5 Tips for a Great Family Vacation

Family vacations, whether they’re spent at a campground, a hotel, in the mountains or on a beach, are a great way to spend quality time away from home relaxing with your loved ones. If you’ll be spending your much-needed vacation with your immediate family or even with extended family for a larger, intergenerational event, having a creative, organized plan will make your trip a memorable success.

Use the following five helpful tips to have a vacation that the whole family will talk about for years to come.

Make a List, Check it Thrice
While over packing can have its own host of problems, not packing enough or forgetting some of the essentials can be much worse. Consider making a list and following it closely to be your best defense against forgetting something important. With all the hustle and bustle that often comes along with preparing for a vacation, without that list it’s pretty much a guarantee that you’ll forget something.

You can certainly have more than one list to make things even easier, one for items to pack, one for things to buy, and one for the actual vacation complete with itineraries and things that are an absolute must to remember like medications.

Stay Close to Your Regular Schedule
Children, especially younger ones, can be greatly affected by changes in their routine. Whether it’s their sleeping schedules or eating habits, they’ll feel more secure, and also be more likely to behave, if the regularity of home still applies on the road. If possible, try to keep bedtime relatively close to the normal time for youngsters, within reason, of course, after all it is vacation!

Creatively Capture Memories
While nearly everyone brings a camera along on their vacation (check your list), there are several other ways of capturing your special memories. The prices of camcorders have dropped greatly as of late as technology continues to reinvent itself, but if they’re not an option, consider renting one or borrowing from a friend.

It’s also fun to give the kids their own disposable cameras so they can capture favorite parts of their vacation. Voice activated tape recorders make great gadgets to take along on a family vacation to record candid moments that can be saved for generations to come.

Another keepsake to treasure from your time together would be artwork done by the kids. Give each child their own set of “art supplies” so that they can convey their thoughts or memories of the vacation. They could draw something they saw at the beach, or a certain ride in an amusement park, or a picture of a new friend they met on the trip. Whatever it may be, imagine what fun it will be years later get them out and reminisce about your times together.

Play the Waiting Game
Unfortunately when traveling using just about any mode of transportation, chances are you’ll be doing some waiting and will be delayed at some point for one reason or another. By staying positive and having a sense of humor you’ll realize that getting there really is half the fun!

For each child, or vacationer, prepare a personalized vacation survival kit to pass the time. These can include snacks, books, comic books, coloring books and crayons, hand-held video games, and pens and notebooks as travel journals for the older kids.

Music to Soothe the Savage Beast(s)
The chances that everyone in the family enjoys the same music are usually very slim. If they don’t already have one, consider buying the kids their own portable CD players with headphones. Most kids will be satisfied with a ten dollar set that will serve a great purpose and get a lot of use. In the months prior to your vacation have your children compile a list of their favorite songs or groups to make personalized CDs to go along with their new players.

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10 Best Children’s Activities at Walt Disney World

I’m sure you all know about Disney World’s amazing theme parks, but are you familiar with the myriad of fascinating activities for children offered throughout Walt Disney World that are either complimentary or offered for a reasonable fee to Disney resort guests? Here are some of the best:

• Snag a Bass On a Kid’s Fishing Excursion. 1-hour angling trips just for children are available from the resort marinas of Disney’s Contemporary, Polynesian, Yacht and Beach Club, and Boardwalk Inn and Villas. For miles of shore fishing head over to Disney’s Ft. Wilderness where cane poles and rods and reels may be rented at the Bike Barn in the Meadow Recreation Area. Fishing excursions are approximately $25 per child. Call 407-WDW-PLAY for reservations.

• Enjoy the Old West. Hayrides depart each evening from Pioneer Hall at Fort Wilderness for a 45-minute trip. Very tame, cowboy-guided trail rides are also offered, or younger children can opt for a $2 pony ride at the Fort Wilderness Petting Farm. Hayrides are $8 per adult and $4 per child; no reservations taken. Trail rides are $30 per person; reservations are required and may be made up to two weeks in advance by calling 407-WDW-PLAY.

• Sing-Along in Front of the Campfire. Families gather round the campfire each evening at Ft. Wilderness for a sing-along, marshmallow roast, and a Disney animated movie. Complimentary to all Walt Disney World resort guests.

• Watch the Electrical Water Pageant Parade. Nightly on the Seven Seas Lagoon is a delightful 1000-foot string of illuminated barges featuring King Neptune and his court of whales, sea serpents, and other deep-sea creatures. The free show can be seen from the beaches of Disney’s Polynesian, Grand Floridian, Contemporary, and Wilderness Lodge Resorts.

• Ride Up Front with the Monorail Driver. Simply ask the Cast Member on duty. They will be happy to oblige as long as the front car is empty.

• Take a Spin on a Watermouse Boat. Rent one of these two-seater mini-power boats and zip around one of Disney’s lakes at 22 miles per hour. Kids love them, but they’ll need to bring someone along in the boat with a valid driver’s license. Available at the Contemporary, Polynesian, Grand Floridian, the Yacht and Beach Club, Downtown Disney, and the Wilderness Lodge. Approximately $22 per half-hour.

