This is a collaborative post: If you love to get away with the family but think downtime and relaxation is for wimps – or maybe you love to relax, but your energetic children unfortunately don’t agree – then maybe these holiday ideas will be more up your street!
Planning a fun-packed getaway can seem daunting, depending on the ages of your kids. Not every active holiday is suitable for every age. Luckily kids grow older all the time, and what might not be a great ideas this year, could be an amazing holiday the following year.
Have a look at the list and if it’s not for you this year, maybe you can come back to it another time!
1. A road trip
Why make it all about the destination when you can make the journey part of the holiday itself? OK so most of us won’t have a motorhome to hand, but it’s entirely possible to hire a campervan with your family so that you can go wherever the urge takes you – and always have somewhere to lay your head!
Yescapa offers a service a bit like Air BnB but for campers; owners who won’t be using their own campervans at any given time can offer them for hire so that you can explore the route to your final destination at a leisurely pace and enjoy the ride with all your creature comforts. Yescapa currently have around 12,500 vehicles to hire in almost all of Europe including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Great Britain, Spain, Belgium, France, Portugal and Italy. There are of course loads of different campers to choose from so that you can pick one that suits your family, including classic motorhomes, self-built vans (my friend has been to stay in her one of these and it’s fab – you can sneak a peek here!) and off-road vehicles with roof tents.
Here you can find a list of tried and tested family destinations in the UK. You can of course combine your campervan holiday with a cycling or hiking holiday, exploring new places on foot or on two wheels.
Alternatively, why not consider a roof tent compatible with your current vehicle? A TentBox provides a waterproof sleeping area which is ready to use in 60 seconds so you can sleep wherever you can park!
2. A two-wheeled getaway
Cycling holidays are a fun way to see the world and keep the whole family active. And you don’t necessarily need to take your own bicycles with you as most specialised cycling holidays will have equipment you can hire to lighten your loads.
A cycling holiday offers so much more that a few hours riding each day. You can stay in camp sites, learn about local culture and sample new cuisines. Opt for a gentle route to ease the younger ones in, or if you’re a family of keen cyclists, find yourself a challenge!
3. Travel on foot with a hiking holiday
Spending days on end enjoying the great outdoors is a dream holiday for very active kids and adults alike. Taking children on a hiking holiday doesn’t have to be hard work, and the good news is, you might not even have to travel far either!
When you choose a walking holiday, think about the heaviness of the hike. There are a lot of different hikes offered, but choose the one that is doable for everyone.
You can let the idyllic scenes of nature soak in, while you’re surrounded by your family. Immerse yourself in beautiful views, breathe in the fresh air and get some much-needed vitamin D. At the end of each day, you can return to your accommodation – or campervan – to relax and unwind, and get a good night’s sleep ready for the next day’s adventure.
4. A family skiing holiday
If your children are slightly older then a family ski holiday is a fantastic idea. Some places will teach children as young as three, but others prefer to teach from four or five. If you’ve got little ones, it’s probably best to check with you holiday provider what their minimum age limit is. Lots of ski resorts will have childcare and other activities for children, so it’s not necessarily a write off if you know you can keep the youngest children entertained while the bigger family members ski.
Skiing is a fun pastime, but more importantly, it’s great exercise too! What better way to burn off excess energy than with the full-body workout skiing provides?
5. Sail away
If you hate staying in one place when you go away, and you don’t fancy driving, then a sailing holiday might be for you. The good news is you don’t necessarily need to be an experienced sailor to enjoy this time of holiday. As long as you have some experience on the open waves, you can usually book a holiday that’s suited to your abilities, whether that’s by renting a fully manned yacht or looking into Greek catamaran rentals.
Greece is often lauded as one of the most beautiful area to sail; you might even spot a dolphin or two as you take in the scenery. Rumour has it there are hidden beaches, accessible only by boat, where you can snorkel, swim or have a family picnic before moving on to you next destination.
With a list like this, you’ll probably find it difficult to choose – or you might want to work your way through it! Whatever you plan, be sure to factor in rest days. Overdoing it at the beginning of the holiday may hamper your enjoyment later on.