TRAVEL BUG

You sit here. Photo from www.travels.com

By: Cynthia Litman


Pearl of the Day: Vacate your shell

Summer brings about a natural sense of exploration and Frederick Wilcox said the pearl “for travel to be delightful, one must have a good place to leave and return to.”

Are You Ready?
How do you know your family is ready for a vacation? Well besides it being August (when all of Europe hits the coast) are you experiencing any of the following symptoms: burnt out, stuck in a rut, cabin fever, snapping at everything, feel like it’s groundhog day and can’t hear another Dora the Explorer travel adventure? Yea, you’re ready to pack it up.

It is the Journey AND the Destination
Whether your family prefers adventure, eco-trips, sight seeing, hiking, skiing, sporting, exploring ancient ruins or beach bumming, one things for certain, when traveling as a family unit the journey creating the memories is the destination.

Are family vacations relaxing?
It depends on the answer to this question: Does your family give the Griswolds (National Lampoons) a run for their money?

Travel tales of my family embodies the most hysterical, ridiculous, educational, joyous, inspiring and unfathomable moments of my life thus far. Relaxing? Not really. Fun? Definitely!!

No matter how much money we did or didn’t have our family outings were a priority to my parents. We went camping (where I read my first novel on my own), rafting (hilarious and absurd), cruising (the Litman’s at sea, where I learned that Jamaica the island is not located in Queens), driving on road trips (over-packing means your dad has to rent the largest car available), flying (“look kids, Big Ben and Parliament”), Canada (where my sister had to pee and I reminded her of Niagra Falls), and elsewhere.

Each trip strengthened our family bonds and made the world much more beautiful, fun and generous then I could’ve ever envisioned from the confines of my parent’s house, classroom or computer.

Adding my 2 cents @ the Vatican Fountain

While the scenery may change you stay the same.
The Griswolds are who they are whether in Europe or home. Yet like my mom says, “it’s amazingly fulfilling seeing your family do their thing in different settings.”

The beauty is experiencing your kids and yourself outside the norm. Many forget why we take vacations in the first place. It’s not just about having “obligatory time with your parents” (wa wa) or “seeing the Mona Lisa” but a chance to enjoy your family in a new setting.

Washing up at a Shrine in Japan

Shell Breaker
If you permit it, each person can break out of their shell. There’s more freedom for each individual as you go off exploring. Even with my parents there, it wasn’t the same structure as home and we were all looking to have fun, enjoy and explore.

Experiencing my family in their perfect rare form was somehow exaggerated on vacation - like - my dad getting rip roaring drunk on New Years Eve in London and dancing with perfect strangers; my mom morphing into Dory (the fish from Finding Nemo) while in Paris; or my sister listening to me and continues gambling instead of cashing in her chips (still haven’t lived that one down).

We laugh our heads off no matter where we are.

Currency Exchange
You can build wonderful memories anywhere, anyplace, anytime and on any budget. The payment is your permission to do so.

Last summer, my family had “Family Fridays.” We explored the parks on Long Island with picnic lunches, took road trips to visit friends and explore new towns, and clipped coupons for Aquariums. It was five star fun on a shoe string budget.

Soon, we’ll be traveling to scout sleep-away camps, then colleges. So until then the goal of each trip is to enjoy!

Sunset View of Los Cabos, Mexico

Adjust your attitude to the longitude.
Seize any moment that appears as a “negative setback” and re-label it as a “Classic Family Moment”.

So let’s say your taxi’s late for an airport pickup and your dad practically breaks the phone and speed barrier to take your family to the airport only to find your plane is delayed 4 hours or the they lose your luggage - see it as a shopportunity; or you get lost - take a scenic route; or your credit card maxes out - anyone see Defending Your Life, when he opts for first class?; or your baby sister gets sunburn and her face blows up like a poofy china doll - that just sucked but we were there for her. Stuff will always happen whether at home or abroad so take it in stride.

I'll tell ya where to go
The world is your oyster and there’s a multi-billion dollar tourist/travel industry just waiting to service you.

My husband’s method to select destinations is to go where the Olympics were last held (look out China!).

If the thought of packing for your family sends your heart racing and eyes rolling, perhaps travel with a group so there are extra hands or to a place that has all the child gear available.

Wherever we set our compass, I treasure the memories and adventures that await our growing brood.

You are your own ambassador. When you walk back through your door your spirit will be refreshed, eyes opened and you’ll carry much more then souvenirs, you’ll have priceless memories to last a lifetime!

Bon Voyage.

Copyright © 2010 Cynthia Litman d/b/a Tigris Imprints. All Rights Reserved.