How has travel improved relationships with the most important people in your life? I would like to hear from you. Click on “Add Comment” below or email me at theidealtrip@gmail.com to tell me about it. I look forward to your comments!
In preparation for our upcoming trip to New York, I have finalized a solid itinerary of sights and activities. But, I have been doing more than just itinerary planning—I have been strengthening my relationship with my mother. How have I done this? First, I have encouraged my mother to start walking more each day in preparation for our NYC sightseeing (which will include a walk on the Brooklyn Bridge and a tour through Central Park). Second, I have also been filling her in on the itinerary developments as tickets are purchased and reservations are made. How do these strengthen our relationship? I feel that these actions are important relationship-builders and achieve several things: 1) She has a new goal to work toward; 2) she has something pleasant to think about for the future; 3) she can look forward to our time together; and, 4) It gives us an opportunity to communicate more and connect in new ways. She can anticipate a fun trip and I can enjoy conversations with her about our upcoming trip. Try this yourself if you are planning a trip or considering a trip to help strengthen a relationship. I think you will find that travel is not only about the time you spend together during the trip, it is also about bonding and communicating more long before the trip takes place.
How has travel improved relationships with the most important people in your life? I would like to hear from you. Click on “Add Comment” below or email me at theidealtrip@gmail.com to tell me about it. I look forward to your comments!
4 Comments
I will be taking my mother for her first trip to the Big Apple. I have developed a special itinerary just for the two of us that includes some of the iconic must-see sites in New York along with some less-visited locales. The itinerary also includes a balance of active outdoor activities and casual indoor activities each day. My mother is in her 60s now, so I want to make sure we keep a sane pace throughout our visit. I always try to create itineraries that are appropriate to the travelers with me. When traveling with kids, I plan plenty of short activities and lots of breaks. When traveling with my parents, I try to accommodate any mobility or health issues. Our one week NYC trip will take us through many Manhattan neighborhoods, over to Brooklyn, into New Jersey, and include a tour of Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. To balance such a busy schedule of sightseeing each day, I have also made sure to include low-key activities such as a leisurely picnic in Central Park, live theater performances, and dining with a view. I find that almost any trip is made better by a mix of scheduled activities and more casual moments. Sitting at a sidewalk café where the locals gather to watch the world go by can be a highlight in any city, and, often tells you as much about a place as the local history museum. Keep this in mind the next time you are planning a trip. I am always seeking a healthy balance in my life and it is no different when traveling. Strike that right balance and you are sure to experience the ideal trip wherever you are in the world.
How do you stay balanced while traveling? Do you have some great tips, tricks, or techniques to share? Click on “Add Comment” below or email me at theidealtrip@gmail.com to tell me about it. I look forward to your comments! Are you looking for travel ideas, something fun to do this weekend, a unique activity at your next destination, an easy way to meet locals in a particular city, or just want to find travel inspiration? Consider joining a Meetup group somewhere new at Meetup.com. There are more than 100,000 Meetup groups to choose from around the world. You could choose to meetup with theater lovers in New York City, surfers in California, hikers in Alaska, or photographers in Hawaii. And now through July 15th, you can enter to win a trip up to $5,000 to attend a Meetup event anywhere in the world by RSVPing your attendance at an upcoming Meetup. I have attended several meetup activities in the past and found it a great way to meet new people and enjoy the activities I love. I just signed up for an art class for women and am looking forward to trying my hand at a new activity. I encourage you to check it out, get inspired, and have fun!
1. Beaches- head for a lake, river, or ocean
2. Staycations- explore your own city or state as a tourist and take advantage of locals-only deals 3. Sports- look into a surfing camp or pro baseball game 4. Resorts- check out resorts that cater specifically to your interests or family 5. Hot Spots- see how hot it can get in the desert 6. Cool Spots- head for the highest mountain peaks 7. Quiet- think about getting away from it all in an RV 8. All Inclusive- compare prices for destinations with everything-is-included-fun 9. National or State Parks- always a great idea for getaways 10. Cruises – perfect for unique destinations and simplified trip planning I hope you are one of the lucky ones planning an upcoming cruise. I have now been on 15 cruises (most recently the Mediterranean on Holland America Line) and have loved every one of them! If you are wondering how to plan for your first day, from embarkation to a candle lit dinner, plan for the essential items to make it a great day. For cruise vacations, I recommend boarding the ship wearing an outfit that is appropriate for the whole day. Resort wear or basic travel pieces that can be dressed up or down are the best since they can carry you through the entire day and through multiple activities. You will likely be without your baggage for a while after boarding, until it is delivered to the cabin, so make sure you are dressed appropriately for both sunning on the deck and casual dining in the restaurants. You may also want to bring a swimsuit and sunscreen in the bag full of the necessities you carry onboard yourself so that you (or the kids) can enjoy the pool or spa right away.
For a selection of travel-friendly clothing that will take you from sun deck to dining room, check out http://www.travelsmith.com/. For high fashion resort wear for all ages that will take you from day into evening, check out http://www.harpersbazaar.com/fashion/fabulous-fashion/fabulous-at-every-age-november-1111. Beach trips mean lots of water and sand. But, it is unlikely that you want to pack all that water and sand in your suitcase at the end of your vacation. Instead, start your beach trip prepared to deal with all those wet and sandy clothes, shoes, and swimsuits. If you regularly travel to the beach (or lake) you may want to consider purchasing a suitcase with specialized compartments made for dirty or wet clothes. If you do not make trips frequently enough to justify new luggage, just pack some small bags specifically for that purpose. You could bring reusable nylon bags, zip lock bags of all sizes, or re-use clean plastic grocery bags to handle those items you don’t want to put in the suitcase or trunk of the car. If you have large items, you may even want to bring along a few garbage bags to handle the bulky beach towels, swim shoes, and sandy beach toys. I always carry some zip lock bags in several sizes in my suitcase no matter where I travel. They weigh almost nothing and have proven invaluable on a variety of occasions. Save your sanity on your next trip by adding a few water-proof bags to your suitcase. Enjoy your beach vacation!
