We recently went on the first family vacation in a long time and left the distractions behind. It was a fun road trip with relaxation, fun and a few surprises.
My husband and I were in one SUV, so I could lay down if I needed to since it's hard for me to travel due to pain, and my daughter and her family in another SUV, drove from our home in N.C., to Gatlinburg, Tenn., where we rented a cabin. The drive became very memorable when traffic stopped because elk were eating next to the road. A little further up the road, traffic was stopped again so people could watch a bear cub in a tree.
Once we arrived at the cabin, we found a cozy fireplace with a large pool table in the living room, a hot tub on the deck out back with a great view, and a jacuzzi in each bathroom. 
It was time to relax and enjoy life for the first time in years.
We even went to our first dinner show. The food was excellent, and the show was fabulous. I could even stand or sit as needed without bothering others.
We made memories to last a lifetime because there were no distractions from our everyday life.
My top 10 tips for a fun family vacation
1. Take it slow. Stop for breaks and sightseeing along the way. The ride is part of the trip and if you take the scenic route you never know what you might see.
2. Once you arrive at your destination, you don't have to go, go, go. Relax. Rest. That's what a vacation is for. 3. Take food with you to save on eating out. Take simple things like cereal and sandwiches so you don't have to cook, and take plenty of snacks.
4. Take games with you to play. It's family time. You don't have to go out every night.
5. Slip into a hot tub with the kiddos, or just hubby, then take a nap. 6. Go to a dinner show. It keeps the kids' attention and grown ups enjoy being a kid.
7. Don't take your computer with you. You think you can't survive without it, but the truth is it controls your life. If you let go a couple days you can enjoy a vacation with the family. It will be there when you return.
8. Take plenty of photos, videos to remember your trip. To remember how it feels to laugh and have fun without the distractions.
9. Do things everyone will enjoy. Go where everyone wants to go. Agree, so everyone is happy. After all, it is everyone's vacation.10. Relax and have fun. It may be a while before you get the chance to do it again.
Full disclosure: This post is for a contest sponsored by Alamo Rent A Car to help launch TwitterMoms new travel channel.
2 comments:
Barbara,
I love those tips! It makes family trips much more fun to keep things simple and in perspective. I can't wait until our next family vacation.
Great post, thank you Barbara! Keep it cool and relaxed is the best one could do on a family vacation.
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