With only 18 summers in a child’s life, it’s very important that you make an effort to plan for something special to capture those childhood memories with your kids and if possible extended family.

Have you ever considered a vacation with your extended family?

I personally recommend planning for a summer vacation getaway with your children and children’s grandparents. Planning it at the end of the summer somehow seems to make summer feel longer. It’s also a special way to end the summer making memories before the business of the school year starts.

For our family, it’s our way of pressing pause and really enjoying moments with our children and with our parents.

Disclosure: Wyndham provided us with a complimentary vacation condo during our stay. I did not receive any monetary compensation for this post. All opinions expressed are my own and my family’s.

Planning a Trip with Extended Family

We planned a multi-generation stay in Orlando with grandparents who are visiting us from India.
This summer trip we were invited as guests at the WyndhamBonnet Creek Resort in Orlando. Here’s a sneak peek of our stay at this gorgeous resort along with some tips we’ve learned after traveling with our whole family for many years.

These tips can help you plan your next adventure with your extended family to your favorite destination.

As you begin to plan for your family vacation getaway it’s always best to get together and find a system that works for everyone. Here are a few online tools that we use as a family with my parents, my husband’s parents, our siblings and their families, and even close friends when we plan vacations with a large group.

We’ve planned quite a few trips with kids that include family members and I’d like to share some tips that work best while planning. It takes a little time and finesse to plan all your fun vacation activities.

Pick a Destination

This is probably the hardest task of them all!

As a family, we keep an ongoing list with our extended family of places we’d like to explore.
We each try to find budget-friendly deals at those locations when possible. We’ve traveled to the beach, mountains, and even a cruise together with multi-generations but pretty much any location can work.

We have a Pinterest Board filled with Places to Travel if you’re looking for inspiration. This summer we wanted to be in Orlando with a variety of options to choose from.

{Click here} for my post about places to Visit in Orlando.

Find a Destination to Accommodate a Large Group

As you are choosing a vacation destination I recommend looking for a location that can hold a large group with multiple rooms. Booking a large space at times can be more budget-friendly too.

We all need space at times during the extended trip, especially when you have little ones who need naps too so having separate sleep areas can help. Be sure that it provides a full kitchen. With a large group on vacation, you can save a lot of money making meals at home together. Many larger places require a week’s stay so keep that in mind while you are searching.

We planned our trip at Wyndham Bonnet Creek in Orlando at the end of summer because of the choice of having 1, 2, or 3 bedrooms with your vacation condo. The condo had a large common area for all of use to spend time together and at the same time also had the ability for us to each get ready in our own areas and for the kids to have some playtime together too. 

The full size kitchen and eating area was a helpful feature so that everyone could sit down to eat together at mealtime. There’s something very special about having all of your family eating meals together for a period of time that helps to build connections and memories.

One thing to keep in mind as you schedule is to give your family time to just enjoy the space that you’ve booked for the week. Many facilities have great amenities to keep your family entertained. Our resort, Wyndham Bonnet Creek, had far more amenities than we could ever have anticipated. Plus they have a daily activities calendar too. We enjoyed discovering all of the features together each day. 

They had 5 pools, splash park, 2 lazy rivers, private cabanas, hot tubs, kids’ playground, volleyball court, ping-pong tables, pool tables, walking path, fitness center, game rooms, picnic area with grills, kids craft center, and much more! We packed a few family games that we knew everyone loves to play too for back in the room too when we need downtime to refresh.

Honestly the lazy river, near our condo in Tower 5, attracted our family the most and we spent several hours there floating around the pool in our tubes. I loved that there were grandchildren, grandparents, aunts, uncles and parents all doing the same thing with smiles, laughter and relaxation.

We floated and swam around it as we enjoyed the castle features and cannons that splashed us. We packed a snack and drinks in our cooler so that we could stay there a bit longer. A few of the pools even had water slides, one even looked like a pirate ship!

