This week Brandi and I have been debating our annual summer vacation. We both tend to be creatures of habit and we’ve spent our summer vacation in Destin, Florida, for the past 8 years! We love it there. We spend the week doing nothing but playing on the beach, sitting by the pool and eating at some killer restaurants.
But here’s my question. As the kids are getting older I wonder if we’re selling them short. I know families that go somewhere different every year and make a real educational experience out of it. As they get older will they regret we didn’t visit Washington DC, the Grand Canyon, or Yellowstone Park?
So help me out.
What’s been your favorite family vacation and why?
When I was 9 or 10, my parents took my sister and I on a journey through the west. We spent about 2 weeks traveling and hit every attraction we could. To this day(I’m 21 now), I still have so many memories from that that many people will never get a chance to experience. Sooo, in saying that, I highly recommend the West! The Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Mount Rushmore, etc. It would be such a fun and memorable experience for your kids.
DITTO! My dad did the same thing… tombstone AZ, the Grand Canyon, meteor crater, the 4 corners, and the radio astronomy telescopes… it was amazing! To this day I want to do it again. I think I was about 9… and I remember SO much of that trip!
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That sounds awesome. I’ve always wanted to rent an RV and do that.
Once traveling by RV you may never want to travel any other way. My brother recently moved to New Orleans from St Louis so my Mom bought a RV so we could visit more often. The kids are as obsessed as we are with going anywhere in it.
Your youngest may not be too interested yet in all that DC has to offer…they’d love the great big west I’m sure. My kids have been all over the world but still consider Marco Island FL one of their favorite spots and are happy to go back there anytime and watch sunsets, eat seafood, and collect seashells.
We love DC, lived in Annapolis (which btw is definitely definitely worth a side trip, less than an hour from DC)…but DC is sticky hot in the summer. Of course the museums are cool inside but another idea is to add a couple of days in Williamsburg VA (about 2 1/2 hours south)…You could spend a day at Water Country USA too (Williamsburg) as a fun break from museums, monuments etc. The water park is fabulous!
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I think the tradition of going to one place is potentially even more valuable that seeing all the “must-see” “hot spots”. I think the memories that young children bring with them as they get older have more to do with remembering how they felt (and from looking at your photos, I’m pretty sure they’re having the time of their lives
or a particular thrilling or happy moment. Our best family vacation was to Kauai. My husband travels all over for work, and he really needs to get away to “unplug” to keep clients taking up too much of his time. What made it so wonderful was the fact that we were all relaxed and doing everything together because we wanted to.
Good point Margo.
I’d have to say that those ARE my most memorable vacation memories. Going to the same place every summer. Esp while they are so young. Yellowstone would be appreciated more when they are older.
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NO WAY…stick to the beach! We(my parents and I)went every year, fourth of July week to Florida! Even when we couldn’t afford to stay in a hotel, we loaded up our tent and camped for the week. Some of the BEST memories from my childhood. My parents still go that week, and Chris and I usually join them for a long weekend, if we can.
We went on a Disney Cruise several years ago and it was one of the favorites of the whole family! Your boys are the perfect age…plus you’ll still get some beach time in there. …and who doesn’t love Mickey?!?
I’ve heard that cruise is AMAZING.
there’s a lot to be said for traditions. and destin, for that reason, will hold a special place in your kids’ hearts forever. my family spent every single vacation on the gulf coast (save one). i really love going back now — panama city beach is one of my favorite places in the world. but there’s a little part of me that doesn’t think i’m on vacation now, unless i’m there. in a way, i resent that just a tad. the one vacation we went another place was spent in washington d.c., when i was competing there. i was in fifth grade, and it was one of my favorite trips ever.
my vote: stick with destin most years and change it up occasionally, being sure of two things: 1) each kid is at an age where he can enjoy that new place, and 2) you keep a little piece of your tradition by going to a water park or swimming a bit no matter where you are.
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We always went to the same place every year in Florida like you guys do. I do not regret going to the same place all the time because I have a collection of memories of all the fun we had at the beach here. There were other opportunities for me to go with others to different places like D.C., Mexico, etc. I say stick with the same vacation place…it’s the best!
I LOVED going to the beach every summer growing up. We always went the week of July 4th and stayed in the same area of North Myrtle Beach, SC. My husband grew up not going on vacations so he always wants to change it up. I vote for hitting the other places during different times of the year and leaving the beach as our main vacation.
I guess it just depends on your family, but we love to travel and almost always go somewhere different. The carribean is always gorgeous, and we lived in California for awhile and there are some amazing things to do out West. I’d have a hard time picking a favorite!
I personally think there is a lot of value in kids getting to see other cultures and places (even just within the US).
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Its so much easier to recommend to someone else how to live there life – lol. I am thankful for the memories of traveling with my g’parents and seeing some great parts of our nation. On the other hand, kicking back & relaxing with no agenda has to be a restoring and necessary thing for you to do with your family because of your demanding position as pastor & family. Could you take short ‘educational’ trips and keep a chunk of ‘beach time’? I’m thinking the Grand Canyon would be awe inspiring – maybe coz we want to go there soon:)
That a good idea. Like take a long weekend to view the more educational type places.
