Hi.
I’m not sure if you remember me, but I occasionally post some things here.
It’s delightful to see you again.
And I am happy to say that I am almost caught up on life again. Last week I finally finished some work-related stuff that’s been hanging over my head, celebrated the little guy’s (upcoming) birthday with a few of his friends, wondered if the house was going to fall in when roofers were here (thankfully the house remained intact), avoided certain frostbite (okay. slight exaggeration.) while watching a baseball game in 44 degree weather, and managed to be sound asleep by 10:30 every single night.
I can’t even tell you how proud I am of that whole asleep-by-10:30 thing.
I don’t think that’s happened since I was in 3rd grade.
Last week I also tried one of those little 90-calorie Snickers ice cream bars for the first time, and SWEET MERCY THEY ARE DANGEROUS. I mean, I appreciate that they’re only 90 calories and all, but as soon as I tried one, I wanted to eat three more. Which sort of defeats the purpose of the 90-calorie dessert option.
Anyway.
One of the things that I am determined to check off my to-do list this week is an article about summer vacations that I’m writing for HomeLife magazine. Earlier tonight I was wondering what would be the quickest way to finish a little sidebar survey that’s going to go with the article, and then I remembered OH, WAIT – I HAVE A BLOG.
It’s a handy little thing, a blog is.
So if there are a few of you who wouldn’t mind answering a couple of super-quick survey questions for the sidebar, I’d be mighty grateful. Be warned that I may quote some of your responses, but I’ll only use your first name if I do.
All righty. The questions.
1. What’s your favorite destination for a family vacation?
2. Typically, what is your state of mind by the time you actually arrive at your vacation destination?
Thanks in advance, y’all, for your help – I appreciate it so much!
Seaside, Florida! After 12 hours in the car, we literally run to the beach, smell the air, listen to the surf and grab some food ans supplies at Modika Market before they close. Nothing on earth beats having all my peeps all under one roof in whatever spectacular cottage we call home for the week.
The location is truly secondary, because the best part is just having everyone together. We now have two adult children and only our youngest still at home, so I think I am appreciating more and more what a blessing it is. We have had some wonderful trips: Destin, Grand Canyon, NYC, Cairns, Australia, San Francisco…we loved it all.
Our favorite location is always somewhere warm, due to the fact that we have cold 9 months a year in Upstate NY. There’s usually a lot of stress getting out of the door and driving to an airport, usually a fight between me and my husband too, but it is all so worth it when we finally get to the beach and sun!! Florida, here we come!!
I hear ‘ya! As a fellow “upstater” anyplace that has sunshine is fine with me!
We’ve been going on family beach vacations for years. And, I feel it’s the perfect “family vacation.” I feel like you don’t have to do everything together on vacation. Especially when it’s about 10 family members (mom, dad, sons and their wives and the kids).
By the time we get there, I’m completely drained. Whether we are driving or flying… the amount of time spent getting everything ready for the trip (cleaning the house, packing the clothes, buying supplies and snacks) all I want to do is sleep for a few days when we arrive. Which is why it’s always best to stay longer than 3 or 4 days. =)
Can’t wait to read your column!
Orange Beach, Alabama! My family has vacationed there every year since I can remember. The close proximity (app 4 hours from our MS home) helps! We love the family friendly environment. Last year my in-laws parked a camper there all summer and my husband and I took our daughters several weekends! Relief mixed with excitement is always my first feeling upon arrival. It’s a relief to be out of the car….especially when road tripping with small kiddos!
We head to Atlantic Beach, NC and have for years. So relaxing. Now my kids are 21 and 17 so it’s not a bad trip, but when they were little, I found that a little preparation went a long way to making the 6-7 hours bearable. Activities, books on tape, snacks and planned stops to stretch our legs made all the difference. And our tradition on arriving is always the same…unpack the car and then head out to KFC so we aren’t cooking on the first night.
Seaside, Florida is always our favorite place to vacation. After spending seven hours in the car, we’re all more than ready to stick our toes in the sand and feel the breeze in our hair!
1. The beach. We live in TN so the gulf coast is the closest and our favorite.
2. Frazzled. Car ride- 3 kids – 8-10hrs depending on our actual destination. (Enough said!)
My favorite place ever, Grayton Beach, Fl. I feel happy we are finally there, curious to see what our house actually looks like inside, and excited about our week to come and the adventures awaiting us with our loved ones.
1. Our favorite place to go is Disney! We have a 3, 5, and 7 year old, so there’s something for everyone to do. The ages our kids are don’t allow for a lot of relaxation, so going to Disney keeps everyone busy and entertained for the whole vacation. We go a couple times a year
2. No matter if we fly or drive, we are ready to get to the parks when we get to Disney. We check into our hotel, usually grab something to eat, and then hit the ground running.
Our family favorite destination is Emerald Isle, N.C. Beautiful beaches and no crowds. My mindset when I arrive is relief, calm, and expectation.
