« How Will They Remember You? | Main | Family Fitness Challenge »
Family Travel Goals
By Polly | April 14, 2008
My kids are big dreamers. Recently we sat down as a family to set some family vacation goals and at the top of the family’s list was a family vacation to Hawaii. Obviously the kids don’t grasp the magnitude of what a family vacation for 6 will cost, but since they outnumber us (parent’s remember this if you are thinking about having a third child) we have Hawaii at the top of our list. But just because Hawaii is at the top of our list and is what we are saving for in our Family Vacation Jar doesn’t mean we will be going there anytime too soon. We will probably have to amuse ourselves with some family vacations in the continental United States for a while. But we still keep it at the top of our list and are making plans and dreams to someday get there.
The benefit of setting family vacation goals is the satisfaction, closeness, and pride family members gain by accomplishing something together as a family. The destination is the reward.
So how does a family go about setting family vacation goals? Here are some tips and suggestions to help you get started.
Take some time as a family to sit down together and talk about all the fun places you would like to vacation to as a family. Don’t be critical of any of the ideas, just write them down for now. Ask one of the older children who can write to be in charge of making the list.
Once the list is completed, talk over the pros and cons of some of the trips. Are some of them really expensive (like Hawaii…), are all the kids old enough to really enjoy them, how will we get there, how long will they take, etc.
After you have discussed all the ideas, take a family vote as to which ones go at the top. Either re-write your list with the first choices at the top or make a special indication on your current list of which ones where the family’s top picks. Save your list in your family travel file or paperwork organizer folder to help you remember and for future discussions.
Start making plans for one of your top choices.
If one of your top choices is a big expensive one like our trip to Hawaii, start making long range plans by tackling the Yeah But’s.
Good luck!
Related Entries:
Travel Printables
Family Vacation Jar
Family Fitness Challenge
The Good Times ALWAYS Outweigh the Bad
A Family Journal
Topics: Building Strong Families, Family Goals, Family Travel Tips, Family Vacations, Living the Dream |