I’m not going to lie. After three successful family trips we were feeling pretty good about our travel planning skills. So when we took the next trip and the boys all but revolted on day 3, we were pretty surprised.
“Maybe it’s because they’re older?” we thought.
“Could it be that they’ve been inside for so long that they no longer appreciate nature?” we wondered.
We asked ourselves a lot of questions and then realized that the problem was really the itinerary. We usually fill our days with a variety of activities – a museum one day, a castle the next, beach for one day, a hike for another – but this year every day was the same – hike in nature.
How can you put together a great itinerary for your family? Here are our top tips.
Consider How Your Family Travels
Are you a family that goes on vacation to rest and relax or to see as much as you can? Do you like a vacation where you can sleep late and lie on the beach or do you like an action packed day? They’re both good, but you’ll want to plan for what works for your family. If you’re a family that likes to lie on the beach, you’re not going to want to plan two days of busy activities and likewise, if you’re a family that likes to be action packed, you’re not going to want to lie on the beach for two days in a row, so think about what works for you.
Diversify
Think about the types of activities that your family enjoys and try to include as many of them as you can. Like rafting? Find a day you can devote to that. Enjoy ziplining? Put it on the calendar. Want a sleep late, go to the beach day? Schedule it. Fill in as many things as you can.
If you’re going somewhere new, think about the iconic can’t-miss things you’ll want to visit too. For example, when we planned a trip to Louisville to see Churchill Downs, we also made sure to include the Louisville Slugger Museum because we’d feel like we really missed out if we hadn’t stopped in there.
We do this in a spreadsheet where we can include a link to the location, cost, driving distance, etc., but you can do it on a piece of paper too. Then mix up the activities so you have an exciting day and then a resting day. See how much time is left and be strategic about finding activities to fill in the time.
Think About Scheduling
Consider how a normal day at home is for your family. If someone naps at 2, you’ll want to plan for that. If you never eat dinner later than 5, you’ll want to plan for that too. As you schedule your trip, think about if your being realistic for your family. Planning a castle tour at 1:45 for kids who nap, might turn into a disaster. Likewise, if you book tickets for a show that lasts until 6, you’ll want to have a snack on hand when everyone gets hungry. We’ve found the most successful family trips are those that work around your existing schedule and everyone having a full belly!
Plan A, Plan B and Maybe Even Plan C
We like to have a plan ready to go so that there’s no time wasted in the morning, but we also like to know what our options are if that plan doesn’t take as long as expected or isn’t a hit. We also like to have a few “back up” options, like a playground near our lodging, that we could easily add in, but we won’t feel too upset if we miss it.
With just a little time preparing, you can plan a great itinerary for your family and begin creating amazing memories.
What are some of the things you consider before planning your trips? Let us know in the comments.
