Learn the travel tip that guarantees your family will have a fun vacation.
Planning a family vacation can be a lot of pressure. Usually, people stress about figuring out where to go that’ll make everyone happy. But here’s a travel tip that practically guarantees you and your crew will have an incredible family trip: It’s all about the activities, baby.
Top Travel Tip: Plan Family Vacations Based on Activities
A travel plan based on the things you can do once you get to a destination will always make for a winning trip. There are 3 reasons why this travel-planning strategy is a HUGE help:
First, It Helps You Decide on a Destination
I’m a big believer that vacations should be fun for the whole family. That’s why my husband and I haven’t taken the kids to Disney World, even though every family in our subdivision has. The kids might have fun, but we would be miserable standing in lines, nagging the kids to stay close in crowds and paying way too much for a cheeseburger. (But read about an amazing Orlando theme park we actually do love.)
The first thing to look for in a destination is if it has activities you can enjoy together. Gorgeous beaches and rugged national parks are classic examples of family-friendly vacation spots. But depending on the age of your kids there are lots of other activities you might enjoy as a family too, such as:
- Hiking peaceful trails in a state or metro park
- Exploring a big-city zoo or a nature refuge on the outskirts of town
- Checking out quirky local festivals
- Learning about history, the environment or space at a cool museum
- Trying a weird local specialty (looking at you and your poutine, Canada)
- Learning how to glass blow or weave baskets
- Digging for gemstones or fossils
- Going to a Cirque du Soleil or Blue Man show
You get the idea. Selecting a destination that has something for everyone is the top travel tip to remember when planning a super-fun family trip.
Second, It Meets Everyone’s Vacation Needs
Does your family have some members that are go-go-go and others that are more chillax? You can plan a mix of activities to satisfy both parties. That way those who like to see and do as much as possible feel good about their getaway, while those who rather spend more time lounging come away refreshed, too. Here are a few ways to make this happen:
Plan one activity a day
Figure out one can’t-miss activity to do each day and then leave the rest of the time open for naps and lounging at your accommodations. This is an especially good travel plan for families with kiddos that nap.
Be active every other day
You can also plan a vacation where you alternate active days with rest days. For example, one day you might explore a museum, eat lunch at a buzzy new spot and then go shopping for souvenirs. The next day, you can take it easy by the pool or on a towel at the beach. Make it even easier on yourself by staying in a place that has lots of kid-friendly amenities like a pool, bikes, trampoline or lawn games for your down days.
Go your separate ways
If you’re on a multi-gen trip, it might be best to go your own way every other day or for a portion of the day. For example, you and the kids may want to explore more of your destination, but grandma doesn’t feel up to it. Let her rest up at the hotel for the afternoon and then meet up again for dinner. Or, she can skip waterpark day but join the family when it’s museum day. This takes the pressure of having to keep up with others off of people who prefer mellower vacations.
You and your partner might also want to split up so you can each have some grown-up alone time. For example, you could get a massage or go shopping while your husband takes the kids to a baseball game or to surfing lessons. Then you switch. You watch the kids go nuts at the children’s museum while he gets to drool at a classic car show.
Finally, It Creates Awesome Travel Memories
A destination’s scenery can live in your memories forever. But the things you do on your trip are what you and your gang will talk, laugh and tease each other about for years to come. It’s what those “Remember that time we…” stories are made of. And it strengthens family bonds.
To create the best stories, look for offbeat activities. Touristy activities are touristy for a reason, right? They’re the must-do’s of a destination like going to the Coliseum in Rome or hitting up the Grand Canyon in Arizona. And while seeing those iconic places is so very cool, what makes your trip unique is when you do something different. Some examples include:
- Taking a biscuit-making class in Nashville
- Tubing down a river in Vermont’s Green Mountains
- Soaking in a hot spring outside of Yellowstone National Park
- Going on an evening bike tour of Washington D.C.
- Sledding down sand dunes in Utah
- Digging for clams in Oregon
See why focusing on activities is the cornerstone of a great family vacation? So when you’re planning your trip, here are the steps:
- Start by thinking about the types of experiences you want to have.
- Then research different destinations to see what kinds of things you can do there, especially stuff you can all enjoy together.
- Then delve a little deeper to find the under-the-radar activities that would make your time together extra special.
Planning your travel around activities is the key ingredient for a trip full of smiles and wonder, for every age. (For more travel tips, check out this guest article I wrote: 9 Secrets for Planning an Awesome Family Vacation.)
Happy travels,
P.S. Looking for family road trips? I’ve got some good ones mapped out. Adventure seekers will love the Epic Las Vegas to Zion National Park Road Trip. While those looking for a more easygoing trip will have fun with 10 Awesome Things to Do in Kentucky (on a Road Trip!).
DO YOU WANT TO REMEMBER THIS? SAVE “ONE TRAVEL TIP THAT’LL MAKE OR BREAK YOUR FAMILY VACATION” TO YOUR FAVORITE PINTEREST BOARD!
