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.

Vacations for Beach Lovers

Although there are many wonderful vacation destinations, one of the most popular is a vacation at the beach. If your perfect vacation includes water, sand and sun, you’re probably likely to choose a beach as your next vacation, however, there are some factors that you should consider before embarking on a beach vacation.

Oftimes, when people decide to stay at a beach, they choose the “hottest” or most popular beaches, and, while that can be fun, there are some disadvantages to visiting such a popular place.

First of all, since it’s popular, that means that a huge number of people also will be visiting along with you. This means that thousands of people will also be overcrowding the beaches along with you. This leads to traffic jams, little or no parking, lack of bathroom facilities, and an increase in crime. Also, if you are vacationing with young children an overcrowded beach might not be in your family’s best interests.

If you’re searching for a more secluded, private or romantic beach, you might want to try a beach resort. There are also inland beaches such a rivers or lakes you can visit. Many of these offer the same activities and even more.

When you’re choosing which beach you’ll vacation at, make sure that you also determine which accommodations you’ll be making. Often beaches have large hotels nearby or you can also look into staying in a B&B. Make sure you ask how far from the beach you’ll be so you can determine if it’s within walking distance.

Since many beach resorts have onsite hotels, the developers have often included additional features and services. They include room service, spas, restaurants and internet. They also offer tours, swimming pools and more.

There are a lot of options when determining where to vacation. There are popular coastal beaches in California, Florida and Texas however you might also want to consider less crowded areas such as South Carolina, Virginia, Oregon and Washington. And you could also consider a vacation to a lake such as those found in New York, Utah, Michigan and Wisconsin.

When starting to make your travel plans, it’s important to start as far in advance as possible. Check to see if you can make your reservations online. Then use your charge or debit card to book your accommodations and relax.