Deciding where to go on vacation can be difficult. But there are a few questions you can ask yourself to help determine the perfect destination.
My husband and I have been taking our kids on vacation since they were newborns. So, we’ve come up with some great strategies on how to plan and execute the ultimate family getaway.
Highlight Your Goals
One of the first things to think about is your goals. Is the goal of your vacation to enjoy time off with your family? Is it to learn a new skill or a new sport? Or is it to try something different and explore an area you’re unfamiliar with?
If your family, for example, wants to learn how to ski, spend some time researching the best ski mountains for families and base your vacation around that. Another example could be if you were looking to learn how to fly fish or kayak, then research the best regions for these activities and build your itinerary from there.
Often, by looking into a specific sport or activity, you can come across some unique locations that would have never crossed your mind.
What Are You Looking Forward To?
Another thing to consider is what you’re looking forward to. Is there some type of scenery? Is there a famous waterfall? Or a museum, hiking trail, or monument? Anything that sparks an interest and that you’d like to know more about can be a great base for planning a vacation.
I’m a professional kayaker, so often rivers dictate where we go on family vacations. And some of my favorite family memories are when we’ve gone to areas that don’t have much else going on besides a river running through it. At the end of the day, anywhere you decide to go can become an unforgettable getaway for you and your kids—so don’t overthink things too much!
Take Into Consideration Age Groups
When you’re deciding where to go on vacation, another thing to consider is the age groups of the kids who are tagging along.
I went on a ski trip with my children to Monarch Mountain in Colorado. And my daughter, Parker, was only two at the time. We did have a great family vacation. But I really thought about how much better the vacation would have been if she was a little bit older.
So, when you’re planning your vacations, instead of just looking at the best family-friendly areas, really think about the ages of your kids and what you’re hoping to get out of it. If the vacation is something you think may be better suited to older children, then wait a few years so you and your kids can actually enjoy it to its fullest.
Plan a Budget
The last point for choosing your family vacation is to plan a budget. When it comes to choosing a location, a budget can be a big factor in deciding where, when, and how you’re going to get there.
There might be somewhere that you really want to visit. But it's really expensive, or flight tickets or car rental are out of your price range. So what we like to do in this instance is look at the different times of the year. By making use of seasonal deals, you can visit the vacation spot later on in the year for far cheaper than peak season.
Clothing: Cotopaxi Fuego Down Kids’ Jacket, Cotopaxi Teca Cálido Reversible Kids’ Jacket, Cotopaxi Fuego Hooded Down Jacket, Cotopaxi Trico Hybrid Women’s Jacket, Do Good Kids’ Trucker Hat
Bikes: E-Bikes Powered by Bosch – Yuba Spicy Curry, Riese & Muller
Sunglasses: Wiley X
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