When deciding upon a family vacation destination, it is vital to be laser-focused. You know, choices can be overwhelming during the initial planning stages, but there’s nothing more relaxing than an exotic family vacation.
According to a 2018 survey conducted by AAA, 88 million Americans said they planned on family vacation within a year. And that’s because everyone believed in the idea of a family bonding trip.
Whether you’re looking out to explore a National Park in the States, visit a Theme Park, or spend some quiet time on the gorgeous beaches- a family vacation is your way out. Yes, as a complete family, you’ll have the ease of sharing discoveries and experiences, which you can share together for a lifetime. You’ve been scrolling the internet for planning your next family expedition destination, you stumble upon Ocean City. You might also want to consider a family resort or visit one of the beaches in Destin.
You shout “Voilà, found my ideal destination!”
Now that you’ve decided on Ocean City as your vacay destination, you’ve got to see the deets of knowing how to plan a family vacation.
- The Art of Intelligent Timing:
Last-minute deals never work well during the school holidays, and those that do are usually in undesirable places. If you have school-going kids, then you should be aware of their term dates well in advance. Use this information for booking months or years ahead, since the prices will be relatively low at that particular time- all thanks to the lack of demand.
Do you educate your kids at home? Well, grab the golden opportunity of arranging travel outside the peak months as the costs are low and crowds are fewer. Now that Ocean City- the year-round resort town, is on your list, know that the best time to visit this is in July, August, and even September. The average water temperatures of this exotic place are 68, 71, and 70 degrees, respectively, which indeed are pretty refreshing.
The fall and winter weather, on the other hand, is serene and quiet as fewer tourists are present to congest the roads and restaurants. Tourists pave paths during the spring season on the weekends until the Memorial weekend fun begins.
- Find the right kind of accommodations:
After you figure out your ideal travel destination, it’s time to decide where you wish to stay. Although the hotel rooms can feel luxurious, the best bet lies in staying together in the same space. The idea is to develop a family bond. And, if that’s on your mind, look no further than a home rental.
The experts say, “Why rent rooms when you can rent an entire home?”
Some of the best advantages of having a vacation home are that you get more space to relax and get comfortable, save money, and have a rental at the location of your desire. Know that the beach house in Ocean City is kid-friendly, families can bring their pets, and you can enjoy the privacy and solitude of your own space without having to worry about amenities. Yes, vacation rentals offer you services like a grill, parking, garage, shower, and internet connection.
People who stayed at a rental home exclaimed that they all could gather around the dining table for meals and laugh together, reminiscing the day’s events and activities for a dose of laughter. More than that, you could plan unique activities, which brought them to the next point.
- Initiate the Packing Process:
Packing for a vacation is often taken as a daunting task. The saying holds good, especially when you don’t plan well or don’t research aptly to gain insights into what lies ahead on the foreign shores.
While packing for a family vacation, you’ll have to keep many things in mind. Evaluate what the kids think, their vacay packing requirements, and the things you cannot afford to leave behind. No parent wants to pave a path to a foreign destination without their kid’s favorite toy (the one without which he can’t sleep), or worse; you won’t have enough clothing to get through the week.
You surely don’t want to get into these worst scenarios; thus, properly packing is the key. Make it a collaborative process with children who’re old enough to help. In addition to tickets, travel documents, chargers, local currency, passport, some other essentials that should be on your list include comfort and daily use items, an extra set of clothes, hats, sunscreen, water shoes, first aid kit, and wipes. The reservation information is not to forget!
In all, adequate packing is essential, but it is also important to never go overboard to avoid overweight charges, especially if you plan on indulging in Ocean City shopping. Planning is sure to make packing a stress-free experience, engaging in which can be enjoyable for everyone.
- Ensure there are ample planned activities for each family member:
An ideal family trip would be the one that has been adequately planned for fitting the interests of all the members. For instance, the youngest of the family enjoyed his time in the theme park, while the oldest celebrated his 65th birthday at the restaurant nearby on the same day. And, this means there should be a variety of activities to make everyone happy. After all, planning is one of the most crucial steps towards a well-orchestrated family getaway!
To plan the trip effectively, ask the hotel, vacation rental owner, and residences about the activities available on their property. If you’re unsatisfied with their list, ask the manager to arrange for activities, all the members of the group are interested. Odds are they have a catalog of popular vendors they have an association with.
- Getting Around There:
You have the ease of accessing Ocean City from Route 113 Delaware South or Maryland Routes East towards 50 or 90. Depending on where your family is residing, you can drop in on Route 50, which leaves visitors near the 1st street, or Route 90 that comes near 62nd Street.
Research is the key!
Know that Ocean City’s boardwalk begins at 30th Street and runs towards the inlets’ south encompassing the 40 blocks of shops, hotels, fun, and rides.
It can be challenging to get to the Broadwalk, especially on the weekends. The off-street parking, too, fills up pretty quickly. Thus, consider using the public transportation system as Ocean City’s public transportation is safe, clean, and great for getting around. For $2, you can avail unlimited ride on the Ocean City’s beach bus, which runs 24/7 and travels across the city. Public transport is much more convenient than driving on your own. Once you have all this information in mind, the planning process is known to get pretty easy and convenient.
- Indulge in at least one memorable thing together:
The entire essence of going on a family vacation rests with shared experiences. And, that means it’s about doing one epic thing that you all can look back in the coming years and laugh, cry, or awe together.
For instance, you can consider a High Mountain Skiing day trip if your family enjoys an adrenaline rush. Other activities can be renting a sailboat, deep diving, and visiting your kids’ favorite art gallery during the day. Just go for it since experiences far outweigh anything you can ever buy for your beloved family.
Are you looking for a perfect Ocean City Beach Getaway?
As you prepare for your next family getaway, remember that while vacations aid families in experiencing new things, they have some hidden pleasures also. People tend to feel better when they escape the humdrum, mundane life and spend some quality time with their loved ones.
A couple of days in a new and peaceful environment rejuvenate the body, mind, and soul. The healthier and relaxed your return, the more pleasant will it be for your kids once they get back to the grind.
Northern girl Laura is the epitome of a true entrepreneur. Laura’s spirit for adventure and passion for people blaze through House of Coco. She founded House of Coco in 2014 and has grown it in to an internationally recognised brand whilst having a lot of fun along the way. Travel is in her DNA and she is a true visionary and a global citizen.