5 Tips for Making Your Next Family Vacation the Best

When it comes time to plan the annual family vacation, you may proceed down the same track, year after year. If you try and deviate from the norm, you feel completely overwhelmed with possibilities. Anytime you make up your mind to do something new, you come up against some roadblock. Vacation planning can be stressful for even the heartiest person. Pleasing a wide range of personalities and ages may seem impossible at the outset, but it can be done. Explore these five options for planning a family vacation worthy of the family record books.

1. Try a Historical Destination

Does your family enjoy learning about history? Choosing a destination that the whole family enjoys may come down to what interests the most people in your travel group. Depending on the age of your children, you may choose to use historical sites as a guide for planning upcoming vacations. The world is full of fascinating historical destinations that are worth exploring. Hone in on a specific country or time period, to whittle down the choices. If you want to remain stateside, check out state capitals or take a trip to Washington, D.C. Many of the museums are free, and offer a glimpse into the country's government and historical development, from inception through the present time.

2. Travel to a Family Reunion

Nothing says family time quite like, well, spending time with family. This is not limited to just your immediate unit, but also those extended relatives that you only usually see at weddings and funerals. If someone decides to throw an epic family reunion, use that event as the centerpiece of your trip. Say the event is planning for Florida in June. Plan time before or after the party, to visit theme parks or beaches that make the Sunshine State such a popular vacation spot for people of all ages and walks of life.

3. Go RVing

If your family doesn't mind more spontaneous and adventurous trips, then a vacation in an RV may give everybody something they love. Don't own an RV? No problem! Rentals are readily available country-wide. The benefits of vacationing in an RV are plentiful. First, it eliminates booking travel, including flight, hotel, and car. Your transportation provides everything you need to travel to, and stay at, your destination. There are RVs for just about every family size and budget. Since this will also be your hotel room, you want to make sure the vehicle has a comfortable RV mattress. Give a few a try before landing on one.

4. Get Away to a Tropical Locale

Do you typically travel in the fall or winter? If so, you may be growing tired of packing extra suitcases of warm clothing. Instead of going the mountain route again, opt for a warmer climate. Some destinations offer specials to attract tourists to soak up the sun, or enjoy a more temperate climate. Arizona is a state that has four ecosystems within hours of each other. It would be possible to ski on one day, and relax at a luxurious desert-based resort the next. Visiting a place with various climates may allow the family to choose what type of activity to enjoy daily.

5. Enjoy a Local Retreat

A few years ago, the staycation began taking hold across the country. The concept is simple: making vacations easier by staying local. Some people choose to stay home, but engage in new activities every day. Other times, people decide to go to a local resort. Some hotel chains cater to locals by offering staycation incentives that may include:

• Free meals
• Room credits for use on resort activities
• Reduced rates for stays of a particular duration or longer
• Themed stays, including tickets to local attractions

It's worth checking into your local hotels for the best packages. It could cut down on travel time, and save money.

Planning a trip doesn't have to cause a great deal of stress. Utilize one of these ideas to begin mapping out your family's next great adventure.