Family Vacation Ideas - Some Dos and Don'ts

By Diogo Slov

The larger your family is, the more likely you are to have issues when planning a family vacation. Making it work for all people involved can be very challenging. Tweens and teens don't want to do 'kids' stuff anymore; you may also want to spend some quality time with your partner, as well, in a grownup activity. How can you handle all that?


My first tip for you is to narrow your interests to a list that offers variety for people's age and personal interests. Somebody might have to give in; in that case, this person should play a bigger role in next vacation planning. Separate activities for family members can also be positive for all people involved, since everyone gets to do something they are actually looking for, and it creates a variety of conversation by the end of the day.

The most common vacation choices for families are theme parks such as Disneyland, Six Flags and water parks in America. Toddlers can enjoy safe games and fun rides, while teens and adults can feel the adrenaline of roller coasters and similar activities. You might even see yourself busy for a long time among all the variety of shows and exhibitions available.

Another good option for families is an all-inclusive cruise, since all expenses are pre-paid for and the ship can offer a wide array of options to choose from. If you are a cruise newbie, pay attention to specific details such as packing clothes for a cruise and what to look for when making a purchase - some types of expenses might not be included on your package, such as alcoholic beverages.

If your family is not that active, you might want to consider simply going to the beach. Within the US you have very good options such as Florida, California or even Alaska. You can simply lie the whole day and sunbathe, on play some water sports if you prefer. Seafood will be tastier and fresher, and you can even have some umbrella drinks.

Another family getaway idea is an adventure vacation. If all but one of your family members are into chasing adrenaline, that is also fine. This person can also have a blast relaxing at a day spa, while all others go get involved with bungee jumping, water rafting or scuba diving. Some of these activities might require a special certification or training and, although widely available, they do require time to complete - plan your vacation taking that into consideration as well.

I hope this article has brought you some more ideas for your family vacation planning. Thank you for reading it until the end!