Top 5 most valuable elements of our family trips
Reflections on Spring Break 2025
Many months ago, we planned a dream trip for this spring break, and due to lots of factors beyond our control - we didn’t feel comfortable taking that trip at this point in time (see < waves hands around in the air > ALL that’s going on in the world), so we had to make a fast pivot and plan a new trip.
Our goals for the trip included:
Budget-conscious/friendly, as we still want to make a bigger dream trip a reality soon, if possible
Accessible by car and a reasonable, drivable distance
Time in nature to connect and unwind
Using our money in a way that was congruent with our values and priorities
Survey says: Great Smoky Mountain National Park!
My husband and I brought our 3 kids and 2 dogs on the 6ish hour drive to stay in a cabin in Wears Valley, Tennessee to explore a beautiful national park, take the opportunity to thank every ranger we saw for their service to our country during this tough time, and make some memories without breaking the bank. Here’s a quick glimpse of our time both in the national park and at some attractions near by (Anakeesta and Dollywood to mix it up. God bless Dolly, y’all).
It was great, despite some unexpected bumps in the road - like the very windy, steep terrain up to our cabin, the bear that got into our minivan overnight (seriously), and a severe allergic reaction to a cleaning agent in the hot tub (what the heck?), but that’s life, isn’t it?
I’m happy to share whatever you’d like to know about the trip itself, but as I reflect back on the pain points and saving graces, a few things rise to the top for me as the top 5 most valuable elements to carry forward for ANY family trip.
Top five most valuable elements of a successful family trip
Involve everyone’s voice in decisionmaking.
Before we left, I had conversations with each family member about what their “must dos,” “nice to dos” and “please don’t make me dos” were for this trip. Thankfully, we had lots of overlap, which made decisionmaking and planning easier, but in the cases where one or two were all in or all out, we split up and made sure everyone had a great time. One kiddo went on a date with dad to ride roller coasters while the other two kiddos took advantage of down time with mom. Done and done. This also gave my kids the perspective and patience to chill out and roll with it for a bit if we weren’t doing their favorite thing. Their turn would come, too.
A general game plan with lots of alternative choose-your-own adventure moments.
Everyone has a different style for taking that group consensus and operationalizing it into a plan. On one end of the spectrum, you may be super laid back and see where the wind blows you. Or on the other end of things, you might have everything mapped down to the minute, bought, paid for, and reserved. For me and my crew, we hang right in the center. I spend a healthy amount of time laying out the time we have, consulting weather conditions. I take the feedback they give me (see MVP element #1) and think about how much time each piece will take. And then it’s about piecing the puzzle together and trying again if the pieces don’t fit. I leave room for slow mornings after late nights. We pivot if the weather forecast changes. We listen to our bodies and make sure we honor what people need - even if that means shifting activities around a bit. Grace, empathy, flexibility, and patience go a long way for us.
Find fun ways to capture experiences.
Typically, if it happens at all, one of the adults in your family might take digital photos and post stories and reels online. This is great if it works for you. This trip, we found other ways to supplement the memory-capturing. One kid brought a journal and wrote a bulleted list of what we did each day. Another one doodled and pasted in maps and ticket stubs. The third texted a friend a play-by-play of what we were doing. Some were really into getting free ink-stamps in the visitors’ centers in the national park. Two brought Fuji Instax polaroid cameras and were thrilled they got to instantly have a keepsake of a cool moment. Get creative and follow their lead.
Snacks. All the snacks.
Happy and hangry cannot coexist in my minivan. This is a universal truth for me and my kids. Before a road trip, I ask them to give me a list - or better yet - invite them to come with me to Trader Joe’s. They each get to pick out 2-3 snacks they’re excited to try and we make sure this dry snack bag is accessible to them in the van at all times. What’s that bickering? Sounds like someone needs some good mood food. Pass the bag! Typically, the snacks last us both the trip out and back, and if there are leftovers, you get fun stuff in your lunch when school resumes.
External luggage storage.
With three kids, a full-sized minivan is packed for a trip. Then add in food, luggage, dogs, their pillows and backpacks and that all important snack bag and it sure is tight! A few years ago, we added a hitch to the back of our minivan and invested in an external cargo basket. It isn’t hard to drive with it like a trailer, we can still open and close the hatch with it on the car (if packed right), and it gives just the right amount of breathing room in the cabin. Our latest move is putting heavy duty rubbermaid bins on it that hold our dry food and supplies. Then we bungee cord it to the basket.
And an unexpected honorable mention element this year? A foosball table!! My soccer-loving kids had never played foosball before (#whoops), and they LOVED it. So much playing together and laughing and learning new “strats” to “cook” each other. Hehe.
Ready, set, follow your family’s needs
I hope this blog post helps you in some way. I’d love to know if any of these MVP elements are tried and true for you - or if you have other tips that help make your time together and away from home successful. I’m always learning and I’d love you to share.
While Spring Break 2025 is now in the memory books, it’s always great to have a next trip to dream about and look forward to. But if this all feels too overwhelming and you need support, I’d love the chance to work with you.
Take a deep breath. We’ve got you covered.
We can help trip planning - and so much more!
At Laura Kassner Consulting, our suite of Life Wife services include planning family-friendly travel and memory making - and so much more! Our mission is to reduce your mental load so you can pursue things that bring you joy. From planning a trip to a national park to navigating big life decisions, we are here to support you. Book a free consultation and let’s connect.
