At first, I hesitated to invite my mother-in-law on a trip with my wife and me. Now, we travel together every year.
Each year, my 75-year-old Texan mother-in-law and I go on trips together — usually in the US.
She's outlasted partygoers in Nashville, walked miles in DC museums, and had beers in Melbourne.
These trips have transformed our relationship from in-laws to enthusiastic travel companions.
I met my wife, Cecilia, on a business trip to Austin. After dating long distance, she eventually moved to Australia to be with me and my children.
As an only child, leaving her parents behind was tough, so we made it a priority to travel back to Texas each year, usually for Christmas.
During one of our early visits, we planned a four-day trip to Seattle and invited her mother, Liz, to join us.
I wasn't entirely sure how traveling with my mother-in-law would work out, but that trip became the first of many memorable adventures.
My 75-year-old travel buddy has more stamina than most
Despite being in her 70s, Liz keeps up with us on our travels.
In Seattle, she joined every walking tour without complaint and was game for full days of exploration. She never mentioned being tired, even when the rest of us were.
Our trip to Washington, DC, further proved her stamina. Many of the area's biggest attractions are spread out, which can require a lot of walking.
This didn't deter Liz. We explored museums and historical monuments and covered miles on foot each day.
On top of that, traveling with her improved our experience by encouraging us all to take in the views and exhibits at a more thoughtful pace.
We've made so many incredible memories together in the US and outside of it
Our recent trip to Nashville was an unexpected highlight, too.
Music City has a reputation as a party destination, and I was concerned the late-night bars along Broadway would prove too much for a septuagenarian. It was quite the opposite.
After a moonshine tasting session that had us all laughing, we hit the bars, danced the night away, and had a fantastic time.
Watching Liz enthusiastically show younger revelers how to boot scoot like a Texan proved that spirit matters more than birthdate.
She outlasted many visitors half her age, and I was the one who eventually suggested heading back to the apartment!
At one point, after years of traveling to the US, Liz finally made her first trip Down Under to watch Cecilia graduate from her master's program.
Although she was worried about the long flight, she powered through and stayed in Melbourne for three weeks.
We had a wonderful time. At our local brewery, she surprised me by enjoying the beer so much that she bought a T-shirt and a six-pack to take home.
A highlight of the trip was watching her face light up at her first sip of a proper flat white after years of hearing me talk up Australian coffee.
I loved introducing my home country to Liz the way she's shown Texas to me.
These travels have strengthened family bonds across continents
What started as an uncertain invitation has become one of our favorite traditions that benefits each of us in different ways.
Liz gets to travel (something her husband typically avoids), Cecilia spends more quality time with her mom, and I see more of America.
The most rewarding part of most of these adventures, though, is getting to watch mother and daughter connect outside the usual family visits.
Plus, my children have joined us on several trips — it's been priceless creating memories across three generations and finding activities that work across age groups has been surprisingly easy.
For now, we're planning our December trip to Charleston.
I'm looking forward to trying authentic Southern food and learning about a part of America that's entirely new for me, just as Australia once was to Liz.
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