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every car trip with the kids has to end at an amusement park. There
are great places to visit from coast to coast and it just takes
a little group planning to create a vacation the whole family can
learn from and enjoy. Keith Bellows, editor-in-chief of National
Geographic Traveler and Melina Bellows, editor-in-chief of National
Geographic Kids, were invited to appear on “Today” to
share some advice on planning a trip with the kids. Here are their
hints and some picks for great “off-the-beaten-path” vacation
destinations for families:
What makes a
particular vacation good for a child?
The first thing I think of is what kind of place do you like?
The parents will say one thing and the kids will say another.
You really have to plan a trip that plays to all members of your
family. And it doesn’t really have to be entirely around
the kids, it should give parents something back in return. You
can take the kids to Orlando, but you want the kids to come away
with something behind the faux travel opportunity. You can take
them to a cultural center so they can learn something new. You
want them to come away with more than just having a boardwalk
and ice cream experience. Take into account the kinds of interests
they have, then maybe you can go somewhere that appeals to their
self interests.
What are some
tips in choosing a location?
What kids will remember is what surprises them about a place.
You need an authentic place that will make an indelible impression
on them. Choose a location with a tie-in, for example if there
was a ever a movie shot at a particular location. If you watch
the movie before you go, kids will absolutely love it. You really
have to think about what they will be doing during the day. You
don’t want to take them to the beach if you’re going
to be stranded on the beach with nothing to do. Many places also
offer discounts for kids as well as activities for kids. Both
of these are important when choosing a location. Lastly, kids
want to maintain the family experience while on vacation. That
means that although you’re in a different destination they
still want the comforts of home, like the ability to eat a home-cooked
meal and the like. This should come into account when choosing
accommodations.
Without putting
the focus on theme parks, what are some ideas to get the kids
interested in a vacation?
Find what their hot buttons are and get them involved in planning
the trip. Get them online to put them in a position to tell you
what they want to do. This is really important because increasingly
the trends are moving toward cultural and historical vacations.
If you can get your kids involved in that it's ideal, so they
realize they’re not just going there and parking there for
a week, but they're actually having an experience. For example:
Try going to a battlefield if your child is studying the Revolutionary
War. One of the important things to remember is that travel is
the greatest learning tool we have — teaching kids independence
and growth. Parents can really get together with their kids and
create new levels of communication and learning. It's a great
way to get to know each other.
Some destinations
that are worth the trip:
San Miguel, CA - Work Family Guest Ranch
This trip won the 2004 National Environmental Stewardship Award
for its environmental practices and educational value. This outing
allows a family to live on an actual farm. The authentic farm
sits on 12,000 acres of land and is home to a fourth generation
farm family. Families can immerse themselves in a farm family
lifestyle while sharing some of the best home-cooked meals around.
Families can get involved in feeding livestock and everyday farming
activities. The farm also offers up horseback riding for kids
as well as adults.
To
watch the Today Show video click here
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