As of last year, my new favorite place is Chicago! It’s about four hours from us, and we can take the train which is great for avoiding city traffic and parking fees, and it’s a real treat for our young girls. We are much less stressed when we do that than when we drive. We do occasional long trips, but we like to take little trips about 2-4 hours from home….we can go for about three days and, with little ones, that is enough for now. When we do big trips in the car for hours and hours, I am so fried and irritable by the time we get there, it isn’t much fun. And if we are gone for a week, I’m just itching to get back home again to normalcy. So, we like our short little getaways. Chicago was such fun for city exploring, trying new restaurants, great museums…and if you go when the weather is warm, there’s the beach, too!
1-the beach
2-relieved and relaxed, I have 4 boys 6 and under and we love getting away from all our responsibilities as a family and hanging on the beach
1-Hilton Head Island, SC
2-Excited to be there after 8 hours in the car and we always get take out pizza at the local pizza place on the first night. Then we head to the local grocery store for the kids to get to pick out vacation junk foods for the week.
Our family vacations usually happen at the beach! I am always happy to be at the beach. Always. I like the mountains, too, but we haven’t been in a long, long time.
Favorite destination is a quiet little mountain town high in the mountains of Colorado. My mindset when I arrive is, first of all, “altitude…(*gasp*)…can’t….breathe…”, but then it just feels like all the layers peel off and I’m about 8,000 feet closer to Heaven.
Favorite vacations enjoyed at the beach (FL) and in the mountains (NC). We travel pretty easily. Pack picnics, stop when we want. We have vacation rules. #1 It is EVERYONE”S vacation — even Mom’s –so we all share in chores. No fancy meals allowed. We do lots of fun stuff, but reasonable rest must happen so we stay healthy & civil. We read, play game, assemble puzzles & have appropriate movies for down time, rainy days & rest time. We limit electronic usage. We typically vacation in places & at seasons where the outdoors is calling.
We are very fortunate that we live coastal, so our vacations tend to be the opposite of the crowds and we go to the mountains. Our kids are young (5 & 8) with our time spent playing in the woods, hiking, throwing rocks, stick forts, etc. I feel like it’s a marathon of crazy until we arrive with planning, cleaning, packing, driving, etc., but thankful to arrive & start the memories.
My family has been going to Atlantic Beach, NC, every year since I was nine. Now that I have 3 kids of my own, it makes me so happy to see them having such a great time in the places my husband and I used to visit as children. We usually plan to get there a day ahead of the extended family in order to have time to unwind from traveling and enjoy the calm before the chaos. As we cross the bridge over to the island, memories of years past flood my thoughts. I am just ecstatic to be there and very thankful that this tradition continues. It’s like coming home after a long, long journey!
Favorite family destination is San Diego, CA. So much to do within 20 minutes…beach…Seaworld..SD Zoo….museums…did I mention the beach..the pool..huge parks…LOTs of fun!!,
Never frazzled as we live about an hour away…part of the less travel is more time for fun when we get there :)
Summer: Destin Florida…love the “salty” life.
Winter: Skiing in Colorado.
When we arrive, it’s just pure joy at having reached our destination. We “let down” and let the fun begin!!
1. Frankfort, Michigan. When it’s 110 degrees in the middle of a Kansas summer, there is nothing better than 80 degree days with a cool breeze off the lake. Lake Michigan is breathtaking, and beaches are awesome. (I NEVER would’ve thought Michigan could be so beautiful)
2. Excited. Such wonderful memories there. My husband summered there as a child, we were engaged there, the drive-in.
If you’ve never been, northeastern Michigan is a must do. Travel 3 hours north to Mackinac Island….where “Somewhere in Time” was filmed. It’s amazing.
brookles, if you read Christian fiction, you might enjoy Courtney Walsh’s Sweethaven series set on Lake Michigan. it’s chicklit set in just such a place as you describe. :)
Disney World. I’m a crazed lunatic with all the packing and planning
We haven’t had children at home in 8 years, so vacations for us have changed. When our kids were at home, we always took camping vacations. We had a pop-up camper and have visited almost every state park in Texas and Arkansas. Most memorable trip was the 2-week trip we took to NM, Utah, Arizona, and Colorado for our oldest son’s graduation trip. Yes, he wanted to go camping!
There is always stress-filled prep for any vacation, even the more luxurious ones we can now take. But with camping, once we got underway I could literally feel the stress melting away. If we forgot something – we could usually find someplace to buy what we needed. Everyone pitched in with chores, and everyone had a specific job to do setting up and taking down camp. Meals were as simple as possible at camp, and we’d occasionally eat out in a nearby town or when we were on the road.
Right now, it’s Mountain View, Arkansas. I love the Arkansas hills/mountains and listening to bluegrass music on the town square.
The drive to Mountian View is wonderful so I am relaxed and ready to hear some great music by some great muscians.
When I was a kid living in western Kansas, we traveled to Lake City, CO every summer to camp with our friends. Wonderful experiences! We never minded the sort-of-long drive, because we loved our camping excursions and looked forward to them. I live in Oklahoma now, but each summer we took our kids on a vacation. We loved Padre Island, Rocky Mountain National Park, the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone. Yellowstone is my favorite, because you have the gorgeous scenery and the wonderful wildlife.
