of ourselves we didn’t know were missing.
What Surprised Us Most
What Surprised Us Most
The courage of our kids. Watching our son overcome his fear of heights to ride gondolas and hike mountain paths? That was everything. We didn’t push him. He just quietly decided he was ready—and he did it.
The joy in the quiet days. Some of our favorite moments weren’t in guidebooks: laundry days, grocery runs, and pickup soccer games with local kids. That’s where we laughed the most.
The power of unplugging. With limited Wi-Fi and busy days, we were present. Not every second was perfect, but most of it felt real—and that’s rare.
How fast you can fall in love with a place. Appenzell wasn’t even on our radar a few months ago. Now? We’re still daydreaming about moving there someday.
Our Favorite Moments (in no particular order)
Our Favorite Moments (in no particular order)
Pizza and gelato-making in Milan
Swimming in Lake Como after sweating through 100°F city streets
Kayaking past movie-famous villas on the water
Attending a local festival in Ossuccio and stumbling through the language barrier
That first view from Mt. Titlis—even in the snow and clouds
Watching the Women’s Euro Cup in Basel
Hiking to the Aescher Gasthaus and up to Mt. Schäfler
Flying down the Kronberg mountain coaster
Evening adult beverages and neighborhood soccer matches in Appenzell
What We Learned (Besides Geography)
What We Learned (Besides Geography)
Our kids are more adaptable than we give them credit for.
Travel isn’t about constant motion—it’s about knowing when to slow down.
Letting go of perfection opens the door to real connection.
When you travel with people you love, even the hard days are good stories.
What We’ll Take With Us
What We’ll Take With Us
The inside jokes.
The odd but wonderful road trip snacks.
The languages we stumbled through.
The beauty of wandering into a town festival and just staying.
The trust we built as a family unit navigating trains, signs, and steep hills.
The reminder that even in a world full of differences, people everywhere are raising kids, laughing over meals, and figuring it out—just like we are.
There’s no perfect age to travel. No ideal itinerary. No way to predict what your family will remember most. But there is something magical about hitting pause on “normal” and stepping into something unknown—together.
We went to Europe for the adventure. We came home with perspective, connection, and about 1,500 photos. But more than that—we came home feeling more like a team. And we’d do it again in a heartbeat.
Up Next: What We’d Do Differently (And What We Got Right)!
Part 19: If We Could Do It Again
Planning a multi-country European adventure for five people—including three middle schoolers—is no small task. And while we had an unforgettable trip filled with beauty, challenge, laughter, and gelato… there are a few things we’d tweak next time.
This isn’t a guidebook. It’s the kind of list we wish someone handed us before we left...
by Brian Schwan
7/17/2025
Catch Up On Past Blog Posts
Catch Up On Past Blog Posts
Part 17: The First Day of Looking Back
Every big trip has a day where it begins to end. You can feel it—the shift from exploring to returning, from wonder to reflection.
After two weeks of nonstop movement—Italy, Switzerland, Germany, France, Austria, Liechtenstein—our family woke up in Appenzell, Switzerland, and began the long journey back to Milan. This wasn’t just a travel day. It was the first day of looking back...
by Brian Schwan
7/15/2025
Part 16: Border Hopping & Bucket Lists
There’s something magical about being able to visit three countries in a single day—without an airport, security line, or even much planning. This was that kind of day. A “check the box” kind of day. A “let’s squeeze one more memory into this trip” kind of day...
by Brian Schwan
7/14/2025
Part 15: Some Places You Visit. Others, You Feel.
Appenzell hit us differently.
We’d been in motion for nearly two weeks: zipping from Milan heat to Swiss mountaintops, through French villages, German wine towns, and unexpected festivals. It had all been incredible—but also a lot. Then, on a sunny Sunday morning, we woke up to crisp mountain air, a slower rhythm, and a day that unfolded with so much heart and beauty, we almost didn’t want to write about it. We just wanted to stay in it.
But here we are. Because this is the kind of travel story that reminds you why you pack the bags, book the flights, and chase those moments in the first place...
by Brian Schwan
7/13/2025
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