How to Have a Vacation That Both Adults and Kids Will Enjoy
- Katie Greco
- May 27
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 28
Some people prefer to take their kids only to "kid-friendly" locations and some prefer not to vacation with their children at all, sticking to adults-only trips. But if you like the idea of going on an adventure as a whole family, making memories to last a lifetime, but you're worried about how to manage it all maybe I can offer some tips.
The first thing we do as a large family (12 of us in 3 different family units) is to make a list of our "must-see" items. No matter whether you're traveling with kids, or just as a couple, we all have to make compromises and be flexible. You won't be able to see and do everything, but you can make certain things a priority. If you are traveling with more than just your nuclear family, like we usually do, it is also ok to split off into smaller groups and do different things.
We always take the kids opinions into consideration and do our best to accommodate their desires as well, but I generally suggest that you do your research on the things the kids really want to do. Some things may seem enticing to them, when in actuality it may turn out to be a dud. Kids won't have the awareness to see how things might not work out the way they hope, so it's up to you as the adult to make the final decisions. They also might not think a certain activity or location will be that interesting but help them understand by explaining the background to them.
For example, on our most recent trip to London and Scotland, there were a number of historic locations we took the kids to which they could have deemed "boring" or not worth their time, but we made it a point to explain the historical significance and highlight how special it is to be able to see those things firsthand.
Read a lot of books or watch documentaries before you go on your trip to help put things in perspective for them. If they know that a place or a thing is special and why it is, they will be much more likely to enjoy themselves.
The next big tip is to keep your expectations of your kids relatively high and the expectation of a perfect trip relatively low. What I mean is that nothing will ever go perfectly according to plan. Expect hiccups and bumps along the way. You will wind up sitting on the side of road waiting for a taxi for 30 minutes just to go have a mediocre lunch at a humdrum restaurant from time to time. Things will go wrong but keep an open mind and be prepared to change your plans if you have to.
As far as your kids are concerned, however, they're probably capable of more than you think. I always say this, but vacationing is one of the best chances to teach your kids in real time about resiliency, flexibility, dealing with disappointment, and choosing our attitude. When I say keep your expectations of them high, I mean that we shouldn't set them up for failure before we've even given them the chance to succeed. Will they be grouchy and whiny sometimes? Absolutely. Do we have to allow the fear of that to determine what experiences we get to have with them? No. You can do it. Start small if you're nervous. Even taking them to new places closer to home that might push them out of their comfort zone is a good way to start. If you like museums, teach them to like museums too. If you want to window shop and explore a city, make a plan to take your kids and teach them how to behave in a store or restaurant and make it an exciting opportunity for them. Lay on the praises really thick. Our kids feel so accomplished and proud of themselves when we tell them how well they did at a dinner out or attending a typically "adult" oriented activity.
Finally, it is absolutely ok to include some kid-centric activities. Riding the London Eye was not at the top of my list of things to do in London, but both of our kids really wanted to do it, and we all had a great time. One afternoon we also had a high tea, but we chose one that was Charlie and the Chocolate Factory themed because we knew the kids would enjoy it more. (And the big "kids" didn't complain about chocolate tea, cotton candy, and mini milkshakes.) We stop and take them to things like county fairs, ride roller coasters, explore toy stores and candy shops in every town we go to, and give them plenty of opportunities to run and hike and get out into nature. We are definitely in favor of exposing our kids to culture and history, but it's also fun to give them a chance to let loose and just be a kid.
To sum it up, my tips are as follows:
1. Give everyone a chance to vote on their top priority activities
2. Prepare your kids for the trip by reading books and watching videos that explain the background and get them excited
3. Expect things to go wrong and people to be grouchy
4. Expect your kids to do great and encourage them when they do
5. Choose some kid-centric activities to intersperse with other things
6. Keep trying! Rome wasn't built in a day, after all.