One of the highlights of our trip at Bonnet Creek was each night to be in our room on the balcony when it was time for Disney’s Fireworks. Since the resort is on Disney property you are so close! From our balcony all of us joined together to watch them at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. They were gorgeous reflecting over the water.

Create a Vacation Board on Pinterest

• Research Local Attractions together as a whole family and add pin ideas onto a shared Pinterest Board.
• We usually make our secret board so no one needs to see what we’re planning outside of our family.
• Plus then we can type below in the comment section opinions about things and why they are ideal.
• You could even add the price of the venues on the pin description so you can budget accordingly.
• We make ours a Place Board so we can also highlight where the locations are that we are pinning. Makes it so easy to find when you are at your destination.

One tip is to start with a hotel’s feature page. Many Hotels have already done the search for you on what’s close by. Many hotels and visitors bureaus have also started creating their own Pinterest Boards too.

Ideas for Things to do in Orlando

We did spend quite a few days at Bonnet Creek Resort however since we were there for a whole week we also had days to go on adventures together in the mornings or afternoons. We spent time at Downtown Disney Area near the Resort. Then we drove up to International Drive to explore the new Sea Life and the Orlando Eye.

We also drove over to the Florida Mall to go to the new Crayola Experience. No trip to Orlando is complete without a beach trip so we drove up to the Central Florida Zoo on our way to Daytona Beach. It was so much fun exploring these locations together as a whole family. 

Plus we had our good friends who are local join the fun a few times too! The more the merrier!

Of course, with the resort on Disney property, we could have easily spent time visiting the Disney amusement parks.

We’re saving that for our next time visit this fall when it’s a bit cooler. Here’s our Planning for Disney Pinterest Board we can’t wait!

Perhaps a quick trip to SeaWorld too, we loved it last holiday season.

Create a Google Calendar-

One way that we’ve found to be effective is to use a Google Calendar to schedule out our days. Once you add multiple people to an experience it’s helpful to be sure everyone in on the same page and has felt that their interests are being expressed.

You could even add in a link from your Pinterest board pin to be sure everyone knows what’s planned.

Communicate on a Google Document or Facebook Group–

Find one method that works for your family to discuss the trip. We’ve done both ways and either way using a Google document or a Facebook group with files works well. It’s a way that no matter where you log in, you can view it and add to it when needed. It also keeps an Audit track of who added what notes.

Share Responsibilities with Everyone–

We took turns being the person who does various roles such as cooking dinner. It’s a vacation and trust me it takes a little bit of work with so many people in one spot to be sure one person doesn’t feel that they need to take care of the whole family. The kids really get into helping when they know what’s expected of them too. 

We hung the task list up on the fridge so everyone could remember what they committed to. Having so many family members in one space it’s important to keep things organized.

Create a Vacation Meal Plan Together-

We all have our own little things that we enjoy eating so take time before the trip to plan out what needs to be added to the grocery list. My suggestion is to only send one person or two to the store to grab all the items on the list.
It can be overwhelming if everyone joins the shopping adventure.

Take a peek at the area you are visiting and find a few select restaurants that you want to save as special experiences together. With larger groups see if they take reservations so that your family isn’t having to wait for long periods of time for a table. Bring something for ALL the kids to do so that they are entertained. Bigger tables tend to take a little bit longer for service, especially when all the grown-ups are having fun talking.

Discover Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort

Our vacation at Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort had a variety of options to keep our family entertained and make lifelong memories together. The property was well maintained with active and friendly staff. The landscaping surrounding the entire property made you feel like you were in a tropical paradise. Our condo itself was beautifully furnished with everything you need for your family to live there for a week but still make it feel like a special experience in an upscale family friendly space.

The Vij Family Review

Our family had an amazing vacation at the resort that we will never forget. I’ve already asked my parents to look at their calendars to see when we can book a trip with them and the kids to return. The kids’ favorite was the lazy river feature. The view from our room in Tower 5 on the 10th floor made our experience extra special each morning and night.

Grandparents Review

Our favorite was the fireworks each night with our grandchildren and the evening walks around the beautiful lake.
Being able to spend time together as a family was priceless.

