Summer at our house launched with a family reunion in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, followed by a road trip with friends and kids across the American West. We also enjoyed a refreshing weekend at our favorite camping spot close to home.
Travel, like so many things after having kids, constantly shifts shape. We have been strategic and creative to adapt our plans; otherwise, it would be too easy to get stuck in the routine of everyday life or become overwhelmed by extensive travel schedules. Fortunately, there are practical travel tips and strategies that accommodate budget constraints and busy lifestyles while prioritizing family interests and relationships. Here is our guide to achieve a realistic balance of travel and family life.
Visit Extended Family on a Schedule
Family holidays can be time-consuming and costly, especially if air travel is involved or multiple families are coordinating visits. To manage this, take turns, be transparent, and establish a schedule. We can’t fly our family across the country every year, nor can we burden neighbors with our pets. Therefore, we coordinate our travel every other year, often avoiding peak holiday times to keep costs down. This approach allows grandparents to know what to expect while also fitting our desire to explore new destinations.
Benefits: Setting boundaries protects both time and budget, leaving room for exploration of new destinations and allowing for carefree holidays. Clear communication helps prevent hard feelings.
Bring the Kids on Some Trips, Leave Them on Others
If my kids had their way, every vacation would revolve around activities like putt-putt, bunk beds, and swimming pools. While we enjoy engaging with their interests, their dad and I have our own preferences, such as hikes longer than a mile and enjoying leisurely dinners sans crayons. Therefore, aim for a regular rotation of kid-friendly and parent-friendly trips, alternating between ‘big’ family trips and smaller adult-focused getaways.
Benefits: Tailoring vacations is much easier when there are fewer competing interests, creating less pressure to ‘do it all.’
Consider a Solo Trip
Your best friend from grade school might have a destination wedding in Jamaica, coinciding with your child’s state soccer tournament. Alternatively, your spouse’s cousin might have a graduation right after you return from a work trip. In such cases, don’t hesitate to send a solo traveler. Family life doesn’t have to overshadow travel life, but it does require flexibility.
Benefits: Sending a family representative allows you to maintain relationships outside the family unit without disrupting the family routine. Those far away appreciate the effort, the solo traveler enjoys reconnecting, and those at home appreciate undisturbed schedules and financial peace.
Plan Joint Family Activities
When two families with children harmoniously unite, magic happens. Spending time together at the beach, lake, or mountains fosters friendships and creates lasting, shared memories. I still wonder to this day whether the adults at the Stroud/Halloway ski cabin knew about the kids using mattresses to sled down the stairs!
Benefits: Joint activities not only share costs but also distribute planning and parenting responsibilities, ensuring no one is ever bored—and possibly igniting a bit of mischief!
Bring One Kid on a Special Trip
Consider a long weekend at Legoland for a special birthday or a night at a hotel downtown for a first concert. Life can get busy, and kids often get lost in the shuffle. Special, one-on-one trips help redirect the focus back to the relationship.
Benefits: One-on-one experiences are invaluable, and catering to individual interests is a powerful way to mentor.
Schedule a Splendid Twofer Around a Work Trip
If fitting travel into your life proves difficult, find ways around it. Combine a work trip with a special outing for your child. If a family member needs to travel for an event, explore nearby attractions to extend the experience and add a few extra days of enjoyment. During visits with in-laws, consider leaving the kids for a night. This allows parents to enjoy a local hike and a winery together—a true win-win situation.
Benefits: Since these compromises enhance established travel plans, they are often more time and cost-efficient than organizing a separate trip.
It’s Okay If the Family Doesn’t Come Along
The stars don’t always align for everyone to travel together or to visit desired destinations. When travel opportunities present themselves, seize them when possible. However, when you can’t travel as a unit, that’s perfectly acceptable too. As my daughter wisely noted, while daily routines may be unnoticed, returning home from a long trip draws a genuine interest for conversation. Mixing it up offers benefits, and individual pursuits can enhance family dynamics.
Once you’ve identified your family’s travel needs and preferences, you can adapt strategies to seize opportunities seamlessly, expand or condense travel plans, and make the most of every experience.
