The fine balance between staying busy and burning out while on vacation
You've chosen a location, have booked your place to stay, and are now looking to fill your trip with adventure and photo worthy moments.
Get your Google doc ready
You're about to build out an itinerary for your trip! As mentioned in a previous post, I tend to create a digital document of all the details for each trip so it is easier to reference our plans right on my phone. I can click the links to each location to get directions or pull up a menu at a restaurant.
Everything is sorted by date so I know what we have planned for each day of our adventure. This also makes it super easy to look back on what we did when friends and family ask for recommendations for their own family vacation.
A word of caution
It is easy to jam pack your day with activities to the point that you can say you have seen it all, especially in larger tourist destination cities. However, try not to lose sight of the fact that this is supposed to be a vacation. If you overdo it, there will be meltdowns and sometimes they come more from the adults than the children!
I only like to plan 2 activities per day at MOST. If you are worried about filling time, you can list alternate activity options to refer back to, but I never choose options that need reservations for back up.
Keep it simple
If this is the first time you've been to your chosen location, start with the must-see activities. You don't need to reinvent the wheel by finding hidden and obscure activities that only the locals know about. Obvious touristy attractions are absolutely acceptable and enjoyable. When in doubt if it's worth the money, read the Google reviews!
City tourism websites
Check out the city's tourism website for suggestions. Even Bucks County has a tourism website that lists local events and places to visit and explore based on your interests. You can find family activities, restaurants, festivals, and even an ice cream trail in the summer.
Youtube videos
Visit Youtube and search vlogger videos that recommend places to visit within the location of your choice. While I have typically been the one in the family to do all of the research, I started assigning this task to my children and husband as well. This is easy for all ages. They just need to watch videos and find things that look exciting to try. Then report back.
Hop on hop off bus
Most major cities have a bus tour in some format, but my favorite are the kind you can Hop on and Hop off again. This doubles as a tour of the city as well as transportation for the days you have tickets. You can get an overview of the city by riding the entire loop, usually with a live or pre-recorded narrator telling you about the city. Or plan ahead and check out the supplied maps they typically include and make a list of the stops you want to include in your itinerary.
BONUS SAVINGS: Look for city passes that you can purchase with those bus tickets to add a discounted entry fee for the attractions they list. I have sometimes planned an entire trip through the bus tour alone.
Research. Research. RESEARCH!
Things I look for when choosing activities:
How long do people typically spend at the location?
What are the hours they are open? Especially if you are traveling over the holidays!
How much does it cost to get in?
Do we need reservations?
Are there any restrictions for children/ages?
What do the reviews say?
For any items of interest, I add ALL of this information to my Google doc and include a link to the website or place to buy tickets. This helps when I am trying to figure out what activities work on what days. Note: Many places offer discounts if you purchase a ticket online in advance.
Once I have a nice list of items I think most of the family would approve of, I take the list and links to the family to get them each to pick their top one or two items they would like to visit/do. This way everyone has at least one thing to look forward to on the vacation. Any items that don't make the top list are kept as backup options. Just copy and paste those activities to the bottom of the document so you don't lose all of that handy dandy information.
Final note...Don't discount taking some time to relax as a family at the hotel. I think the highlight for my kids on each trip is when the hotel has a pool.
Happy vacation planning! Let me know if I missed anything by commenting below.
Check out the next part of trip planning in Part 3 - Meals.
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