I've walked roughly 500 miles through Europe with my mom — twice. The experiences brought us closer together.

Going on international trips with my mom has helped us strengthen our relationship.

Cameron McKeon

• My mom has walked the Camino de Santiago, a network of pilgrimage routes in Europe, nine times.
• I joined her for the first time after my high school graduation, and again after completing college.
• On the first trip, I was more focused on reaching our destination, but on the second, we bonded.

Summer vacation is typically associated with beaches, cruise ships, and road trips.