5 Tips for stress free vacations with kids
Vacations with kids can be a rewarding and treasured experience. While the Outer Banks of North Carolina is known for its serenity and tranquility, unfortunately there is nothing more frustrating than peace and quiet to a child. An Outer Banks vacation has a lot to offer, and it can be one of the best vacations for kids, so long as you keep these five tips in mind:
Include the kids with the vacation. It’s their vacation too! It’s easy to get caught up in the majesty of Bodie Island lighthouse, or the serenity of the Elizabethan Gardens, but these landmark attractions can only hold the interest of a child for so long. Set aside some time from sight-seeing and lounging in hammocks to spend with your progeny. It’s best to arrive with some kid’s vacation ideas in mind and get them excited about them.
Get’em outside! The beach has always been the main attraction for Outer Banks vacations with kids, but on hot or windy days the ocean is anything but welcoming. The Outer Banks has a built-in alternative to rough surf, and it’s just on the other side of the sand bar. Sound side beaches, with their shallower, gentler surf, are very popular when vacationing with kids. And most hotels, like the Sea Ranch, also offer pools as an alternative to rough seas. For drier adventures, one can go kite flying on Jockey’s Ridge, set sail on a pirate adventure, or take advantage of one of the many mini-golf courses to liven up a morning or afternoon.
Take advantage of the local attractions. There’s only so far that sun, sand, and surf can take you, and odds are the kids will reach that point before you do. Outer Banks weather can be temperamental as well, so it’s good to have some inside options available. For instance, the Children at Play Museum,offers a variety of fun exhibits and activities that teach as well as entertain. And the Roanoke Island Aquarium, gets kids up close and interactive with the marine life of the area.
Check the local events. While there are many venues and attractions open through the season on the Outer Banks, there are also special, catch-them-when-you-can events that offer unique experiences. Check out sites like OBXentertainment.com and OuterBanksThisWeek.com for the latest events, such as the weekly Movies on the Sound, sponsored b the Children at Play Museum, or kid’s shows featured at Roanoke Island Festival Park or the Lost Colony.
Most importantly, have fun. This isn’t just your vacation; this is the kid’s vacation as well! And the best way to make it the best vacation for kids is to have fun with them. They’ll enjoy it a lot more if they see that you are, too. Vacations with kids can be the best way to form lasting family memories. Cherish your kids, spend time with them, and help it to be the best vacation ever.