Prelude Kids

Kids > Thanks for Travel

Foregoing the turkey won’t be so difficult when you are catching some rays and relaxing instead.

words by > Joanne Cronrath Bamberger

November travel for many is synonymous with surviving the crowded highways in hopes of making it to grandma’s house in time for the Thanksgiving turkey. However, some say that the extended Thanksgiving holiday break can be a great time to head to a vacation spot and create some lasting lifelong memories.

Susan Newman, a social psychologist and author of the book Little Things Long Remembered: Making Your Children Feel Special Every Day, says there’s a lot to be said for the idea of abandoning the traditional holiday commitments and finding a place where everyone can kick back.

“Destination travel can represent a chance for everyone to relax without the hassle of preparing meals, cleaning up and doing mountains of laundry. Relatives can focus on each other and on catching up while they relax and share new sites and cultures, both of which are memory-making in themselves,” says Newman. One Maryland family that took a vacation last Thanksgiving couldn’t agree more.

“For the first time last year, my husband and I decided to take our family on a getaway vacation instead of sharing Thanksgiving with our extended families,” says Linda Loranger, a mother of two in Chevy Chase, Maryland.

“There was no debate over whose family to spend the holiday with, no tension about the kids behaving at their grandparents’ home. The best part was that we actually got to spend a lot of time together—a lot of time where we were not racing off to an event or visiting people. We got to laugh at each other’s jokes, sleep late and explore new things as a family. It felt good to be together—just us,” says Loranger.

Barbara Fiese, Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychology at Syracuse University, cautions, however, that if families decide to start a new tradition with a holiday getaway, they should consider bringing a little bit of something from home, like a small object that would normally be included on the Thanksgiving table, to promote holiday continuity even if the family is off on vacation.

Get Inspired

So once you’ve decided to give up the turkey and cranberry sauce for a family getaway, how do you choose a trip that will make the whole clan happy? With winter upon us, someplace warm like Grand Bahama Island could spice up the family Thanksgiving. Daytime temperatures of around 75°F are definitely conducive to family-friendly outdoor activities.

While there are plenty of beautiful Bahamian beaches, Lucayan National Park on Grand Bahama Island (www..grand-bahama.com/lucayan.htm) boasts forests, rare flowers and underwater caves. The park’s wooden boardwalk makes for easy hiking for travelers of all ages.

If frolicking with dolphins has been a long-time dream, here even small children will be able to enjoy a close encounter. No swimming experience is required to meet and greet the dolphins at the Underwater Explorer Society (www.unexso.com), where platforms in shallow water allow even the most timid to get up close and personal.

Over Thanksgiving weekend, the Lucaya Cricket Club hosts one of its annual cricket tournaments.

But if learning to play cricket sounds like more fun than just watching, don’t worry.

The Lucaya Cricket Club is open a few days a week for novices to try out this most British of sports that has been adopted by so many Caribbean islands.