$45.00
It’s About Time for a Family Vacation
By
One of my favorite childhood memories is of a family vacation when I was nine years old. Uncle Jim and Aunt Donna, who should probably be nominated for sainthood, took their three girls and me and my younger brother on a road trip. At night the gals slept in the orange TeePee pop-up camper. The guys hunkered down in the trunk of the car. Breakfasts consisted of cold cereal eaten from those perforated, single-serving boxes that, when bent back correctly formed passable, though soggy, bowls. Lunches were bologna sandwiches and carrot sticks, often eaten in a ditch by the side of the road. Supper was cooked over the Coleman stove. We toured the Badlands, Mount Rushmore, the Denver Mint, the Red Rock Amphitheater and more. The trip was a blast.
I hope you have a precious childhood vacation memory, too. Because family vacations are all about creating happy memories for our kids. That should be the main goal of your vacation, though you probably have other criteria as well. Maybe your vacation needs to be economical. Maybe you want it to be educational or memorable or loads of fun. It definitely needs to be kid-friendly. Whatever your criteria, you increase your chances of achieving them by planning ahead.
Low Key Vacations
My best advice for family vacations is to keep them as low key as possible. Kids don’t need spectacular vacations and won’t demand glitzy, glamorous ones unless you create that expectation within them. What kids do need is uninterrupted time to hang out with their parents away from the normal hustle and bustle of life. That’s what you need to do – create a vacation environment where your family members can connect.
There are a number of ways to create such an environment, and they don’t have to cost a great deal. Google your local Chamber of Commerce or State Tourism Department. Are there county or state parks nearby? Campgrounds? Fishing ponds? Canoe rentals? Nature trails? With gas prices increasing, a week at a state park can be the perfect way to stay within your budget. Because you won’t spend hours on the road, your kids won’t be tired of each other before you reach your destination. And you’ll have plenty of time to explore trails, wade in a pond and cook meals together.
Road Trip Vacations
Of course, it’s hard to call yourself a red-blooded American unless you’ve taken at least one road trip to visit our national treasures. Visits to places such as the Grand Canyon, Washington D.C. or the Great Lakes do enrich kids’ lives. As a former teacher I can tell you that elementary students who have participated in such trips better understand United States history and geography. They’ve been given prior knowledge, a scaffold of experiences that make the dry facts, dates and names in their social studies books come alive.
Road trips with kids, especially on a limited budget, are challenging but not impossible. Take a page from Uncle Jim and Aunt Donna’s book and camp instead of staying in motels. The kids will love it. Make your own meals. Get on the Internet and scope out special admissions to national parks.
With forethought, you can even make the time on the road fun without resorting to the portable DVD player. When I googled "traveling with kids," I found some great websites. A couple of the best sites are www.activitiesforkids.com
Once-in-a-Lifetime Vacation
Of course, every family should take a once-in-a-lifetime vacation. If this is the year for yours, you want to make the trip memorable. If you aren’t sure where to start, 100 Best Family Resorts in North America by Janet Tice and Jane Wilford (Insiders’ Guide) and National Geographic’s Guide to Family Adventure Vacations by Candyce E. Staphen (National Geographic Society) can help.
If you’ve already chosen a destination, your local library should have books to help you maximize your time there. Browse the library’s travel section to get an idea of the guidebooks available. You’ll find kid-friendly guides, cheapskate guides, off-the-beaten-path guides, and lots more. Once you know what you want, purchase a your favorites, either from your local bookstore or online. Use them to plan an itinerary that is fun for both kids and parents.
Vacation Benefits
As a Christian mom, you can invite God to join your vacation and impact your children for eternity. Take time for family devotions. As you explore nature, talk about the Creator. Encourage children to ask hard questions and discuss them together. During prayers, express your gratitude to God for providing this time for your family to be together.
Vacations are often more work and more expensive than staying home, at least for moms, but take them for your children’s sakes. Vacations are part of your family’s history. They contribute to the sense of belonging children need if they are to become secure adults. So take a vacation, even if it’s more work for you. Some day your kids will be grateful.
I sure am. Though I’ve told them before, I want to tell them again. Thanks, Uncle Jim. Thanks, Aunt Donna. That vacation was the best.
About the Author:
Jolene Philo is a freelance writer and speaker who lives in Boone, Iowa. She shares her house and her home office with her husband Hiram, daughter Anne, and dachshund Abby. You can learn more about her at her website, www.jolenephilo.com.
