Countdown to Fun: 4 Creative Ways to Get the Whole Family Excited for Vacation

We all know the trip itself is magical—but what if I told you the fun can start long before you even pack your bags? One of the best parts of family travel is the anticipation. That giddy countdown, those shared conversations, and those “I can’t wait!” moments build connection before the car even leaves the driveway.

Here at Seldom A Dull Moment, we believe in making the entire vacation experience meaningful—from the first spark of dreaming to the final toast at your destination. So let’s talk about how to make the countdown just as memorable as the trip itself.

Here are four playful, connection-building activities your family will love in the days and weeks before departure.

1. Create a Countdown Chain

A vacation countdown chain is a classic—and for good reason! It’s visual, interactive, and gives the whole family something to look forward to each day.

Start with 100 days if you're feeling ambitious, or 30 days if your trip is just around the corner. Tear off a link each day as you get closer to go-time. Make it even more fun by writing prompts on each link like:

• “Share your favorite vacation memory.”
  
  

• “Guess what the weather will be like.”
  
  

• “Name one thing you're excited to eat!”
  
  

This daily ritual keeps everyone engaged and makes that final day feel like crossing the finish line.

2. Make a Vacation Bingo Card

Turn your itinerary into a game! A Vacation Bingo Card is a fun way to keep everyone engaged during the trip—but the real fun starts in the countdown phase, when you make it together.

Include a mix of activities, places, and silly goals like:

• Eat ice cream in a new town

• Spot a wild animal

• Take a silly family photo

• Try something new

• Visit a local market

• Wildcard! (For those spontaneous surprises that always end up being the best part)

Print it out, stick it on the fridge, and pack it in your day bag when you leave. There’s nothing more satisfying than shouting “Bingo!” in the middle of an adventure.

3. Build a Family Trip Playlist

Let the soundtrack to your adventure begin before the first mile is traveled. A trip playlist sets the tone and gets everyone in the mood.

Here’s how to make it a family project:

• Each family member picks a few favorite songs

• Add music that matches your destination—tropical beats, road trip anthems, acoustic adventure vibes

• Create themed sections like “Departure Day Hype,” “Chill Time,” and “Singalong Hits”

Name your playlist something fun like “Rahn Mountain Mix” or “Road Trip Rhythms 2025.” Play it while you pack, in the car, or even at your pre-trip dinner. Bonus: It’ll become the soundtrack of your memories.

4. Hold a “Before We Go” Family Meeting

Before the suitcases are zipped and the car is packed, take a few minutes to gather the crew for a Vacation Kickoff Meeting. It doesn’t need to be formal—just fun, light, and a little bit exciting.

Here’s how to make it meaningful and memorable:

• Revisit your “why.” Remind everyone why this trip matters—connection, adventure, relaxation, or all of the above.

• Walk through the itinerary and highlight a few can’t-miss adventures.

• Share feelings. Have each person say one thing they’re excited about and one thing they’re feeling a little nervous or unsure about. It helps everyone feel heard and supported.

• Chat about screen time, downtime, and what a “good day” might look like for everyone.

• Drop a surprise! Tease one wildcard activity to keep them guessing (mystery adds magic).

• Celebrate together—sparkling lemonade, mocktails, or even ice cream floats make the perfect sendoff treat.

It’s a great way to start your vacation with open communication, shared purpose, and a whole lot of team spirit.

The Countdown Is the Adventure

Vacations aren’t just about where you go—they’re about how you get there, together. These countdown activities bring joy, build connection, and turn the waiting into part of the memory-making.

So whether you’re heading to the mountains, the beach, or a dream destination across the globe—don’t just count the days. Make the days count.

Let’s Dream, Design, and Depart—together.

Need help planning a vacation that your whole family will be excited to count down to? Reach out to book a discovery call with me. I’d love to help you start the adventure early.

 Which countdown idea will your family try first? Share it in the comments or tag me on Instagram @laurarahn_travelcoach

Close to Home, Big on Fun: The Seldom A Dull Moment Staycation

When most people think of a vacation, they picture packing bags, hopping on a plane, and escaping to somewhere far from home. But sometimes, the best adventures don’t require a passport—or even a full tank of gas.

Whether it’s a busy season at work, a tighter budget, or just the desire to slow down and soak in the beauty of home, a staycation can still check all the boxes of a memorable family getaway. Around here, we believe that with the right mindset and a little planning, even a weekend at home can become something truly special. Because a staycation? Yep, it can absolutely be Seldom A Dull Moment.

DREAM: It starts with a mindset shift.

Just like any other vacation, your staycation should begin with a family dreaming session. Ask:

• What kind of vacation vibes are we craving? Adventure? Relaxation? Fun food experiences?
  
  

• What would make this feel different from a regular weekend?
  
  

• Is there a theme we could play with? (Think: “Backyard Beach Bash” or “Taste Tour of Town.”)
  

• Don’t underestimate the power of dreaming big—even if you’re staying close. This helps everyone get excited and take ownership of the plans.

Big Adventures, Smart Budgets: How to Design Your Dream Vacation Without Going Into Debt

 Let’s face it—just the idea of planning a big vacation can feel overwhelming, especially when you start thinking about the cost. Flights, hotels, meals, tickets, gas, extra fun…it adds up fast. I’ve been there. As busy parents with full schedules (and a tight budget), we started early figuring out ways to save for family vacations. Having grown up as a military BRAT, family travel was a big part of my life and still is. My daughters grew up in a family of two public school teachers and many times, we were questioned as to HOW we can afford to take such great family vacations. Family vacations are a priority for us, and we figured out how to make it work.