Growing up my parents didn’t have a lot of money so we didn’t travel to places that weren’t about 3 hours away or so. I liked the places that we went and was glad for the experience. Since I have been 18 I have seen more places then my entire time growing up. I have been to many more cities then I ever imagined that I would see. Am I sad that I didn’t see them when I was younger? Sure. I am now glad that I appreciate getting to see such places. I will be taking my kids to difference place. I can’t wait till they are old enough for us all to experience Yellow Stone, the Grand Canyon, ect. together for the 1st time. (My husand’s family didn’t travel much either). I guess what I am saying is that you may want to ask your kids. Maybe they want to go to the same place? Or maybe they are ready for a different adventure. Sometime you just have to do what is best for your family. It is a big delemna!
We love Destin as well. Nothing wrong with continuing your family tradition. If you’re wanting to change things up though, a vacation in the mountains is awesome, but you are surrounded by those beautiful Smoky Mountains everyday.
I think the only alternative is for you and your family to come visit Southern Illinois- my family will give you the grand tour- we’ll show you the time of your life!
Here’s a link to our Fern CLiffe Camping trip.
http://matteroffactsite.blogspot.com/2009/07/nature-calls.html
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I’d stick with the beach if that is what you love (we do too!). Just change it up some…Hilton Head would be my suggestion.
We didn’t do family vacations. I’ve lived by Yellowstone and that’s a great place to visit. You could also bring the family to Kaua’i they’d love it here.
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We took a family vacation to Alaska last summer. It is a postcard view everywhere you turn.
It’s a great place if you enjoy the outdoors at all.
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My wife and I vacationed in Destin when we were first married. Gorgeous place and a wonderful area to relax and have fun.
This year we are doing the Great Family Road Trip and doing a loop through the west. Going to see Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon and everything in between.
We have done some educational trips to Philadelphia and Gettysburg… the kids weren’t so enthused about the education process. They did love the swimming pools though.
We have also taken a family trip to Nashville of all places. Met a couple celebs while we there and even visited a church that you may be familiar with… of course, you guys get that every week.
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Hope you blog that trip Tony. Would love to see pics of that one.
We couldn’t afford the annual family vacation but we did take a few over the course of my childhood (our vacations were usually spent camping which we LOVED!). The few we took were different and we liked them all. We drove to all. The drive to South Dakota/Black Hills/Wyoming seemed to take forever. We did a lot on that trip that still seem fun. The trail ride was my fave.
We also went to Washington DC and that was memorable since we finally got to see all the monuments we had seen on TV in person.
We took a beach vacation to Hilton Head Island and it was the first time I’d seen the ocean and I made it a point to go back as often as I can in my adult life.
Finally, we went to Disney World. I was 14, my brother 12 and I think it was the perfect time. Epcot was brand new and it was a lot of fun.
I understand the desire for family tradition and returning to the familiar but I think the memories of our various family vacations and the time it took to get there are some of my favorites from my childhood. The times when we camped at the same place over and over are nearly interchangeable in my mind and though were fun, not as memorable as the different trips.
Some of my fav vacation memories growing up was when we headed to the cottage in the summer, or on an annual road trip to Montreal.
Variety is great, but so is tradition! I don’t think you can go wrong either way, Pete.
My husband and I took our three kids on a 16 day road trip last summer, 9 states, one province (other than our own), and we experienced a wide range of things and places, and it will likely be our most favorite vacation ever… the kind the kids will never forget for all the right reasons!
I second the Disney Cruise suggestion — especially for your kids’ ages.
I would invite you to Spencer, IN (outside Bloomington) and McCormick’s Creek State Park but the small town may bore you. Plus I may have to ask you to preach on your vacation. To your question: We went to Gettysburg, PA and also toured Hershey’s factory that same year. One year we took two weeks and went west to Colorado (saw the Rockies play) then headed up to Seattle (saw the Mariners play). ON the way home stopped at Dyer, Iowa (Field of Dreams). Can you tell we are baseball fans? But we did that-5025 miles driving-in 2 weeks. I don’t recommend that with 3 small children.
Our adult children still remember it (but not sure if it is a good memory or bad one).
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We’ve never taken an extended vacation but our entire family is a creature of habit. Seems we try something new it ends up a disaster but then after we all get used to someplace we end up having fun.
Having said that we are hoping to take the trek to Disney World this year or next.
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Here are a few of my favorites:
– Disneyworld. duh. it’s not exactly relaxing though!
– Pawley’s Island, SC. It’s so quiet, we went crabbing, had bonfires on the beach, it was just awesome!
– Road trip out west. We saw so many things and went to the Grand Canyon. Of course your kids are little. I might save this one for later so they can remember it.
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I’ve always wanted to go to Pawley’s island.
Pete, it is BEAUTIFUL! I am developing curriculum and doing alot of writing – wish I could spend a month or two there! And Myrtle Beach is just up the road if you need a “tourist trap” fix.
