It’s important to spend time together as a family, whether it’s designating every Thursday night as a family movie night or having a Saturday morning brunch together. Another great way to spend quality time with your nearest and dearest is packing up the car and heading out for the day. There are numerous day excursions you can do together as a family, from theme parks to hiking trails, but whatever you decide it’s important to prepare so you can all enjoy the day with minimal stress. Here are 5 useful tips to help you plan your next family day out.
1. Distance
A day out shouldn’t require a 4-hour drive to reach your destination, so be reasonable when selecting what you do together as a family. Not only is a long drive hard on the driver, but kids can get restless, especially if they are young. The last thing you want is being repeatedly asked ‘are we there yet?’ and moans of boredom or asking to stop for a break every 30 minutes. Limit your travel time to no more than a 2-hour drive to make the most of your day and keep everyone happy.
2. Make Sure There’s Something for Everyone
Another challenge when planning a family day out is to make sure that everyone will enjoy themselves. For example, if you have teenagers and younger children with you, is there enough to keep both entertained? Perhaps a theme park would be a good idea in this scenario? If you’re taking grandparents or elderly relatives with you on your trip, make sure your destination can cater to any mobility restrictions or other potential issues that might arise with caring for senior citizens.
3. Keeping Your Belongings Safe
No one wants to go on a lovely day out only to find their wallets or phones have been lost or stolen. To keep your belongings safe, make sure you’re keeping any valuables out of sight, and if you have phones with you, make sure you have bought a phone case to protect it. You can find a wonderful range of phone cases at Keebos.com; some are designed to be worn across your body which is ideal for hiking trips or other activities where you might want to travel light.
4. Take a Picnic
Eating out with the family is always a nice treat, but it can get expensive. If the weather is nice, or there is sheltered seating somewhere at your destination, consider taking a picnic with you to enjoy for lunch. You could pack up all your favorite treats and snacks and perhaps even enjoy some baking together before you go on your trip. It’s a great way to reduce costs and get rid of any leftover food that might be sitting in your fridge.
5. Entertainment for the Journey
As mentioned above, younger children can get restless on journeys, so help keep them entertained by playing games like I Spy or the License Plate Game when you travel. Alternatively, consider downloading an audiobook you can all listen to together in the car or creating a fun family playlist for the occasion.
Spending time with your family is important. Make sure you’re getting the most out of your next family day out by following these useful tips.
