My zest for adventure and travel is heavily inspired by my dad. He’s in his 60s but still climbs trees, insists on going off-trail on most hikes, and stops to admire every sunset he sees.
Although I’ve traveled solo around the world and we’ve had our fair share of family vacations together, I realized last year that we’d never been on a trip just the two of us.
So, Father’s Day seemed like the perfect opportunity for our first real father-daughter adventure — a weeklong rafting excursion down the Colorado River, winding through the Grand Canyon.
The trip itself was incredible, but the best part was that we had no cell service or WiFi connection.
Without the distraction of social media, work emails, or incoming texts, I was able to be present, not only with the wondrous nature around me, but also with my dear ol’ dad.
Traveling without my phone made me feel like a kid again
Chloe Caldwell
I’ve been hiking with my dad since before I can remember — he used to strap me to his back in a baby carrier on some of his adventures. So, embarking on a grand outdoor adventure with him in my late 20s felt full circle.
While traveling together, I felt like a kid again. The experience brought back memories of exploring with him as a young girl, stopping to admire every tadpole, flower, lizard, and leaf along the way.
I didn’t have a phone back then, and I did my best to keep it away during our vacation.
I took it out to take photos of the incredible sights, but otherwise, we were disconnected from our everyday lives. Normally, this might induce anxiety about what I’m missing, but in this case, it was a refreshing change of pace.
Instead of scrolling on social media until I fell asleep, I chatted with my dad under the light of a full moon, lying side by side on ripped plastic cots. We were able to connect in the quiet without the ping of notifications pulling us in separate directions.
The trip was a great reminder to be more present when I’m with my parents
Chloe Caldwell
Throughout our trip, we marveled at the skyscraper-high canyon walls, tackled roaring rapids, chased cascading waterfalls, and ate deli-meat sandwiches for lunch six days in a row.
As an outdoorsy duo, it was an awesome trip — and a wonderful way to deepen our connection. It reminded me how valuable it is to spend uninterrupted, phone-free time with my parents.
Whether we’re on an epic excursion or just sitting on the couch, I want to remember to be present with them so I can listen intently to their stories and advice.
As life continues to speed by, I’m holding tight to the simplicity of that week: the laughter, the quiet stargazing, the awe, and the moments of connection with the guy who first taught me to be curious about the world and explore.
