It’s been a tough season for our family. As I mentioned, my Mom died in January. My husband’s Dad also had a heart attack in March, followed by four significant hospitalizations in the span of seven weeks. And our family hasn’t been on a real vacation for several years, so I’ve been dreaming of planning a family vacation. Arranging a family getaway could trigger anxiety. There are many things to think about, like where to stay suitable for families and what activities your entire group would like. Fortunately, we can narrow it down to different types of family vacations, and then just pick the type we want and go from there. I thought I’d share these vacation ideas for unforgettable family adventures so you can stop fretting and start anticipating all the wonderful memories you’ll create, too.
Most kids love the summertime because it’s thrilling and they’re looking forward to an enjoyable holiday with their parents since they have a few months off from school. So, without any further ado, let’s get started with these vacation ideas. First, I’m going to list some “money is no object” ideas for those who can afford to go big, dream big, and vacation big. I’ll finish up with a couple of budget-friendly ideas for people like me, who have to stick to a budget or have to dream a little smaller.
- Take a Cruise
With so many family-friendly port excursions and events, as well as a variety of dining choices, kid-supervised associations, and other amenities, the passengers can make the most of their trip while experiencing memorable moments together on a cruise. While on a sailing journey to the Alaskan icebergs, family-friendly all-inclusive resorts are a wonderful option for multigenerational travel since they provide different amenities catering to the family’s distinct needs.
- Go to the Beach
Looking to add a little Vitamin Sea? Head to either coast and go to the beach. You just have to know what kind of beach you prefer when heading out to know which coast to hit. West Coast beaches tend to be rockier with rougher sand, while East Coast beaches have finer, smoother white sand. For black sand beaches, you’re going to need to head to Hawaii or Central America or another region where volcanic ash makes up the beach sand. I personally love the black sand beaches in Hawaii and El Salvador. We visited Punaluʻu Beach in 2016 for our 10th anniversary. I visited El Cuco in San Salvador, El Salvador in 1997 and 1998. I love black sand beaches.
- ROAD TRIP
Nothing says family time quite like the quintessential All American Road Trip. These trips are characterized by driving with your family across America along stretches of old road and crossing off famous highway landmarks and national parks from your family’s list of destinations to explore. Travel down Route 66, drive across the nation, or take a drive throughout Arizona to see the majestic Grand Canyon and the red cliffs of Sedona. The easiest way to ensure an effortless trip with kids is to stock up on the things they like best, get some vehicle organizers, and make a playlist that everyone loves so be sure to ask them for song list input. We have friends that have a scratch-off map of the United States and they spend every family vacation visiting a new place on the map so they can scratch something off. The rule is all of their kids have to be with them in order to scratch it off, though, so when only 3 kids were with them in DC a few years ago, it didn’t count. They had to all go back this year to scratch that off. LOL.
- Glacier National Park
I’ve heard that hiking Upper Grinnell Lake is one of the most beautiful nature experiences a human can have. I hope to one day be able to hike it.
- Hit the slopes
Another vacation idea is to spend a ski holiday on the trails with your loved ones. The United States has a large number of family-friendly winter sports destinations, so you might only embark on a short drive (or take a flight). Big Sky, Montana is one of the greatest ski destinations in the nation. After driving through portions of Montana, I can certainly understand that. It’s beauty is unparalleled.
- Camping at Meramec Caverns
Camping can be a budget friendly family vacation option and Meramec Caverns are unique and beautiful. You are certain to build memories as you pan for gold, go on a float trip, and explore the world underground. It’s a fun and affordable get-away for families of any size.
- Go On a Lakeview Retreat Near Branson
For some quality rest and relaxation, consider booking a lake view retreat that is just miles from Branson, Table Rock Lake, Table Rock State Park, and Silver Dollar City.
Spending time together as a family is important. Especially after loss or difficult seasons. It may feel odd to start planning, especially if loss is fresh, but it’s actually a great time to plan a trip for the whole family on a trip. Now, I just have to find time in my family’s calendar for us all to actually get away together. Now that the kids are older, syncing our calendars is an EPIC challenge… sigh.
Taking off for vacation just not going to make it onto the calendar? I can certainly understand that frustration, as well. Check out how to plan a staycation and plan time for togetherness in your city!
