Wondering how to make your next family vacation a bonding experience? Take a look at our list of awesome vacation activities that are sure to encourage some family bonding, while having loads of fun.
With ideas for family bonding activities for the whole family, even the baby and the family pet, you’re guaranteed to find one that suits you.
Boating
Boating is one of the top family bonding activities you can engage in on vacation. Florida is the boating capital of the world and a yacht charter in Fort Lauderdale may be the ideal boating holiday for many.
With over 7 miles of beaches, there will be lots of opportunities for fun and games at the coast. You’ll also be pleased to know that Fort Lauderdale has plenty of kid-friendly waterside restaurants and holiday resorts.
There are several Indian locations to rival Florida’s boating hub. Amidst the many tourist attractions of Mount Abu, Nakki lake is picturesque and tranquil, and home to the eternal resting place of Mahatma Gandhi’s ashes. The banks of the Nakki are packed with plenty of ice cream stalls, eateries and other fun activities your kids will love.
Boating activities offer kids many of the same benefits as team sports and strategic games. They will learn about leadership and logic, and also gain respect for the water and its hidden treasures. Relaxing on a yacht is also the perfect way to escape the crowds while bonding as a family.
Camping
Camping is always a terrific idea for family bonding. It’s good to get outdoors and enjoy the fresh air. . Because you’re all together in a much smaller enclosure than at home, you’ll learn to get along quickly. Camping can soothe even the most difficult sibling rivalries.
Many hiking trails are also dog friendly. So if things get a bit much all in one spot, tell the kids to take the dog for a walk. Your kids will be delighted that they could take the family pet along for the adventure! (They’re a part of the family too).
There’s no shortage of family-friendly campgrounds in India. If you are looking to make lasting memories, head to Kipling Camp in Madya Pradesh. This campground, located in the Kanha National Park, is home to the largest Tiger Reserve in the country. Established in 1982 amid the Satpura Hills, the lush forests and idyllic weather of Kipling Camp will delight the whole family.
Road Tripping
What screams louder than your kids throwing a tantrum? The call of the open road! Road trips are easy to arrange, and lots of fun for the whole family. Well, perhaps more for the passengers than the driver. But if you choose a town with beautiful scenery and many places of interest, even the driver will be entertained.
Encourage some family bonding with a good, old-fashioned road trip down the Yamuna Expressway. In just one day, you can cover Mathura, Vrindavan and Agra. The 165-mile road leaves plenty of stopping options, and you can even see the Taj Mahal along the way.
The road is smooth and straight, which means you can pack in your whole family and all your luggage without worrying about the rigours of a long drive. Encourage games on the drive for when the kids get fidgety in the backseat. A simple game of I-Spy can keep kids entertained on a long drive.
Touring The Capital
For a family vacation experience filled with variety, you and your family will love touring Delhi. The capital is the ideal family vacation destination, thanks to its amusement parks like Kidzania and Worlds of Wonder.
But this ancient city, alive with the bustle of modern city life, also shows glimpses into its rich history at every turn. Begin your trip by visiting the many attractions Delhi has to offer. The majestic Purana Qila (The Old Fort), the long-standing Qutub Minar and the exquisite Mughal architecture of Safdarjung’s tomb are just some of the highlights.
Hiking
Hiking is a fantastic outdoor activity for the whole family. And it’s never difficult to get your kids on board with a hiking trip, as everyone from tweens to teens loves exploring the outdoors. If you’ve been concerned that they spend too much time on their mobile devices and not enough time exercising, this is the ideal vacation activity.
Hiking offers the perfect opportunity to sneak in some cardio and enjoy the outdoors at the same time. Best of all, no special skills are required. And you don’t need to get a sitter for your infant, take them along in a backpack baby carrier. This will instil a love for nature right from the start.
Home to the soaring Himalayan mountain range and the hills of the Western Ghats, India is an ideal hiking country. But for young kids, an easier hiking trail is advised.
The butterflies and wildflowers of the Bedni Bugyal Trek in Uttarakhand will warm the hearts of your little ones. It’s the perfect hiking environment for a family. As a bonus, they have a picturesque picnic area where you can all do some family bonding over a plate of healthy snacks. (Don’t forget to pack those snacks!)
Exploring
Exploring the countryside as a family is yet another excellent opportunity for some family bonding while on vacation. But to make this as enriching as possible, take the family abroad to learn more about ancient history in a different cultural setting.
There are many well-preserved sites of historical interest in the US, and any one of them would be a great place to visit as a family. The Mesa Verde National Park in Montezuma County in Colorado is one of the US’s best settings for some family bonding.
This American National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and also the largest site of archaeological preservation in the entire US. Once the home of the ancestral Pueblo people, this natural park offers a glimpse into the distant past.
