Going on vacation can be a great way to relax, unwind, and have a fun time with your family. However, that doesn’t mean going on vacation is guaranteed to provide you with the enjoyable experience you’re looking for. Plenty of travelers have experienced bad vacations that made them wish they would have just stayed at home instead.
Don’t avoid traveling in the future because you had a bad experience on vacation! You just have to make sure you prepare properly for whatever kind of family vacation you’re planning. That’s especially the case if you’re planning on a mountain vacation.
Plan Exciting Things to Do
The mountains themselves can be quite exciting, especially if majestic mountain peaks aren’t the norm where you live. That doesn’t mean the only thing you want to do on your vacation is stare at the glory of the mountain tops.
Make sure you plan one or two exciting things to do while you’re on vacation, especially if you’re traveling with young ones. For example, the Pigeon Forge Area is a great place to visit in the Smoky Mountains. It’s the home of Dollywood, after all!
Many mountain areas don’t have theme parks for you to visit, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t other exciting things for you to do. Catch a show, take a helicopter ride, or buy tickets to a rodeo. Every mountain has something unique to offer visitors.
Spend Time Outdoors
It’s important to make sure everyone in the family has something exciting to look forward to while on vacation, but don’t forget to spend plenty of time outdoors. The mountains offer natural areas that you won’t find anywhere else.
That might mean spending a day on the trails or skiing down the mountain side, but consider adding camping to your trip.
Camping comes with many benefits. Not to mention, it really is the best way to soak up the nature that surrounds you in the mountains.
Pack Wisely
Packing is something many travelers don’t think much about, but it can make or break your vacation experience. A little planning can ensure everyone is comfortable throughout your entire trip.
Look up the forecast when packing for a trip to the mountains. The summer may require you to pack shorts and skirts, while a winter vacation will require pants and coats.
Just because you are traveling to the mountains in the summer doesn’t mean you won’t need warm weather clothing. High altitudes can get chilly in the evenings, so you should plan on bringing sweatshirts, no matter when you’re traveling.
Bring comfortable hiking shoes, and bring any special gear you might need, depending on what kind of mountain vacation you’re planning.
Be Prepared to Deal with Altitude Sickness
Every trip has its own unique challenges. A long car trip includes planning to avoid leg cramps, a trip on a cruise ship includes planning ahead to deal with seasickness, and vacationing in the mountains means preparing to deal with altitude sickness.
A few tips include:
- Avoid caffeine and alcohol
- Drink twice as much water as usual
- Acclimate by staying at intermediate altitudes
- Take things slow if you aren’t feeling well
Fortunately, for most people, symptoms are mild and don’t interfere with daily activities. In addition, most people find that their symptoms diminish fairly quickly. However, if you continue to feel disoriented, or if you develop problems breathing, you should descend down the mountain. If your symptoms are severe, you should visit the ER immediately.
Plan to Put the Electronics Away
Phones can ruin your vacation. Make sure everyone in the family is present and takes in everything the mountains have to offer by putting the electronics away.
The best way to ensure everyone in your family stays off their phones is to turn them off and leave them at the hotel, but if you’re staying in the wilderness, not everyone should leave their phones behind.
Make sure you have a phone so you can call for help if you need it. Even if you don’t have service, your wireless provider may have a record of your last location or an attempted call, which can save your life if you find yourself lost in the wilderness.
Planning is important, no matter what kind of vacation you want to take. With the unique nature of a mountain vacation, it is even more important to plan ahead. Make sure the entire family is prepared to be comfortable and have fun throughout the duration of your trip with the tips on this list.
