Families have been vacationing for centuries. For some it’s an annual trip to the same destination at the same time every year. Whether this is to a summer retreat or to visit relatives in another state, the routine does not vary. This rigid schedule is passé in today’s society when it’s not always possible to get everyone together at the same time every year.
Planning a fun filled economical family vacation is much easier than thought. Families that have planned a trip that requires long distance travel and motels and hotels already have their agenda established. But, for most of the population the only pre-planning is the scheduling of dates that everyone will be free to be together. This allows the family to create a mixture of activities that will not put a big dent in the wallet. Every state has attractions that celebrate entertainment and their historical contributions that are as close as a short car ride or the use of public transportation.
Depending upon the season and the weather conditions, some activities may need to be enjoyed indoors. These venues include museums, ice or skating rinks, bowling alleys, a movie day with a pizza date afterwards, and even indoor miniature golf courses. A short train ride through the country or a visit to the state capitol are other suggestions. Best of all is taking a tour of a local factory. Imagine touring a candy factory where they will let you have a sample at the end of the tour. A tour of a car factory would be an eye opener with all the construction stages that a vehicle goes through before going to a showroom floor. Sorry, no samples at the end of these tours.
Outdoor activities offer more avenues for daily family fun. There is a need for the right weather for the right activity. These family fun days can include a trip to the zoo, a day cruise on a local lake or river, skiing, horseback riding, a day at the beach, touring a National Park and have a picnic, pan for gold, dig for diamonds, or enjoy a baseball or soccer game.
Not everyone will want to participate in every outing but that is where compromise comes in so that everyone picks one activity and the whole family goes together. The family album brings back those shared moments and memories when visited in the future. The smiles tell who picked the outing and the frowns tell who made a sacrifice for the day. Years from now it won’t matter who picked the event, what will matter is that everyone did it together and like all good ending, “Fun was had by all.”
