Did you know that “How to relax on a family vacation” is a commonly searched phrase on the internet? While some people might think that’s a silly thing to search for because vacation is meant to be relaxing, traveling with your family can be more stressful than others realize.
If you’ve ever come home from a “vacation” feeling more exhausted than when you left, you’re not alone. Traveling with young kids is a whole new world—and while it can be joyful and full of sweet memories, it’s easy to fall into the trap of planning too many activities or giving up entirely on any hope of rest.
But here’s the good news: it is possible to find a rhythm that lets your family enjoy both fun adventures and moments of relaxation. Over the years, we’ve learned how to find that balance. Not perfectly, but enough to come home feeling like we actually got a break. And I want to help you find that, too.
Here’s how to make space for both fun and rest on your next family trip.
Start By Defining What You Each Want
One of the best things we’ve started doing before a trip is checking in about what we’re all hoping to get out of it. For me, that usually means at least one hiking day with a picnic somewhere pretty. For my husband, it might be a day to sleep in and hang out at the pool. And for the kids? They just want to play and explore new places.
Before you plan a single activity, take five minutes to talk about what “fun” and “relaxing” actually look like to each person in your family. It helps you prioritize what matters most instead of trying to squeeze in everything.
Pick a Base That Supports Both
Your destination and accommodation can make or break your ability to balance fun and rest. If you’re constantly driving across town or stuck in a cramped hotel room with no space to decompress, you’re going to feel it.
When thinking about how to relax on a family vacation, we look for places with built-in flexibility: hotels with pools, rentals with separate bedrooms and a kitchen, or walkable towns where you can explore without hopping in the car all day. Bonus points if there’s a playground or park nearby for the kids to burn energy without requiring a lot of effort on our part.
One of our best stays was at a kid-friendly hotel with a nice pool, a play room including a ball pit, and a very friendly staff who would let the kids feed the fish every morning. It was easy for us parents to take turns relaxing and playing—and sometimes do both at once.
Create a Flexible Itinerary
This is the advice that I constantly have to remind myself of when I’m planning a trip. When I am going to a new place, my instinct is to try to see as much as I possibly can! But, as my travel companions can attest, a full-grown adult can barely keep up with my ambitious itineraries, let alone two toddlers. It’s important to set a realistic pace for everyone.
Aim for one main activity per day—something fun and a little exciting. Then leave space for naps, snacks, slow mornings, and meltdowns (because they will happen). We’ve found a rhythm that works well for us:
- Mornings: Slow, relaxing breakfast, then big outing (zoo, museum, hike, etc.)
- Afternoons: Downtime (pool, snack, rest, regroup)
- Evenings: Dinner and something light or flexible (a short walk, playground or mini golf, local ice cream shop, etc.)
If you really want to embrace the relaxation, you can even schedule in one “do nothing” day to let your family reset mid-trip. My husband is a big fan of this!
Prioritize Breaks (Even for Grown-Ups)
You know your kids need naps and downtime—but so do you. Don’t feel guilty about carving out moments to rest. One way you can do this is to trade off during downtime: one parent plays with the kids while the other gets some real rest (reading, journaling, doing absolutely nothing). You can set your time limits for each parent so the split is even and you don’t end up missing any evening activities.
Sometimes that break is the difference between feeling like an over-worked tour guide and actually enjoying the moment. Just remember that rest might look different on a trip than it does at home, but it is still essential!
Find Easy Wins for Fun
Here’s your permission to stop trying so hard to make every outing special. Young kids are just as happy splashing in a hotel pool or digging in the sand as they are at a fancy attraction.
We’ve had some of our most fun travel moments doing things like:
- Grabbing ice cream and watching the boats
- Riding the swings at a park
- Dancing to live music
- Exploring a local market and letting the kids pick out a snack
- Letting them run wild in an open green space while we sit nearby
Pretty much everything will be new and exciting to them, so figuring out how to relax on a family vacation could be as simple as finding activities that are simple. These low-effort wins keep everyone happy without draining your energy—or your wallet.
Let Go of the Perfect Trip
This might be the most important tip: release the pressure to make the trip look like your Pinterest board. It’s okay if everything doesn’t go according to plan. In fact, it probably won’t.
Focus on connection, not perfection. There will be spills. Someone will refuse to wear shoes. You might only get 15 minutes of actual peace, but I’m sure you will appreciate that 15 more than if you stayed home doing laundry.
The most relaxing thing you can pack? A flexible mindset. Your energy sets the tone for you and your family. You’ll enjoy the trip so much more when you roll with the chaos instead of fighting it.
Final Thoughts on How to Relax on a Family Vacation
Family travel isn’t always easy, but it doesn’t have to leave you feeling burnt out. With a little planning, a flexible schedule, and realistic expectations, you can absolutely enjoy a trip that mixes meaningful family fun and some actual rest.
So go ahead and build that itinerary, but leave space for the slow, quiet, unexpected joys, too. They might turn out to be your favorite moments!
Your Turn: What’s your favorite way to relax on a family trip? Share your tips in the comments—I’d love to hear what works for your crew!
Want more info on some destinations that are great for fun and relaxation with young kids? For travel in the US, try Hilton Head Island. For international travel, check out Bali!