Family Hiking Vacation: What NOT to Do and Where NOT to Go

Victoria Lim - 27 Jun 18

Being a mother is a multitasking activity that has your brain going as fast as the Vin Diesel’s car in the Furious movies. But when it comes to planning a family vacation, it’s like you are solving the centuries-old mathematical equation. Having kids is one of the most fulfilling things in mother’s life, but during the vacation season, you start asking yourself if you’re doing it right.

You try to find a great destination that will keep everyone happy and be quite an experience at the same time. With growing popularity of active vacations, it’s normal that you want to try some of the offers out there. And hiking seems like the easiest active vacation you can plan, however it still has some don’ts you should bear in mind when travelling with your family.

So, in order to help you out, we prepared some things you shouldn’t do and places to avoid. These cover the basics, but there are always other things that completely depend on your family. Whatever the case, we hope that you will find these tips useful when going to your family hiking vacation.

• Don’t say it’s healthy

Kids have some sort of belief that everything that is healthy is also boring or disgusting, like vegetables. For them, walking and running are normal so you won’t have much of a problem there. Instead, take out the hiking map, open a browser and show them all the things they will see on the way.

Concentrate especially on the animals and plants since that will be interesting for them. Also, make the story of hiking sound more like an Indiana Jones type of adventure then simple walking in nature. Not only will they be excited, but it will also lift your spirits as well.

• Don’t go on the demanding tracks

Before you choose a hiking track, you can look at the offers for those that are appropriate for kids. Many tours concentrate more on the fitness appeal of hiking, or to show you remote locations that are enchanting to see on foot. However, those can be hard on the children and you’ll end up carrying them rest of the way, to the very least.

If there are national parks in your vicinity, start from there. They were planned for all sorts of hikers and you can access some parts with a car and continue from there. That way you can all see volcanoes, jungles, waterfalls and caves which usually will take a long time to walk to.

• Never promise what you can’t deliver

Kids are tough on trust, and they don’t like to hear you promising something and then simply saying that they won’t have it. Specifically, if you tell them they will see certain animals on your hike hoping that it will wake up their enthusiasm, then you better find that animal-

But, don’t worry, there are hikes that will put you in the middle of the wildlife all around the world. You can see penguins at Cape of Good Hope in South Africa, wave to the koalas in Western Australia or enjoy bird watching on the Presidential Trail on Mount Rushmore in the USA.

• Avoid landmark-free places

If the landscape is boring, your kids will start complaining even before you hiked half a mile. Additionally, it can’t be fun for you either. Since there are so many options to choose from, apply to some tours that are proven to be exciting for the whole family.

Go on the Grand Canyon tours or Tasmanian 3 Capes Walk hikes where you will have organised food, rests and expert guides. Hiking is very popular so you will find acceptable offers in most of the countries that are also kid-friendly. Just don’t forget to take as many pictures of your kids hiking as possible so you can hang it on the wall later and inspire them to go on more.

• Don’t go on single-day hikes

Single-day hikes are not bad for children, but are less interesting and can be rushed due to the limited time to see all. Instead, book a couple of days tour at least and enjoy the family time together. You can even choose to camp in nature and have fun around the fire in the evening.

Sleeping in tents will expose your kids to the sounds they can’t hear in the city, like the rustling of leaves in the wind and crickets singing. If the weather is warm, use the insect repellent and tents with open rooftops so you can all fall asleep under the starry night sky.

• Don’t avoid educational destinations

You may believe that your kids will get utterly bored if you take them on the educational hiking tour, but the truth is they may not if it’s an interesting one. Choose those that include visiting caves with paintings like the ones in Spain or France. Take them to amazing natural beauties like lakes and rivers, such as Crater Lake in Oregon, USA.

Switzerland and Austria have beautiful mountainous regions under meadows full of wildflowers and fresh air that are sights to remember. Those are all landmarks that will make your kids ask millions of questions that you should be prepared to answer.

Respecting the don’ts will help you find the dos and your family hiking vacation will turn into a fun quality time together often retold during dinners. If you show your children the positive sides of hiking, maybe this family vacation can turn into a tradition. However, remember that the older your kids get, the challenges will grow with them and you will have to adapt your approach to that.  

Victoria Lim

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