5 tips for planning a family adventure
Family travel can play a strong role in the education you offer to your children and grandchildren. Lynn O’Rourke Hayes from familytravel.com has 5 great tips for you to consider when deciding where you should go…
Reflect your values
The travel choices you make can send a strong message to your loved ones about what matters most to you. Consider the family travel bucket list as a thoughtful and deliberate reflection of your own values, hopes and dreams. So before you begin listing desired destinations, ask yourself what aspects of the world – geographically, spiritually and culturally – you want to share with your children, grandchildren and perhaps other friends and family members.
Identify priorities and passions
Are you a nature, history or art lover? Do you want your children or grandchildren to learn how to ski, photograph or scuba dive? Do you hope to share your love of baseball or botany with the next generation? Will volunteer vacations or heritage tours be an important part of your mix? Take time to consider these ideas that will expand your family’s horizons and weave them into your travel plan.
Identify places
Americans get low marks for knowledge of geography. Begin with a good map or atlas and consider studying the globe an important part of your family travel education. While your list will most certainly change over the years, think about which destinations you hope to visit while your children are in the nest and beyond? And, when it comes time to involve the children in creating the bucket list, remember that kids don’t know what they don’t know. Certain theme parks and resorts will likely be on their radar screens. But they may not be aware of the glories of Yellowstone or Yosemite or the historical significance of Gettysburg or the Alamo. You can and should set the direction.
About the money
Choosing to make travel a priority is a decision that may require foregoing other luxuries or experiences. But the quality bonding time and lifelong memories are sure to be worth it. Consider creating a travel savings account. Opt for travel related gifts for birthdays, graduations and holidays. Encourage the children to establish their own travel fund. Saving for a specific trip can be an important part of the overall experience.
About the time
Whether you begin by tossing up a tent in the backyard or strategizing to experience a safari in Africa, there is no time like the present to begin planning family travel. As children get older, their schedules become increasingly complicated by their own commitments. Take advantage of school breaks. Consider off-season adventures when fewer crowds and lower prices can enrich your experience, even if it means missing a few days of class. Is a month, summer or year abroad on your family wish list? If, so, begin the research now.
You’ve planned and prioritized. Now, have fun. Take pictures.
For more family travel inspiration, check out Intrepid’s new range of Family Adventures.
Thanks for this post. I’m pleased to see this type of post. I was travelling with my son (9 y/0) in lapland where we hike for several days along the Kungsleden, it was a great experience, great time for bonding, and we are looking for this coming Summer for another long distance hike.
As said, you need to have a good knowledge of your children, have patience and make it fun. I was in the French Alps last week and at many occasion, I saw parents shouting at their kids while they were trying to ski ….Looking at the face of the kids there, it was clear they were not having a good time …..