Beach Destinations for Memorable Family Vacations

For families the world over, the beach is one fail-safe destination. It’s an all-in-one destination where the parents can relax, soak some rays, and the kids can go crazy with running around the beach, making sandcastles, and splashing about the ocean – clearly the stuff of memorable family beach vacations.

Resorts and hotels situated in these beach towns have become aware of the needs of families who go on vacation and have come up with activities oriented towards just the kids, just the parents, or for the entire family. And when you want to go beyond the beach and beach activities, you can pack up the family and visit the other tourist attractions in the surround area, try the local food, meet and interact with the locals, and have fun choosing souvenirs to take home. For family beach vacations like these, we suggest several destinations:

Playa del Carmen, Mexico – Playa del Carmen has consistently ranked on top among travelers as a family beach vacation place. It is located in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, about 40 miles south of Cancun. Have fun soaking up the sun and playing on the sun, have some kiteboarding action going. You may also want to go on a daytrip around town, explore the jungle on an ATV, or even learn to cook authentic Mexican fare at The Little Mexican Cooking School. All these things you can do in Playa del Carmen Mexico.

Maui, Hawaii – as far as beach destinations go, this is one of the more famous and for many reasons. You’ll never run out of things to do in Maui. Hiking, boat excursions, sailing, and visiting the Haleakala Crater – there are just some of the activities you can do in Maui, and that’s not counting the sun, sand, and surf that you’ll surely enjoy.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina – not a tropical beach, but it doesn’t mean the sand and the sea won’t be as enjoyable. Myrtle Beach offers not only a stretch of white sand beach but also nearby shopping centers, water parks, golf courses, and other areas of entertainment. For all your family’s vacation needs, Myrtle Beach has it pretty much covered.

San Diego, California – children will surely love San Diego because of two things: Sea World and the San Diego Zoo. Parents, on the other hand, will enjoy the cosmopolitan food served in San Diego’s restaurants and learning about the history of the city (which they could promptly share with their kids). There is also, of course, a wealth of beach and water activities that the entire family can enjoy on their visit to San Diego.

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.

Incorporating Education into Your Summer Vacation

For kids, summer vacation means playtime, sleeping in, and maybe a family vacation.  As a parent or grandparent, you want to encourage your child to enjoy their summer.  You might still be interested in keeping their minds alert and help them learn something new.  Family vacations are the perfect tool to expose your child to new ideas and educational experiences.

Educational vacations are not a new idea.  Vacations with fun, excitement and new learning experiences enrich not only your child, but your whole family.  Destination can be an important decision if you wish to make the effort to educate your child.  A mix of activities may also be important to consider.  While the obvious choices of art, science, or history museums are a great choice, they may not be the ideal choice for your child.  They may also not be the ultimate destination for your vacation.

If you are traveling, a stop at a museum along the route may be a welcome stop and thought provoking experience that will stay with as you continue on your journey.  Another option of taking a group tour of a museum may give you a different insight into the exhibits.  Meeting a tour group and traveling with them by common carrier may also open the doors to meeting people with similar interests.  Research into a particular type of museum based on your childs interests may find you sources for groups or multiple museums that will give you a variety of experiences.

Amusement parks, theme parks, and other attractions may offer educational experiences.  Parks such as Sea World with their aquariums and shows may allow your child an up close look at another part of their world.  Parks such as Bush Gardens, animal sanctuaries, and local zoos may offer educational adventures into the animal world.  Many of these parks also have rides and attractions that will allow you to mix fun and education.

State parks, historical landmarks, national parks offer unique learning experiences of their own.  Many offer guided tours that focus on the unique opportunities and sights of their particular area.  Areas such as the Grand Canyon and Yosemite also offer unique sights and opportunities for very educational guided tours.

Another benefit to educational tours and vacations is the chance for some relative privacy.  Many families opt for more entertainment vacations, so seeking a more educational venue will help you find deals, discounts, and often less expensive admission prices.