If you are planning a summer vacation with the kids, you will want to make sure you bring along plenty of activities and distractions. The right games and toys can be invaluable when traveling with the kids. Long road trips or airport waiting areas can be made more bearable by bringing the right items. Some tips for fun distractions that work:
1. Bring a variety of games and toys (both individual activities and group activities) 2. Do not give out all of the toys at the beginning of the trip (save some for the end of the trip) 3. Consider buying inexpensive toys, books, and games at thrift stores, yard sales, or dollar stores 4. Wrap up old toys that have been forgotten for a while and let them select one out of a surprise “grab bag” 5. Research fun travel games that don’t require any items to play 6. Select tech toys that are age-appropriate and suitable for the child 7. Select music and videos that everyone can enjoy 8. Plan to join in on some of the games yourself 9. Let your child choose some toys themselves to bring on the trip For more information to help you plan the ideal trip with the kids this summer Click here for travel game books and ideas. Click here for additional resources on traveling with children. Enjoy your vacation with the kids by planning ahead and bringing fun games and activities for everyone. Save your sanity and enjoy your time together this summer. The most recent trip with my daughter was a tremendous success. What made it that way? We shopped 'til we dropped, ate our way through the city’s best restaurants, went to the gym together, talked for hours on end, enjoyed our spa appointments, and connected deeply on many personal topics. It is not unusual for us to do many of these things whenever we get together. We truly enjoy each other’s company. But, for some mother-daughter duos, this comfort level does not come easily. Perhaps there is a difficult history to overcome, perhaps personalities or ages are too far apart, or perhaps the time and emotional distance is too large. Whatever the cause, it is often true that we do not always like the people we love the most. If this is the case, travel is a great way to re-connect or bond in a new way.
The secrets to success for our mother-daughter travels: • Clearly communicate your desires for each day, but be prepared to be extremely flexible • Allow the other person to take charge, if that is their desire • Keep a very open itinerary with only a few scheduled appointments • Be sensitive to their needs • Don’t bring up difficult topics first • Don’t respond negatively to challenging remarks • Avoid stressful situations (you know how you get when you are cranky) • Avoid lecturing and never start a sentence with “What you should do is…” • Keep a positive and upbeat attitude • Be a good conversationalist • Don’t forget your main goal of the trip: getting to know each other better Care and concern cannot be faked. Genuine care and concern for another human being is always recognizable. Don’t get caught up in a negative situation, should one arise during the trip. Remember your ultimate desire should be to build new, positive, and happy memories together. For more information on improving your mother-daughter bond, check out these helpful articles: http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200104/the-mother-daughter-bond http://psychcentral.com/lib/2011/15-insights-on-improving-mother-daughter-relationships/ This year’s calendar is already filling up with plenty of travel plans. And as usual, many of them involve travel with family and friends. I have an upcoming trip planned with my parents, one with my daughter, one to visit a brand new baby niece, a girlfriend weekend, and a romantic getaway with my husband. This year I also hope to fit in a cruise with my sister, a summer visit with a teenage nephew, and a long-overdue trip with a friend I have known since elementary school. I love the opportunity to travel with each of my family members and friends. Every trip brings such varied experiences based on the company of travelers. The entire trip is unique because of the person or people who join me on that trip. I have traveled both solo and in groups of strangers brought together by a passion for travel. But, I have also been very fortunate to share my love of travel with those I love and hold dear. While the destinations I visit are special, it is almost always the case that those I travel with truly make the journey worthwhile.
Who are your favorite travel companions? Who has made your travel experiences special? Leave me a comment by clicking on the “Add Comment” below and tell me about your travels. I just got back from Kansas City, Missouri (with a short bi-state hop over to Kansas City, Kansas) and was pleasantly surprised by the variety of activities available in such a small city. Kansas City, Missouri is the larger of the two cities with the same name and has a nice metropolitan feel. Some of the distinctive neighborhoods are just perfect for family getaways or girlfriend weekends because they are compact, walk-able, and offer easy and convenient accommodations, food, entertainment, and relaxation options. I always appreciate a good travel destination where I know I can spend many happy days and not have to worry about finding enough activities to keep everyone occupied or worrying about having enough dining choices to satisfy everyone. Kansas City had several neighborhoods that met these “worry-free” criteria for me: Power and Light District, Westport, and the Country Club Plaza area. I am sure that a family staying near the Power and Light District would really enjoy the downtown activities such as The College Basketball Experience, theaters, and bowling. The girls looking for a get-together would enjoy the Plaza area with its great restaurants, coffee shops, movie theater, and shopping. And for those who are looking for some weekend nightlife, the Westport area delivers with multiple pubs, bars, restaurants, and lounges, including trolley transportation to/from Westport and 7 other entertainment areas around the city aboard the Kansas City Strip trolley. If you are like me and want a hassle-free trip when traveling with a group, be sure to look for destinations with:
1) A variety of activities (both energetic and low-key, as well as, indoors and outdoors), 2) A variety of dining choices (upscale, low-cost, new, familiar, and highly-recommended), and, 3) Convenient access to both activities and dining (within walking distance, by public transportation, or a short cab/car ride). Over many years of traveling with family and friends, I have found this combination always makes for an ideal group trip. |
Author:
|