Vacations for Kids - Entertaining & Educational

Vacations for kids are as important as vacations for adults. When deciding on a destination for a family vacation, it’s important to choose places that are fun and exciting for both kids and adults. Any trip that Includes a mixture of fun, learning, and adventures are great for any family vacation.

For example, a trip to the Grand Canyon isn’t only fun but it’s educational too (just don’t tell the kids!). Maybe you have a teenager who loves photography. This would be a perfect place for him to practice his skills. Or maybe one of your kids is learning or is good in a second language, such as German. Traveling to Germany can give your child an opportunity to practice the language and have conversations with local people throughout the trip. You could even use him as a translator!

Introducing children and young adults to different cultures, whether in the US or abroad, can be an invaluable tool both educationally and socially. A trip to the Amish country can be just as rewarding as a trip to Japan. I visited Amish Pennsylvania as a teenager and loved it. Believe me, I didn’t think I would enjoy learning about a different culture, but I did. Plus, the more children and young teens travel, the better prepared they will be when heading off to college. It’s also an education that they can’t learn in school. They get a better understanding of other cultures and people.

When I was a kid, I didn’t have the opportunities that my son has today. If we could have afforded it, my parents would have taken me out of school and we would have traveled the world with a tutor. Unfortunately, we didn’t win the lottery! A family trip was more for enjoyment and relaxation than anything else. While that's great, it's nice to go to a place that can be educational too.

Today, we can venture to far off places where, for a short time and my son gets to experience the customs, recipes, music, and the daily lives the local people. Even though my son is still a toddler, he’ll have the advantage of seeing how people live in other countries.

Let’s use your family for an example…. Let’s say you are taking your family on a trip to Greece. One of the most magical places is Santorini, an island off Greece. All of the homes are white, and the town’s main source of food comes from the ocean. Donkeys are actually used to transport people up the hilly slopes to the center of town. People come from all over the world to watch the sunset in Santorini. Your children may be able to see Greece on TV or read about it in a book, but it sure won’t be the same as being there.

Kenya is another place in which a family can enjoy tons of activities and, at the same time, learn the significance and importance of wildlife conservation. Visiting a Masai village to learn how they live, work, and play is an experience no child or adult can ever forget. For example, photographs of Masai women are forbidden as they believe it steals their souls. Respecting the traditions of other cultures is just part of the learning experience when traveling to any foreign country. And you won’t get to experience them unless you are actually there.

I believe that experiencing life in different countries, up close and personal, is important in a vacation for kids. They are able to learning tolerance and respect. They also learn why preservation of our environment and wildlife are so important. The next time you decide to take a vacation, think about the places which are not only enjoyable but offer more than just a typical vacation. Whether it’s traveling to Lancaster, Pa. to learn the customs of the Amish or taking a flight to Africa, where wildlife conservation has become more urgent than ever; family vacations can incorporate activity, involvement, and a learning experience unlike any other.

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