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Summer Vacation Ideas For The Whole Family To Enjoy

Well folks. We made it. It’s officially #Summer2021! And even better – more and more destinations are opening up for us across the world which of course makes this gal’s heart smile – and I mean a really big ear to ear grin! Now – being so limited the past year – and last summer in particular – with where we could actually vacation, means that this year it may be a tad more difficult to actually settle on a destination. And that’s natural because with more options come more questions on where to go, what to do, accommodations to consider, how long should you go for, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.

Now, since I am well aware that summer is traditionally the time you all pack the family up and head somewhere – I have decided to help you out by giving you a list of some of the best types of trips to take the entire family on. Not necessarily the destinations – we can conquer that another time. This is more of a – pick a theme and go with it type of list. But of course – you can mix and match. The choice is entirely up to you. The list is just my, shall we say, PSA to you parents who are scratching your heads saying – ok – now that it’s all opening up – where shall we take this brood of ours.

Read on and check out some of my suggestions below – then meet me at the end of the list and let’s chat!

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The Great Outdoors

Photo by cottonbro from Pexels

How about keeping last summer’s trend going strong with a visit to a national park? And no – you don’t have to go all wilderness and pitch a tent – or even rent an RV – although both are fun options for some family bonding. This year you’re going to find more hotels, lodges and resorts either open, or if they were open last year, now operating at almost full capacity. The goal here is to choose a property that is either within the park – when possible – or as close to the park entrance as you can get. This way you are still surrounded by the scenery that made that particular location a place suitable to be designated as a national park but with all the comforts of home – and some that you don’t even get at home. Think housekeeping, meals prepared for you, spa services – you get the idea. Also, this year you don’t have to stick to domestic national parks as you now have the option of visiting those in one of the many international destinations that have opened to US citizens – making the possibilities of exploring natural wonders as diverse as this planet itself.

Pros: Fresh air, exercise, national monuments, wildlife sightings, stunning landscapes, getting everyone to unplug and actually talk to one another.

Cons: Hmmm…the only one that I think would put a damper on this type of getaway would be rainy weather. But what are the chances it’s going to rain every day of your vacation? And even on rainy days there are things to do – especially if you go the route of a resort – but even in a tent or RV – provided you remembered to pack the board games!

Keep Them Amused Or Wet Or Both

Image by Aline Henda from Pixabay 

Amusement parks, theme parks, water parks – they have all been around forever and while there are some that are more popular – and thus pricier than others – there are still plenty out there that you can plan your vacation around and not break the bank. Doing the theme park circuit is a great domestic trip as you’d be hard pressed to find a state that doesn’t have at least one, if not two or more, usually within driving distance. And it’s a great way to get say three or four small trips in throughout the summer as opposed to one longer one. Or you can choose a theme park in a destination where there are other tourist attractions that you would like the family to frequent and make it a weeklong getaway. However you decide to do it, as long as no one in the family is prone to motion sickness and aren’t afraid of getting wet – theme parks and aqua parks are always a guaranteed fun way to spend a few days – or longer – with the family.

Pros: Fresh air, exercise, chills and thrills, a great way to cool down on hot summer days.

Cons: That pesky rain again. And too much cotton candy, candy apples, turkey legs and other amusement park fare. But really – is that a con? 😉

Play Ball

Photo by Tim Gouw from Pexels

Here is another one – also the domestic route – that a friend of a friend did with their family one summer. And it’s another one that you can break up so you get a few small getaways throughout the season, or you can opt to do it all in one shot. The first caveat however is that you should be a baseball fan. Oh, and your family should all be baseball fans too. The idea is to visit as many different major league baseball stadiums as you can – catching a game at each one of course – checking them off as you go along. The ultimate goal would be to see them all which of course would probably take years, but we know this isn’t limited to summer as there’s baseball in spring and fall too! Or you could modify this idea and simply visit the parks of every family member’s favorite team. And of course – while you are there you get to experience the city you’re in as well – including its gastronomy, historical sites – you name it. PS – This is also great to do with football and soccer stadiums, hockey arenas, NASCAR tracks, basketball venues – pretty much any sport that the whole family is into.

Pros: A great excuse to see cities across the USA that you may not have visited otherwise, ballpark hotdogs!!

Cons: Depending on the level of competitiveness within your family it could make for some rough nights at the ballpark!

Life’s A Beach

Photo by Bayu jefri from Pexels

A summer vacation to the beach is as American as baseball. And apple pie. But let’s consider taking the family to a different kind of beach. Perhaps a unique black sand beach? Or maybe a pretty pink sand beach? One where the water is so clear you can see to the bottom? Or one where the sand is so soft and white it’s like walking on powder? Chances are you and your family have seen the Atlantic Ocean and / or the Pacific Ocean. This summer why not head to a body of water that is new to all of you – and while you are there explore the culture of the island, country, peninsula – or whatever form of land you find yourself on. There are some pretty amazing seas and oceans and even lakes out in this great big world that are begging to be walked on by new feet and seen by new eyes so don’t limit your beach vacation to just the US shores.

