Aug 19 2010
The Vacation that Fits You Best
Many of you have probably already taken your summer vacations; in fact, in many parts of the United States, school is already back in session. Others, like our family, might be trying to fit in some last family fun before classes begin again. When it comes to planning your family’s vacation, how do you decide what to do and where to go?
For several years, I had four kids in carseats, harnessed seats that were a puzzle to fit to our kids and to our vehicles. I had so many kids in carseats that, instead of taking up four slots at a carseat clinic, I got my CPST certification so I’d know exactly what I was doing when it came to choosing and installing carseats. One of the things I learned in the class was that there’s no one right carseat for everyone. The best seat is the one that fits your child, your vehicle, and your budget, and that you can fasten properly every single time.
Sometimes, when I hear about other people’s vacations, I think maybe we’re not doing it right. All my friends seem to be planning Disney vacations with their families. Fellow family-travel writers are taking their kids to faraway lands or all-inclusive resorts.
And us? We’re going to spend a week camping. In Iowa.
Now, I’m certainly not saying there’s anything wrong with Iowa. I’ve lived there, and I’d move back in a heartbeat. And the only problem with our Iowa vacation is that a week isn’t long enough to see and do everything I’d like to see and do.
But sometimes I still get vacation envy, wishing we had more free time or more money or the kind of family that would fit in a normal hotel room.
At those times, I have to remind myself that there is no one right vacation for everyone. The right vacation is the one that fits your time, your family, and your budget, and that you can enjoy every single time.
Right now we don’t have the time to get away for a cross-country trip, nor the money to fly somewhere far away. But we do have a 1989 travel trailer and a fits-our-family vehicle that will pull it. We have a sense of adventure and and interest in finding new and curious things. We have an oft-overlooked vacation destination just across our state border. And we enjoy traveling as a family, no matter where the road takes us.
So while I may dream of jetting off with my family to destinations unknown, I’m really very much ok with doing what we can, when we can, and making the most of whatever vacation time we have.
I hope you do the same.
Now, tell me about your summer vacation. Did you take your family somewhere new or somewhere familiar? Was it far away or close to home? And most importantly, did you enjoy the time you spent together, bringing home precious memories?
We spent last weekend camping with friends and had a wonderful time. My kids are begging to go back, and we’ve all decided that next year’s vacation will be an extended camping trip.
You just can’t beat food cooked over a fire (my husband has become quite a camp chef!), waking up to the sound of birds and tent zippers, hiking, sitting around the campfire as the sun sets, and all the unexpected things to explore. It’s like staying at an all-inclusive resort… all that fun included in the state park reservation fee!
We don’t really take a summer vacation as there is already so much going on. Besides, who wants to vacation when everyone else is? I pull the kids out of school and explore in the “off” season.
Because Iowa had so much rain this summer we didn’t get to camp even once- we were rained out every time we tried. But I completely agree with your sentiment. Though I want to take the girls to WDW it just seems so hectic and crazed; I prefer open places and fewer crowds!
.-= Jody´s last blog ..Best of All Worlds Hyatt Resorts Getaway Contest =-.
I am SO guilty of vacation envy. But at our stage in rookie-parenting, we just enjoy simple trips at this point in time. Hoping we’ll get a little more exotic (brave!) in the years to come.
I think the important thing is to still travel with your kids, near or far. Swanky hotel or tent. Theme park or museum. Just do it.
Enjoyed your post!
.-= Arrows Sent Forth´s last blog ..Why we travel as a family =-.
My parents take my oldest kids camping at Hocking Hills. I have major envy, but I’d hate for them to miss out on awesome experiences just because their siblings are too little.
I think your vacation sounds PERFECT! Eddie and I seldom have the budget for an exotic or even out of state vacation. Most of our trips revolve around events with family or friends. This year we had our sights set on Houston for a big celebration, but it was nixed due to unexpected bills. We knew the importance of together time out of our home, and planned a MN weekend getaway. Eddie plotted the route according to several roadside attractions, I packed a cooler with sandwich fixings and our pillows, and we headed out for 3 days/2 nights without a real plan. It was SO fun! We changed the route on a whim, slept under the stars, ate bologna sandwiches at rest areas and took 1000 pictures (thank goodness for digital). I know when we have kids this will be our preferred type of vacation as well. Sure, we’ll save for the occassional ‘big excursion’ but we know the best getaways only require to be with people you love!
I totally know what you mean! Sometimes I’m envious that we can’t drop what we’re doing and travel the world for months on end. But that’s not how our lives work, and that’s fine with me (for the most part).
We didn’t go on any long trips this summer, but we went on a few weekend and long-weekend trips. It was a good mix…one mother-daughter weekend with my 3 year old, a girls-only weekend in Napa with my friend, and a family reunion in Washington, DC. I had a great summer, although none of our vacations involved stays longer than 3 nights.
.-= Sarah V.´s last blog ..Wordless Monday- Exactly Where We Were =-.
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[...] able to get away as often, the idea of planning a vacation may be overwhelming. Deciding where to go, when to go, and how much to budget for the trip requires careful thought, especially if schedules or money are [...]