Travel Tips: Kids Corner

Aired on Superstation WGN
Saturday, February 19 and April 16, 2005

Show 207

At first, that family vacation sounds like a great idea and quality time together. Then it sinks in. You have to decide where you're going to go, what you're going to do and how you're going to get there. Then you have to figure out what you're going to pack. How much money you need and if you're driving, which route you'll take. You have to figure out where you're going stop. Where you're going stay. And what you want your kids to experience. Suddenly, that great family vacation has turned into a great family hassle. Here's how to make it fun. Involve your kids in the planning! Start the process well ahead of your vacation date so that you'll have plenty of time. Then set some guidelines, like financial parameters. You can't go to London if a trip to England is financially out of the question. So give your kids some options that will work for you. Orlando, the Grand Canyon, New York, whatever. But then listen to their suggestions. You might be surprised by the ideas they come up with. Then narrow down the options to just a couple of destinations. Depending on the ages of your children, you can have them do some research. Have them check out the library, travel brochures and with supervision, the Internet. With research in hand, get back together with the family and decide where you're going go. Now the real fun begins. If you're heading from say, St. Louis to Phoenix, decide together how you're going to get there. Lay out maps. Figure the best route and see what's along the way. Have your kids do some more research now. What's the history? What natural wonders will you see? How many miles will you have to drive? And where will you stay each night? When it's time to pack, have your kids help. The more involved they are, the more they'll grow to appreciate and understand the effort needed to plan even a simple holiday vacation. Planning a family trip can teach your kids about geology, geography, history, map reading and organization. Besides that, it's a lot of fun.