In four days I will be on a cruise ship with my family. Imagine all you can eat buffets, sparkling waters and lots of sleep! I can hardly wait to unplug my computer, power down the cell phone and instead focus on my family.
I think every aspect of a family vacation should help build memories and promote family togetherness. Even the little things–like souvenirs. I'm not talking about airbrushed t-shirts or shells embellished with flocked teddy bears.
Here are a few of my favorite ideas…
1. Keychain Postcard Scrapbook. Buy a keychain to represent your vacation. Then each day, buy a postcard that corresponds with your activities. Let everyone take a turn writing on the back of the postcard about that day. At the end of the vacation, you'll have a fun chronicle of your trip complete with professional photos! And if you do this from year to year, you'll have a sampling of your kids' handwriting at every age!
2. The un-Snow Globe. Collect several small glass jars such as baby food jars. Fill them with vacation memorabilia: sand from the beach, ticket stub, napkin from a favorite restaurant, shell or rock. Close tightly and display prominently when you get home!
3. That "One" Item. Think beyond thimbles, shot glasses and spoons. My aunt and cousin have shelves filled with rocks they've collected from all over the world. I've heard of families that collect unique bars of chocolate or homemade jellies. As a family, pick out something that everyone will enjoy. Go on a quest to find that vacation treasure!
Whatever you do, make it an adventure for the whole family. A special tradition that your family will cherish forever!
Photo by wallyg
Loading ...
My favorite souvenirs are photos, especially now that I have a child. We just got back from Disney, and my daughter loves to look at the photos and videos we took. At her age – 2- pictures help spark her memory more than anything else. I start a slideshow on the computer, and she loves to watch it. My only problem with taking pictures, is at the holiday wears on, I take less and less photos.
We always collect a unique Christmas ornament when away from home. You can find one that in unique to a location or town fairly easily. Sometimes, when we just can't find one, I find something small and representative of the area. When Christmas comes, I just attach a hook and tah-dah…instant ornament. We have so much fun every year remembering all of the places we have visited as we decorate our tree.
I love the postcard idea!
I did something kind of similar for my baby shower. I had little blank notes and had my guests write down well wishes for the baby. Afterward, I made a collage in my son's baby book. I hope to do something like that for our first beach vacation.
Have fun on your cruise! Sounds like it will be a blast.
I love these ideas! I knew I was saving baby food jars for good reason!
My parents get Christmas ornaments from everywhere they go. Of course, not all places have a Christmas ornament store, so my uber-creative mom makes one out of some knick-knack.
My great, great (great?) aunt had a salt and pepper collection from all over the East Coast and when she passed away, she left it to me. Apparently I played with it as a child when we would visit her, and I have to say, it still brings me a lot of joy today sitting in the bottom of my china cabinet.
Thanks for a fun post!