Aunt and Uncle’s Review

It was such a fun trip for our extended family to stay together and enjoy quality family time at Wyndham Resort. Kids enjoyed the lazy river with cousins and activities offered by the resort. Watching fireworks from the balcony was one of the memories that will stay with us forever. We can’t wait to plan our family reunion again there.

We hope you find these tips helpful as you plan your next vacation getaway with extended family. With the convenience of online tools, you’ll be set for success and able to spend quality time with your whole family making memories that last a lifetime.

Have a tip for vacationing with extended family? Please tell us below in the comment section.

Thank you Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort

Thank you to our new friends at Club Wyndham for inviting us to be their guests for the week. Club Wyndham is a leader in providing world-class vacation ownership experiences, with more than 75 resorts found in America’s most popular destinations.

Be sure to follow them on Facebook,Twitter,Instagram,Pinterest and visit their siteto check out how you can book your next trip

Club Wyndham** LIKE IT? PIN IT!**

Click here to see MORE Travel Ideas

Disclosure: This post was written in collaboration with Dolphin Research Center. All opinions expressed are my own.

If you come to the Florida Keys, the Dolphin Research Center is a must-visit! 

The facility is built along the waterfront with beautiful views of Florida Bay and visitors are free to linger.

The Dolphin Research Center is an educational and research facility. There isn’t a scripted show but instead, they offer narrated behavior sessions as visitors stand on the dock around open-water tanks. 

Want a peek? Take a look now at their Dolphin Webcam!  

Best Place to See Dolphins in the Keys

If you’re planning a trip to the Florida Keys there’s a high chance you have one question on the top of your list. Where is the best place to see dolphins in the Keys?

The answer is the Dolphin Research Center!

Personally, I first learned about the Dolphin Research Center from a friend Jonathan Pruden, Special Advisor to the Chief of Staff – Warrior Care, at Wounded Warrior Project.

He had mentioned at a get-together with friends how much the impact of the soldiers visiting this location during the Wounded Warrior Project Soldier Ride while in the Florida Keys. He and the wounded veterans he was working with were invited to swim with the dolphins as part of a Wounded Veteran Rehabilitation. For many of the participants, the dolphin swim can further empower them on their journey to restore their physical and emotional well-being.

As I was planning our Key West Vacation, a visit to see dolphins was a must.

One look at their weekly Facebook Live Videos and you can easily see why everyone loves it and the work they do there. I knew Dolphin Research Center was the spot to go.

My dolphin obsessed daughters were over the moon excited when they found out we planned to go to this popular attraction in the Florida Keys.

We’ve seen a few dolphins in our recent visit to our local Florida beach in the water near us and at SeaWorld but this was a whole other level of experience we all wanted to explore.

Has your child ever seen a dolphin?

Dolphin Research Center

Dolphin Research Center has become an international tourist destination with more than 70,000 visitors a year. Their programs, practices, and principles are shared around the world. With three generations of dolphins, two generations of animal trainers, and a staff of 80.

It’s located on Grassy Key in the heart of the fabulous Florida Keys. It’s a little more than two hours from Miami and about an hour and twenty minutes from Key West.

The bottlenose dolphins living there provide a range of personalities and backgrounds. Over half of their family was born at the Center, while the other members have either come from other facilities or were rescued, rehabilitated and deemed unreleasable back into the wild by the Government and now have a forever home at Dolphin Research Center. 

The open-air facility is an extension of the open water, with tiki huts throughout the lagoons where research and programming take place.

It’s a gorgeous location in the Florida Keys! I could sit and observe the dolphins and water all day long! The shade provided by the numerous and striking tiki huts was so inviting.

We were fortunate to visit the center when a dolphin had recently given birth to a baby dolphin. While we were there the staff had a session where they were demonstrated how they teach all new mothers to pump breast milk, volunterarily. I had no idea this was even a possibility.

Although doing well now, the baby dolphin was having some issues at the time, so they were provided extra support in a smaller holding tank staffed 24/7.

