The Family Vacation Journal

So, you want to take an awesome vacation! Your family has lots of ideas, and you need a plan to bring it all together. Here is a roadmap to get you started: Decide on a Destination.  You might have somewhere in mind, but its time to get more specific. For example, lots of people say, "Let's go to Hawaii!". But that can mean one of many islands with completely different experiences. Talk about as a family what you would like to experience on the vacation. Let your imaginations run a little wild and brainstorm what fun would look like for your family.  Agree on a Budget.  Money is always an emotional topic, so don't get discouraged if there are different points of view on what your family can afford. The important thing is have different options to discover. Maybe you stay in a more affordable hotel, and it allows you to stay two extra days. Or you cut the trip short, but do something expensive but AMAZING. The important thing to remember is that there are endless ...

One of the most important parts of every kid's childhood is how their parents decide to spend their leisure time. These small parts of life have the unique ability to make BIG memories. Just think back to your own childhood. What are your favorite memories with your family? I bet at least one of them was on a vacation. What kind of trip qualifies as a family vacation? For me, it is anytime we leave the house for the night and leave our jobs at home. It can be spent at a beautiful resort, an economy hotel near your favorite football stadium, a backcountry camp spot, or sleeping in the cluttered guest room of a family member out of town. It is definitely not about the amount of money spent. For our family, it is about stepping out of our normal life and changing of our way of thinking. We focus on sharing an adventure together. What makes for a bad vacation? There is a risk of every vacation to go a little sideways. One memory that springs to mind for me was a 7 am wakeup call at...