Six Good Reasons To Take A Family
Vacation
by: Jolana
Klobouk
When I was young, family
vacations with my parents consisted of driving for a week from
place to place in a hot stifling car. My parents had the
knack of picking the hottest week of the summer to do
so. In spite of that, we still had
fun, managed to find interesting sites to explore and those are
the memories that I still have.
I discovered the joy of travel to far reaching destinations on
my own by the time I turned 18. Jumping on a plane and heading
off to Brazil, Europe or cruising the Caribbean, has turned
into a life long passion my whole family now enjoys with
me.
Family vacations have evolved over the years. There have never
been more choices, more variety and more options available for
family vacations as there is today. Especially since 9/11, the
focus on family and community and played a strong role in our
society. The travel industry has noticed and has geared up for
families. From all-inclusive vacation packages and cruises,
which are equipped with kids clubs and special activities: to
resorts that supply a nanny for your stay, it’s never been a
better time for families to travel.
Still not sure? Here are just a few of the benefits of taking a
family vacation:
1. The family that plays together, stays together.....
It is a time to get away from it all. Away from work, the phone
calls, the kid’s activities, the daily to do list. This is a
great opportunity to spend time as a family and get to know
each other. Go for a hike, build a sandcastle, explore a
museum. There is more time to talk and spend time together
without the daily distractions.
2. Teach your children well....
Travel is an excellent learning tool for kids. They can have
the opportunity to learn about things first hand they may have
learned in school, read about or saw on TV. Any destination can
offer this learning experience whether it is a few hours drive
away from you home or in Europe. Family vacations will teach
children about different cultures, food, history, geography,
climate, environment and so much more. The best part is that
it’s way more fun for them then learning it through
homework!
3. New experiences they will never forget.....
Family vacations provide a whole new venue for experiences that
your kids never would have had otherwise. We took a family
cruise last winter, and it was my 9-year-old son’s first
cruise. We told him all about the ship and showed him pictures
but I don’t think he could quite grasp what it was really going
to be like. We landed in Fort Lauderdale and as we were driving
to the port, we could see our ship in the distance. He was
excited but still very nonchalant. Once we got to the port and
pulled up alongside the ship, he looked up and up and up at the
enormous ship, his mouth dropped open and he gasped in
amazement. That reaction was worth the price of the whole trip
and is something I know our family will always remember.
4. Life is an adventure, especially on vacation....
Even if you are not particularly brave there are still many
ways to experience the adventures that lie in every corner of
our planet. It may be as simple as going to the zoo at your
destination and seeing the animals that are local to that
habitat or taking a jungle tour though the Amazon. There is so
much to see and do, pick the adventures that appeal to your
family and do them together.
5. You kids won’t be kids forever....
Doesn’t seem like yesterday that the teenager that just
borrowed your car, was in diapers and day-care? Most parents
agree that time seems to fly by quickly and those babies are
grown before you know it. There will come a time that your
children will have lives of their own and sad as it may seem,
spending time with Mom and Dad will not be anywhere near the
top of their list. Take the time for a family vacation while
they still want your company.
6. Time to kick back and relax......
Now this part is important. One of the main reasons to take a
vacation is to get some rest and recharge. It is important for
everyone so don’t over do it. Try and schedule an active day
followed by a more relaxing day. It’s hard to do in some
destinations where there is so much to see and do like Disney
World, but trust me. The kids will be less tired and cranky and
it will give you a reason to come back to the destination
again!
I know this all sounds so good, it makes you want to book that
trip you’ve been putting off doesn’t it? Well, I will add in a
dose of reality here and include a few negatives. There are
some natural stresses to travelling. Planes get delayed, kids
get cranky, families can have too much of a good thing and get
on each other’s nerves. The list can go on, but don’t let that
discourage you, the advantages are too numerous to ignore.
So whether you choose to pack the kids in the car or fly to
more exotic destinations, the benefits are the same. As far as
memories go, we tend to remember the good things; the time
spent together as a family, the new things that were
discovered, the new friends we made, the places we saw. This is
what your children will remember and, the fact that you were
there with them to enjoy it.
About The Author
Jolana Klobouk is a former travel agent who has traveled
extensively for work and vacations with her family. For more
travel information, visit her travel websites: www.best-family-beach-vacations.com
and www.FlyFromCanada.com.
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