How to Make Great Vacation Memories
For kids, school vacations are highly anticipated events! As parents, even though we love the idea of extra time with our children, it can be challenging to find activities everyone enjoys, especially when trying to raise creative, kind, and inquisitive children.
You’ll want to contact an experienced travel agent since they’ll have the most insight into what places will work best for your family’s needs and desires. GlobalNomad, with eight years of experience helping families and individuals make their travel dreams come true, wants to share with you some tips on making great vacation memories.
What to Do?
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The key thing to a great family vacation is to take everyone’s needs into consideration. For example, taking a newborn to an amusement park isn’t likely to be much fun for anyone, but renting an Airbnb near a park or forest creates an environment for rest, relaxation, and all kinds of exploration, regardless of age.
Take into account your timeline, your budget, and the interests of each family member. From there, start looking for options that meet at least some of the desires of everyone, and fit within your planning parameters. While you want to have a fun experience, trying to cram in too much can actually be a stressor, so make your plans based on your kids’ ages and attention spans.
Staying at Home?
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The pandemic has created an environment in which some families feel more comfortable staying put for vacation. You can make this time feel special by planning daily vacay agendas that include things like trying a new recipe, making ice cream using an old fashioned churn mixer, or going on a nature hike and identifying flora, fauna, and creepy-crawly creatures! Host a scavenger hunt in your home or yard (with prizes, naturally!), or have a family camp-out in the living room, complete with microwave s’mores. You can surprise your family with your plans or involve them in coming up with ideas everyone will enjoy.
If you’re staying at home, make it a rule to put work aside until after the break. Work can find a way to worm its way into your stay-at-home getaway, especially if you run your own business or work remotely. So, set boundaries (within reason, of course) and make sure you’re devoting your time to your family.
Give Your Backyard a Makeover
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There’s no better time to create a backyard oasis. Consider installing whimsical lights, a firepit, or even an outdoor projector screen (a bed sheet works well too!) to watch your favorite family movies. An above-ground swim spa or play structure are other projects that can lead to family fun. If you have pets, young kids, or “attractive nuisances” like a pool or trampoline, you’re wise to install a fence around your yard. Always make sure contractors are licensed, bonded, insured, and have a policy of identifying and marking underground utility lines before starting work.
Meet Halfway
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If you’re looking for something in-between a full-fledged travel vacation and a home-based staycation, consider day trips to local points of interest. Search state and national parks and historical sites. You might also nurture the altruistic side of your kids by doing something to benefit others in your community.
For example, you could volunteer at a food bank or animal shelter, or make cards for people in assisted living communities. According to Kids Giving Back, not only will this instill a sense of civic responsibility in your kids, but it will also open the door to a discussion around inclusion and equality, and allow you to model the importance of helping others.
Vacations don’t have to end when you arrive back home. Take loads of pictures and videos to preserve those precious memories. And you don’t have to wait until you’re home to share them with family and friends! With a little of your downtime, go through them, find everyone’s favorites, and upload them to your social media sites. You can even easily create a banner to personalize your post, which will also catch the attention of the people you share it with and make it that much more special.
Your bucket list destinations don’t have to remain a dream. Contact GlobalNomad here, and let them help you plan the vacation you’ve always dreamed of!
Guest post by:
Jesse Clark from Soulful Travel