Expect the Unexpected Vacation Edition
You have arrived for your trip and start out with a beautiful day and plan for the rest of days to be just as beautiful. Then, the unexpected occurs. The weather has decided to interfere with your plans and now you feel like your vacation is ruined. I think we have all been there. I have been to sunny places during spring break only to find the temperature drop down to the 40’s when “normal” temperature is the 80’s. To quote Big Brother, “Expect the unexpected.” Here are 11 tips on how to make the most of your “down” days. Who knows, these might even be your best days of the vacation!
1. Pack at least one jacket or long sleeve and pants or be prepared to shop for them. If you have a poncho, pack one. They can cost anywhere from $10 to $20 per person at any tourist spot that you go to.
2. Look up a variety of indoor activities before you go. If keeping to a budget, check for free museums and activities in the area to add to your list. Then, write them down and draw an activity out of a hat and go do whatever activity you draw. The last thing you and your family will want to do is spend your vacation day arguing over what you might do.
3. If you plan on taking a day to souvenir shop on your trip, use the weather to your advantage and go that day instead of using one of the good weather days.
4. Pack a deck of cards or a game and have a day in the hotel bonding with the family. Some of our favorite games to play are UNO, Skip-Bo, and Spot-It.
5. If your hotel has indoor swimming, enjoy the pool. Bring a book and catch up on some reading.
6. If you have amusement park tickets and it is just chilly or just stormed for a little bit, you may want to still go to the park this day. Other people might avoid it and you may have shorter wait times to ride the rides and sometimes when it is cooler it is much more pleasant anyway! This is true of many attractions that have outdoor spaces, not just amusement parks. So unless, it is a major storm or situation that you need to evacuate the area or are required to stay indoors for, go and enjoy the day outside!
7. Always check the weather patterns for the location you are traveling to. If your dates are flexible, try avoiding hurricane and rainy seasons.
8. If you have overbooked yourself and family for your vacation, this could also be the perfect time to take a nap, watch a movie, and recover from your activities. The next day you will feel recharged and ready to take it on!
9. Ask the front desk of your hotel if there any local classes available to take like painting or cooking or any local events happening in the area.
10. If you drove, you may want to make a day trip on your vacation. Sometimes the weather is better only a couple hours away. As an added bonus you could get to know another city that you might want to travel to on your next getaway!
11. Last, plan to go outside and enjoy the activity you planned on anyway. Just be sure to wear proper clothes for it! I have taken a few falls because I packed tennis shoes rather than hiking shoes when walking trails that are wet or still have snow melting. Sometimes it is just best to embrace the unexpected and dance in the rain! You might just have the best day of your entire trip!
Find other Vacation Tips here.
What do you when the unexpected occurs? Share your tips below:
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Nice list. If I’m driving, I like to make a note of things I see as I arrive, like go karts, movie theaters, arcades and museums. Some of that stuff is easy to overlook when planning.