Pros: Sunshine, relaxation, sunrise and or sunsets over the sparkling waters, fresh ocean air.

Cons: Not everyone is beach bum material – and that’s not a bad thing – but make sure it’s not someone in your family or they won’t get as much out of it as the rest of you that think basking in the sun is heaven on earth.

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And that my friends are just a handful of ideas on how to spend your family vacation this summer. There are plenty more ideas where those came from, as well as suggestions on the destinations to head for each – so give me a call and let’s chat about what type of adventure is best suited for your gang and get it booked before those lazy, hazy days of the summer of 2021 are gone!

Yours in travel,

Thia

Lifestyle

Traveling With Kids

There are all kinds of trips and vacations that you can take. Couples’ vacations. Singles vacations. Girl’s trips. Guys trips. Destination weddings. Honeymoons. Family reunions. Business trips. And on and on and on. But perhaps one of the most special experiences you can have is a family vacation.

Family vacations may have gotten a bit of a bad – or silly rap – thanks to one famous comedian and the (mis)adventures he took his family on over a series of three or so movies. But in reality – traveling with your children is really an amazing opportunity to bond with them. To create memories that will stay with them long after your gone. To get to know each other away from the day-to-day routine. And – since we have been pretty much “grounded” the past year – what a great way to celebrate the fact that they made it through the home schooling or virtual classes, lack of friend time, sports and other activities – to let them know that you realize how tough it was on them and reward them with some fun in the sun or playtime at a theme park or carefree days on a cruise.

That being said – traveling with kids can be just as rewarding for you as it is for them. And to help, shall I say, prepare you for this journey – I have come up with a few tips – whether this is first foray into family travel or you’re an old pro. Hopefully they’ll be helpful either way and you’ll take away something new that you hadn’t thought about regarding family trips before.

And away we go!

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Take Them Somewhere Age Appropriate

Photo by Cameron Venti on Unsplash

I know this sounds obvious. But I cannot tell you how many people I saw at Disney World with kids! Just kidding. But seriously there are destinations that scream kid friendly – such as Disney – and then there are others that really don’t offer much to do for those not of legal drinking age. So, before you decide to hit Las Vegas with your 12-year-old – you may want to re-think it if you are going there to gamble – because they aren’t even allowed on the casino floor. Not that there are child friendly attractions in Sin City – but with a nickname like that don’t you think Vegas would be so much more fun as an adult only trip anyway? And hey if you’re not sure which destinations are better suited for family getaways, that’s ok too. That’s what travel advisors are here for. We can help you narrow down your choices based on your kids ages, interests and often – attention spans! And this goes not only for the destination itself – but also for the accommodations. Especially in the Caribbean and Mexico where you are going to find a lot of Adult Only properties – as well as family friendly properties. And even if it isn’t an Adult Only property – that doesn’t mean it’s the best place for your kids – but Thia’s Travel Services can help you discern all that. And finally – it also pertains to the type of getaway you are considering as well. For instance, some cruise ships are known for having super fun activities for the kiddos to partake in or some dude ranches may cater to children of a certain age, or some ski resorts may offer options for teenagers to learn new skills while others don’t, etc.…you get the idea. 😉

Family Travel As A Living Classroom

Photo by Mika Baumeister on Unsplash

No, it’s not a way to trick your kids. But it is a great way to combine – as they say – business with pleasure! I like to think of it as travel with an ulterior motive – and I certainly don’t mean that as a bad thing! Just the opposite. What is more fun than learning while doing, experiencing, being surrounded by, enveloped in the subject matter. Whether it’s a museum, a rainforest, an aquarium, a zoo, a national park, the site of a historic tragedy or joyous milestone – pretty much anywhere you travel with your children is an opportunity for them to learn something new. And when they are experiencing it firsthand – not reading it from the pages of a book or off the screen of a computer – not listening to it being recited by a lecturer or watching it on TV (or their phone or tablet and anywhere else kids watch shows today) – it means so much more – and it’s far more likely to stay with them longer. A lot longer. Like the rest of their lives longer. They are walking in the footsteps of where history was made or seeing how other life forms exist and thrive in natural habitats or tasting fruit that can only be found in one area of the world or getting up close and personal to an ancient artifact. And all that is exciting in its own right – but that’s not all. Because you are there with them – watching them learn and stretch and grow. And perhaps even learning yourself. And that’s something pretty darn special to share together as a family – don’t you agree?

Get Their Input

 August de Richelieu from Pexels

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And that my dear readers is your friend Thia’s advice for traveling with the kids. There is so much more good advice out there – like how to keep them occupied while actually traveling to a destination, what to pack to eat – you know the drill. But this is more like life advice as opposed to how to keep sane when you’re in the car for 12 hours with them or on the fifth hour of a delayed flight. So, now that you know the basics about getting it right from the beginning – give me a call and let’s figure out the perfect vacation destination for you and your children!

Yours in travel,

Thia

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