It’s one of the most peaceful places I’ve ever been to. Very healing.
.-= Jan Owen´s last blog ..Thoughts from a Ministry Failure =-.
myrtle beach is awesome i live like 45 mins from there.
Oak Island, NC is another great place to visit
I think there is something to be said for having a “regular” family vacation spot and having that tradition. I also think switching it up every once in a while and exposing the kids to something different has a lot of value.
I also really recommend the west. A few years ago I was in a wedding in Flagstaff, AZ, so I flew into Phoenix and ended up exploring some of Phoenix, the Grand Canyon and Sedona with friends. It was amazing and something that is definitely unique to that part of the country.
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We took our kids to DC a few years ago and it has been the trip that they talk about the most. There is so much to do there and so much to see. I’m a beach guy but DC was very cool. My kids did get a little grumpy with all the walking but I’m sure your kids would be much tougher.
This is a hard one. We grew up traveling a lot. My dad totally has wanderlust and so it pained him to do the same thing twice. But we did meet up with some cousins every summer or so for a week at Ono Island. I loved the consistency of it….it took some of the stress out of the vacation and it gave you some specific things to look forward to.
So I think you should take 2 vacations…one to the same place and one to someplace fun & adventurous…Washington DC, Williamsburg, The Grand Canyon, San Diego, Disney World.
.-= Lindsey Nobles´s last blog ..That’s Right (You’re Not from Texas) =-.
I like Destin personally. My uncle lives there (therefore I can always crash there!).
You should go to Montana sometime (the Western parts). I went there a lot living in the west…and LOVED it.
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One of my favorites is Williamsburg, VA. It’s within short driving distance of Busch Gardens, and you can even hop over to Washington D.C. to the Smithsonian, or go the other direction and hit Jamestown. We did this for my senior graduation-gift when I was leaving High School, and I enjoyed it immensely.
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Everyone’s going to give you different advice Pete, but honestly it all depends on what you guys deem to be enjoyable. Speaking as a PK that was raised always going to visit the grandparents on vacation (due to finances), we wound up visiting monuments, memorials and historical sites a lot. It’s cool and all, but for an active kid that just wants to let loose and have fun, I don’t remember a lot about those times accept that they required a lot of walking and reading.
If you guys love Destin and the beach is your thing, maybe mix it up a little and check out the Outer Banks or someplace that has some familiarity to it, but can be a new experience for everyone.
I have the best memories of our family vacation out west. I think I was about 9 or 10. I preferred it over disney!
We spent 2 weeks and covered New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, and maybe a little bit in Texas. It was beyond awesome! I long to take my kids there.
One of my favorite parts was Mesa Verde park. You could climb all over the cliff dwellings. It was kid heaven!:) And the Aztec ruins. Awesome stuff.
I vote for the West. Your boys would love it!:)
When I was a kid growing up in VA, every summer we drove down to Daytona Beach with aunt, uncles and cousins. And while I can see the value of going to different places each year, there was something very comforting about knowing that every June we would be returning to a place where so many wonderful memories were made.
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Camping trip out to Wyoming from MN. A tent, that is! Went through some caves, visited Mount Rushmore. Had bear (we think) visit our tent area at night–we had our food in the trunk of the car. Almost blown away at Wall City. Rugged outdoors. NOTHING like it! I love to camp and hike.
Grand Canyon is the next best.
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LOVE it!
My favorite as an adult is the beach – as a child, it was camping in Yosemite (because that’s what we did then).
There is something to be said for tradition – I kinda wish my family had a tradition each year for vacation (we didn’t) and I would see my friends with such, and I wanted that, too.
So keep the tradition – but do it differently each year. Perhaps how you get there – what you do while you are there – do some day trip travels… do something different each year. Keeping the tradition while mixing some new adventures in.
I have been married 7 yrs and we have never had a vacation. We are planning our first one right now. Thinking Bahamas.
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my parents always took us to the same place cause that was all they could afford. Now we take family vacations and they are very similar each year, maybe not the same place… what I have discovered is that it is about being together for QUALITY time not necessarily where we go. This year will be hard as it is likely that our oldest will not be on vacation with us for the first time. Pete, Enjoy the quality time while your kids are young, they grow too fast!
I definitely look at YELLOWSTONE. It will create memories the kids will never forget: Geysers, Bison, HOT springs, mud geysers, mud pots, “being in the world’s largest volcano”, waterfalls, and the views!!!
If you can get reservations at one of the cabins in the park it is great. Take extra memory cards for the camera, too! Plus, you are just a couple of hours from MOUNT RUSHMORE and CRAZY HORSE (under construction but IMPRESSIVE! Rushmore fits in the HEAD of CRAZY HORSE!). The TETONs are near, too.
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i’m with you…if i could go anywhere and money wasn’t an issue…that’s where i’d take the family!
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My kids have had it so much better than I did. When I was a kid (man that makes me sound old like back in my day) we used to drive in a station wagon to Nebraska from Oklahoma to see my Grandparents. That was a fun trip. Wheat and corn fields everywhere. My kids have gone to Disney World and Disneyland. They have been to the Grand Canyon and Sea World in San Antonio. I really enjoyed Disney World but cha-ching $$$. Branson was fun too. Where ever you decide to go Have fun!!
