Parenting Today
With summer right around the corner, many families are planning trips and adventures. But why wait until your weeklong travels for some family fun?
Planning a micro-cation that takes place close to home for only 24-48 hours is a great way to make memories with your family without needing more than a free weekend to do it.
The Importance of Short Family Adventures
An overnight away from home with the family might not seem like much, but even a short trip will help strengthen family relationships.
New Environments Cement Memories
Spending time together at home is wonderful, but you can’t escape the distractions of everyday life and really focus on each other. Travel helps families connect on a deeper level by removing those distractions, introducing new, shared experiences, and cementing collective memories. Even an overnight trip comes with these lasting benefits.
All the Fun Without the Price Tag
Longer family trips are great for bonding and making memories, but they also come with the stress of paying for so much travel. A short getaway is the perfect solution because you can plan them more frequently without adding stress to the equation. By taking a micro-cation with your family, you’ll come home feeling refreshed rather than worried about the credit card statement.
Making Micro-Cations Exciting
Once you’ve decided to take a short 36-hour trip with the family, consider how to make it simple, memorable, and exciting for everyone involved.
Focus on One Event
One of the most important elements to planning a micro-cation is not to over-plan! With such a short window for adventures, trying to pack too many items into the itinerary will only cause stress and meltdowns. Micro-cations that are centered around one main event work best. Choose a specific museum exhibit to visit, a particular concert to attend, a special restaurant to check out, or a great hiking trail to explore. You can add on other side quests as you go, but focusing on one primary feature makes the journey easier.
Create a Theme
A short getaway can feel like a slightly longer car ride rather than an actual vacation. Making a theme for the trip is a great way to add special elements and a little magic to the journey. If you’re visiting a cool waterpark, make everything beach-themed (think food choices, road trip music, and even a few fun accessories from the dollar store). A trip to a nearby small town can be perfect for a “throwback” theme to a particular decade.
Assign Family Responsibilities
With such a short trip, it can be easy to get everyone involved with the planning. Plus, the more kids take ownership of the adventure, the more excited they’ll be! Assign jobs to everyone that seem fun and aligned with personal interests. One person can create the road trip playlist, and another can scope out restaurant reviews online.
Be Spontaneous
Once you’ve committed to the “main event” for your micro-cation, let yourselves be spontaneous with the rest of your trip plans. See something interesting down a side road on the drive? Go investigate! Want to check out why so many people have lined up outside this small bookstore? Find out! Because the trip is more about being together than checking off a long list of activities, you’ll have time for these spontaneous interests that can create amazing memories.
The Best Micro-Cation Spots
Depending on where you live, some of these micro-cation spots might be perfect for your family. Aim for somewhere you can drive within about 4 hours to leave time for exploring and fun:
- A nearby small town with a rich history and long-standing “famous” spots to explore
- Your state capital building
- A traveling exhibit at an art gallery or museum
- A hike to unusual scenery or historic markers; camp nearby or find a lodge in a neighboring town
- Day rentals for boats, kayaks, or fishing gear at nearby lakes
- Children’s museums or interactive adventure sites
- Band tour stops in small venues
- A nearby farm or ranch with tours
The best part about a micro-cation is that you can turn almost anything into 36 hours of family fun, so grab a map and start exploring what’s in your area!
