Can You Still Vacation if Kids Are Along for the Ride?

After I had my son my neighbor told me that I can no longer call trips away from home “going on vacation.” If kids are involved, she says, you're traveling or taking a trip. 

It took me a couple years and many attempts at vacationing with kids to fully grasp what she meant. A vacation implies a break, and traveling with young kids, especially more than one, is anything but that. In fact, in nearly every way it is more difficult, more work, and more exhausting than staying home. Especially when you are a single parent, traveling can present new challenges.

The first two weeks of my son’s summer vacation we are traveling like crazy; heading to Yellowstone for five days, and, after we return, we'll only be home a few days before we fly to Florida for a week. Sounds like fun especially if you love traveling which is absolutely my case. My son has other ideas, all the research he did about Yellowstone has turned to, "Yeah, whatever." He has zero interest in the trip I have spent hours planning and coordinating.

When vacationing with children there are some ways you can make your trip mutually pleasurable, putting a little vacation into traveling:

• Travel with extended family, of course, this only works if you have family you like enough to be around and they are good with your kids. However, if you really think about it, you probably have at least someone who qualifies. Maybe a niece who likes kids and would love a free place to stay by the beach?
• Hire help. If you really can’t fathom the idea of vacationing with anyone you have a blood relationship with, seriously consider forking out the money to take along a babysitter or nanny. Some people will be happy to come along and provide a certain number of childcare hours as a trade if you are paying for part or their entire trip, especially if they can bring a friend or significant other. Several resorts provide the option to parents of have childcare areas, babysitters, and kid activities to give the parents a little time for some relaxation.

If you have children and travel with them, how do you make sure you're actually enjoying a vacation?