In the Proclamation on the Family (read it here), we read:
Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities.
Family vacations can fall under “wholesome recreational activities.” Does your family go on vacations (holidays)? If so, what are some of your family vacation traditions? Does your family visit the same place on a regular basis, or do you vary your location?
If you don’t go somewhere away from home (sometimes called a “staycation”), what kinds of “recreational activities” does your family enjoy together?
How do vacations and recreational activities bring your family closer together?
You can read responses from Mormon women below in the comments section.
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*If you would like, please send us photos and stories of your family vacations. This can include great memories and funny or spiritual experiences. Please email them to us at ‘mormonwoman’ AT ‘gmail’ DOT ‘com’.
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For articles at lds.org about family traditions and family fun, see the following:
More Smiles Per Gallon: Ten Ways to Make Family Vacations More Fun
See “Finances and Family Fun” in this Random Sampler for one family’s creative idea for an alternative plan for a family vacation when they were on a limited budget
We had this topic (sort of) for Sacrament Meeting yesterday. One of the speakers said that last summer they did a weeklong ice cream extravaganza and taste tested all the ice cream parlors around town to find the best one. They had some rules,
1) The place had to make their own ice cream
2) They went every day of the week (except Sunday of course)
3) They polled for texture, taste, mix ins…whatever they wanted.
She said that they had more fun doing that then if they went somewhere for the week AND they saved money AND slept in their own beds. Sounds fun to me.
Where we live, there are a ton of mini lakes and parks. We might try something like that for the lakes and parks. You could also do farmer’s markets or museums. Many museums in the summer have reduced prices or free days.
We like to camp. But in a camper. I know, I know, that’s not real camping. But we enjoy sleeping on matresses and having a crib for our baby stowed and ready to go.
My favorite places to camp are,
Yosemite
Elk Prairie State Park in the Redwoods near the Californina and Oregon boder.
Henry Cowell State Park in Santa Cruz
Up by the Grand Tetons/Yellowstone National Park
Cisco Grove near Lake Tahoe CA.
I’ll be sure to send in some pictures. Family vacations are the best way for my family to reconnect. This summer is “The Summer of Sisterhood” at our house (we have 3 daughters) so I’m trying to foster friendships between my own kids rather than having a lot of friends over. My kids seem to love each other and are kinder to one another after a camping trip.