Think there’s no such thing as “fun for the whole family”? That’s understandable — after all, in-between working, school, and other activities, it may seem as though there isn’t even a time when the family is together, let alone having fun together. Not to mention the fact that each member of the family has his or her own idea of what “fun” even means.
Enter family vacations, which are the one time that you and your family have the chance to relax, bond, share valuable experiences, and create memories. Fun for the whole family is possible — even on a low budget. Check out these tips for having a successful family vacation that will show everyone a good time:
Compromise
It’s unreasonable to expect everyone in the family to be excited about everything on a trip, so compromising is the way to go. Camping is one of the most popular family vacations — American families spent about 534.9 million days camping in 2011 alone, when approximately 40 million people went camping for a total of 515 million outings. Not everyone likes sleeping out in a tent, however, so if you want the pleasures of the great outdoors but also the luxury and convenience of having a roof over your heads, you can compromise by staying in family vacation cabins instead.
Spend Time Alone
Yes, the point of the family vacation is to spend time with one another, but 24/7 living with the same people is never going to have a happy ending — make sure that everyone gets the chance to do the activities they want, see the sights that they are excited for, and have some time alone to unwind and rest.
Come Prepared
This goes especially for family camping trips — even cabin camping. Indeed, 82% of cabin campers spend one to two nights outside. Make sure to do meal prep and prepare an itinerary, even if you don’t end up following it. Have a backup plan for rainy days, and be aware of your surroundings on your trip so that you won’t be stuck in the event of an emergency or any special circumstances.
Your family vacation can be truly amazing, as long as you put some thought into how exactly it is executed. Whether you are on a road trip or renting family vacation cabins, make sure to take the time to bond with your family members and enjoy the ride.
