How to Plan a Family Day Trip
*Guest Post
It can be hard finding the time, energy, and funds to go on a full-blown vacation as often as we’d like. Fortunately, regular family day trips make for an easy and versatile alternative. Here are a few tips for planning a great day with the people who matter most to you.
Have an Itinerary
The first step to planning a family day trip is, well, the planning. Throwing your hands up in the air and just trying to wing it is a recipe for disaster. Come up with a list of sights, locations, or activities you’re interested in, then see about making an itinerary that minimises stress and maximises your enjoyment. Chain together attractions that are close to one another for greater efficiency, and don’t forget to figure out a budget that covers everything you need with a little extra (but not too much) wiggle room.
Include Everyone
Remember, this is a family day trip, not a personal day trip. Try to plan activities everyone can enjoy, not just ones that appeal specifically to you. For instance, just because you enjoy real estate doesn’t mean your kids want to spend the day in Canada driving past Ottawa homes for sale. Honestly, they’d probably prefer to go skiing. I know I would.
Don’t Overdo It
The great thing about a day trip is that you can pack a lot of fun into 24 hours. The bad thing about a day trip is that you can’t pack everything. Trying to cram an entire vacation’s worth of sightseeing into a single day defeats the purpose of a day trip. The point, of course, is for everyone to enjoy themselves. Not for everyone to stress out trying to race from one thing to the next until they’re exhausted. On that note, it’s important you don’t forget to include room for bathroom breaks, lunch, and the occasional breather in your schedule.
Be Adaptable
Remember what I said before about having an itinerary? I stand by that. But I didn’t mean to imply that your itinerary should be treated as holy writ. The fact is, unexpected things happen. Some are pleasant. Some are not. If something comes up, good or bad, it’s okay to change your plans accordingly. Often, the most fun activities are the ones you never even planned on.
Stay in Touch
The best part of a family day trip is getting to spend time with your loved ones and build lasting memories. Sometimes, though, whether by design or happenstance, you can’t help but get separated. That’s why it’s important that everyone in your group stays in touch at all times. Every family member should have a fully charged phone on them, or remain close to someone who does as much as possible. Additionally, it’s a good idea to have a predetermined meet-up spot that you can all reunite at, just in case. Nothing ruins a day trip worse than losing contact with someone and having to worry.
Happy travels!
LoveRosiee
xxx
