Summer Travel with Kids
Making Memories and Ensuring (mostly) Smooth Journeys
Summer is the perfect time to plan a memorable getaway with your kids. However, traveling with kids can also be a challenge, requiring thoughtful planning, patience and flexibility. Here are some tips and ideas to make your summer travel with kids a memorable experience, like, good memorable!
Choose Kid-Friendly Destinations
Selecting the right destination is crucial. You know your kids interests best so choose accordingly. Amusement parks, national parks, beaches, and cities with interactive museums or zoos are excellent options. Destinations like Orlando, with its world-famous theme parks, or Yellowstone National Park, with its stunning scenery and wildlife, can captivate both kids and adults. Choosing a hotel with a fun kids club can also free up a little time for you and your partner as well. Win-win. If anything Disney is on your radar make sure to check out Plan Disney for free travel planning support from Disney pros. Also, TULA, we have you covered on planning all the trips, anywhere!
Plan Ahead but Stay Flexible
Book accommodations and activities well in advance. Make sure to research family-friendly hotels or vacation rentals that offer amenities like cribs, high chairs, and pools. Using a tool like Wanderlog can also make keeping everything organized and efficient much easier. It also makes suggestions based on preferences and current itinerary of other gems you may not have even known about. Both Cody and I have used this for recent trips and can't say enough good things about it! While it’s important to have an itinerary, staying flexible is equally as important. Be prepared to adjust plans as needed, take breaks for snacks, rest, park time, whatever will reset the energy. Often the unplanned things become the best memories!
Packing Smart
Packing for a family trip can be daunting. Create a checklist to ensure you don’t forget the essentials. Pack a backpack for each child with their favorite toys, books, and snacks to keep them entertained during travel. I like to plan by day to make sure I don’t overpack (save room for vacation purchases!) and then of course add a few basic pieces to mix and match when spills happen. Speaking of spills, a Tide pen can be the real MVP of the trip. There are also amazing services like Babyquip that rent bulky travel items like strollers, car seats and cribs and have them waiting at your destination. I used this when my sister came to visit and it was so easy and certainly made their travel load much lighter. Eliminate the risk of your luggage being lost by carrying on whenever possible. It also makes it easier and quicker to get through customs (if you're traveling abroad) and on to your destination.
Engage Kids in the Planning Process
Involving your kids in the planning process can build excitement and make them feel more invested in the trip. Let them help choose activities or restaurants or select a few items to pack. We recently traveled to London and Paris with our girls who are 8 and 11 and they each had a couple of things that were at the top of their travel bucket list for both cities. It was so fun to watch them experience the things they had planned.
Keep Travel Days Manageable
Long travel days can be exhausting for both kids and adults. If flying, try to book direct flights to minimize layovers. For road trips, plan for frequent stops to allow kids to stretch their legs and burn off energy. Bring plenty of snacks, and consider traveling during nap times to make the journey smoother. Also, try to ease into trip activities upon arrival.
Create a Travel Journal
Encourage your kids to document their travel experiences in a journal. This not only keeps them engaged but also creates a very cool keepsake to look back on. This journal by Promptly is a really great option, not only is it cute, it gives great prompts to help bring out the details of the experiences and offers a place to save tickets, photos, etc. As parents, keeping a travel journal is a wonderful opportunity to bond with your kids as you share experiences, compare notes, and reminisce about the most memorable moments together.
Embrace Technology
While it’s important to limit screen time, electronic devices can be lifesavers during long travel periods. Load up tablets or smartphones with educational games, movies, and audiobooks. Also, don’t feel guilt when a few extra minutes of screen time makes life easier for everyone. Be sure to leverage technology for yourself as well for both entertainment and more efficient travel days. Downloading metro apps for the cities you're traveling to so you can easily see schedules, routes, and keep cards right on your phone is a must. Adding all the attraction tickets to your phone wallet so they are in one place is also a must. And, if you're like me, and worry about all the things that could go wrong, I like to create an album on my phone (and I share it with my husband) with screenshots of all the tickets just in case the phone wallet option doesn't work at a venue or if my phone dies or gets misplaced.
Focus on Enjoying the Moment
Finally, remember that the goal of the trip is to enjoy time together as a family. Embrace the inevitable hiccups and meltdowns as part of the adventure. Take lots of photos, but also be present and soak in the experiences. Sometimes, the best memories come from the unplanned and spontaneous moments. Don’t put pressure on yourself to do everything, just focus on enjoying whatever it is you are doing. It's far better to do less and remember more than to do too much and remember few details other than feeling exhausted!
Traveling with kids during the summer can be an incredible and rewarding experience with a bit of preparation, patience and a positive attitude. By choosing the right destination, involving your kids in the planning process, and staying flexible, you can create unforgettable memories that your family will cherish for years to come. Happy travels!