Family vacations are when lifelong memories are made, so make sure they are good ones by setting a few ground rules with your kids. Nothing major; vacation is supposed to be fun so you don't want to make their eyes roll even before you roll into Myrtle Beach. Here are a few tips for making sure everyone in the family has a good time together:
* Tell your older kids to enjoy their cell phones and video games during the drive or the flight, because once we get to the beach the gadgets go off. They can be used at night before bedtime or during some approved downtime, but we're not going to spend our vacation texting friends back home. Besides, there's too much to do at Paradise Resort for them to get bored. Just steps from the beach and even fewer to the indoor and outdoor pools, lazy river, and waterpark, Paradise has the perfect cure for cell phone withdrawals.
* The best way to keep your children active and engaged during your stay is through the Paradise Kids Club. Offering a wide range of activities, games and projects, the Kids Club provides fun opportunities to socialize in a safe, supervised setting. Kids Club counselors host events for all interests, from arts and crafts to pool games, and from beachcombing to ice cream parties. Most Kids Club activities are free, although some require a small fee to cover the cost of food or materials. It's a great chance for your kids to meet other children their age staying at the resort, and it even allows parents to get a breather.
* There are so many things to see and do in Myrtle Beach that you can't possibly enjoy them all in one trip. Besides, it can get expensive trying to hop from one place to the next without a game plan. Depending on the number of children you have with you, let each pick one thing they want to do, within reason. It has to be an activity the whole family can do, but make the choices as democratic as possible. Be sure to check out the Sun & Fun Bonus package you receive at check-in for free passes to some of Myrtle Beach's top attractions, including the Myrtle Beach SkyWheel, Ripley's Aquarium, WonderWorks and more.
* To give your kids maximum bang for your vacation bucks, keep an eye out for opportunities to do free stuff. During the warmer months, free concerts, fireworks shows and festivals are held almost nightly on the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, and popular spots like Broadway at the Beach and Barefoot Landing hold regular fireworks displays. The next best thing to free is discounted, and you will find a variety of complimentary coupon books in the Paradise lobby. Families can save on attractions, dining, shopping and more by clipping a few coupons.
* Although this is a family vacation and should be spent as a group, try to spend some alone time with each child as well. It doesn’t have to be a full day trip away from the others, or even require leaving the property. It can be something as simple as a short stroll down the beach looking for shells or a late visit to the pool or hot tub while the others are winding down in the room. Many parents find that their children are more open to in-depth conversation when you are both out of the usual environment. Those are the moments both of you will remember from your summer vacation as the approaching years speed past.
(Posted: 2/24/15)
