A Family Vacation for ALL

“You’re going on a vacation with your little children? Are you insane?”

That’s probably one of the things you’re going to hear when you start asking about good family vacation spots and activities. You can’t blame them, as traveling with children can be quite a challenging feat. The good news, however, is that it’s not impossible and your options are many and varied.

My family traveled a lot when my siblings and I were little, so there were like three children to look after and keep entertained. I believe the secret to having a family vacation that both kids and adults can enjoy is to find places where activities appeal to both parties. My parents achieved that. Among places I can suggest (it’s a pretty unusual list) are:

Disneyland/Disneyworld
Even if you are a cynical adult, you have to admit that you have a soft spot for the Magic Kingdom. It’s because the memories you forged there as a child were so good it’s ingrained in you forever. Why not do it for your kids? You can ride the teacups, the cable cars, Magic Mountain, among others. The “It’s A Small World” ride still appeals to me even as an adult. Older children may like the thrill (or mini heart attack) that the Twilight Zone ride gives. You can watch the parade on Main Street and then the light and fireworks show later on. It’s reliving your childhood while sharing it with your children. Win-win.

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Universal Studios
I’d go have a future family vacation in Universal if only to hear E.T. say my name once again (note: The E.T. ride is now only available in Universal Studios Florida). Any of the Universal Studios locations are good picks. You can interact with your children and explain to them what that talking car was about or why there is a giant shark with its mouth open. If you are a movie-watching family, this place will really keep kids entertained.

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Las Vegas
Yes, you read that right. As a child, I loved Las Vegas. I loved seeing the lights. I loved eating as much mashed potatoes as I wanted. I loved winning tickets and exchanging them for prizes. My parents utilized the Midway to keep kids happy while they sat on slots. Of course it wasn’t all about fun and games. Las Vegas has a lot of shows and I’ve watched many great magic shows and circus acts as a child. Cirque du Soleil is breathtaking to watch no matter what age you are.

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Historic Places
Personally I think these are great places for kids to visit because they’ll actually be in places most people would only read about in books. It also helps that you are interested in things like that because children will ask questions. My parents took us to the Statue of Liberty and I never saw it the same way again. My parents took us to see the pyramids up close, which would mean I was horseback riding in the Sahara. How many children can say they’ve been to Egypt? These kinds of places are a great way to teach your kids something else aside from the usual school stuff.

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The Beach
Come on, you’re going on a vacation, might as well go to the beach right? The beach is all kinds of perfect, and resorts have all sorts of activities planned for both adults and kids, or even the family as a whole. The children can play on the sand while you relax and sip your drink. You can try something new and get surfing lessons and what-not.

See? A family vacation isn’t that hard to plan. You don’t need to stress about it. Just remember, enjoy yourself and take photos. Take lots of photos.

I Will Travel To Mexico… Soon

Why would anyone not want to go to Mexico? It has beaches, it has art, it has historical sites, it has great food, the people are fun, and the list goes on and on and on. I’ve long been planning a visit to our neighbors to the south, and several travel shows, travel books, and reading about traveling to Mexico all this time, I think I have figured out my itinerary.

I’m going to be alone and it’s going to be my first time there so I know I’m bound to go to some known tourist destinations. I don’t mind this at all. And besides, I want to somehow “discover” the country. It’s going to be like The Amazing Race minus the stress of racing. Get ready, because this is gonna be grand (at least in my head it is).

Since I’m gonna be landing in Mexico City, my first days will be spent exploring the city on foot, eating authentic, authentic, authentic Mexican food, people watch at their enormous plazas, and visit the Catedral Metropolitana (the largest church in Latin America). I also want to see the Templo Mayor, which is a remnant of Aztec architecture right smack in the middle of the city. And of course I have to go to the Frida Kahlo museum. I have to admit I primarily wanted to go to Mexico for that.

Next stop on my itinerary is Oaxaca. Ah, Oaxaca. I once watched a feature on the state and it featured Oaxaca’s finest product: Chocolate! All the more reason to travel to Mexico, right? I’d want to go to a chocolate tour, eat mole perhaps, then settle down and enjoy the laidback vibe, the architecture, maybe do a bit of shopping if I hadn’t already done so back in the big city. And then go back and have another hot chocolate. I can feel it. Oaxaca’s gonna be divine.

After spending my first days exploring decidedly urban places (well, Oaxaca can’t really be described as urban but they have a lot of people so you get what I mean?) I think it would be time to head to the beach now. The beach is where I’m going to spend the few days I have left on the country and will probably take over my budget because I booked myself on a 3-day, 2 night stay in Puerto Vallarta. I really meant to end my travel to Mexico big time and by the time those 3 days are over, I’ll probably be itching to start my vacation again.

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