I do keep the kids in mind but I also do things I enjoy on trips because I am a member of the family and want to enjoy my vacation as well. We have done Disney but we’ve also done a nature based trip to South Dakota and they’ve loved both.

I also think that exposing them to different places helps them enjoy those places more. I love art so since they were born I took them to art museums, for example. I also take them to plenty of children’s museums as well and other kid type places. They do start to enjoy those places though and actually requested to go to the art museum Friday on their day off instead of the Children’s museum. (Ages 6 and 8)

We choose the vacation we want to take, and the specifics are adapted to our child. So, we want to take a beach vacation we might choose a Club Med over a Sandals if there are better kiddy activities, when we went to Europe we made sure to choose destinations that had child-friendly transport and we ski places that have fun tubing and sledding and other snow activities. I will go to Disney once my child is old enough to Really Care and not before.

Yes, absolutely. My parents only dragged us on trips that they were interested in and it was miserable and not fun. Then they couldn't understand why we were not happy or having fun. When you have kids, your life is also about them.

When I read the title I was going to respond "or course" but then I realized you mean like whole hog kid travel (Disney etc). WE just plan travel to places we like and then look for things for the kids to do like children's museums or zoos. We might not choose a destination if the flight would be awful with kids but I don't think there are many destinations within a few hours flight that we wouldn't be able to find something to do with kids. Have never planned a trip around something kid centered.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Two kids, 8 and 4. We mostly vacation to see friends/family, or else the beach or a lake/cabin within a few hours drive. Dragging a preschooler around to a bunch of museums sounds like pure misery.

We have the same age gap, though 3 years younger than you. We plan to do the same types of vacations as you for the next few years. When, if ever, do you plan to do a Disney trip or cultural trips to Europe?

Not that PP, but also same age gap. We did Italy/Istanbul when ours were 6 & 1.5 (they’re 12 & 8 now). Tons of art museums, churches, etc. Of course 1.5 yo was too young to care, but 6 yo & adults had fun. We read a lot of books with him in advance about what we’d see & do to get him excited. That worked. Also, lots of gelato. Baby was on my back in a carrier for most of it. Of course, all kids are different. Younger kid was much more difficult in museums at age 2-3 than older one. We don’t cater our trips to kiddie things, but we try to make sure everyone has fun. We do national/state parks, historic sites, museums, etc. We would like to do Disney once.

Anonymous wrote:We decide where we as adults want to go, but then look for some kid activities there. We’ve always found things for kids to do, and if it’s running around a piazza at night tossing a ball back and forth. Our kids have always been sightseeing with us and while they do complain sometimes, it’s never been a big deal.

Same for us. We always try to find at least one activity for each person. We make a point to remind the kids that its a vacation for everyone, not just them.

I wouldn't want to spend money on a location that my kid would hate, so yes I take their abilities and preferences in to consideration. We go to beaches, nature places, ski resorts, places to hike/fish (which both kids love) ride bikes, have good museums, etc. A lot of places fit that criteria.

The point of a family vacation is for everyone to get to do a bit of what they want to do. No one gets exactly what they want but we all get what we need.

We plan active vacations that work with kids, like this year we have a few ski trips, Hawaii (so hiking, snorkeling, and surfing) a national park, summer boating at various lakes, sometimes camping and sometimes staying in an airbnb, plus a 5-day trip to Mexico at a resort with a kids club so DH and I can have some adult time while we're there. I did Disney once when my oldest was 5 and I'll do it one more time when my youngest is 5, but that is 100% about the kids - DH and I go crazy there with the lines and crowds.

Hiking/nature park sounds pretty kid friendly to me. I could see going that route and also doing the amusement park route. The nature park sounds less exhausting and also cheaper, so that’s nice.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Two kids, 8 and 4. We mostly vacation to see friends/family, or else the beach or a lake/cabin within a few hours drive. Dragging a preschooler around to a bunch of museums sounds like pure misery.

We have the same age gap, though 3 years younger than you. We plan to do the same types of vacations as you for the next few years. When, if ever, do you plan to do a Disney trip or cultural trips to Europe?

Dp, our first trip to Europe was when the kids were 5 and 6. They still say it’s the best vacation we’ve been on. Disney was younger due to grandparents wanting to go.

First PP. We're actually going to Europe this summer, with extended family. We'll mostly stick to exploring ruins, outdoor art/fountains, and hikes/beaches/nature. Plenty to see and do without standing in lines for hours. If it were up to me, we wouldn't go until a few years from now. Once our youngest hits late elementary or middle school, I'd like to go back.

I've never been to Disney myself and my kids haven't asked so I'm not planning on going. They've asked to go Hawaii roughly 40 million times though.

I am planning for some local vacation, and I am thinking should I ask grandparents (my dad & mom) to come along? They are retired and have limited money. They have never been to those places, and they could help me to take care of kids as well. Of course we will pay for everything. I think my mom would love to join us, but I am not sure of my dad (he is quite impatient and he loves my kids).

DH ideal vacation is letting him sleep in till 11am/noon & relax in hotel rooms, and not to drag him to go to all kid places. In the afternoon, we walk around, not in a rush, slow paced, and eat yummy food.

DS & DD, just want to go to kid places, picky eater that it is often difficult to find food that they may like, everything in a rush, complain of long line and boring etc.

I think DH pace is too slow, and kid pace is too rush. I have to chase after them one place to another place. I have to rush DH, and I have to slow down DS & DD. I am always so distressful and cannot meet everyone happy. I think DH would love to stay in hotel room to relax like an old man, but he is only turn 40.

We consider everyone's needs, of course. It wouldn't be a vacation if someone felt left out! Usually I decide on the general destination, and then I incorporate activities there that interest DH, DS and DD. Nature, not city, for DH, history-related stuff for DS, and animals for DD. When we went to the Alps, the only museum we could find for DS was a milk/cheese museum But then he loved the castles of the Loire Valley, and we made a detour to include a well-known zoo in the vicinity for DD. And then I got a few days in Paris for ME.

That kind of thing... it takes a heck ton of planning, discussion and compromise!!! Not to mention money

My husband picks destination of vacation base on my 12 & 9 years old’ opinions. He takes no input from me into consideration at all. Always the kids. I am very sad about it. I am thinking with next vacation, I will not go along