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Favorite family vacation growing up was to Yellowstone (2nd favorite was Lake Tahoe). I was in the 2nd grade but still vividly remember every detail about the trip to Yellowstone. It could also have something to do with the fact that I played with “elk chips” for an hour in Jackson Hole, WY. I had never heard of elk chips, but they were fun to kick and throw around until I asked my mom what they were and she said, “son, elk chips are dried up elk poop.” Not so much fun then, but memorable.
I grew up doing the same beach vacation every summer with my dads side of the family – always fun and exciting…even though it was the same beach, same house, same family..
Great memories! As a family, whatever you do is gonna be special!
I traveled every summer as a child to all the states in the lower 48. I like history and if there was a story that interested me I liked that place the best. Washington DC and Mt Vernon and Boston are all great places to start if you really want to get to know the foundations of your own country those are places to start. Make sure you do your research and find out what happened there before you go and you will see things through a fresh set of eyes and enjoy the trip better.
I agree with LindseyNobles, take two. One adventure (DC) and one consistent (Destin). Even if that means holding off on on the DC trip until spring of 2011 – when the boys will get even more out of it and perhaps remember a little more of it – Air & Space Museum is just awesome. DC in spring is much more pleasant than in the heat and humidity of summer.
My two favorite childhood vacations were our trip to Yellowstone and our trip to Bar Harbor, Maine. Both beautiful locations with lots to do. Your boys will love Yellowstone, though they may enjoy it more when they’re a bit older. I think variety is important and fun.
And I think every kid should visit DC. But I grew up close by, so that’s easy for me to say.
My grandparents started going to Destin 50 yrs ago when it was just a small fishing village. I have been almost every year of my life. Most of my favorite childhood memories are from those trips. Now as an adult, just driving over the Mid Bay bridge makes all my worries float away & all is right with the world when I am in Destin. Now we take our kids yearly, thanks to parents who have a time shared condo & allow our clan to invade their vacation. I think having traditions are important in families & my kids look forward to it each year. I may be biased as a true Destin fanatic, but I say keep the tradition alive. We hope to someday be able to take a beach trip each year and then one educational trip too. Until then, Destin is the only place for us.
What a fun question. My family has been going to Sanibel Island Florida for 11 years and it is all my kids know. I love the traditions we have created that will last a lifetime. I also like vacationing somewhere simple where we don’t have to line up a million different things to do, they can just be content with a pool and the beach. I would recommend an Alaskan cruise when your kids are older though, it was so beautiful and very fun. Good Luck, you will be creating memories no matter where you end up going.
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i hope i don’t step on too many toes here; but i’m against taking two vacations. i think vacations are great — and a lot of fun. but they can also be — scratch that — they are learning experiences, like it or not. we’re teaching our families that getting away and resting and having fun and enjoying one another is important — therefore we’re going to take both the time and the money required to vacation.
but we’re also teaching that sometimes choices are difficult, and work is important, and money only goes so far, and we can’t have everything we want. i feel like to say, “eh… we can’t decide between these two awesome trips. let’s do both!” is to set an example (if not firm precedent) of how we can always have all the things we want. my family went to the beach every vacation, an hour-and-a-half from our hometown, because it was cheap; and i never went to disney world or snow skiing like all the other kids on their many vacations during the year. but i think it was good for me. i learned that time away is a God-given blessing, not a God-given right.
maybe we explain all the options to our kids, and let them have a say in the decision. maybe we even explain that we’re only going on one of these two trips so that we can help “such-and-such” family have a vacation, or a day at the waterpark, or even a few good meals.
again, i don’t mean to be rude. and i don’t think people who go on several vacations are evil. i just also don’t believe the right answer to not being able to decide how to spend our money is to take both vacations, or to buy both pairs of shoes, or to have a kindle and an ipad…
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I was with you until you said you couldn’t have a Kindle and an ipad.
but i might could get behind someone selling one in order to buy the other…?
i love shopping for clothes at goodwill — or here in tanzania at the used clothing market (which is mostly the same exact clothes from the states). but i try to go by a rule that whatever i buy “new,” i have to remove a similar item from my closet. that way i’m not just storing up material things — and i’m forced to make some choices.
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My favorite trip as a child was a historical vacation. We went along the east coast, stopping at historical sites along the way. I remember Jamestown/Yorktown, Gettysburg, Williamsburg, Mt. Vernon, Philadelphia, DC, New York City (to see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, where my grandfater entered the US). Then we went on to Massachussetts to see extended family. We went on up into Maine just to say that we did.
I like the idea of having a single vacation spot – but it’s also good to get out and explore our country. This country is an amazing place, if you just take the time to look. The point in traveling, is wherever you go, make the journey to the destination as important (and as memeorable) as the destination itself.