• Dive into One of Disney’s Fabulous Themed Pools. You can’t do much better than a dip in one of Disney’s wonderful swimming pools. Children’s favorites: the Volcano Pool at Disney’s Polynesian Resort featuring a smoking volcano slide, underwater music, and sparkling waterfall, all with a superb view of the Seven Seas Lagoon; the Wilderness Lodge’s boulder-lined pool featuring waterfalls, rocky overlooks, water slide, and a nearby geyser; the eye-popping Stormalong Bay, a mini-water park complex that meanders between the Yacht and Beach Club, offering three acres of winding, watery delight including sandy bottom pools, a giant “shipwreck” waterslide, a tidal whirlpool, bubbling hot tubs, a kiddie pool with its own slide next to the beach, and enough length to float lazily in inner tubes to your heart’s delight.

• Search for Buried Treasure on a Pirate’s Cruise. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, children ages 3-10 sail from the dock of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort on a 2-hour supervised trip to a deserted island. $28 fee includes snacks, bandanas, and treasure. Call 407-WDW-DINE for reservations.

• Attend a Children’s Tea Party. A “Wonderland Tea Party” happens Mon-Fri at 1:30 P.M. in 1900 Park Fare at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. Hosted by characters from Alice in Wonderland, the little ones play games, listen to stories, and drink apple “tea”. $28. Strictly for children ages 3-10. Call 407-WDW-DINE for reservations.

• Take in a Character Meal. These extremely popular dining opportunities, offered at both the Disney theme parks and resort hotels, are a perfect way for your children to spend extra time with favorite Disney characters. Meals are offered in three ways depending on the restaurant: buffet-style, family-style, or pre-plated meals; regardless, it’s essentially all-you-can-eat. Characters work the room, stopping at each table to interact with guests, pose for photos, and sign autographs. Book priority seating early, particularly for Cinderella’s Royal Table, Epcot’s Princess Breakfast in Norway, and Chef Mickey’s by calling 407-WDW-DINE.

Cara Goldsbury is the author of The Luxury Guide to Walt Disney World: How to Get the Most Out of the Best Disney Has to Offer available at 800-247-6553, or www.luxurydisneyguide.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cara_Goldsbury

Top Family Vacation Destinations

Planning a family beach vacation? Looking for destinations with family resorts that have fun sports and activities for the whole family, all inclusive resorts where meals are included and kid clubs? Here are some of the most popular beach destinations for families to unwind and relax:

Mexico

Mexico, especially the Cancun area, and Mayan Riviera, an hour’s drive south of Cancun, is a popular place for family beach vacations. The Mayan Riviera is one of the regions of Mexico – and the world- which offers the richest variety of landscapes and archaeological treasures including Mayan ruins, coral reef, snorkelling lagoons, and eco-theme parks such as Xcaret. Hotels, resorts, restaurants, and attractions throughout Mexico welcome families with open arms.

Jamaica

Jamaica is considered by many to be the most beautiful of all the Caribbean Islands and is one of the top family-vacation destinations in the Caribbean. Many of Jamaica’s resorts offer supervised children’s activities, babysitters, family discounts, and kid’s meals. Jamaica has an abundance of top all-inclusive chains including: Sandals Beaches, SuperClubs Breezes resorts and Club Med. There are also many other family vacation options such as the Franklyn D. Resort in Runaway Bay, Jamaica, where families have their own vacation nanny during their stay.

Turks and Caicos

On a 12-mile stretch of satiny white-sand, Beaches Turks & Caicos is one of the premier family resorts on the island.With separate programs for infants, toddlers and teens, each is designed to give each age the activities they love. So when you’re off doing your thing, they’re off doing theirs. There are many other resorts to stay at this idyllic family beach destination

Bahamas

Home to the Atlantis Bahamas resort and many other excellent family resorts, there will not be a dull moment on your Bahamas family vacation. Blessed with the perfect location-less than 100 miles off the coast of Florida, the perfect climate- averaging a little over 75 degrees, and the perfect surroundings-crystal clear turquoise blue waters and pearly white beaches, the Islands of the Bahamas is the perfect destination for your next family beach vacation.

Hawaii

A Family Hawaii Vacation has it all. Beautiful beaches, world-class golf, surfing, shopping, swimming, top notch hotels, condominiums, eco tours, national parks, warm weather, and cool ocean breezes. The four islands that are popular for a family Hawaii Vacation are Oahu, Maui, the Big Island and Kauai.

Florida

Florida is a popular family beach destination because the climate is warm year round, it is easy to get to, it offers good value for your money, there are endless options for sightseeing and attractions for you family depending on what area you are in, and the beaches in Florida are numerous. In addition to beach destinations and of course Walt Disney World, there are tons of other family outings including Universal Studios, Sea World, Bush Gardens and many more.

