A Family Vacation for Everyone

The best thing about a family vacation is who you are with – your family! But because families are usually made of multiple people from different generations, finding things to do on vacation can be tricky. I would start by asking each person, from Grandpa to the toddler, what ONE THING they want to see or do on the trip. Make those the priorities, then fill in the gaps with other activities that fit your family dynamic. Remind children about their one thing if they are unhappy with another activity to help them stay motivated. Not everyone will necessarily love all the activities, but everyone can love at least one activity and feel like their opinions and wants matter. Having a variety of activities is sure to lead to lots of family fun.

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How to Find Activities

Once we’ve settled on a destination and timeline for a family vacation, my next step is to find things to do. I usually have a decent idea of what we’d like to see from researching destination options in the first place, but some of our favorite memories are from some of the lesser-known sites we’ve found because of researching a little deeper.

Some great large-scale websites include:

• TripAdvisor: for finding the most popular or highly rated sites to visit
• AtlasObscura: to help you find unique things off the beaten path
• AllTrails : to find the perfect hiking trail for your group.

There are also many smaller blogs and sites like Parks Family Travel that often share personal experiences, opinions, and guides to locations the authors have personally traveled to. I recommend Big Brave Nomad and Local Passport Family. A quick search on their sites can help you find very helpful posts often geared toward family fun and travel.

Lastly, if you know anyone who traveled to your destination or lived there, ask them for recommendations. Locals know best, but fellow travelers can warn you of tourist traps and help you find some gems you may have skipped otherwise. Two of my favorite destinations ever came from personal recommendations, so seek them out and give them consideration. You can also ask them about accessibility for strollers, aging adults, or those with special needs. This can help a lot in choosing activities to do at your destination.

Activities to Do Wherever You Are

Some of the best memories of large family vacations come from the simple things we really could have done anywhere. At times, the traveling aspect is more to motivate us all to meet and carve out time just for the family than to go and see the world. We’ve learned to find inexpensive and close accommodations for an extended family reunion because, while we love seeing new places, we really just want to hang out and be together.

Here are some of our favorite activities to do together wherever we are for lots of family fun:

• Yard games
  • Volleyball/Badminton – We bring a portable set like this one to family gatherings where we have lots of grass.
  • Kubb (my father-in-law made his own set and the grandkids love playing it with him)
  • Cornhole – Not my personal favorite, but when there is cornhole, my children will play. This one looks like it has potential because of its portability.
  • Oftentimes vacation rentals with large outdoor spaces will already have yard games for you to try. Many resorts do as well. So even if you’re flying or you don’t have a lot of room in your car, check with the front desk or your host and see what outdoor games they may have available.
• Family Trivia
  • We made a simple Google form that each family member filled out with questions (dream vacation destination, what they would change their name to, first job/dream job). We then had to figure out who answered what. I enjoyed learning more about my nieces and nephews, and I think they learned a thing or two about me as well!
• Movie Night
  • Bring a projector, or just hunker down in one of the hotel rooms or the family room of your vacation rental. Popcorn, candy, and a family-friendly film. Maybe a favorite from your childhood?
• Family Walk
  • Get outside and explore!
  • Do a scavenger hunt where you have to find an item for every letter in the alphabet.
  • Play “I Spy” or “Would You Rather?”

Boredom Busters

Nothing is more frustrating than spending hours of planning time and hundreds of dollars on a family vacation to hear the all too familiar words, “I’m bored”. Traveling with kids can be difficult for many reasons. Throwing them into a new environment, with a different schedule, and the lack of familiarity can throw them for a loop. To keep the meltdowns at a minimum, try some of the following to help keep little ones too busy to be too upset (we hope).

Travel-friendly quiet activities:

• Magnetic Tangrams – Easy to throw in a backpack and pull out in the car, plane, or at a restaurant
• Rubber Band Geoboard – Kids can follow a pattern, or create their own design. I like this set because they all fit in a small bag and all three of my kids can work on their own at the same time.
• Fidget Ball – This is a great way to keep hands busy. Mix it up and have your kid solve it, or have them mix it up for you or another sibling.  This two-pack means more than one kid can be playing at the same time.
• Go Fish – A simple game that even pre-readers can play. Just be prepared to teach them what an umbrella bird is!
• Taco, Cat, Goat, Cheese, Pizza – A fun quick-to-learn card game that kids love to play with older adults who have slower reflexes.

The best part about these? You can get the grandparents involved too. Let them loose with the activities, along with the kids, and see what they all come up with.

Go With the Flow

No matter how meticulously you plan a family vacation, you need to be prepared to pivot. I like to pad my itinerary with extra time for the inevitable potty breaks, meltdowns, or happy surprises that come along.  There is probably more to see than you have time for, so be prepared to skip certain things and make an effort to allow family members some downtime as well. They’ll come back recharged and ready for some more family fun.

What are your favorite activities to do on a family vacation? Let us know in the comments!