Lake Burton in the North Georgia Mountains. As we drive there, the busy life stress drops away with every mile in anticipation of the peace at the end of the trip. When we are there, I feel like God is right beside me because of the overwhelming beauty of His creation around me: trees, lake, mountains, wild life, flowers, families enjoying the water and the time together.
Marco Island Florida. There is not a whole lot in Marco which is how we like our family holidays, but if you want more you can always head in to Naples. We never do. We love the beach in Marco which is solid shells. We normally rent a condo, but have also stayed a few times in the Marco Island Marriott and I’m pretty sure I could live in that hotel : ) We rent jet skis, take long walks, play games, swim, collect shells, have deep conversations, and eat at all our favorite seafood places, many of which are catching your dinner right off their own pier. Plus? Gulf Coast sunsets, Marco in particular, are the most spectacular in the world.
My mindset when I arrive. Ahhhh. It takes about two full days to feel fully decompressed, which is why I think a vacation needs to last ten days. The final two you start gearing up again so to get a full week of complete relaxation means you need ten days.
Disney World! We live in Georgia so it is only about a 5 hour drive. I love going with the entire family but my husband and I have a wonderful time when it is just the two of us. When we drive through the gates we all take a deep breath of delightful Disney air and enjoy a few relaxing, stress free days. It’s magical!
We live in upstate NY so by April we are READY for some warm weather and sunshine! We’ve gone to Outer Banks, NC for many years – specifically, Carolla. We rent a beautiful oceanfront beach house that can easily house 20+ people and relax with as much of our family as possible. The homes have amazing gourmet kitchens and each couple is responsible for preparing dinner for all one night of the week. We walk the beach, play games and cards, relax by the pool and just enjoy everyone.
It’s a 12 hour road trip for us so by the time we get there we are anxious to see everyone (usually haven’t seen cousins/nieces and nephews sine Christmas) and begin the fun!
1. Gulf Shores, Alabama!!!!
2. Usually I arrive with a refreshed positive outlook on the week of relaxation that we’re about to enjoy. However, the hours approach travel, and during travel are usually filled with me feeling a little ‘stabby’.
I’m a Type A personality to the max….so I think it usually comes from the stress of organizing, packing, preparing, etc.
1. Seagrove Beach, FL–we have been vacationing here since 1990. It is so quiet and relaxing.
2. My mindset is pure excitement. This is our happy place. Once we arrive and unload, we take our first walk to the beach. The view of the crystal blue water along with a gorgeous afternoon sunset on the Gulf clears my mind and nourishes my soul and body for seven days. There is nothing better than being “off the clock” and enjoying this time with my family.
It’s the Sierra Mountains in California, but you probably know that. Because it took us about 3 days to drive there last summer (15 people from 3 families in 3 vans), we had blown through all the typical entertaining-the-kids scenarios and were content to subsist on patience and adrenaline. That is, until we pulled into the campground at Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite when the kiddos could finally let loose. It was the first 3 generation backpacking trip for us, and was a most blessed (once in my lifetime) event.
1. The Beach! Any beach will do, but for our family it’s usually a NC or SC beach. Last year we tried Emerald Isle for the first time and loved it.
2. I’m excited to be there, grateful for the opportunity to spend some extended time with extended family, praying for good weather, already counting the number of days until we have to leave, hoping the week doesn’t fly by too fast.
Favorite destination…the Alabama gulf coast. Most beautiful beaches anywhere! And once I am there my mind frame is set in “get settled” mode. It is usually the second day before I can relax. As you know, Mom has to unpack all of the supplies, grocery shop, etc. so it takes a good 24 hours for me to actually feel like I am on vacation ;)
Hands down, Cocoa Beach, FL. Great for boogie boards, surfing, beach combing, sea food eating, and relaxing. A trip to Ron Jon’s Surf Shop is a must. No need to dress up. And because there’s not lots of glitzy entertainment for families, evenings are spent playing games, cards or working puzzles.
And, even if the travel to get there is hard, or long, or less than optimal, one look at the ocean, one sniff of the salt air, the first touch of the sea breeze on the face makes everything better.
It’s only about an hour away from Disney for those who want both a Magic Kingdom and beach vacation.
1) Colorado – beautiful mountain air that is such a relief after such hot summers in the flatlands of Kansas.
2) Relief that the car ride is over and sheer relaxation! When my feet hit the ground on that mountainside, my heart-rate and respiration slow significantly (it may the lack of oxygen, but I think it’s because I’ve finally let go!).
1. What’s your favorite destination for a family vacation?
Disney World!!!! We just love it. It’s a chance for Mom and Dad to turn into children again. We stay on property and take Disney Transportation around the parks and resorts so we don’t even have to get directions or drive the car. My husband laughs and plays and no one objects to a near 40-year-old Mama walking around with Pixie Dust in her hair. I love that when I come home and do laundry my lint trap is full of glitter for at least two week. Our two kids are nearly 9 years apart and different genders. It’s one of the few places where my 11-year-old and almost 3-year-old can hang out and do things together.