Finding activities that are both fun and educational for your family can mean a great mix of memories.  You will be happy that your children are learning, and your children will remember the fun they had on their summer vacation.  Why not make your summer vacation an educational one this year?

Family Vacations

Will you be taking a vacation this year?  Many people look forward to summer in order to plan their summer vacations, however many other people do not.

Sometimes people decide to not take a vacation because of the cost.  People have an idea that a vacation will be expensive or has to be extravagant.  But it really don’t have to be.  Going to a local amusement park, zoo or other public event can be a great vacation.  Or perhaps packing up and heading out to go camping can be another memorable family vacation.

Another reason that families often forgo a vacation is because of their busy schedule.  But consider the fact that a vacation can allow a family to take a break from their activities, relax and enjoy each other’s company.

The break doesn’t have to be for weeks at a time…a couple of days is all that’s needed to relax and have fun.

One of the benefits in a family vacation is being able to spend time together.  Busy family activities, work hours, homework and school activities sometimes prevent families from being able to enjoy fun activities.  Therefore it benefits that family to break away and spend time together.

Vacations should be designed to be relaxing.  Families have more stress put on them than in the past.  Homework, sports activities and schedules, pressure – these all create stress that can be hard to handle.  A vacation will provide your family with the relaxation that it needs.

Although children need to get away and relax, adults do also.  Both children and parents need to get forget about the daily grind and spend time rejuvenating with the family.  A vacation can be the perfect opportunity to forget about work and home and spend quality time with your family and spouse.

When planning a family vacation, pick the destination together.  Choose activities that each person in the family enjoys.  This will allow everyone to have fun as well as making everyone feel like they’ve given input.

After you’ve chosen a destination, then schedule the activities that everyone enjoys.  It’s fun to allow everyone to research the places and activities that they might enjoy and then present their top choices.  By doing this everyone can have a say in the matter and it will also allow your family to spend time together.

Family Resorts in Mexico

Family vacations in Mexico can be great fun.  Although some Mexican cities are known for their partying, there are also many activities designed for families with teenagers and children.  There are also discounts available for children at popular tourist attractions as well as many resorts that offer all-inclusive vacation packages for the entire family.  This all-inclusive vacation is beneficial because you know all the upfront costs and don’t have to be concerned about additional costs.

Before booking your family vacation in Mexico, make sure that you research what attractions are geared toward families and children.  The activities offered make this an ideal family vacation.

Here are a few of the attractions and resorts that cater to families visiting Mexico.  Of course, this is just a start and you should research additional accommodations and attractions before you leave.  Also, take advantage of your travel agent or the internet to help find additional activities.

Cancun:

The Xcaret Theme Park, located on the Mayan Riviera is perfect for those searching for a family resort.  The Xcaret Theme Park is often compared to Disneyland and attendees can expect a fun filled day at the park.  The Xcaret has amazing rides and attractions.

One of the features at the Xcaret Theme Park is a deep underground river filled with beautiful tropical plants and wild and exotic animals.  There is also a butterfly pavilion and coral reef aquarium.  And for those who dream of swimming with dolphins, there’s that opportunity to do so too.

Cancun also offers additional family friendly resorts.  You can check the internet to locate others.

Cozumel.

Cozumel is another area that is ideal for a family vacation.  In addition to offering great attractions and activities designed for people of all ages, it boasts one of the lowest crime rates in not only Mexico, but in the world.

Cozumel is also known for some of the most beautiful coral reefs, which makes it an ideal place for SCUBA and skin diving as well as other aquatic activities.  Children love to snorkel in the shallow waters and adults love to SCUBA dive in the deeper areas.

Many families opt to choose an all-inclusive vacation in Mexico which can be a great idea.  The packages include all airfare and accommodations as well as meals, drinks and snacks.  Children can also learn about customs and cultures as well as viewing Mayan ruins.

There are also great family activities such as SCUBA diving, hiking, sailing, snorkeling, swimming, horseback riding and parasailing.

Each area offers additional attractions and sights so before you leave, make sure that you research the area to see what your Mexican vacation destination has to offer.