Don’t Forget Family Cruises

This is a very popular family vacation option and my personal favorite. Cruises with kids offer great value, choice and freedom! There are a lot of misconceptions about cruising such as it is only for older people and not suited for families, it is too rigid, there is nothing to do, you’ll feel trapped, you’ll get seasick, it’s too expensive! All is these statements are false and could not be further from the truth. Bring your kids along on almost any cruise and they’ll have the time of their lives.

Jolana Klobouk is a former travel agent who has traveled extensively for work and vacations with her family. She is the editor of http://www.best-family-beach-vacations.com and http://www.FlyFromCanada.com Visit them for great travel information. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jolana_Klobouk

Fun Places For A Family Vacation

Planning a family vacation that is full of fun and excitement for all family members can be challenging with the many preferences of what to do and where to go. It’s a good idea to narrow down your choices to those ideas that offer a variety of activities, sights, and attractions, that would be welcomed by all.

Fun places for a family vacation that provide a variety of things to do, places to see, can range from quiet relaxation to all out adrenaline rush, from rustic tranquility to the hustle and bustle of a metropolitan city. Here are some ideas that may be useful when planning your next family vacation:

Dude ranches – Dude ranches offer country experiences in the great outdoors. Full of the beautiful scenery and country hospitality, dude ranches vary from rustic, hands on, where guests can help with chores, to full scale resorts, some with spas. A wide range of activities can be found such as horseback riding, trail hikes, country dancing, and activities for younger children. Accommodations can be rooms, cabins, cottages, and even a tipi.

Theme parks – Thrill rides and water rides are the attractions here. There are many different games to entertain the younger and older kids, food for every taste bud, and shows that can be from comedy to live music. Some theme parks offer camping facilities for RVs and campers, tents, and cabin rentals.

Aquariums and marine parks – Discover a whole new world under the sea with a visit to an aquarium. Feed the dolphins and sea lions, watch dolphins and whales perform at a marine park. Take a tour of the behind the scenes care of the marine animals, learn interesting facts of the diverse marine life.

National parks – If something more relaxing and quiet is more appealing, national parks offer different environments such as desert and canyon, mountains, woodlands, wetlands, and beaches. Activities can be horseback riding, boating, kayaking, river rafting, snorkeling and scuba diving, along with hiking, backpacking, and wildlife viewing to name a few. Accommodations are camping, cabin rental, or nearby motels. You will find the most breathtaking scenery you may ever see, so plan on taking lots of photos.

By deciding on a family vacation that would accommodate the interests of everyone, your vacation will be fun filled, exciting, easy going, and most importantly, memorable, because everyone is sharing in each others interests as a family.

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A Vacation with Children – Fun For The Whole Family

When you bring up the subject of vacation with your kids, there is usually one of two responses; either they want to go to Disneyland for the third time or they want to take an exotic trip that Indiana Jones would consider an adventure. You don’t want to take that repeat vacation; you want something different but also a vacation that is not stressful. As parents you have the task of figuring out what is best for the family while at the same time satisfying everyone’s dream vacation. Since children don’t have the experience or insight that you have, many times they don’t know what they will like. Trekking through the jungles of Thailand sounds fun and exciting to your child but you know that the first night of sleeping in a jungle will be the last.

Cartoons with cute, talking animals such as Lion King spark interest in your children for an African safari. Some parts of Africa should be avoided but many areas are family friendly and can provide an adventure without needing machetes or trekking through miles of dense jungle. You can even sleep comfortably under the stars if you are willing to spend more money for fully catered meals and tents that are far from basic.

Even though Africa is a big safari draw, you should also consider Central America for a nature adventure. Costa Rica and Belize provide an amazing array of flora and fauna and the airfare is significantly less than a trip to Africa. The added benefit of Costa Rica and Belize can be a rest from the jungle at the many pristine beaches.

Asia is becoming a top choice for families seeking a holiday that is both interesting and affordable. Beijing, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur are not only interesting and family friendly cities but they are inexpensive compared to western cities. The Great Wall and the temples of Thailand are impressive and so much more interesting in person. Sites in these big cities allow your family to enjoy the culture but also retire to your comfortable hotel room so your exploration is not too stressful.

European cities offer the best combination of family-friendly and culture however there is a higher price tag. Museums and tourist attractions in Europe offer family discounts and sipping an espresso after climbing the Eiffel Tour has a big draw for parents while keeping the children amused.

Since international travel requires passports and generally long flights, you may want to consider destinations that are closer to home. Hawaii, for example, offers sun, beach and hiking so while you’re sipping your Mai Tai the kids can swim at the pool. As an added attraction there is no language barrier and flight discounts are often available to make your vacation more affordable.

It’s often a compromise to find the vacation that suits your entire family but a holiday with children doesn’t have to be the tried-and-true theme park. With some research and planning, exotic destinations that cater to families can be found to delight both you and your children.

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