2. Typically, what is your state of mind by the time you actually arrive at your vacation destination?
We drive from Indiana and it takes 2 days. By the time we get there we are relieved and excited. About 2 hours out from our destination we start getting antsy and just ready to GET OUT OF THE CAR ALREADY! And I think, we’re tired, we are going to unload and rest and maybe swim. But then we get there, get checked in, get a dose of magic and end up dumping our suitcases, grabbing the bus and hitting a park!
I have to answer with more than one answer…
My family’s favorite vacation for all the years our boys were growing up..Music Week at Glorieta. Now that Lifeway no longer has adult activities at Glorieta…we’ve lost our favorite place on earth.
My husband and my favorite kind of vacation..cruise. Just pure relaxation..no driving, no figuring out where to eat etc…But, we can’t afford to go on many cruises.
So…part 3: Red River NM is a place I grew up going to every summer of my life! And, we would love to go back as a family someday! Just driving over the pass into the valley…state of mind: pure peace and joy!!!
We live in Iowa so our vacations must involve at least one day at a beach in order for Mama (a misplaced beach girl) to maintain her sanity for another year. Our favorites have been Fort DeSoto Beach, FL and Cocoa Beach, FL. We’re also big fans of Disney in Orlando, it’s just so magical and fun AND that’s it’s close to the beach makes it a winning combo. We’ve set a goal to visit all 50 states before our kids graduate high school, they’re 13, 11, and 9 and we’ve hit 38 so far, (we drive everywhere and living in Iowa you have to drive thru a lot of states to get to any saltwater!). Florida and Colorado (EVEN with their lack of beaches! It’s just so beautiful and so many fun things to do!) have been our favorites so far. We still have Idaho, Washington, OR and the itty bitty east coast states to go, oh and Alaska but brrrrr. And I love, love, LOVE the planning (I am the vacation spreadsheet queen), the packing, the time in the car, all of it. And my kids love it too. I mean when else in life do you have free reign to sit, eat snacks, watch movies, read, sleep, without any pressures of laundry?!? :)
We go to Amelia Island Florida. We are usually all ready to get out of the car, get unpacked and head to the beach!!
1 – A beach in Florida is our usual destination, but we also enjoyed visiting Chicago a few years back. We live in a small, rural town so a trip to the big city was new and different for us. We did all the touristy stuff and still talk about that trip.
2 – Upon arrival, I have a sense of relief plus anticipation for a great time ahead with my family.
1 – Our kids are young so we haven’t traveled far and wide with them. Grandma’s house has been our favorite and most frequent vacation for several, very obvious reasons. However, we did take the kids to San Antonio (to visit another grandmother) and took them to the Schlitterbahn. We all LOVED it – even the grandparents! The kids are still talking about it.
2 – Since our kids are young, once we get to our vacation destination I’m exhausted from all of the planning and packing to get there. I like to take a little time by myself to unpack and organize our things while my husband (or grandma) takes the kids.
Our favorite family vacation is camping in Branson Mo.
We LOVE it there!
And I usually arrive tired because I’ve been up entirely to late in the days leading up trying to get everything packed.
The place is secondary to the family being together but I would say in recent years it has become Winter Park CO. There is a special place in my heart for Red River, NM though.
My attitude is generally sorry and rotten from the long car ride but immediately improves once I survey the accommodations and step outside to sheer beauty.
Orange Beach, AL
As soon as we get there, I can’t wait to get the car unloaded and get to the grocery store to load up on snacks for the beach. Glad to have a little quiet time after 9 hours in the car, even if it is at Publix!
When our children were at home, our favorite destinations were Disney World & the beach. We stated a tradition as they reached their teens of going to Sandestin Florida and spending a week just relaxing enjoying each other and the beach. Now that we have grandchildren, all the kids are begging to start going again.
My feelings when i arrived were always a mix of relief and wonder that we had made it one more year to be able to do it again! Truly the most relaxing, best memories.
Myrtle Beach without a doubt is our favorite. My husband would go that as a kid, and now we continue the tradition. We have been going there almost every year since our honeymoon almost 18 years ago. We are blessed to have family who own a condo there and we are able to go there for – FREE! We usually spend 2 weeks there. Since moving to OH, it is a little longer drive. This past year was great because we got to introduce the beach to our new little girl.
My state of mind is finally we can get out of the car and relax! No phones, no internet, just family fun and seafood!
Gulf Shores,AL-
I know it sounds cliche’, but the best family vacations we have ever had have been to Disney World. We took our 2 children in late January when they were 4 & 6 and then we went again this Christmas when they were 12 & 14. This last trip was made with my husband’s family (father, brother, sister, b-i-l, & 2 daughters) because his mother had passed away during the year and we were not up to Christmas as usual. Obviously we rode different rides and looked for different experiences each time (character meals & sightings vs. roller coasters) but they really are 2 of the best weeks we have spent together as a family.