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Our family either went to Gulf Shores, AL or Gatlinburg every year for vacations. We rented a house and enjoyed just relaxing. The best part of vacation is being together. We didn’t care where we were! Now, being 25, I don’t feel like I missed out at all. The time spent together was way more valuable, to me, than going to a museum or big city.
Oooh, yoou have tooo go tooo nordern Minnesooota. Yah! There is a resort on Eleventh Crow Wing Lake has nice cabins you can rent by the week. They have boat rentals available – great fishing! It is close to Bemidji (think Paul Bunyan) – plenty of things to do in the area. There is nothing like the sound of the wind in those tall pine trees!
Dale and I look forward to taking all our kiddos on vacations every so often when they are bigger (we only have one so far and he is 18 months)…we plan on visiting every baseball and football stadium in the country and doing our vacations around that. As kids, our families went to a few of them and we want to finish that up! …i just hope our kids love sports as much as we do…
What a cool idea. My boys would totally dig that.
Well I’m not a parent but I definitely don’t think you are selling them short. Vacations are all about the memories, and if you guys are taking relaxing vacations and make some wonerful memories I don’t think it matters where you go. You can never fail with a relaxing beach vacation!
We didn’t do big vacations [my dad taking a whole week away from the hog buildings was complicated enough], but every summer we spent a full week at a cabin on Clear Lake about an hour from our home. We went with another family and their kids, and did nothing but eat, swim, water ski and have bonfires at night. A whole week of bliss. Every single summer. I think the consistency and tradition is what makes it such an intensely good memory for me and my siblings.
And almost every Sunday in the summer we would go to 7am Mass, with our swimsuits under our clothes, and then head straight to the lake for a day of water skiing. Those moments of my childhood are by far my favorite because of the repetition and happy memories. You’re not cheating your kids out of anything.
You’re giving them something to strive for with their own families. And amazing stories that they’ll never forget.
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I was fortunate enough to travel across the US and Canada every summer with my family on vacation. By the time I was 15 I had been to all 48 continental US states and Canada.
While in school it was pretty cool to be able to say that you had been to the places we were studying in school not to mention the memories made with my family.
Geography class had the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone. History had Gettysburg, Williamsburg, the Liberty Bell, or the missions in Santa Fe. Science was the Johnson Space Center in Houston or the history of the Manhattan project in Albuquerque NM. Government had Washington DC.
I don’t think you are selling your kids short by going one place over and over as they will have loads of great memories from the experience of just being a family. However you can also make great family memories wherever you go.
The US has such diverse things to see you should take advantage of it for both your kids and yourself.
Growing up we spent summers at the lake. Grandparents owned a wonderful place in NW IA and I never knew any different. Was always envious of cousins who went to all the Natl Parks.
When I married, I married a traveler! Now I’ve been to many of those Natl Parks! Yellowstone is my fav. Hubbys is Yosemite. Also traveled extensively for club volleyball. Visited a lot of the country & have fav spots, too. So much to choose from & rates from inexpensive to more expensive. The resources a google search can turn up are invaluable.
Los Angeles – where else? disneyland, universal studios, the beaches, it’s close to san diego and san francisco…. you could do a west coast vacation.
but i dont wanna be biased – so aside from LA… check out the grand canyon. my sister went and she said it’s breath taking. i wanna go for sure this year.
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I never travelled any further West than Nashville growing up. I’ve been married 30 yrs and the first half was travelling out West (camping all the way). I’ve been several times and highly recommend Yellowstone, Crater Lake, Redwood Forest, Grand Canyon or panning for gold in CA. Every trip we took, we took different children (grandchild, niece, or just a friend’s child) and they absolutely loved these trips (just saying for your boys those kind of trips camping would be wonderful).
My parents took my wife, my kids and myself to Disneyland 3 years ago and it was awesome! It was such a wonderful way to spend time together as a family.
This year we are planning to do a road trip down the Oregon Coast.
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I know we need to take the kids to Disney World there is just nothing about it that seems relaxing to me.
We went to the beach my whole life growing up. I do regret that we never went to any other place for vacation. of course I live at the beach now, and it isn’t much of a vacation for us to go(though it is pretty sweet, we can go any time). So we have the luxury of going to other places and not feeling like we “missed the beach”. of course were creatures of habit also. but only because were afraid that we will choose a place to vacation, and not enjoy it as much as the one we really like going on every year.
Well, I think that your children MUST see Vegas. How could any child’s life be complete without coming here? I’m sure you’ll agree with me. See you this summer!
.-= Lori´s last blog ..What’s Your Flavor … Glee =-.
Pete, I didn’t have time to read all the comments today, so maybe someone has already said this.
Washington State! Yeah, the westside of the state is not real warm but the eastside is. Tons to see and do Mtns, ocean, deserts, rainforests, farmlands and cities. 2nd largest river in US (Columbia River) runs through our state. Yeah, its pretty. I would play tour guide if you wanted.
It would be totally different from Destin but it would be worth the change up.
.-= Eldon Kelley´s last blog ..The Joy of the Mission =-.
