Family vacations are a time when the typical day to day routines are put to the side and your time is spent exploring the wonders of the world around you. The worry of getting chores and homework completed are gone and replaced with the joy of immersing your family in a new surrounding while making unforgettable memories. And just because travel isn’t always a guaranteed luxury, there are plenty of ways to provide the feels of travel to your children without leaving the comfort of your own home.
Take creating a special dish from a country you’ve always wanted to explore or even pulling out a trusty atlas to explore the endless options of travel. We’ve come up with a list of 5 easy ways to introduce your kids to a world of travel from your very own home!
1. Use the Wonders of Disney to Help Explore the World
The magic of Disney definitely lies in the characters and stories their movies bring to life. But within each of those stories, depicts a very real-world destination and experience.
Before Peter Pan takes off to Neverland, the story begins in the Darling home which is set in London, England. And while the majority of Finding Nemo takes place underwater, the lovable clownfish emerges from the waters in front of the Sydney Harbour skyline. There’s no better way to relate international travel to a child than through a movie that’s near and dear to their hearts. Grab your children’s favorite Disney movie and talk about the destination each character lived in.
Another way to experience the wonder of Disney – breakfast with Goofy & Pals… at home! Those of you who have stayed at the Four Seasons Orlando know that this is one of the most popular Disney experiences on property! Disney characters come by for the best character meal in Disney World. What better way to recreate this experience than to relive your inner childhood yourself? You can order Disney adult costumes through Amazon and create your own breakfast with Goofy & Pals with your children. Whether you’re Goofy, Aladin or Elsa, your children are sure to be inspired by this little breakfast surprise! In the end, you may even find out that you might have had more fun…
Perhaps these Disney experiences may inspire you to plan your next family vacation at Disney’s Newest Land, Four Seasons Orlando! For the quality of food and valuable time with characters, it is undoubtedly the best value of the other options at Disney World. And after all, watching Peter Pan and Find Nemo in the pool for a Dive-In Movie sounds like the perfect family getaway to reconnect outdoors and let the pros do the entertaining!
2. Immerse your Family in the Culture through Food and Dance
Part of traveling to another country is experiencing the culture like a true local. And a huge part of that is through the food and music each uniquely offers. Italy is known for its exquisite pasta and Neapolitan pizza, France for their crusty croissants and sugary macaroons and we can’t forget Mexico for their flakey empanadas or tangy guacamole. One bite of a dish and you can be transported through time to that exact destination.
Ask Alexa to play “That’s Amore” by Dean Martin and gather all the ingredients for a tasty Italian dish. You will be creating lasting family memories while showing your children how to cook like a true local.
You can also taste the world from home with recipes for cocktails, appetizers, entrees, and more from our favorite luxury hotels around the world. Try whipping up an El Diablo Cocktail from One&Only Palmilla, Jerk Chicken from the Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman, and definitely the (Ourisman Travel tasted and approved) Paella from Park Hyatt Mallorca… YUM!
3. Explore the World through a Trusty Map
In a world where technology rules our life, the thought of pulling out a physical atlas may seem obsolete to most of us. But what better way to show your children the big world we live in than with a large map spread out along your kitchen table. Let your children press their finger to the page and wherever they land, talk about the destination and the fun experiences it would bring to your entire family. Take it one step further and log onto Google Earth. Showing your children live images of each destination and even talking about the travel journey it would take to get there will have them transported to a new place in their mind.
4. Build LEGO Kits
Let’s face it – as a parent of young children, spending time inside means finding activities to fill the hours until nap time or bedtime. What better time than now to assemble LEGO kits? Your children will learn about shapes, colors, sizes, but most importantly, you can work together as a team (family) and learn about international landmarks and destinations! As your children get older, they might begin to appreciate the history behind these landmarks and destinations that hopefully inspire them to travel there one day with you! From the Eiffel Tower in Paris to two Harry Potter-themed landmarks in London – The Knight Bus and Hogwarts Great Hall, this is another fun and creative way to introduce your kids to a world of travel from home!
5. Create a Destination Vision Board and call it “Wanderlist”
Now that you’ve awakened your children’s travel senses all from within your own home, why not grab some magazines, scissors, glue, and poster board and have them create their own travel vision board. Let their creativity run wild as they pick out the perfect family trip to them. Each child can share their vision and what a family vacation truly means. And don’t stop there, you can even have them list what items they would pack for their dream trip!
What’s more? Bring your family destination vision board to life through Wanderlist, a new exciting tool created by Virtuoso that enables families to plan and curate a detailed travel portfolio within the next 5 to 10 years. This tool captures the specific destinations, experiences and travel styles of each individual traveler and allows us to map out your bucket list and help plan your travel on a grand scale. Much like a financial planner maximizes financial assets to ensure an enjoyable retirement, Wanderlist helps maximize your travel opportunities, timelines, and budget. We can help you make the most of your valuable time and enable you to tackle the world in a way you may have never thought possible. To learn more about Wanderlist and the planning process involved, reach out to us at [email protected].
Our family time is truly one of the most precious gifts we have. When we take a break from our daily lives and can fully devote our attention to one another, it’s a beautiful thing. Even when international travel doesn’t seem possible, there’s plenty of ways to experience the wonders our world has to offer. Give any one of these steps a try with your own family and we guarantee you’ll create little international travelers in no time!