I was so overcome with everthing we had to do to get out of town for this Christmas trip that I couldn’t even make a to-do list. There were so many responsibilities that I knew if I made a list I would leave too many things off of it. So, I woke up each morning, fell to my knees and told God, ” You know what I have to do to be ready to leave Dec. 20th. Please put in front of me what I have to accomplish today to be ready to go. He is always faithful and everything got done, but I did not get much sleep the week before we left and ended up sick by the time we started home.
Snow skiing! We especially enjoy Big Sky, MT. Snow skiing is a great family vacation for us because it is active. My family needs something to do or we all go stir crazy. Of course, we love OBA (Orange Beach, AL). It’s our home away from home!
Beaver Creek, CO is my favorite vacation destination. We go in the summer when there aren’t too many people there. The weather is such a nice break from the Houston heat and humidity. There are wonderful restaurants and the scenery is unparalleled. We also LOVE San Antonio TX. It’s not too far from home, we can sit by the Lazy River or the pool and read and relax. Great restaurants are everywhere. We love it.
My state of mind upon arrival depends on whether we fly or drive. The whole packing restrictions thing along with parking, security lines, tiny airplane seats etc MAKES ME CRAZY. If we drive, I’m much more relaxed.
I love to visit Charleston, SC, the most alluring city in the US. I always arrive with a feeling of expectancy–ok, Charleston, go ahead and WOW me. And Charleston never disappoints!
1 – Our favorite vacations vary greatly. We LOVE Disney World. We are planning our trip for next year now. On the other end of the vacation spectrum (for us) is the mountains. We were blessed to spend a month in Denver and the Rocky Mountains last Summer. The husband was working there, so the kids and I used rental car points and wandered the city, swam at the hotel pool, saw a movie, slept late. Then weekends, we took the rental car and rented cabins or used hotel points and stayed in different places in the mountains. If we didn’t have family here in Alabama, we’d move next month.
2 – When we arrive there we are beyond excited. *I* am beginning to recover from the whole “Dear Lord, help me to pack every possible thing we will need for this family of 5, which includes the special needs baby, and also, help me to remember to pack my underwear. Yeah, my underwear too, Lord, I’ll need that.” I do my level best to nap on the plane so that I can be the Mama Bear Drill Sergeant necessary to move us through the airport, to the shuttles, to the car, etc. Hyper-vigilance is the word, I think. That first night’s rest is the BEST…
At Disney World, we check the spreadsheet (totally not joking) for the next day’s activities/dinner reservations, then the next day’s clothes get laid out so that we can attack the next morning.
In the mountains, we clean camera lenses, charge batteries, pack picnic lunches and prepare for the next day’s mountain drive…
Can I go there tomorrow? Either place would be fine, really…
Being from MN, I have to say….the North Shore of MN is delightful. Many wouldn’t think that about MN. Summer time you think of humidity & mosquitoes. But really, it is quite lovely!
Not only do you have Gooseberry Falls, Split Rock Light House, and the Lift Bridge, but you have the road up to Grand Maris which takes you past Betty’s Pies (hello? A restaurant that specializes in PIE!). There are so many things to do–kayaking, walking along Lake Superior, hiking, bike riding, shopping, swimming….all in our “backyard.” There’s even a B&B in an actual working lighthouse (Two Harbors, MN). Staying in a rented cabin (nothing primitive–I need hot water and AC thank you) and having all of this for you to do? It’s great! Even in the fall when the leaves are changing colors! It really is worth the trip!
My state of mind? Relief. I’m happy to be out of the car and at my location!! :)
We rent a houseboat on Lake Ouchita in Arkansa. Our kids love living on the water all week. We fish, swim, snorkel and eat. Great times and great memories.
Beach! Oregon Coast nowadays ’cause that’s the closest.
By the time we arrive, I’m exhausted (it’s about a 14-hour drive), but we stop for a nice seafood dinner and then sleep in the next morning. Then I’m good for a whole week of long beach-walks, naps, etc.
All time best place is Little Gasparilla Island, FL. You have to park your car on the mainland and take a water taxi or ferry across a 4 minute but of water. The main transportation on this gem of an island is your feet or a golf cart on one of the sandy pathways on the island. Great safe beaches, family environment and a bit of the old overgrown Florida charm. We have visited several time and if we drive it is a 23 hour drive from Canada… we arrive exhausted but once you feel the sea breeze on your face every care is gone. So glad no one else has mentioned this place – want to keep it our secret! :)
The beach is my favorite place to go. When I finally get there I am excited, but also a little frazzled from making sure that I packed everything I need, plus fit it all in my vehicle.
We adore Hilton Head Island. Perfect for families and beach without crazy waves. I typically arrive thrilled to be there and with a leg cramp or 12 due to driving for 8 hours. I also arrive with a desperate feeling that I need a very large glass of wine.
My favorite place is the Outer Banks of North Carolina (specifically Hatteras). We have vacationed there with family for the last 7 years and absolutely love it! Even though it is about a 9 hour trip…we are all so excited when we finally get there and just jump out of the car and can’t wait to get to the beach!!!
Our favorite family vacation place is Cedar Key, Florida. We love the relaxed laid-back feel and great fishing, too.