Budget Family Vacation Planning in 6 Smart Steps

• Start with your total budget
• Prioritize what matters most
• Travel during shoulder season
• Mix up your meals
• Book stays with perks
• Expect the unexpected

Scroll on for detailed tips, real-life examples, and my favorite tried and true hacks!

It wasn’t without trial and error though. Take our first trip to Grand Teton National Park back in 2009. I had planned out the flights, the rental car, our lodging near Jackson Hole—everything was lining up beautifully. But what I didn’t do was budget for meals. I was so used to our Disney trips, where the dining plan took care of everything, that I completely underestimated how much we’d spend feeding a hungry family of four out West. By day three, we had blown through the food part of our budget. Lesson learned: food is not included when you leave the magic bubble of Disney!

But that trip, hiccups and all, became one of our favorites—and it kicked off a whole new way of thinking about travel planning. Over the years, I’ve learned that you can take amazing vacations without blowing your budget. In fact, having a solid plan in place has helped us travel more often, with less stress, and more joy. And here’s the kicker: budgeting for a trip doesn’t take the fun out of it—it actually helps create space for the fun to happen.

In this post, I’m sharing the real tips and tricks we’ve picked up through trial, error, and a whole lot of road trips, flights, and family memories. Whether you’re saving for your first big adventure or trying to make your next trip even more doable, read on!

So grab a cup of coffee, open your notes app (or your favorite notebook), and let’s dive into how to budget smartly, dream big, and make your next family getaway not just possible—but unforgettable.

Some of Our Favorite National Park Adventures – And How Your Family Can Experience Them Too!

Seldom A Dull Moment believes in Dreaming, Designing, and Departing on that next great adventure. Traveling as a family has given us some of our best memories, and exploring National Parks has been a highlight of our adventures. For the past 16 years, we’ve had the opportunities to experience some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the country. From mountains to canyons, these parks have given us some of our best memories Here are some of our favorite National Parks so far—along with tips to help your own family plan an epic outdoor adventure!

Departing – The Final Countdown to Your Family Vacation

Welcome back to Seldom A Dull Moment! If you’ve made it this far, congratulations—you’ve navigated the planning phase and are on the brink of departure! At this point, you might be feeling a mix of excitement and stress, wondering, “Did I remember everything?” or “How do I keep my kids engaged from takeoff to touchdown?”

In Part 1, we explored the joy of dreaming together as a family. In Part 2, we tackled the planning process to create a trip that excites everyone. Now, in Part 3, it’s time for the real adventure to begin. Let’s talk about departure day—how to keep things smooth, stress-free, and fun for the whole family from the moment you walk out the door!

Interested in reading the first 3 posts in this series? Click the links below.

• Intro Post...Dream, Design, Depart: How to Plan a Family Vacation That Everyone Will Love

• Part 1...Dreaming About Your Family Vacation: Getting Everyone Involved

• Part 2...Designing Your Dream Vacation, WITH Your Kids Help

Getting Ready to Depart! Let's Go!

As departure day approaches, the excitement for your family vacation reaches its peak. The lead-up to departing is just as significant as the dreaming and designing stages. This phase presents an invaluable opportunity for the whole family to connect on a deeper level before embarking on the adventure of a lifetime.

Designing Your Dream Vacation WITH your kids help!

 

Designing Your Dream Vacation: Part 2 – Turning Dreams into a Plan

Welcome back to Seldom A Dull Moment! If you’ve made it this far, you’re probably feeling the weight of vacation planning—especially when you’re trying to balance your big kids' disinterest with your desire for a meaningful getaway. If you’re thinking, “How do I get my kids excited about this trip?” or “I’m about to pull my hair out,” don’t worry, you’re not alone.

In the first post of this series, we talked about the importance of dreaming together as a family. But now, it’s time to get to work and design the vacation of your dreams—without the stress, frustration, or feeling like you’re dragging your kids along for the ride.

• Interested in reading the first 2 posts in this series? Click the links below.
• Intro Post...Dream, Design, Depart: How to Plan a Family Vacation That Everyone Will Love
• Part 1...Dreaming About Your Family Vacation: Getting Everyone Involved

Planning a family vacation when your kids are older can feel impossible. “The kids get bored!” “It’s hard to plan a vacation where EVERYONE has fun!” “I give up! No more family vacations!” We've all been there. But the secret to making this work is getting everyone involved—yes, even the teenagers who’d rather be glued to their phones—and designing an itinerary that’s got a little something for everyone. Here’s how to do it without losing your sanity.

Dreaming About Your Family Vacation: Getting Everyone Involved

            

                     

“A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality.” — John Lennon

Planning a family vacation can feel like a daunting task, especially when you’re trying to balance the needs and desires of your big kids with your own. But what if the key to a successful vacation lies not in the details, but in the dreaming? In my book DREAM, DESIGN, DEPART: A Guide to Creating the Perfect Family Vacation, the first step to any family vacation is dreaming about it together. Dreaming allows your family to come together, share visions of what the trip could be, and set the foundation for a vacation that everyone will be excited about.

Get your copy today!

In this approach, the journey begins with dreaming. Before booking flights, choosing hotels, or planning out activities, take time to think about what your family wants from this experience. Once you’ve dreamed together, the next step is designing the perfect itinerary that meets everyone’s needs. Finally, when the plans are set, you’re ready to depart and enjoy the trip you’ve created together.

Today, let’s focus on dreaming—how to get your whole family involved in envisioning the vacation, especially your big kids, and set the tone for a memorable trip.