One advantage to going to the same location (Destin) for several years in a row is that it really is a vacation. A time to relax. No stress of trying to figure out where to eat, what sights to see, etc. You know what you like and you do it. And you don’t even have to think about it. You really can just hang out, relax and enjoy your family time. Just a thought on going the same place year after year!
So true Amy.I think this is what keeps bringing us back.
my favorite vacation was to williamsburg/jonestown/virginia beach. our family got a vacation package where we had passes to some water parks as well so we spent mornings touring and interacting at the educational stuff (which i admit was pretty cool) and the afternoons in the water.
we went to yellowstone as a family later (i think i was 19 at the time). it is just as impressive.
Kids also like tradition. They love to make memories. But as great as your family is, you will make great memories no matter where you go/what you do.
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Wisconsin Dells! Water park capital of the world. You and the boys would have a ball testing out all the slides at the multiple water parks.
here is what my parents did…we would go to certain place a every once in a while but they would also mi it up a bit each year. thats all i’ve got since my wife & i don’t have any kids to take on vacation yet.
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In our family we distinguish between trip and vacation. A “trip” is a go, go, go sort of adventure with a lot of things planned to see and do. A “vacation” is a relaxed time, usually on a beach, to just get away and do nothing. Both are great and I’m very thankful for the trips we’ve taken but also love a vacation!
We usually do something different every year. We always try to go out of the country if on a cruise or something and usually find it is about the same price as staying in the US.
So far our favorite trip was a cruise to Costa Rica and Panama. We all had a blast and the cool thing is that my daughter always learns something about where she travels not to mention an understanding of geography.
Plus, she knows that the island of Guam will not tip over. Not sure what I am talking about, google it….Guam-Capsizing
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I’ve been to all the places you mentioned, but didn’t get to Yellowstone until 2 years ago on a motorcycle trip with my dad. All of those places are pretty awesome, and I honestly always pick the beach as my first vacation spot, but Yellowstone was one of the most amazing places I’ve ever seen. The wildlife was awesome. I got to see eagles, wolves, elk, moose, buffalo, brown bear and cubs. All stuff I’ve seen in the zoo and on TV, but out in the open is pretty spectacular.
As we kids started getting older, and my grandmother (who lived with us) was also getting older and couldn’t get around well, we stopped taking vacations and would stay around the house. Up until probably grade 10, we would go camping every year where we had our trailer parked. It was fine, but I was always jealous of my friends whose families travelled around to other places. I don’t hold it against my parents or anything, but I had always wished my parents were the type who travelled around with us to different places.
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That was us growing up. We did a lot of camping!!
Also, when they are older, make sure you get the boys into Boy Scouts and you as an adult leader. Going with them to events, Summer Camp, etc., can be a blast. Plus, Brandi would have time off while you guys are roughin’ it!
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Keep your tradition for the summer, and perhaps add a mini-vacation for educational purposes another time in the year. My son and I still have fond memories of driving to San Diego, CA from L.A. and visiting the Wild Animal Park and Seaworld. Then we boarded a plane in S.D. and went to San Francisco, where we rented a car and drove through the majestic and awesome Redwood National Forest – spectacular for family outings and educational, too.
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Three thoughts:
1-The family vacation is about the WHOLE family, including the exhausted parents, not just the children.
2-What do you REALLY remember before the age of 5 or 6 or even older? We did some really cool stuff with our kids when they were little that they don’t remember at all or only have a few minor memories of.
3-When your kids start complaining about “having” to go to the beach AGAIN, then it might be time to look at alternate ideas for vacation. Until then, relax and enjoy what obviously refreshes your whole family.
Just my unsolicited opinion.
.-= Pearl´s last blog ..My Prayer for Us =-.
Good advice Pearl.
We go to Ocean Isle Beach practically every year. And for most of those years, we’ve shared a condo or house with one or more of my husband’s siblings and their families. The kids all love getting to spend a week together hanging out, because we live an hour away from each other and only see each other on special occasions.
I’d like to visit some of the historical sites, but really it seems even better just to go to the beach, hang out, and relax, with absolutely no agenda but family togetherness.
Pete, rather than answer your question I’ll just share my experience as a mom of five (now ages 19, 18, 15, 14 and 10):
We’ve done DC. We’ve done Disney. They love those memories…but what matters to them more than anything in the world is that we return, EVERY SUMMER, to Emerald Isle, NC. We have vacationed there for years and years, always with my brother and his family. It is our reunion, our touchpoint, our safe place; it changes through the years (as do we) and it stays the same through the years (as do we). Their memories are, “Remember the year that we met that Indian guy at the pool?” “Remember the year Uncle Eric taught me to flip turn?” “Remember the year you and Dad and David slept in the tent and the awning blew off the camper and Grandpa had to go fix it in his underwear?” “Remember the first year Sarah’s boyfriend got to come?” etc.
Consistency matters. Do DC and all that if you can, but don’t ignore the great impact of a consistent touchstone place and time for family vacation. Our experience has shown that it really, really matters.
Well, I didn’t read what everyone else put so mine may be a duplicate…but I’ve always said… THE DELLS!!!!!!!!!!!! Can’t beat it!! Talk to Nate VanZ abt it… we absolutely LOVED IT!! PERFECT for kids too!!
