Amy Thistle Blog

There was a time when my idea of the perfect family vacation looked pretty straightforward.

A week at the beach. Matching family t-shirts (ok, not really, my family would never go for it). A carefully planned Disney itinerary. Character meals, pool days, fireworks, and plenty of family photos.

And honestly? It was wonderful.

But somewhere between toddler naps, elementary school schedules, middle school activities, high school sports, and AAU basketball tournaments, something changed.

Our vacations started evolving.

And I've learned that family travel isn't about recreating the same trip year after year. It's about creating the right trip for the season of life you're in.

The Vacation Years: When You're Traveling with Little Kids

When your children are young, vacations often revolve around creating magical memories.

This is the era of:

• Walt Disney World
• Disneyland
• Disney Cruise Line
• Universal Orlando Resort
• Beaches Resorts
• Short flights and easy itineraries
• Character hugs and bedtime stories

Every moment feels big.

Your children aren't worried about social media, sports schedules, jobs, or college applications. They simply want to spend time with you.

As a travel advisor, I always tell parents with young kids: don't wait for the "perfect age" to travel. There is something special about every stage. The toddler who screams with excitement when they see Mickey Mouse. The preschooler convinced Elsa is real. The elementary-aged child who believes they just rode with Harry Potter. You can never get those moments back.

Then Life Starts Filling the Calendar

Before you know it, your family calendar begins looking a little different: football games, basketball tournaments, school performances, club activities, and birthday parties.

Travel suddenly becomes less about finding available dates and more about finding ANY available dates.

Many parents stop traveling because they feel life is too busy. I encourage families to think differently. Instead of forcing travel to fit your life, let travel evolve with your life.

The Sports Parent Era: A Different Kind of Adventure

For our family, that shift came through basketball. What used to be vacations centered around theme parks and cruise ships started turning into weekends and tournaments in cities all over the country.

At first, I viewed them completely differently. A vacation was a vacation. A tournament was an obligation. But then something interesting happened. We started exploring these destinations. We found incredible local restaurants. We discovered museums we never would have visited. We walked through historic downtowns. We made memories in places we never would have intentionally chosen. And suddenly, those tournament weekends became part of our family travel story.

Whether your child plays basketball, soccer, volleyball, baseball, hockey, or participates in dance and cheer competitions, sports travel can become an unexpected gift.

Travel Tip: If you're heading to a tournament, arrive a day early or stay a day later. You'll often find lower flight stress, better hotel availability, and time to actually enjoy the destination instead of treating it like a quick in-and-out trip. Or if spending extra time in a destination isn't possible, take advantage of the downtime in between games!

Vacations Don't Have to Look Like Instagram

One of the biggest lessons I've learned is that comparison steals joy.

It's easy to scroll social media and think every family is spending spring break in Aruba or every summer vacation is a perfectly curated European adventure. The reality? Many families are navigating busy schedules, budgets, activities, and competing priorities. Some years may be filled with cruises and theme parks. Other years may involve weekend road trips to basketball tournaments. Both count. Both create memories. Both matter.

Travel Tips for Busy Families

No matter what stage you're in, here are a few travel strategies I frequently recommend:

• Use TSA PreCheck or Global Entry: If your family travels even a few times each year, these programs can make airport days significantly smoother.
• Book Earlier Than You Think: Popular destinations such as Disney, cruises, all-inclusive resorts, and school vacation periods often have the best availability and pricing when booked well in advance.
• Build Flexibility Into Your Plans: Especially if sports schedules or activities can change unexpectedly.
• Consider Travel Protection: Life happens. A good travel protection plan can provide valuable peace of mind. If you haven't heard my story about Memphis and how travel protection saved me, reach out.
• Work With a Travel Advisor: Not because booking online is impossible, but because having someone who understands destination nuances, promotions, room categories, transportation, and travel logistics can save both time and stress.

Remember, the Best Vacation Is the One That Fits Your Life Right Now

Maybe right now your family is chasing princesses through Fantasyland. Maybe you're spending weekends at volleyball tournaments. Maybe you're planning a multigenerational Disney Cruise. Maybe you're finally taking that adults-only escape to Sandals after years of traveling with young children.

Every version is valid.
Every version matters.
And every version creates memories.

As a travel advisor, one of my favorite things is helping families discover what travel looks like for them right now. Whether that's Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, Universal Orlando, Universal Hollywood, Royal Caribbean, Virgin Voyages, Sandals, Beaches, an all-inclusive resort, a European adventure, or simply finding ways to make that sports tournament weekend a little more memorable, I'd love to help.

Because the best vacation isn't defined by a destination. It's defined by the people you're sharing it with.

Please reach out to me, Amy Thistle, at amy.thistle@mickeyguru.com or 508-277-8707 if you’d like to talk travel or hear my Memphis story 🙂