The Ultimate Family Summer Vacation: Where to Go and What to Do?

Spending time with family is incredibly important, and what better way to do it than by taking a family vacation. But the images of drinks spilled in the back seat and the famous are we there yet? This summer 88 million Americans plan to take a family vacation according to AAA Travel. According to the latest research from AAA Travel, 44 percent of millennials are planning a family getaway, more than members of Generation X (39 percent) or baby boomers (32 percent). One in four (27 percent) traveling families is planning to take three or more family vacations in the next 12 months, 12 percentage points more than in 2016. Three-quarters (73 percent) of families that are planning a vacation this year are seeking a destination they have not previously visited.

According to travel expert Eileen Ogintz, planning vacations with your kid’s interests in mind can make the difference between a great trip and a disaster.

"More people than ever are bringing their kids along, from cruises to outdoor adventures; even on business trips," Ogintz said. "Time and budgets are tight."

“After the budget is planned you need to get everyone involved in the planning that includes the kids,” said Ogintz. “You want to make the journey fun. You can find some new places to have a little adventure. To that end this summer Lipton which has always been part of our summer celebration Lipton collaborated with TripAdvisor to co-curate a list of this year’s Route 66 Road Trip Gems, a list of fan-favorite diners, the best places for grab ‘n go snacks and the perfect locations to snap a roadside selfie. Check out the full list at LiptonRoadTrip.com.”

“Of course we’re always thinking about national parks in Orlando but I think Maine is a really hidden gem,” said Ogintz. “I love Maine because there are so many unusual things you can do there like going out on a lobster boat or going out on a historic schooner, sailing, touring different islands or Arcadia national park. If you need any help there are licensed Maine guides that can lead the way for you.” For more information on things to do, where to stay and places to go Visit Maine.com.

But what if your family vacation consists of older kids or is a multigenerational family? “You can’t go wrong with a cruise because everyone knows up front what they are paying, said Oginitz. “You can go in different directions than come together for dinner without any arguing over who is paying for what or who is driving or what kind of food you’re eating. Carnival carries more kids then anyone in the industry. Their new ship Horizon has got something for everybody.”

“Another thing to think about when planning a trip is you defiantly want to have snacks for the road and a cooler if you’re doing a road trip so you can stop for a picnic,” said Oginitz. “I’ve really become a fan of Frito-Lay’s Classic Mix Variety Packs because they are compact and have lot of individual packages in them so the kids aren’t going to be fighting over that last bag of Lays Potatoes Chips. They come in different varieties like spicy mix the classic ones, Doritos and Fritos and a baked and pooped one. It also good to have some extra toys in the car that may be surprises if you’re on long trip that you can give the kids after a hundred miles or after state line something like that.”

To learn more about taking a family vacation visit takingthekids.com

About Eileen Ogintz

Ogintz, a 20-year business newspaper veteran, appears in more than 50 major newspapers. Eileen’s "Taking the Kids" column won the national Women in Communications Clarion Award. Today, she regularly contributes to numerous national publications, and has appeared on television programs including "48 Hours," "The Today Show," "Good Morning America" and "Oprah." She also created a course on the changing American family at Northwestern University and consults on work/family matters.

Interview Courtesy: Carnival Cruises, Visit Maine, Frito-Lay, and Lipton

Photo Courtesy: littlelionkat CC-BY-2.0 from Flickr Creative Commons