Family Vacation
We all know the drill: the Christmas decorations are packed away, the New Year has been rung in, and now it's time to start planning the next holiday. For many families, that means Spring Break—and if you’re a real planner, you’re already thinking about the big summer trip.
But let’s be honest—sometimes a family vacation can feel less like a vacation and more like a relocation of the entire family to a place with prettier scenery. Sure, there are no alarms or dishes to deal with, but in their place come sandy towels, snack battles, and arguments over who kicked whom while sharing a queen-sized hotel bed.
I’ve been there—many times. And I finally reached a point where I was determined to break out of the vacation-relocation rut and find a way for our trips to be restful, fun, and memorable for everyone.
Where did I find my magic wand, you ask? I wish it had been that simple. Instead, it started with thinking outside the box—and asking myself some tough questions.
Was I putting unrealistic expectations on the vacation?
Was I expecting my kids to behave perfectly even though their routines were disrupted, they were overstimulated, and let’s face it—sugar consumption was at an all-time high?
The hard truth? Yes. To all of it.
So, I went back to the root of why we travel.
For our family:
We wanted quality time together
I wanted a break from cooking and cleaning
My husband needed to not be the default “activity planner”
And the kids? They just wanted to have fun
Once we redefined success, our vacation planning got a whole lot easier. We started choosing cruises and larger resorts over action-packed itineraries better suited for couples than for our elementary-aged kids.
I let go of chasing the “perfect” vacation and focused on the break we all needed.
Our first cruise felt like a dream. The kids had plenty to do (and even enjoyed a little independence grabbing ice cream or hitting the arcade), while I soaked up the sun with a good book. My husband could nap or play trivia, and I could take the youngest to mini-golf. No cooking. No cleaning. Endless food options. No one complaining. And when we visited new ports, the adults still got their fix of culture and exploration.
That summer, we came home feeling like we had truly taken a vacation—not just changed locations.