While the tour and information sessions can be experienced in an hour or two, many visitors stay for several hours watching the dolphins and talking with the friendly, well-informed staff.

It’s also pretty entertaining to watch the guests who paid extra to interact with dolphins. The Dolphin Research Center offers several interactive options.

Here’s the newest addition the the family!

Dolphin Research Center Mission – Through education, research, and rescue, Dolphin Research Center promotes peaceful coexistence, cooperation, and communication between marine mammals, humans, and the environment we share with the well-being of DRC’s animals taking precedence. 

Programs Available to Book at Dolphin Research Center

Here are the four options most visitors choose from as an upgrade from the general addmission ticket. These range from going for a swim with the dolphin and your pulled by a dorsel fin or to have an interactive session on the dock where you get to touch a flipper. You pick one that fits your child’s interest and your budget level.

• Dolphin Encounter
• Family Dolphin Splash
• Meet the Dolphin
• Play with a Dolphin

Are you still wondering where is the best place to swim with dolphins in Florida Keys?

Take a closer look at your experience when you swim with the dolphins in the Florida Keys.

Here are some of the additional amazing interactive programs they offer.

• Ultimate Trainer for the Day
• VIP Experience
• Researcher Experience
• Paint with the Dolphin
• Exclusive Private Dolphin Encounter

Dolphin Research Center offers a wide variety of outreach options to meet the varying needs of events and audiences.

Their encounter programs help cognition and behavior, provide programs to military personnel and their families, work with people with special needs, and develop top educational programs for students of all ages.

Educational Programs at Dolphin Research Center

Dolphin Research Center offers a variety of programs to meet the different ages, grade levels, interests and other needs of various audiences.

• Dolphin Field Trips 
• Bring a dolphin into your classroom! (Virtually)
• Dolphin DayCamp
• Dolphin Camp
• Teen DolphinLab
• Adult Basic DolphinLab
• Dolphin Coloring Pages 

Distance Learning Programs at Dolphin Research Center

As much as you’d like to bring your students to Dolphin Research Center, sometimes, that just isn’t possible. Dolphin Research Center’s virtual field trips, video conferences and distance learning programs help bring the dolphins into your classroom, wherever you’re located!

Thanks to a web camera and internet technology, you and your classroom can visit Dolphin Research Center, meet their marine mammal family, and engage in question-and-answer sessions with experts in the fields of marine mammal care, training, and research.

Printable Dolphin Curriculum Pages

Dolphin Research Center now offers its Curriculum materials as a FREE download for teachers! To access their free curriculum materials please contact the School Programs and Outreach Coordinator. 

Here’s a peek at how interactive the live videos are with you!

A big thanks to our knowledable and friendly guide Mary Stella. She is the media relations coordinator at Dolphin Research Center and her passion and connection with dolphins gleamed as she shared with us the magic behind the scenes at this amazing center.

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Dolphin Books for Kids

I love getting ready for trips and following up our trips with books with the kids. Here are some of my favorite dolphin books for kids to get you ready for your dolphin adventure.

Your child may also like to make this dolphin facts spinner printable to learn more about dolphins.

The Dolphin Research Center was a highlight of our trip to the Florida Keys. The facility was beautiful, the variety of experiences with the dolphins was amazing and the staff were so friendly and informative. We can’t wait to return again soon.

The girls are eyeing all the camps they have available for their summer plans in the future. Can you imagine what an experience that would be!

We highly encourage you to plan your next visit to Miami or the Florida Keys to include a visit to the Dolphin Research Center.

You may also enjoy these family travel ideas near Key West…

Here’s a look at our experience on Key Largo Princess Glass Bottom Boat Cruise…

Disclosure: This post was written in collaboration with the Key Largo Princess, Miami Visitors Bureau, and Go City® Pass. This post contains Amazon affiliate links. All opinions expressed are my own.

Glass Bottom Boat Tour in the Florida Keys

One thing we’ve heard friends talk about is the importance of getting out on the water when you’re visiting the Florida keys. Since we’re not boat owners and have never navigated driving a boat in the ocean, we did the next best thing and found an amazing boat experience for our family on our vacation to the Florida Keys.

