7 Ways to Bond With Your Kids on Your Summer Vacation

Family traditions are special because they can be whatever you want them to be. Whether you pick out a special Christmas ornament from each place you visit or you go on an “ice cream crawl” to find the best frozen treat at your chosen vacation destination, family traditions such as these offer a built-in vacation activity and an opportunity to create special memories.

Learning can be fun, even on Summer vacation. Most any vacation stop will have historic sites, museums, or state parks. You may even find yourself nearby one of our gorgeous National Parks. Do a bit of research before you leave home so you can include one or two of these educational stops on your trip. You may learn a thing or two yourself!

This is a great one for older kiddos and parents to do together. Before your trip, buy a blank journal or notebook to pack along with you. Each night, take turns writing about the day. You’ll get to experience your trip over and over again each time you read it, and relive the fun memories through each person’s unique perspective.

If you find that your family spends more time each day commenting on social media than making conversation with the people actually in the room, it may be time to give the smartphones a break. Turn your vacation into a social media vacation, too, by “unplugging” and spending some quality time together. A pack of cards, a puzzle, or a few board games can help you build real connections instead of virtual ones.

They say getting there is half the fun, right? Try telling that to the three stir-crazy kids in the backseat. Instead of listening to them fight over the armrest for another two hours, teach them a few fun road trip games. The car will be peaceful again (at least for an hour, or so) while you have fun and make memories together as a family.

Instead of lounging on the beach for a week (not that there’s anything wrong with that), turn your vacation into an opportunity to give back by volunteering. Voluntourism has gained a great deal of popularity over the past few years, meaning there are more options than ever. Spend your days building houses, preserving forest trails, or helping families in need.

Many families flock to the same vacation spots year after year. This year, seek out something new and different. Maybe your favorite vacation city is home to the world’s largest ball of yarn or you find a family-size tree house on Airbnb. Whatever it is, most cities have some fun, quirky sights, experiences, or places to rest your head that will make your vacation unique and memorable.