Sure, heading out for fancy meals and staying in stunning hotels are holiday highlights, but when it comes to taking a truly great family trip together, the best memories are made of the other stuff. You know, the cheek-aching giggle fits you share with a sibling or the unexpected scenic route you were forced to take when Dad misread the map. To help you have a holiday that celebrates the little things, we suggest starting a trip tradition you can rely on during every holiday to keep the memory of your break alive for many years to come. Here are five of our favourites.
1. Take the same snap
Awkward family photos are some of the best… especially the corny ones. Have a signature family pose that you pull when you arrive at a new destination, one that can be easily recreated at every holiday spot you venture to over the years. By the time the kids are grown, you’ll have the funniest flipbook of family snaps imaginable. Bonus points for dressing in similar outfits in every shot!
2. Sending postcards home
Postcards may be old-school but that’s what makes them unique (and great for helping to forgo the ‘gram for a few minutes). Get your kids to write a postcard about all the special things they did on their holiday and send it to your home address. It’ll give them a lasting snapshot of their trip that’s just for them. Plus, it’s something to look forward to when they reluctantly arrive home! Build the collection up over the years and they’ll have a running journal of childhood memories to look back on one day. Awww!
3. Have a ‘no plans’ day
When kids are involved, plans don’t often go to, erm, plan. Embrace the unknown and dedicate one day of your trip to a ‘no plan’ day, where you throw the itinerary out the window and let your sense of adventure lead the way. That could be as simple as hopping in the car and letting each family member take turns at directing the driver on a spontaneous route or heading off on a wander through a new city and turning down different streets – you never know what you might find!
4. Pick up a treasured souvenir
Some people stockpile snow globes, some hoard boarding passes. Pick an object that’s special to your family and make a point of seeking it out in every destination you travel to. It could be a fridge magnet, Christmas decoration or dorky hat – you’ll soon have quite the collection for display in your pool room.
5. Make real memories
Does the shiny, happy sheen of a holiday tend to slide off when you open your front door at home? Help the vacay vibes last a little longer by making a point of collecting tangible reminders of your holiday. On your last night away, spend the evening as a family writing down funny things you’ve said, amazing things you’ve seen or gathering treasured bits and pieces and putting them into a travel glory box. When the reality of home hits, you can pull out the box or notebook and relive your glorious time off together.
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