This week, thousands of Canadians
are off for March break. Some of the lucky ones have been able to leave the
country in search for warmer weather. Those that were unable to get away can
still have a vacation; you just need to have a staycation.
Exploring the ice caves in Niagara
A staycation is when an
individual or family stays home and participates in leisure activities. You might
take day trips but usually at the end of the day you are sleeping back in your
own bed.
So this March break, here
are some ideas for your staycation:
Continuing off my post from
last week about theme parks, if you decide to go, here is something to keep in
mind, theme parks are huge and crowded, meaning it is easy to lose family
members.
Part of the line for a Harry Potter ride
This summer my family went
to Universal in Orlando and we lost my dad (we often loose him – arenas, malls,
parking lots, etc). Because we were out of country, we had no cell phones to
contact him. Luckily he is 6’1½ and we could spot him wandering in Harry Potter
land. The point being, it’s very easy to become separated.
So here are some tips to
help avoid that feeling of anxiety:
Know what everyone is
wearing. I’ve seen groups all wear the same shirt or jersey to easily locate
group members.
Practice the buddy system,
especially with kids.
My buddy was my sister and I wore a bright colour
If your child has a
disability, I’ve seen people make shirts for the child saying what their disability
is and if they become separated, they provide contact information on the shirt.
Before going to a theme park
over your vacation, there are some things to consider, such as:
Price
Tickets
Food and drinks
Souvenirs
Crowds
Can be very busy, so safety
may be a concern
Waiting in lines, some offer
an express pass but this will come at an additional cost
Need patience for lines and
parking
It will be loud, with
screaming kids and crying babies
Weather
When the weather is nice,
there will be more people
Bad weather (thunderstorms)
will not be as busy but some rides will be shut down
Can be difficult finding a
place to get out of the sun or rain. Seating can be hard to find.
Age
Theme parks have something
for all ages, but that doesn’t mean that you should take your toddler. Everyone
can still enjoy themselves but it will limit your choice of rides and it can be
difficult maneuvering a stroller. Also, your children won’t remember it. My
parents took me when I was young but I don’t remember anything, besides my
Fifel doll. If you’re going to take your children, take them when they will be
able to remember the park. Children should be at least four but eight is a
great age. At this age they can do more rides, walk around the park will less
complaining and remember the day.
Before you can even go on vacation, there is
one thing that you have to do, plan your vacation!
Remember, planning a good vacation takes time
and to get some ideas about where you want to go or what you want to do, you
can look at travel books, magazines, or online at sites such as Expedia, CAA, tripadvisor
and many more and do not forget, to talk to friends, family, coworkers and
peers. Chances are they have experienced some great and some not so great,
never shall return again, travel destinations. They are a great resource so
utilize them.
Whether your family chooses to go away or have
a staycation, there are many factors to consider when planning your vacation.
Some of the things to keep inconsideration when
planning your family vacation are:
Location
Accommodations
Amenities
Activities
Weather
Climate
Culture
Relaxed vacation or a jam packed busy vacation
How you are going to get there?
How many people are going?
The ages of the people who are going
Food and drink
Budget
And itinerary
Keep in mind when you are traveling. The first
time my family visitedHilton Head Islandwas in December over Christmas break.
It was not as warm as we had hoped. Also if you decide to go to Florida in the
summer, expect to experience a similar scenario as that in Summer Rental.
Planning can be hard but just think, once you
are on vacation, it will all be worthwhile.