5 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Next Family Vacation

Traveling brings families together. Experiences built on vacation time, away from the usual constraints of the daily slog, last a lifetime and create important shared experiences for your loved ones to remember. But vacation planning requires more than simply a destination. You need to plan for these experiences above and beyond just booking flights and hotels. Read on for some ways to make your next family trip unforgettable in the best way.

1. Make the trip educational.

For families with young children, an educational vacation to Zion National Park or a historic battlefield is a great way to create incredible memories. The scenery Southern Utah is unrivaled, and the opportunity to discuss the natural processes of Earth’s atmosphere and go for a breathtaking hike to the iconic Angels Landing will make for a great learning experience that your children will never forget. Seeing these places of natural beauty firsthand sparks the imagination and helps your entire family grow together. Zion National Park is the home of the emerald pools, Zion canyon, and sheer cliffs that will leave your whole family speechless. And you can stop at Zion Lodge for more information or to catch a shuttle to your next hike. You can even sleep in the great outdoors at a nearby campground. If your family loves National Parks, Zion should be on the top of your list of destinations.

2. Plan activities that every member will enjoy.

Each member of your family has specific interests and needs. An extended day of shopping might be ideal for one of your children, but not for your husband. Likewise, another child might want to spend all day at the beach while the rest of you recover from yesterday’s sunburns. Understanding the wants and needs of each vacationer will ensure that everyone is happy throughout the trip. A great way for ideas is to order a tourism guide from the place you want to visit. For example, I had no idea that Savannah with kids actually offers a lot of things to do.

3. Make appropriate time for picture taking.

Some families take too many pictures, but most of us often forget to snap a quick photo in front of that fantastic scenic landscape below. Make sure you don’t go overboard with images, but do remember to take pictures to capture the memories that your family is making as they happen. Take a moment to smile on the hiking trail or in front of the aqua waterfalls. In this way, you can remember all the little details of that perfect moment. Pictures often become cherished memories as the vacations we take become distant anecdotes from our past. It would be a shame to look back on the trip of a lifetime only to find that your picture album is lacking the proper tokens of the trip.

4. Update your wardrobe before the departure.

Adding a few new pieces of travel clothing to your wardrobe before the big day arrives is a great way to put your best foot forward while on holiday. Our clothes often offer a window into the way we feel about ourselves or our situation. Comfortable travel clothes offer us the opportunity to relax, while formal wear might give us an extra nudge toward elegance and pampering. Make sure your outfits give you flexibility while away so that you can dress up for a special night out and quickly put on a pair of jeans and a tee for an exploration of the city the next morning. If you’re traveling to cold climates, consider a travel shirt made of merino wool, and if you’re going to be hiking make sure your travel clothes are wrinkle free and moisture resistant.

5. Talk about the future.

It may seem odd, but those fleeting moments of a perfect vacation are the perfect time to discuss plans for the future with your loved ones. Time away gives us perspective of our lives; it makes us pensive and provokes deep, meaningful thought. This is the perfect time to dive into your deepest thoughts about the future and develop deeper connections with your spouse and children. Vacation is the perfect venue to discover the hopes and dreams of your children or discuss what you and your significant other envision for your lives in ten years’ time. Thinking about the big picture is one of the greatest inspirational aspects of going on vacation. Take the time to flesh out your feelings and don’t be afraid to share them with the ones you love most in life.

Be creative and make the most of your family vacation time. Plan for everyone and discuss your wildest dreams for a holiday your family will never forget.