After having children, I have more empathy for families who travel. Traveling with junior and baby sis in tow is not the easiest. The baby gear is overwhelming. The children's toys, movies, games, hobby equipment, and the regular luggage completely fills our SUV (imagine how much space it takes in a hybrid with a trunk battery!). With gas prices on the rise, children and families needing many extra gadgets for daily existence, and all of us needing an escape with some quality time with our loved ones, we are offering tips to help you create the perfect family vacation!
- Choose your destination carefully. Find a location that has many activities for all members of the family. Research the area. Call the local chambers. Search for family travel suggestions online. Try to find a qualified babysitting service in the area if you need a night out. (and get references). Come up with a rainy day plan. Come up with a half-way plan for a mid-point stop to drain some activity or grab some lunch. I highly recommend AAA if you travel and may need emergency help. The service offers wonderful trip planning services with maps and more.
- Plan your activities ahead of time. I love impromptu. The thrill of finding a spur of the moment activity is the most fun in the world! Children sometimes interfere with our ability to be spontaneous. Plan ahead. Pack ahead of time. Even plan for impromptu! Pack separate bags if you are doing travel pit stops or if you plan on having a beach day, amusement park day, or a kayaking day. If you know that you are swimming, pack swim diapers. Hiking boots are bulky but necessary for certain areas. If you plan on hacking away on a golf course, guess what? The clubs are going to take up some room. If you know that your child sleeps between 1:00 and 3:00pm, make sure you have an activity, lunch, and offer sleep time in a quiet place. And my best tip for driving or flying long distances (and with children, that means any area that is 1 hour away or more), bring snacks, a cooler or a cooler bag, and lots and lots of those old-fashioned driving games, like a magnet storybook. Planning and packing ahead of time makes everything easier. Tip for driving families: Buy a waterproof roof bag, make sure whatever car you drive has some type of luggage rack, and pack a lot of items on top.
- If you can, get an early or a late start. Drive in the early hour, watch the sun rise. Enjoy the quiet. Drive late night and have the children sleep quietly while you have rolling conversations without interruption. Plan a little recuperation time upon arrival. Driving during the odd hours helps cut down on the travel time, dealing with traffic, and the many, many stops.
- Here is my most important tip - it involves planning, but it is so important. Choose your accommodations very carefully. This item alone can make or break your quality time together. Find a destination, a house, a resort, a campground, anything...that caters to families. Look for reviews from others. Ask your friends. Ask the managers, owners, agents. The list below will help you define your family's needs:
- Ask the accommodations to name all of the child-friendly amenities on-site: cribs, toddler beds, highchair, booster seat, stroller, games, puzzles, books, toys, XBox, other video games, movies, music, Karaoke, dolls, horseshoes, picnic tables, toddler tables, stair gates, nightlights, outlet covers, and anything else you might need or enjoy. Find out if they offer a Recreation Room, Foosball, air hockey, basketball, ping pong and/or pool tables.
- Ask the vacation rental manager to suggest off-site activities for rainy days or for outdoor activities. Learn the local favorites.
- Ask about child-friendly restaurant suggestions. Reservations required?
- Closest access to a grocery store or drug store? Nearest hospital, just in case. Nearby parks?
The successful family vacation is all about planning. Planning ahead helps for all of the expected and unexpected. But here is where the right choice in your final destination helps...the more the accommodation offers, the less you have to pack. The more activities on-site, the less you have to load up and unload. Sometimes the best vacations are the ones where we can truly unwind together.
You can make your trip easier, more comfortable, more fun, and even more relaxing by choosing a place that has so many child-friendly attributes. The amazing kid-friendly spots are out there. We hope that these tips help you find it.
Enjoy making a family memory together. And pack the camera to treasure it forever! (pssst: don't forget the batteries!)
