What Is a Nostalgication? The Family Travel Trend Taking Over 2025

As a child, Kirsten Maxwell spent many summers on Lake Tahoe, where her grandparents rented a condo that accommodated more than 20 family members—one way or another. “I remember people sleeping on couches and even floors, yet we had such a great time being together and sharing family meals,” Maxwell says.

kayak in lake tahoe — Lake Tahoe; this photo and the one above courtesy of Lake Tahoe Travel

Now a mom, Maxwell wanted to revive her childhood memories and let her children experience that same kind of joy. So two years ago, she and her sister took their children and their own parents to Lake Tahoe, which straddles California and Nevada. “We were a smaller group of 11, but we all had so much fun being there,” Maxwell says, adding lightheartedly, “I felt like a kid again because my parents wanted to give me directions and rules!”

horse back riding at sorrell river ranch — Horseback riding at Sorrell River Ranch in Moab, Utah; photo courtesy of Sorrell River Ranch

With that trip, Maxwell became a part of the nostalgication (nostalgia + vacation) trend in which people travel to recreate happy times of the past. The trend, also called memory lane travel, continues to grow as more travelers flock to places where they spent childhood summers, honeymooned or simply enjoyed visiting in the past. According to the 2025 Hilton Travel Trends Report, Americans list “recreating memories” as one of the top reasons for leisure travel, with 58 percent of travelers with children wanting to revisit destinations they loved in their youth.

NASA adult space camp — NASA’s adult space camp in Huntsville, Alabama; photo courtesy of US Space & Rocket Center, Home of Space Camp

And sometimes they just want to be kids again themselves. According to a report from Yelp, searches for adult summer camps more than tripled between 2023 and 2024. Camps range from hiking, horseback riding or off-roading adventures in Moab, Utah, to NASA’s adult space academy in Huntsville, Alabama. Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, also offers magical moments geared toward grown-ups—like the annual EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival or a night out at GEO-82, a bar-lounge exclusively for guests over 21.

Feeling like a carefree youngster brings joy, so it’s not surprising that grown-ups want to relive their once-merry moments or share them with their children and grandchildren.

When asked if she would take her family on a nostalgication again, Maxwell answers excitedly: “Absolutely!”