We have learned to pack light. Some of our best times there have been last minute decisions.
Ok, i will have to admit that my idea of the perfect destination has changed for me over the years. When our children were younger, alot younger, the perfect destination was where i could manage to have two taking their afternoon naps as the older two exerting lots of enery, lets say in the pool at Romar House in Orange Beach so that they too would be ready for bed by 8pm. Then as they grow older , the perfect destination was always where my husband and I could encourage them to run and play all day long ,maybe on a hike in Oconee State park in South Carolina , all this inorder to get them all down by say 10 pm and fall to sleep ourselves from shear exhaustion. Now that they are older , the perfect destination is where we can all be together in the same house for longer then a day. My state of mind has gone from ” Please God help me make it through this day with all these little souls under my care to thank you God to allowing me too have all these little souls under my care.
I usually feel like I need a vacation just from the prep that involves in getting to our vacation spot with four kids.
Our best family vacations are ones that are CLOSE! We have four kids ages 5-9 and the less time we spend in the car the better! We’re saving the bigger trips for when they are older and can remember more and be more help!
Yellowstone National Park! I’d say right when we get there I’m simultaneously exhausted and elated. I want to go and see everything and soak it in, but I also want a nap. Or maybe that was just this last time when I decided to be the driver over a mountain pass that took several years off my life. Although, I admit it was way better for me to be the driver than the passenger clinging to the edge of the mountain. I will never take that particular route again.
Also, how does my toddler know we’re in the last 20 minutes of a drive no matter how long the drive started out to be? This past summer she would meltdown during the last 20 minutes. Didn’t matter if it was a 4 hour day or 6 – she somehow just KNEW.
1.Williamsburg VA and 2 glad to get out of the car after 14 hours of riding and then walk around the Revolutionary City. want to go back now and we were just there in December.
Perdido Key, FL (I’m actually here this week for Spring Break, but plan to come back for my usual June trip too)!
Here’s a beach-y word to describe my feelings… stoked. Now, the night before? Stressed with all the packing, cleaning, finishing up things at home, and whatnot. Once I hit the road, I can’t be more excited to cross the bridge, check into the room, and make the trip to Publix. :-)
1. Kiawah Island, SC. We have friends who own a beach house there and they let us use it one week every summer. Did I mention there’s a golf course for the beloved and a day camp at Kiawah Island Resort for kids? I get to laze on the beach or pool reading or I go into Charleston for a tour or shopping or whatever I feel like doing.
2. Pure joy, also much gratitude for having generous friends.
1. It used to be anywhere cold. Until I had kids. Then I realized how much of a beach person I am. Not so much the swimsuit type, but heck, it’s vacation!
2. When we arrive at the beach, my family, all 4 of us, in the same place at the same time (it’s rare when you have a shift-working hubby and 2 buys kids) is pure relaxation. It’s like time stands still. There is sooo much planning, packing, and build up before you leave, then a 5-7 hour car ride (in a sedan) that when we arrive, we unload and then it’s nothing else for at least a day or 2. Just relaxing. Nowhere to be, no one to please. Time stands still. Then it starts to fly by as you get to the downhill slide of the 2nd half of vaca, when you know things back home are beckoning.
For me, the best part is having my family all together, in one place, focusing on spending time together and nothing else. Can’t wait til August now.
Oh, and can’t wait to read the article when I get my Homelife!
Our favorite family vacation is to St. Augustine, Florida. My kids have been there every summer of their lives (ages almost 13 and 8) as I have before them (many more years than 13 and 8!) We stay in a house on the beach and usually have no firm plans. Now that we have some friends who moved to Florida, we try to meet them somewhere in the middle sometime while we are there.
My state of mind when I get there is tired from all of the “getting ready” but almost as soon as we cross the bridge to get to A1A, our fatigue melts and we are placing bets on who can get into their swimsuit the fastest so we can get out to the beach asap!!
I have 2 favorite Florida getaways: Sanibel & Disney World
And my other favorite is: Texas
How do I feel when I get there? I am giddy when I am leaving for vacation & if the flights & connections go smoothly? I am giddy when I get there! If the flights or traffic is rough, I usually need a nap ; )
Charleston, SC
We loved it so much, we actually moved here about 8 months ago.
1- it’s two part: any gulf coast beach (the white sand and blue water just doesn’t compare to the east coast beaches’ brown sand and murky water… if I’m packing and driving to a beach, please let it be pretty and white when we get there) OR any place where my family is. We don’t live near our immediate family members anymore, so I’d rather be where they are if we have time off, than anywhere else. And if we combine the two things? Meeting Family AT the Beach? Heaven.
2- When we get there: Unpack the food and just relax. I’m not one for those rush rush, go-go-go, do a bunch of things vacations. Sure we always do some fun new things, but I treasure and cherish those times just sitting around with everyone, talking (usually over a great meal or bunch of snacky things). Or sitting on the beach, listening to the surf, watching the all the kids play.
Hawaii for a beach vacation. It’s actually the closest beach destination for us here in Alaska. 5 hour flight and we’re in paradise. I’m usually beyond ready for a vacation before we leave for much needed R&R and a dose of really warm weather.