.-= DEb´s last blog ..Country Music Marathon – 2010…DOWN THE DRAIN! =-.
I’ve been there once years ago. You’re right. It’s a blast.
First off, I love Destin Beach. Did some ministry years ago at Ft. Walton Beach and fell in love with the area. (As I recall, there’s a GREAT seafood/oyster place off the beaten trail way out in the sticks somewhere around there).
To answer the question, I LOVED the places that became signatures to our family. We knew what to expect, and anticipated the sights, sounds, and smells that were “ours” while on vacation. Lake Placid, Flemington, NJ, and a few State Parks. And I still got to see The Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls, and Yellowstone when I got older. I didn’t miss anything.
I vote for building the family culture through consistency. ch:
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First I say, go to Disney when they are a little older. Right now your youngest will wind up needing a stroller. Its a big place and you are right, there isn’t ONE relaxing thing about it.
Second, growing up we didn’t have a lot of money for annual trips anywhere…but my parents were always taking us somewhere. I remember once my dad had a job interview in a city about 3 hours away from where we lived, they could have left us with a sitter, but instead they didn’t tell us about it, but woke us up at like 3 am in the morning, had us get dressed, and put us in the car where we promptly went back to sleep.
As we arrived in this HUGE city as the sun rose my folks woke us up…to this day, I am 40 now and I was about 7 then, but it is a sunrise I will never ever forget.
The small exciting day trips mean as much to me as the longer vacations we took when we did take “typical” vacations.
Enjoy what you do and where you go and make it an adventure and the kids will always remember the WOW factors…and enjoy it all…
I wouldn’t worry until they are older, but if you are looking for something “educational” and fun you could always go to the Outer Banks of NC. They have sand dunes and the Wright Brothers first flight stuff. My most vivid vacation memories are there when we flew kites and ran up and down the sand dunes. You can take an SUV on the beach too! It’s a bit of a drive and doesn’t have a McDonalds or any of that but it is a time to remember! My family goes there now as adults as well and it’s just as fun!
I love the National Zoo in Washington D.C., specifically the gorillas! Yet D.C. as a whole is amazing! There is so much history, culture, and present going on there. Mot to mention so fantastic places to eat.
When our kids were younger almost all of our vacations were in Sanibel Island because it was the most feasible place for us to go financially. However, when our children were both teenagers we splurged and took them to England and Scotland. It was the best family vacation we ever had and I am so glad we did it.
.-= Steve´s last blog ..Parchment and Pen =-.
Pete … you need a reality check and that’s what I’m here for.
Most families do not even go on vacation but once every couple of years b/c of the cost involved. Your kids are BLESSED and you are blessed to be able to afford to go to Destin every year for the past 8 yrs. Savor it. Simple vacations are best. Your kids will only feel like they’ve been shafted if you and Brandy feel that you are shafting them. The fact that they get to go to the beach every summer is a huge blessing!!
Retrospectively, I’ve taken my 4 kids to Chicago on a “big city vacation” and it felt like I went on One Big Errand. It was not as much fun as hanging out at the beach for a few days later that summer. Seriously. Simple = best when you have little kids.
When they get older, a road trip in an RV would be a blast!
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We try to find the balance of the comfort and relaxation of returning to a familiar, favorite place and new adventures. For us that has been spending a few days each year in Estes Park, CO where we get away, enjoy the town and Rocky Mountain National Park. This is something the entire family looks forward to. We also try to take other trips as well – DC, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, a couple trips to see the Sweet Sixteen, and we just got back from Indy and the Final Four ( we worked in the children’s museum as an educational component). There trips aren’t nearly asrelaxing, and we often feel like we need a vacation after we get back, but we have a blast and are making memories our kids will have forever.
Absolutely not.
Take them to the beach.
Trust me… I’ve been on the educational vacations.
They’re not vacations.
My family has gone to Williamsburg, VA a few times. Since we do live in NJ, we can make a weekend out of going down to Baltimore or over to Lancaster or down the shore. Disney is a fun vacation, as well.
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Take ‘em to the beach. Being from Michigan, I naturally think our beaches way outrank Florida’s, though
We only have 2 boys (2 and 4) to your 3, but packing up the wagons and going on an “exciting” trip to a new place would be enough to make me crawl in a hole.
Before the kids, I was all about exciting and new, and probably I will be again. Now, however, give me a book and a chair and lots of time to spend with them
So if your wife feels anything like that, then…
Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, CO. Because it’s AMAZING. So beautiful and lots of great hiking.
I vote for two yearly vacations one relaxing such as the beach and the other educational. Even with our children grown with families of their own we still take family vacations and we try to go some place different each year but that may all change when grandchildren come into the picture but for now we enjoy visiting other places. This year we are going to Branson Missouri.
