Vacation Planning: What formula works for us?
I’ve written about our vacation planning process in the past, which involves thinking through our “formula” for what makes us happy.
Here’s what I’ve written about our “vacation formula” in the past:
Staying in comfortable AirBnBs that feel relaxing is our preferred way. We like access to water. We prefer quiet to noise. Matt needs space to run. I need warm weather. We need at least a queen sized bed. Two bedrooms is a must. We ideally like to reconnect with old friends while traveling.
Well, it’s a good thing that going to our vacation home fits into our formula because that’s where we’re going for Fall Break, Thanksgiving Break, and probably Spring Break! We can’t afford to do much else while we pay off the debt we incurred by setting up our vacation house to be a short-term rental.
Even though we’re going to a place we’ve already been, I’d like to be intentional about how we spend our time and what kind of adventures we go on.
Here’s what I’m thinking for Fall Break:
- Barton Hills Farm for their Fall Festival pumpkin patch
- Paddle boarding at Buescher State Park and dinner in Smithville (probably at Honey’s for pizza)
- A Scavenger Hunt downtown with takeout and a picnic by the river (with a lottery ticket prize)
- Paddle boarding and swimming at Lake Bastrop
- A hike on the Riverside Trail with a junk food picnic
Bastrop Restaurants to Try
- Neighbor’s
- Roadhouse
- Jasmine’s Thai Cuisine
- Honey’s Pizza
- Ooh, Matt and I might order a pizza for the kids and head out on our own for a date night at Store House Market & Eatery
How to Involve the Family
Before I finalize this list, I’ll get input from Matt and the kids and see what additional ideas they have. Then I’ll write these options on tiny sticky notes and put them in my journal. I’ll draw a mini-calendar of our week in my journal, and we can work together each day to decide what we want to do by selecting the sticky note and placing it on the schedule.
We’ll also probably do two family movie nights, one family video game night, and two “on your own” nights where the boys will choose their own stuff to do and Matt and I will watch a movie together.
Oh, and two nights at the Sugar Shack for ice-cream or old-fashioned candy!