No matter how many different beaches I visit, mind you, I have not been to Hawaii….I can’t beat the Redneck Riviera, LA, aka Gulf Shores, AL. I feel deprived if I don’t make it there at least once a year. And every time I go I say I’m eating somewhere new this time….not. Gotta be LuLu’s and Oyster House. Excuse me, I have to go and check availability now!
Oops, just realized you said “family” vacation. The beach trips have turned into girlfriend vacations! Disney World, hands down. And Blizzard Beach, oh my word, how awesome is the Lazy River after all that slippin and slidin!
With…
young children – Disney World
extended family – Caribbean cruise (no cooking or laundry), Isle of Palms, Edisto Beach or Hilton Head
When we arrive, I am first relieved that we made it safe (a miracle some years depending on traffic), but still frazzled from getting ready to leave the office for a week, juggling several to do and to pack lists, packing something we can fix for dinner that evening (frozen lasagna or something similar), loading the car, and the inevitable mediating in the car between the children (and perhaps adults). Then once we get the luggage unloaded, I go to the closest grocery for a week’s worth of groceries. Only once I get back, and the car is unloaded yet again, can I start to relax and enjoy.
My favorite place for a vacation is any type of resort, specifically the all-inclusive types. By the time I arrive at the resort after all the traveling I am just exahusted and ready to lay in bed for a few hourd before starting all the “fun”!
Kiawah Island, SC is definitely our most favorite family vacation destination. Once we figure out the stress of a budget, getting a date on the calendar, and packing we are good-to-go. The most stressful vacations are the ones where we are not realistic about the budget. Once we figure that part out we can rent a place and know what we can and can’t do on *that* vacation trip. I like being able to cook most meals in (we are a family of 6) and only going out for a few meals and a snack each day. I know that “not cooking” is high on the list of most families when vacationing, but with careful pre-planning this is actually the better option because everyone can eat when they’re hungry versus when “it’s time” to go eat. (And we can save LOTS of money that way too.) We love Kiawah because we can rent bikes for the week and the kids have free reign over the island (it’s a gated community so *very* safe). . .biking, swimming, tennis, golf, soccer, shopping. . .the island has everything!! I blogged about it last year and this was one of my favorite posts because it gives the “flavor” of this family-friendly vacation destination: http://www.jennisseasons.blogspot.com/2012/06/signs-of-kiawah.html
The stress level *before* we hit the road is generally pretty darn high but once we’re off and on our way the stress level decreases. . .by the time we stop the first night (although we can make the drive in one day we have found by stopping — and working that into the budget) we are de-stressed and ready to relax!!!
1. Sanibel Island, FL
2. Nervous. I’m the vacation planner so if we arrive and the place we’re staying is “not as cool as last year” or has a funky smell or irritates me in any way, I feel fully responsible yet I will FAKE THE HECK OUTTA MY EXCITEMENT so no one else catches on that I’ve lost all confidence in providing a suitable vacay for my fam. On the flip side, if we walk in and the place we’re staying trumps the year before, I’m pretty much riding the rock star train for the rest of the week. :)
1. Sandestin, FL – Seagrove Beach, FL – really just the Gulf Coast of FL
2. I am usually worn out just getting ready (I’m one of those that like to leave the house CLEAN for the return) but also have great JOY at time UNBOUND BY THE CLOCK. Sleeping in, seafood,shopping, long conversation on the balcony with coffee while the waves are pounding… Last few trips it’s been MORE fun with grandchildren running around and just everyone being together.
Love to you Sophie!
fAVoriTe pLaCe: Orange Beach Alabama :) Gorgeous white sand beaches and plenty to do on and off the beach.
After 6 hours in the car with 2 teenagers, we are all ready to pull each others hair out. But the smell of the ocean always makes us smile and after once our feet hit the sand, we are one big happy family :)
Kiawah Island, SC.
By the time we get there we’re usually ready to head to separate corners of the house, but instead we all say hello to the beach and that makes everyone happy again.
Love the post already. Since I live 10 minutes from the beach, the beach is out. If we are having a vacation with our young adult children, then we head south to Universal Studios in Orlando. Going on vacation with the two of them brings such joy to me. It is as I am the 5yr old going to Disney World anxiously waiting to see Mickey Mouse. I would say my state of mind would be joy. If it’s just my man and me, then we head to Robbinsville, NC to a cabin in the woods with nothing but mountains and woods. Nearest Walmart is 45 miles away. My state of mind there is nothing but relaxation. It is our get away place where it’s just him and I and very little to no responsibilities.
My very favorite place to vacation is Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. There is stuff for everyone (15 year old, 12 year old, 6 year old and some 40 something parents) to do no matter what time of year we go.
Summer: playing in the lake, hikes around the lake, boating, beaching, farmers markets, picking strawberries, biking, festivals of all kinds.
