Planning a really great family vacation is challenging. Families are multi-generational and people with individuals who most likely don’t share all the same interests. This often leads to getaways that leave at least someone in the group dissatisfied. A trip to Disney is a dream come true for many kids but can leave parents feeling overwhelmed and praying for just a little quiet time away from the crowds. A trip to New York City can be amazing for the older crowd, but leave the little ones bored and exhausted.
Unless you are that rare family that shares a single interest, family vacations require some diversity in activities. Choosing a destination that has something to offer for everyone is a must. Here are three suggestions that can give everyone in the family some great memories.
Cruises
A cruise is a fantastic choice for a family vacation and if you’ve never considered one you should definitely check out cruises in 2021. A great cruise ship is like a floating resort hotel.
Onboard you will have access to delicious food, wonderful entertainment, planned activities, outdoor amenities like swimming pools and sometimes water slides and some cruises even offer complimentary child care so the adults can get some precious alone time. Sunset cruises in Tulum are great for all members of the family because they allow you to spend quality time together. They are also leisurely, which is sure to please your kids. The scenery on a Blue Cruise is unbeatable because nature changes dynamically with the darkness. The best part of a sunset cruise is truly seeing spectacular views without leaving the comforts of home during the scorching summer months!
Then of course there are the shore excursions that take you off the boat at every port and give you the opportunity to sample the delights of new locales. Many large cruise lines have dedicated staff to help you plan your excursions to ensure that you experience the best that each port has to offer.
Washington DC
There is so much to do in DC that you’ll have a hard time deciding what activities to include if you just make a whole list of things to do in DC. The Smithsonian has 17 museums in the DC area – and admission is free! You can visit the Museum of Natural History, the Museum of American History, and the Space Museum to name a few. As the capital of the country, you can immerse yourself in history with tours of historic government buildings while walking the National Mall. You can easily spend a day or more exploring what charming and historic Georgetown has to offer.
To change things up, DC is only a couple of hours away from Williamsburg VA where you will find Busch Gardens amusement park and Colonial Williamsburg. If you bundle these two destinations together, you can have culture, history and rollercoasters all in one well-planned vacation.
Gatlinburg TN
A vacation in this small mountain town has something to offer for everyone. Gatlinburg is an eclectic and artsy town with charming shops and great food. Combined with the nearby towns of Pigeon Forge and Sevierville, you will have more options of things to do than you’ll be able to fit into one visit.
You can choose to book a stay in a rustic cabin or an upscale hotel and everything in between. Wilderness at the Smokies is a resort hotel that has a massive indoor waterpark enabling you to have vacation activities without ever leaving your hotel.
Dollywood, one of the country’s premier theme parks, is right at your doorstep, or if you want to take a calming break in nature, you can take a day excursion into the Great Smokey Mountains National Park for a hike along the Appalachian Trail. Beyond the big-name activities, there are a mind-boggling number of things to add to your itinerary. Spend an afternoon at Magiquest solving medieval mysteries, take a roll down a hill in a huge inflated ball at the Outdoor Gravity Park or catch a view of the Smokies from the sky when you take the aerial tram to Ober Gatlinburg for some more amusement park fun.
Most people have stories of nightmarish family vacations that left them feeling let down and depleted. The trick to a great family vacay is to choose a destination that can offer a variety of activities. Maybe everyone won’t love everything, but everybody will come home with at least a couple of fantastic memories that will make them eager for next year’s excursions.
