The key to traveling with kids: Do less, enjoy more.

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Hamilton fans will be familiar with Aaron Burr’s mantra: Talk less, smile more. I take a similar approach to traveling with kids: Do less; enjoy more.

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned while traveling with a child is that we can’t do it all. But you can do a lot! Whether it’s a diaper blow out, a toddler meltdown, or a preschooler who wants to do everything by themself, kids slow everything down. 

For super planners, this means doing less than you probably would if you were childfree. Fewer activities not only per day but per trip. You may not be able to do everything on your wishlist, but you can do some of it. Prioritize those Must See and Can’t Miss activities, and just accept the fact that you won’t (can’t!) see it all. 

Traveling with kids also likely means that the types of activities won’t always align with what you would otherwise enjoy. Anyone else mark all of the nearby playgrounds when visiting a new city? I definitely didn’t do that before becoming a mother! You’ll likely seek out entertainment options aimed specifically at kids, such as theme parks, zoos, and parks, while skipping many of the bars, clubs, high thrill attractions, and physically strenuous activities.

Less is more.

Schedule less and allow for more transition time between activities. Build in rest days and quiet time. Everyone will be much happier. Fewer fights, less tension, more smiles, more peace.

I also have learned it’s important to be prepared to spend less time doing the activities thanks to childrens’ short attention spans. Gone are the days of leisurely strolling through a park or taking my time reading all of the signs at a museum. But that doesnt mean I can’t take my kid to an ancient Mayan ruin; I just need to adjust my “how long” with “how soon”, and reduce the amount of time I’d like to spend there. Balance is key. 

So as a sanity-saving measure, when you are planning your trips, I encourage you to seek simple activities that can appeal to family members of *all* ages. 

Kids don’t need to be constantly entertained.

A little boredom goes a long way to foster imagination. Boredom forces someone to get creative. I like to practice with it myself but find that my ability to let myself disengage has deteriorated with age. Devices encourage this behavior. Waiting at the dentist, sitting at the airport, standing in line… I have to fight the urge to reach for my phone.I don’t remember being like that when I was younger.

So I want to cultivate my *own* creativity, and encourage Skyler to use his brain instead of relying on external entertainment.

I learned this lesson on our first month-long trip to Playa del Carmen. I packed relatively light for our trip, but still brought a bunch of entertainment options for him. Dry-erase tracing books, magnetic puzzles, magic water painting books, small fidget toys… Shocking no one, he didn’t use any of these things. He’d whine about being bored when he had stacks of activities to choose from. Yet, he could find a leaf on the ground and makes up a little scene, occupying himself quietly for 15 minutes.

What kind of advice you’ll find on this site about travel with kids.

My advice for traveling with kids will usually focus on flexibility, affordability, and simplicity. You’ll find that a lot of our recommendations for things to do with kids are not specific activities or ticketed entertainment options. We tend to focus on more open-ended freeform ideas to cultivate togetherness and exploration of a destination. Again, the idea centers around balancing your desires with the needs of your kid(s).

Do less; enjoy more.

Happy Travels!!