Should you be bored at home or stressed on vacation?

A few weeks ago was President’s Day, and an extra day off meant asking myself one thing. Should we pack up the kids and leave town for a mini break?

It could be fun. Or it could be more trouble and money than it’s worth.

In our case, we decided to pile the kids into the car for a four-hour road trip to Scottsdale, AZ filled with whining, complaining, and missed naps.

And here’s the kicker: we didn’t have any family obligations or events to attend. We went for fun.

Sure, the idea of a sunny sojourn to the Sonoran Desert sounds rejuvenating with its gorgeous resorts and sumptuous spas, but I knew I wouldn’t be taking advantage of any of that.

Instead, my husband and I divided and conquered pool time. I chaperoned my older daughter in a hot tub full of rowdy boys while he accompanied our toddler two steps into the pool and two steps out, over and over again.

For two days, my kids somehow subsisted on french fries alone, fought over the iPad, and woke each other up with middle-of-the-night cries.

But we went, and we’ll do it again sooner rather than later because we asked ourselves, ‘do I want to be bored at home, or slightly stressed somewhere else?’

It’s clear which scenario won, but only after considering the following criteria to figure out it would be worth the fuss:

1. It’s all about timing. If it’s a regular old weekend, I usually find it’s not worth the stress to pile into the car or pay for airline tickets just to rush back less than two days later unless we have a special reason to be somewhere. A three-day weekend, however, or a drive under five hours, makes it all seem much more doable.

2. Look at your village. If a three day weekend looms and we have no family or friends around to help pass the time, it’s almost always an automatic yes for me to leave town, even if no one sleeps or a vein in my forehead is about to pop out in the hotel restaurant. I still somehow always turn to my husband and say, “at least we’re not bored.” For me, light stress > boredom. 

3. Think about activities. With a 4 year old and a 21 month old, sitting at home all weekend is tough, and even a new episode of Bluey can’t always help. On a trip elsewhere, however, there are new museums or parks to check out, heated pools to swim in, and treats to try. I was particularly swayed by our hotel, The Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort, a newly renovated beauty that is a real gem for families. It has a super kid-friendly beach entry pool and our stay included free activities like a bounce house, T-shirt making, art projects, temporary tattoos, face painting, balloon animals, a candy buffet, and so much more. When the kids are happy, I’m happy.

4. $$$. This one is deeply personal, but it’s wise to think about how much you’d be comfortable spending on a weekend away. When the budget for lodging and travel line up, the deal is sealed for me. And staying home isn’t guaranteed to be cheap, either, when you consider meals, activities, and more to keep everyone occupied.

5. Be realistic. Me and my husband live by a golden rule that once you have kids, the best trips cater to them. Our vacations are always better when activities are centered around what our children enjoy. If we force them to go shopping for housewares or sample cheese at a farmer’s market, they’re going to act out. And I get it: adult interests bore them. We’re not going to Scottsdale to luxuriate by the pool — sigh — or enjoy casual dinners. We can try, but we’ll end up more stressed than we arrived. Instead, we take advantage of kid-friendly activities, and Scottsdale is a real standout for families with an incredible aquarium, butterfly pavilion, museums (children’s, musical instruments, and more), parks, gardens, zoos, and so much more. 

That’s what works for us. How do you decide whether to take that family trip or stick it out at home? If you have tips, share ‘em.

Talk + travel soon,
Emily

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