We booked a reservation with the Key Largo Glass Bottom Boat Cruise for an afternoon tour for my husband’s birthday! It was such a fun way to celebrate his special day.

Nothing says Florida vacation than waiting for a boat under the tiki hut and palm trees to kick off your fun. This experience is located in Key Largo approximately 90 minutes away from Miami, depending on traffic.

Here’s a peek at what the glass bottom boat looks like!

On our family road trip to Key West, we stopped first in Key Largo for this one-of-a-kind experience on the gorgeous turquoise waters over the Molasses Reef.

With the help of your own magical window on this unique glass bottom boat, you’re transported as a guest into a beautiful underwater world.

To get out to the reef we headed onto the glass bottom boat through the canal, past some gorgeous homes, and within 45 minutes we were hovering over the coral reef.

They also provide cocktails and snacks for purchase for passengers on board too.

Comprised of over 200 separate islands and islets, the Florida Keys have the only living coral reef formations to be found in the continental United States.

Six miles offshore, the view is beneath the waves. It’s Molasses Reef, the most accessible living coral reef in the United States, a slice of the Caribbean in the Florida Keys.

And it’s the main reason that John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park exists.

The John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park encompasses an impressive 70 nautical square miles. Visitors view the park’s colorful coral reefs and marine life on a glass-bottom boat tour. You can get an even closer look by scuba diving or snorkeling.

You’ll love the experiences available at the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. Did you know it is the first undersea park in the United States?

FUN FACT: Did you know that we also have two marine monuments in the United States?

You can find and explore the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument in the Atlantic Ocean and Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument in the Pacific Ocean.

As you board the yacht, you’ll see the glass bottom panels on the first level. They are pretty cool! Plus the space is air conditioned.

But don’t stop there…

We’d suggest heading up to the second level for some gorgeous ocean view, and breeze, and honestly, it helps with not getting seasick, especially with little ones.

Although the back of the boat has two benches and less bounce from the waves at times, we headed to the front of the ship to get the best winds and view on our way out to the coral reef.

TIP: Don’t forget to wear sunglasses and sunscreen.
(and maybe motion sickness medication if you’re prone to that)

While we headed out to sea, we were lucky to spot a few sea turtles swimming in the waters too as they came up for air. It was so beautiful!

The panoramic views of various ever-changing colors of blues as we headed out a few miles into the Atlantic Ocean will forever be etched into my memory.

Once we arrived at the coral reef the Captain encouraged the passengers to head below for a navigated tour of what you could see through the viewing panels. The guide pointed out all kinds of sea creatures which may include sea fans, sea plumes, and hundreds of fish ranging from small tropical to larger species sought after by local fishermen.

GRAB a GoCity Pass to popular US Cities and SAVE MONEY and MAKE MEMORIES!

Best Places to Visit with Go City® Miami Pass

The one thing we look for when we head to big cities is if they have a Go City® Pass! It makes exploring the city so easy and opens many doors to things that are family-friendly.

Did you know that there are many Key West attractions are included in the Go City Miami Pass?

Here are the Go City Miami Attractions in the Key West Area:

• Key Largo Princess Glass Bottom Boat Cruise
• Sunset Watersports Key West Snorkel Dip & Sip
• Island Safari Bike Rental
• Sunset Watersports Key West 2 Hour Kayak Rental
• Sunset Watersports Paddleboard Rental
• Harry S. Truman Little White House
• Key West Aquarium
• Key West Shipwreck Treasure Museum

We’d suggest getting a GoCity Pass to explore the Florida keys on your next adventure which includes this memorable glass bottom boat cruise. Here’s more info about the Go City Pass.

Go City Miami Pass

There is a Go City Miami Pass with two options. You can either choose the…

You can purchase your own GoCity Miami Pass with this link {Buy Now}

We had such a fun experience on the Key Largo Princess Glass Bottom Tour. It was our first time out of the water in the Florida keys and it will definitely be our first of many to come!

