Several years ago during a flight from San Francisco to Chicago I sat next to a man whose carry-on bag had nearly a dozen baseball caps attached to it. I took the bait and asked him about his “hat bag.” He explained that he was meeting up with four of his best friends from college and they were going to spend the next three weeks traveling cross-country to attend major league baseball games. I got off the plane thinking, what a great idea. Theme vacations can be a great option, especially if you are planning a family trip. Here are some theme trips I have posed to my extended family:
1. NFL Training Camps. They take place during summer vacation and since practically every state in the nation has a professional football team, it wouldn’t take much to travel to one close to your home. The Green Bay Packers hold their summer scrimmages while swarms of “railbirds” (fans who hang on the rails surrounding the practice field) watch and wait for player’s autographs.
2. Outlet Malls. They can be found throughout the country; and who doesn’t love a great deal? I have friends who took an “outlet mall vacation.” They spent an entire week driving from outlet mall to outlet mall in four different states. In most locations outlet malls are within walking distance of hotels. Others offer free shuttle service to and from the mall. Which means you can shop til you drop and not have to worry about how you will get back to your room.
3. Amusement Parks. What child wouldn’t love to spend a week visiting multiple amusement parks? This would require quite a bit of planning, driving and money, but in the end it could make for a phenomenal essay on “how I spent my summer vacation.”
4. Sushi Restaurants. This is a dream my cousin and I share, traversing the country in search of the best sushi restaurants. But, it doesn’t have to be sushi; it could be hamburgers, tacos, pizza, you name it. Choose your favorite food, go online and search for the top eateries in your region that offer your favorite cuisine, then get in a car and go!
5. Factory Tours. The factories provide fun, hands on lessons to children and their parents and in many cases the tours won’t cost you a penny. And the best part: free samples. (You can read more in my blog: Fun Factory Tours.)
6. State Parks. If you are a family of nature lovers then consider driving to various state parks throughout the nation. You and your family can bond in the great outdoors by hiking, camping and fishing.
The objective of any vacation, whether it has a theme or not, is to have fun. Get your children involved in the trip decision-making process. Present them with options then hit the road and make memories that will last a lifetime.