Pete,
I grew up a PK. We lived in Southern California, and God always seemed to place us in expensive areas. God always took care of us, however we never had extravagant vacations. Infact, we mostly went camping, because it was fun and inexpensive. But honestly, it never mattered to my sister and I what we did, it was just so wonderful to have Mom and Dad to ourselves for 1 – 2 weeks. Especially since Dad was our Youth Pastor as well. We had a week or two where we didn’t have to share him with anyone else. Epsecially our friends who always adored our Dad. To this day, I always remember our vacations fondly, not for what we did, but for our time together. It really doesn’t matter what you do, it just matters that you do it together.
Tough question.
I’d say a little variety is always in order.
I may be a bit partial, but I think the Outer Banks is the perfect beach vacation…a great combination of peaceful relaxation and fun local activities/attractions; gorgeous beaches, a wide variety of water sports, world-class fishing and surfing, great local art and shopping, delicious local food, history, nature, etc.
The OBX offers great vacation rental homes for all types of travelers; small beach bungalows to large beach front estates.
Please let us know if we can help you plan your next trip to the Outer Banks.
Seaside Vacations
OuterBanksVacations.com
4820 N. Croatan Hwy
Kitty Hawk, NC 27949
(866) 884-0267
Blog.OuterBanksVacations.com
Our family went to Destin a lot of years in a row when I was growing up too. There’s just something about that clear, blue-green water and the white sand…
I am thankful that my family took us on all kinds of vacations, though. I’ve been to Disney World 3 times that I can remember (one time I was too little), and absolutely loved every minute of it! This past September, my husband and I went just the two of us and it was great–but it’s pretty expensive, so we know it’s not something we can do often.
When I was in 7th grade, my grandparents took my brother and I out of school (with permission) for 3 weeks, and we traveled in their motor-home up to Pennsylvania, New York, D.C., Virginia, and lots of states in-between (we’re from OK). It was incredible! My favorites were D.C., Mount Vernon, Philadelphia and the Amish farms in Pennsylvania. It was the trip of a lifetime.
I also remember a trip my family took when my brother and I were in mid to late elementary school to Houston, TX where we went to NASA (LOVED this), the zoo, and some other places. Then we went down to Galveston and visited their beach.
My husband and I just got back from Ft. Smith, AR, where we spent last Friday and Saturday. We were so surprised at how much we enjoyed it! They have a lot of history in their town with the forts and the hangings and things, and we ran out of time before we ran out of things to do. It was all really inexpensive too.
Also, I don’t know if you’ve thought about it, but family camp is incredible! I worked at The Bluffs Family Camp at Pine Cove Camps in Tyler, TX for three summers, and I don’t think there was a family there that didn’t thoroughly enjoy it. It’s great because everything is included in the price, the kids have their own programs at different times during the day–yet they’re with you plenty as well, and everyone is encouraged to grow closer to God and each other throughout the week. Visit http://www.pinecove.com for more info.
I know this isn’t summer related, but we’ve also loved the times we’ve gone snow skiing as a family over Christmas break. Sometimes my mom’s whole family comes, and sometimes just a few different people come with our immediate family. But it’s always super relaxing yet very fun.
I hope these ideas help!
Since I was a little girl, my family has gone to Gulf Shores, AL nearly every spring break. Now we’re grown and have families of our own, but my parents still rent a condo and whoever can make it down, GREAT! Lots of amazig memories at the beach. But we also tended to take some summer vacations, and those tended to be more educational. D.C., Gettysburg are great for middle school age, as it matched perfectly with my 8th grade curriculum. Around 6th grade, my parents took me to Chicago & Toronto to see Joseph and Phantom of the Opera, exposing me to theatre and the fine arts which I’m so thankful. And in the summer we also hit some of the national parks out west, and I found (at such a young age) a deep appreciation for the beauty of natural preserved land. I later ended up majoring in Parks and Recreation Management, but it all started with a vacation to Yellowstone. Hope this helps you with some ideas.
In church ministry, you’ve GOT TO unplug every now and then. Go with where you’re comfortable and can breath. I’m near DC. It’s great…but for a vaca? Go to Destin and check out some of the cool stuff around there. Pensacola has all kinds of events year-round. Do the fishing thing. You’re only about 30 miles from Seaside, FL (locale of The Truman Show).
Where I grew up in Minnesota we have a real shortage of oceans, but everyone and their grandma has a lake cabin. My parents opted for the every other summer vacation plan. One summer we’d go to a lake cabin, and the next we’d pick somewhere new. Places like Colorado, California, North Carolina, South Carolina, Washington DC, Mount Rushmore (NOT South Dakota because it is intensely boring), New York and Boston sandwiched our regular routine. It was wonderful – the familiar to bring back favorite memories and the uncharted territory to make new ones
I know I am late in weighing in, but my favorite vacation as a kid was going to my grandparent’s cabin over and over again.
My favorite vacation with our son (he’s only 3, so take this for what it’s worth) has been to Milan, Italy. A close second was DC, but I was out there for work, so it is hard to call that a vacation. And third would be Chicago.
The Boy’s favorite (the one he asks for every year) is DC. He’s been twice already, though we are taking him to Florida this summer (another work trip for me that we will extend for a family vacation).
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