Why Children Should Help Plan Family Vacations

Vacation evolution means more adventure

Allison Sotelo walks through Balboa Park with her husband and two daughters.

She said when the family goes on vacation, they have one simple goal: "As long as everyone is having fun."

But that's not always easy, and unhappy children can spoil a good trip.

"We all know if you're on a trip with unhappy kids or sulking teenagers, you're miserable," said travel writer Eileen Ogintz. 

She told NBC 7 the key to family happiness on vacation is getting the family excited in planning the trip.

"You definitely should get the kids involved in planning it," said Ogintz. "A lot of times you would be surprised as to what the kids say they want to do."

Ogintz is the author of the syndicated column "Taking The Kids" and believes when the family is vested in where they are going, the happier everyone is going to be.

Jeffry Eslinger, who works for the travel research company D.K. Shifflet & Associates, said for kids today, the world is literally at their fingertips.

"Before it was the parent who said, 'Guess what, kids? We're going to wherever,'" said Eslinger.

Now children have the advantage of social media and websites to discover great family trips.

According to Eslinger, modern families are the most traveled Americans in the history of the country, with Gen X and Millennial families opting for more active experiences in their vacations.

Instead of "drive-by" vacations, families are choosing trips that involved hiking, biking, eco-trips and more. Families are also visiting foreign countries like Europe, Central America and Asia.

But no matter where families go, these experts are convinced that getting everyone involved in the planning will make for a happier trip.

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