Getting Back to Basics: Family Vacation Ideas that Resonate

Nothing empowers a child like learning something new.  And nothing helps a family bond and laugh, like sitting around a campfire.   Get back to nature, teach the kids about campfires (and fire safety, of course) and see if your back-to-nature time doesn't become a favorite family vacation memory.

A good beach makes family vacations easy:  all you really need is sunscreen, water and snacks . . . but sand-castle-making equipment is always a good idea, as are frisbees, balls and floats. 

Trail horses are gentle: they know where they're going.   So a trail ride is an enormously relaxing way to see a little more of the world, while letting the kids bond with a new four-legged friend they'll likely remember for years to come.  

No matter where you go on vacation, kids gravitate toward other kids.   Check and see if there's a way for them all to have their own table at mealtimes, if the setting allows.   Then their vacation becomes vacation away from cleaning their plate and all the table rules they normally have to follow.  

The Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines often participate in events like Air Shows.  Check the event calendar wherever you're headed.   A family-oriented event sponsored by the military is likely to be both free and fun.  This lucky girl had an eye-opening interaction with a Navy Seal during San Antonio Navy Week.

Bounce houses, fun houses . . . whatever you call them, they are good for a lot of laughs (and relatively free from the need for band-aids, hooray!).   Look for their presence at special events like church fundraisers or grand openings.   You can certainly partake and enjoy, even as a visitor. 

Far from the rigors and rituals of daily life, a good old-fashioned family hike helps time slow down.   All sorts of things in the natural world are interesting when seen in real life, and a break from virtual entertainment is good for both body and soul.  

Buddy up - parent and child - and set out to explore some new watery terrain, aboard your own kayak.  Kayaking is easy in calm water, and kayaks are hard to tip over (unlike canoes).   If you're paddling in clear water, it's fun to just sit still and let the kids see what lies beneath the boat.