Are you ready to book your own Glass Bottom Boat Cruise experience in the Florida Keys?

You may also enjoy these family travel ideas in Florida…

Here’s how to make your own Spring Break Scrapbook with kids that’s budget-friendly.

Making a Spring Break Scrapbook with Kids

A vacation away from school is something our kids look forward to each spring for spring break.  Whether you have a special trip planned or even just a week of fun at home here’s an activity that you can do.  

It’s so simple but the impact is huge as it’s a way for them to remember all the little things that they did.  Plus you can sneak is a little bit of learning too through this writing activity.  With just a few materials your child can create this spring break keepsake.  

Here’s what you’ll need…

This post contains affiliate links 

Materials for Spring Break Scrapbook

• Photos from Spring Break
• Paper or Premade Blank Book
• Pencil
• Markers or Crayons
• Alphabet Stickers
• Printer 
• Stapler

Directions for Spring Break Scrapbook

1.  Grab some papers and staple them together for a scrapbook or you can grab a premade blank book online . We grabbed a package of these books at Target’s Dollar Spot for $3.

2. While you’re on vacation have your child write about the experiences they are having wither you’re on a trip or even at home with fun spots around town for a staycation each day.  I would label them DAY 1 and Day 2 etc to make it chronological plus they can add some decorations.

3. Then encourage them to use a pencil and crayons to illustrate their favorite thing during the adventure.  Trust me these are the keepsakes you’ll treasure with their hand drawn art.

4. Next leave a blank page to add your spring break vacation Photos that you’ve printed at your local photo Shop or Online or use your Home Printer . Glue them into the book.

5. Then you Alphabet Stickers  to label the locations that you visited.

6. On the last page of the Spring Break Scrapbook add a map that you’ve printed on your printer or from a brochure so that they can work on their map skills too.

7. Read and enjoy long after your spring break vacation to remember those moment you share with your child.  Keep in mind what they add to the book often times are the little things that make their big moments in life.  Ice cream with the family, swimming together, reading a book under the trees.  

Of course a special spot they visited will be there too but I encourage you to find joy in the little things with your child over spring break.

What are your planning to do for Spring Break?  Tell us in the comments below.

Want to take a Virtual Spring Break?
Try these 60+ Ideas for a Spring Virtual Field Trip for Kids

I’m excited to say I believe that we’re ready! Our school supplies have been purchased, and new back-to-school clothes are organized and ready, it’s all very exciting.

Here’s a few tips to make the most out of your last weeks of summer.

Making Memories at The End of Summer with Kids

My husband and I decided to journey on a road trip the last few weeks of summer with our two children ages 3 and 8. I’m having so much fun on a Summer Road Trip with my family. I’d love for you to follow along at #vijfamilyroadtrip. 

I’m sharing most of the pictures on Instagram and twitter. You can find me sharing at http://instagram.com/theeducatorsspinonit. 

So far we’ve made it to Washington DC, New York City, Niagara Falls and Toronto. 

Any guesses where we’re headed next?  I’ll be sharing more details about our trip on our website all month long.

Now it’s time to see what you’ve been up to with your kids. Have you been following along this summer?Just to catch up here’s an easy reference guide to visit each week of #smartsummer.

Tons of activity ideas for your child to do at home throughout the school year too as we have fun with #learningafterschool.

Activities for School Ages

• Week 22     
• Week 23      
• Week 24      
• Week 25     
• Week 26
• Week 27
• Week 28
• Week 29     
• Week 30 

Now it’s your turn to share what you’ve been doing with your kids these last week’s of summer.

Back to School Resources for Parents

Did you get a chance to take a look at tons of ideas that have been shared in our Roundup of Back to School Resources from top kid bloggers all over.  Take a moment to see what they’ve shared. Join us all week long for our Back to School Facebook Party too! 

Ask your questions and we’ll find the answers for Back to School with your child!

You may also enjoy these activities for summer fun…