10 Tips For Family Traveling

In today’s fast paced, whole-world-at-your-fingertips society, it can be really great to take some time away from it all and enjoy a family trip. Maybe the idea of setting down your phone and piling the kids into the car for a roadtrip is terrifying, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are 10 family travel tips to get the most of your journey, and to make some memories that your family will have for a lifetime.

1. Don’t be in a hurry. Too often, our lives are scheduled from morning to night. We often do this to ourselves, and our kids. Sometimes this out of necessity, sometimes out of habit. Leave at least some part of your trip (from a few hours a day, to a whole day, or if you dare – the whole trip) unscheduled, so you can take in the unexpected along the way.

2. Campout. It doesn’t matter if your idea of camping is a tent, a cabin, or an RV, there’s something about camping that makes for a memorable experience. You can rent those big RV’s for a reasonable amount, and then you can travel wherever you want without needing nightly accommodations. Whether you have the big RV or not, you can find information on camping destinations here.

3. Play together during the car or plane ride. Sure, your kids may be happy listening to their MP3 player or playing on their phones or tablets, but traveling can give you some great quality time if you plan for it. Small and easy to pack, the following are sure winners to take with you: Travel games like Spot It On The Road and Travel Bingo are great for the family to play together. Games like Kanoodle and Rush Hour are great for individual or take-turn play.

4. Take in the some nature. From National Parks to the beach to hiking to baseball games to festivals and fairs-- get outside and enjoy! Spring and summer are great times to get out and get some fresh air. And there’s so much to do, and so much to see, there’s no way you’ll run out of possibilities.

5. Relive some history. There’s so much to learn from our history. Visit places that reenact history like Colonial Williamsburg , and places that are all about history like the Smithsonian. Educational AND fun.

6. Do something wacky. There are so many fun things out there to take in -- Like the World’s Largest Catsup Bottle, World’s Smallest Church, Dinosaur World, Giant Shoe Museum, the Town of Santa Claus, and so on. Check these sites for ideas:http://www.roadsideamerica.com/ and http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/

7. Have a real conversation. Oftentimes, the day-to-day conversation around the house is limited to “How was your day?” and the like. An easy way to learn more about one another is with tools like Chat Pack and Conversations To Go. These simple questions are ones that everyone can answer, and are on all kinds of topics, so they will have everyone talking for sure. Your family will learn about each other in a new and different way.

8. Before or after your trip, try a staycation. There are great things to do right where you live! With the hustle and bustle of everyday life, those great things are often forgotten and left for tourists. A way to fix that? Be a tourist in your own town or area. Make sure to take time and enjoy the things right at home that you might usually overlook. There’s surely a reason your family that comes to visit, along with the other tourists, check out those sites. You should, too.

9. Space out. Did you know you can see the International Space Station from your house? As the third brightest object in the sky, after the sun and moon, the space station is easy to see if you know where and when to look for it. Sign up here for notices when you can see it locally, or wherever you are going for your vacation.

10. Have fun and make memories. Whatever you decide to do with your vacation, make sure you relax and enjoy your time with your family. The time you spend, the fun you have, and the memories you make will be worth far more than whatever dollar amount you spend. Your kids will only be kids for a short while, so enjoy your time together this spring and summer on a family trip.

About the Author:
Tim Holliday and his wife Cynthia own Children’s World & Children’s World Uniform Supply in Sarasota, Florida. Since 1964, Children’s World has provided award winning personal service and high quality products. They are proud members of the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA), and winner of many awards, including the 2012 National Runner-up Independent Small Business of the Year.