Traveling is a hugely popular hobby, and many of us look forward to getting away and exploring. While it may not be possible to indulge in far-flung adventures at the moment, there’s nothing wrong with planning ahead and coming up with creative alternatives. If you’re keen to organize a vacation, or you’re thinking about booking a weekend away with the kids, here are some fantastic family-friendly ideas for your gang.
Camping
There’s no better way to discover the great outdoors than a family camping trip. Many of us have fond memories of sitting around campfires, singing songs and toasting marshmallows. Camping isn’t everyone’s idea of a vacation, but it has so much to offer. When you choose to camp, you can experience outdoor living, enjoy incredible scenery and get away from it all. For those who aren’t quite sold on the idea of pitching a tent and rustling up a feast using a basic stove, there are alternatives to the traditional camping trip. Glamping has become extremely popular in the last few years, and it’s a great option for families and those who love the outdoors, but don’t want to sacrifice all the creature comforts. Another option worth exploring is hiring an RV or looking into buying a hybrid camper trailer if you love spontaneous adventures or you’re keen to travel frequently in the future. If you are going camping, it’s beneficial to choose a spot in advance and plan your route. Think about how you want to spend your time, how far you want to travel and the kinds of facilities and amenities you’re looking for. If you have children, and you want to try different activities and sports, look for campsites or parks that offer easy access to hiking and cycling routes and activity centers. Read reviews before you book.
Image credit: https://pixabay.com/photos/rv-camper-night-camping-adventure-2788677/
Beach breaks
Beach breaks are always a hit with children. On a sunny day, you can spend hours swimming, snorkeling, building sandcastles and playing games. There are endless options when it comes to planning a beach vacation with kids. Before you decide on a location, think about how far you want to go. Are you eager to stay relatively close to home and drive to your destination, or are you happy to jet off and travel to a different state or country? If you’re going abroad, try and be flexible with your dates to save on flights, and compare prices before you book. If you book a package vacation, which includes flights, hotels and transfers, you might find that it works out better value than separate flights and accommodation. Resorts in popular destinations are often geared towards children, and if you’re looking for activities, kids’ clubs and plenty of options when it comes to eating out, it’s best to focus your search on family-friendly hotels. If you’re longing to escape it all and enjoy a quieter break in a more secluded spot, you could consider options like hiring a beach house or a condo in a residential seaside suburb instead of going to a tourist hotspot.
Picture from https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-woman-carrying-toddler-3889792/
City breaks
City breaks may not be the first type of vacation that springs to mind when you talk about traveling with kids, but they actually have a lot to offer. If you like the idea of a packed itinerary, or you’re interested in combining cultural activities and experiences with rest and relaxation, city breaks offer the best of both worlds. If you visit places like Rome, Barcelona, London or New York, for example, there’s a vast array of things to see and do and keep young travelers entertained. With any city break, it’s wise to plan ahead and draw up a rough plan of action. This will help you figure out how you’re going to get from A to B and make sure you don’t miss anything on your must-see list. Check opening times, make sure you book tickets in advance for popular attractions and design an itinerary that limits travel. Explore museums, parks, galleries, monuments and famous landmarks in the same parts of the city on the same day. This will save you time, effort and money. It’s worth reading reviews and getting tips from other travelers if you’ve never been to a city before and getting insider information about hidden gems and places that are popular among the locals. It’s usually a good idea to book tickets for activities and tours online, as they tend to be cheaper. You can also save by purchasing ticket bundles, which include multiple attractions.
Image by https://pixabay.com/photos/architecture-travel-city-historic-4529605/
Staycation ideas
Many families will be enjoying a staycation this year. With travel restrictions in place, it might not be possible to fulfill plans to venture further afield. The brilliant thing about staycations is that they enable us to discover what’s on our doorstep. Often, we automatically opt to jump on a plane or drive for hours when it’s time to take a vacation, and we don’t spend much time exploring the local area. You might have museums, theme parks, beaches or wildlife parks that you’ve never been to even though they are a stone’s throw from home. If this is the case, use your time off to enjoy fun-packed family days out and spend quality time together. You can hit the beach, take a picnic to the park, visit museums and galleries and get involved in local events and festivals. Check details of what’s going in your area online and join local forums or social media groups to hear about new events first.
Picture source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/family-walking-on-path-1682497/
Taking a vacation is a highlight of the year for most of us. This year may be a little different, but you don’t have to sacrifice all plans to take a break, spend quality time with your family and explore new areas. There are plenty of family-friendly destinations on offer, and you can choose from all kinds of different vacation types and experiences. From outdoor adventures and chilled-out beach breaks to fun-filled staycations and city breaks, it’s worth considering different options, weighing up the pros and cons and thinking about how you want to spend your well-earned time off.
Post a Comment