With the start of the school year just around the corner, I start to organize what has become a fall tradition for our family: the autumn mini-vacation. Summertime trips just don’t work for us for a variety of reasons. My husband always teaches during the summer months, leaving us with little to no opportunities to get away. Popular tourist destinations are typically crowded beyond belief during this time. And we get just a wee bit cranky after long periods of time waiting in sweltering heat for a ride that lasts just 40 seconds. I’d be remiss if I also didn’t mention how expensive traveling has become. All these factors make mid-October to mid-November a good time for a getaway.
Traveling as a family can be a challenge. Add to those challenges the needs of a special child, and you suddenly find that your planning skills are truly put to the test. These are just a few of the strategies that have worked for us so far:
•Plan ahead: when choosing a destination, try to plan activities ahead of time. For kids like mine who need to have a schedule, this is very helpful. And for their budget-conscious parents, it helped to plan finances for the trip. Last year we took a trip to Stone Mountain/Atlanta, and I had one thing planned for each day. Day 1 was the Georgia Aquarium, Day 2 was Stone Mountain Park, and Day 3 was the Fernbank Museum. The kids were happy because they knew what we were doing each day; and I was happy because the details had been worked out in advance, leaving more time for fun.
•Try to travel off-season, if possible: tourist destinations tend to be less crowded, and they tend to be less expensive. My daughter has a tendency to shut-down in huge crowds, so this is a must for us. Also, some of the best travel deals are available off-season. Several years ago we took a trip to Cape Cod, and since it was just before peak travel season, we avoided the massive crowds and scored a fantastic deal at a local bed and breakfast. Which brings me to:
•Make sure that you have adequate food to take with you if you have family members with food allergies/intolerances. You just never know what food will be available to you once you arrive at your destination. I pack gluten-free cereal and single-serving packs of rice milk (breakfast is a tricky one for us on the road) and lots of healthy snacks like nuts and fruits.
•If one of your loved ones takes medication that requires refrigeration, check with your hotel to make sure your room has a refrigerator. This is also helpful if you’re travelling with a little one who drinks formula. Not all hotel rooms come equipped with one, so you may need to request it prior to your arrival.
•Try not to overwhelm the kids with too much all at once. This goes for travel time (I don’t advocate driving for 12 hours straight) as well as daily activities on your trip. Most of our trips involve driving, and I cannot stress the importance of taking enough breaks. It’s good to get the kids out of the car to get some fresh air, and it’s good for harried parents too. Theme parks like Disney have family rest areas for young ones to relax; it makes for a nice mid-day break for the kids.
•Try to keep the kids on a schedule that is as close to their normal schedule as possible. We try to keep meals and bedtimes around the same time, even when we’re away from home. We also explain to the children that our house rules apply even on the road. In other words, if it isn’t acceptable behavior at home, then it isn’t acceptable behavior on vacation. Yes, I have had to put kids on time out while on trips; it wasn’t fun, but it was necessary.
•Keep things simple: remember the reason why you’re on this vacation in the first place. The best trips we’ve ever taken were ones where we made spending time as a family a priority. One of our absolute favorite trips involved little more than walking along hiking trails in a state park, enjoying nature, and exploring the great outdoors as a family.
Traveling with your family doesn’t have to be stressful. Plan ahead; take the time to learn about the area you’ll be visiting, and keep things simple. And remember to have fun!