As of this January 2023, Pirate’s Life Vacations will be entering into the 10th year of operation. As a mom who loves to travel, I began my career by specializing in family travel, and naturally, I mostly booked theme park vacations. To be frank, I settled here because it was an easy gig and a great way to help friends plan these unnecessarily complicated vacations without having to charge anyone. (Since travel agents get paid commission by suppliers at no up charge to the client and these vacations are contained with a somewhat inclusive cost structure, I didn’t feel a need to charge any fees.) This proved to be a win for all until I decided that it was time to make my business mean more to me and reflect my personal values. Personal travel with my family of four has always included a variety of adventures appropriate for our wants and needs at different stages of our lives. Each of us are active individuals who enjoy stepping outside of our comfort zone and everything we know in search of authentic flavors and experiences, so every 2-3 years, I have tried to prioritize a large, family travel vacation with smaller, less cumbersome trips for the years in between. I have always been of the mindset that the best gifts I can give my children are the experiences that help them identify their place in our global community, but in order for these travels to have meaning, I designed each of our adventures to be appropriate for the ages of my kids and stages we were at the time of each trip. I wanted to capture their natural sense of wonder, awe, and adventure. A child’s abilities, stamina, and interests vary greatly from 6 to 16, so my goal was to create an experience that was in tune to where they were at the time. Families with young children (5 years old and younger): This is a great time to explore the natural world. Discover new environments with textures they might not otherwise be exposed to, and make sure they have time to explore it. Spend time at the beach, the mountains, a lake, etc… Kids also are often enamored with animals, so a visit to an aquarium or zoo. Take a nature walk and/or check out a natural preserve. I was always a fan of disrupting our daily routines during our trips from time to time, but keep in mind that you may want to preserve them for the sanity of all involved. Keep your days somewhat flexible. Families with school-age children: The world is your oyster at this point. When my son was in 3rd grade, he wrote a series of reports on a variety of world sites that he found interesting. I decided it would be fun to incorporate some of these into an European adventure. What is a better playground than Old Pompeii? Where is it best to learn about the gladiators than Gladiator School followed by a family tour geared for the kids of the Roman Colosseum? I’m a teacher at heart (former teacher), so we always paired these types of vacations with books - fiction and nonfiction. There are quite a few fun, kid books that incorporate destinations and historical context. I’ll elaborate more on this at a later point. This would also be a great time for a safari that caters to the needs of a family with children. For this age, I would recommend a VERY considered itinerary with some time to explore or a small group tour that specializes in family travel with children. Families with teens and young adults: At this point, you may have established travel habits with your family and have an idea of what you might want to do next. You may have general family interests that shape what you like to do. Are you a cultured family that enjoys art, theatre, concerts, and museums? Are you a family who would enjoy an authentic travel experience in a less trodden community? Does your family enjoy adrenaline-inducing activities - zip lining, snorkeling or SCUBA, white water rafting, skiing, etc..? Would you prefer an expedition experience with nature as the forefront? An expedition cruise can include lighter to moderate activities, such as hikes or nature walks, kayaking adventures, etc… Small group tours can incorporate the activities and destinations that interest everyone. Most of these that don’t cater to families with small children have a minimum age of 12-16.
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AuthorThis is my journey as I navigate the world of sustainable travel for myself and my business. Archives
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