Raising Kids:

Vacations should be a time to relax, recharge, and enjoy the fruits of our labor. Unfortunately, some family vacations can become like the one taken by the Griswald family in the movie Vacation, traveling for many stressful days only to arrive at Wally World - which is closed for the season!

Here are a few tips to make your family vacations more meaningful and enjoyable:

1. Let everyone have a stake in what's planned. Discuss your vacation ahead of time with the family. Let everyone contribute ideas of what to do on the trip. Even if you can't use everyone's ideas, being part of the process will instill ownership and greater satisfaction with the plan. If the final destination can't be changed, let family members choose special restaurants, hotels or smaller activities to do when traveling to the destination.
2. Choose activities that the whole family will enjoy. If planning to visit a water park for the younger kids, also include a museum or shopping for the older kids. Make sure to plan special activities for mom and dad as well. Vacations are a great time to unload kids with the grandparents or uncles and aunts for a day or two. They will enjoy the company and mom and dad get some quality couples time.
3. Plan some relaxation into every day. A few years ago my wife and I decided to stay only at a hotel chain that has an indoor pool at every location. At the end of a long day of traveling, the kids swim to burn off steam while mom and dad relax in the hot tub with a cold drink.
4. Take time to connect with extended family. Try to plan a vacation to see family at least once every other year. Rotate the towns and family members you visit so that you connect with all of them every few years. Encourage family members to come visit at your home. When they do, make it a fun visit so they'll want to return.
5. As the kids get older, plan exciting vacations to take the pressure off Spring Break plans. Teenagers and college students who have cool family vacations happening over Spring Break can easily opt out of those unsupervised trips and not feel self conscious. Imagine your kid saying, "Sorry, I can't go...my family is heading to New York over Spring Break. Enjoy your trip to Destin, though!"