Travel Bug - M'S GEMS

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By: Melissa Goldberg

If your looking for quality time with your family and fun is your main goal, it doesnʼt really matter what you do, where you go, or how long you stay to find everlasting memories.

Vacations come in all sorts of shapes and forms. They should be something the whole family can enjoy. Make sure not to forget the kids. I donʼt mean like in the movie Home Alone (1990), Honestly, if your looking for a stress free, enjoyable and relaxing vacation make sure your plans include your children on all aspects and what they would enjoy.

Okay, so your thinking, “Does this mean we have to go to Disney?” Not at all. There are so many options for a family get away. Road trips, the beach, a big city, camping, a cruise and perhaps it is a theme park you would like to visit.

Cynthiaʼs family often resembled the Griswolds (National Lampoonʼs) where they packed up their bags and went on adventures full of sightseeing and exploring. My family departed when school ended and headed for the Mountains. We would pack our car to capacity and stay upstate till the end of the summer when it was time to go back to school. When I wasnʼt at camp, I spent my summers on a bungalow colony and for those who donʼt know about bungalow life, think Dirty Dancing (1987), except, my dad never told the hot dance instructor, “Nobody puts Melissa in the corner.”

As a kid all you had to do was pack your favorite book or toy and hop into the backseat of the car and you were ready for an adventure. As a young adult, a vacation was about shopping for the perfect bikini and finding the most popular party location. Since the children arrived, my husband and I have really changed our priorities of what we look for in a destination. Trust me, the hotel with the pirate ship pool and free ice-cream every afternoon was not our choice of hotel before children. As a Momma, vacations are intended to be fun, relaxing and memorable but often there is a high level of stress in trying to plan it all and to take time to enjoy the experience while still keeping the kids happy, clean and fed.

So, how do you plan a calm, relaxing and memorable vacation?

Do One Thing at A Time - Because families often want to pack it all in and do it all and see it all, they end up missing or remembering everything they did. You may not be able to see everything in the tour guide book, but if you pick just a couple of things the children would enjoy, you will fully embrace and enjoy each activity. Be in the moment, donʼt cruise through the museum. If there is an interesting exhibit, play a game, make up a story or just take a moment to witness your children enjoying it. Believe me, even if you donʼt see every bit of an attraction, if you take the time to do just one thing at a time you will still get your moneys worth.

Do It Slowly, At a Childʼs Pace - Donʼt forget itʼs the kids vacation too and if you want to avoid melt downs and tantrums make sure your planning involves the children and allowing them to participate fully. Kids can enjoy hiking too, but a 5 mile hike may not end successfully, perhaps a 1 mile hike to a lake to enjoy some swimming and yummy smores.

Leave Room to Do Nothing - When we took our family to Disney, we made sure not to purchase tickets for everyday at a theme park, we made sure to have a day where we hung in out in our pajamas till way after breakfast, eventually got into our bathing suits and played by the pool, took naps and did not look at the clock at all. These spaces during a full packed trip will allow you to re-energize and fit in time to relax.

Develop a Travel Ritual - Ever since our honeymoon, my husband and I have found a ritual when we travel. We look for a local cooking class. One of the best things about visiting new places is trying their local foods. In Thailand we made Coconut Soup with lemongrass and chicken. In New Orleans we learned to make gumbo and pralines. Find an activity or something you can do wherever you visit. It can be something as simple as a family picture in the same style or a funny formation. After many years you will find you have an awesome scrapbook of memories.

Create Amazing Memories - On the night before your trip and every night when away in your hotel room or cabin, set your intent (Thank you, Daniella Boonstra) Think about how you want the day to happen. Think of things to do that you donʼt usually take the time to do at home. One example is Buy a loaf of bread, find a pond and feed the ducks. Have a picnic in a park or on a beach. Instead of ice cream cones for each kid, split a giant banana split as a family. If things donʼt turn out like they planned, embrace the situation and know for the rest of your life, your kids will remind you about the time you locked the keys in the trunk of the rental car in Disneyʼs parking lot. Years later, you will all be laughing about the mishap. Last but not least, Donʼt forget the camera!

Souvenirs - The sombrero may have seemed like a fun idea in the gift shop, but when you board the plane on your way home, you quickly realize it probably wasnʼt the best choice of memorabilia. Instead, a great family tradition is start a collection of something from each place you visit. A friend of mine growing up used to collect silver spoons from all the places her family would visit. I thought it was very special.

No Matter What Happens, Travel Gives You a Story to Tell ~ Jewish Proverb

Okay Mommas, grab your fanny packs and hit the road!

~Mʼs Gems