Fall: beautiful leaves, more festivals, picking apples and pumpkins, bonfires, horseback riding, more lake hiking, kayaking
Winter: skiing, ice fishing (well, some of us like that), walking ON the lake, snowmobiling, cozy coffee places with gigantic fire places, gingerbread house contests, and the polar bear plunge for the crazies.
Spring: flower markets, canoeing, dining outside, spa-ing, hiking around the lake again, and music festivals
Plus there are lots of great local restaurants and shops! And, honestly, if you get bored, you’re only an hour from Chicago or 45 minutes from Milwaukee.
My attitude once we arrive usually depends on whether we have driven or flown. A car ride usually leaves me a little stiff and cranky, but so happy to be there. A plane ride usually is easier…although getting ready for a plane ride stresses me out: “HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO GET ALL THIS INTO ONE SUITCASE?!!!” and if we fly out of Philadelphia (the word’s least friendly airport) I sometimes require a sip of wine.
1. The beach!! (Port Aransas, Tx for us) 2 whole weeks in our RV. Already got reservations for end of June!
2. Aaahaaahhhhhhh! So stressed from packing, Long drive, children who never.ever.ever.stop.talking and a spastic dog. Get the RV set up, swimsuits on, toes in the sand…then the awesome begins!
I love to go camping at a KOA with the family. Usually my parents, sister, brother-in-law, 3 nephews and niece are along. Once camp is “established”, we usually head for the swimming pool and/or bbq and relax in the lawn chairs and enjoy watching people settling into their spots.
Alaska cruise.
Perfection.
1. Kiawah Island, SC is our favorite vacation spot.
2. I feel relief when we get there. After planning and packing and driving with a baby (you get the idea), I feel like I can take a deep breath and enjoy our time away.
THE BEACH. Dad + 2 boys + sand + water = momma can read her book in peace! Just pack a cooler with plenty of drinks and food and an umbrella for me, we are good to go!
State upon arrival? Elated! Tired! Elated! Must.unpack.everything and go food shopping. Stat. Then relaxation may commence. :)
BTW, need to give a shout-out to Sunset Beach, NC. Been going there for the past 20 years and it’s a great family beach place. 30-40 minute drive, you can be in Myrtle Beach, SC if you want to do the stuff offered there. Or not. It’s all good.
1, The beach
2. State if of mind: keeping everybody busy so I can make the room (s) feel like a home
We always love a condo at the beach, although I do call that vacation plan “same job, different location.” And when we get there, my first thought is, “I sure wish I’d put about 10 of those throwed rolls from Lamberts in my beach bag.”
Northern Michigan. Peace.
We live in Illinois and love vacationing on Lake Michigan in a quaint little town called South Haven. The lake looks just like the ocean (only without jellyfish or the threat of shark attacks) and is a much shorter drive for us. Another perk is that the temperatures in the summer are much more mild than they are down south. Since we only have to drive about five hours to reach our destination, we usually start vacation in a pretty relaxed state of mind!
Seagrove Beach, FL! I’ve been going there with my college girlfriends every year since we graduated. Now, my husband and I take our boys every summer too. I’m so blessed to be able to take those two trips every summer.
I make a concerted effort to leave my worries behind… One at each milestone along the way. In Macon, GA, I leave my job. I leave money worries behind in Tifton. In Tallahassee, I vow not to think about those 10 pounds I didn’t lose before bathing suit season. I literally throw my own personal baggage out the window along the way. And by the time we are on those white beaches, I am ready to be nothing but the best wife, mommy, or friend I can be.
1. The beach ( I won’t be more specific because I selfishly don’t want any more people there :)
2. I’m exhausted when we get there… getting everything packed, organizing groceries for week (and meals) and the 6 hr car ride with 3 kids… not fun… put absolutley worth it!!
The beach. Pretty much ANY beach will do. Currently, since we live in TX, Galveston is our beach of choice. We actually go there so often that we consider ourselves locals, know all the local hangouts (you know, so as to avoid the tourists! Ha!), and are even “known” by some of the locals. As far as our favorite beaches go, the Outer Banks win hands down. By the time the car is loaded (and I pack EVERY last thing I’ll need so there’s no shopping required when I arrive), I’m in a beach state of mind. I can actually smell the salty air as our car backs out of the driveway!
The beach. There’s absolutely no place better for family vacation in my opinion. I’m grateful that my people are of the same mind.
There are plenty of places I’d love to travel. I’ve had all of one cruise and would love to cruise more. But that wasn’t a family vacation. Disney is wonderful. But overall my absolute favorite place for family vacation is the beach.
My state of mind upon arrival is almost always contentment. Sure, problems can arise and the unexpected like change in weather can affect the overall mood. But there’s just something about the ocean that calms and soothes my soul.
The. Beach. It really doesn’t matter where specifically, as long as it involves a great beach and a house (not a high rise or hotel). Bonus points if the house is on or across the street from the beach. I can ‘t tell you how important that is to a beach bum mama of 4 kiddos, 6 and under: if there is going to be any beach time, it has to be easily accessible. Extra bonus points if there is a great fresh seafood market nearby (because cooking is more of a vacation than trying to take 4 young children to an unfamiliar and crowded restaurant every night).