Cabins, the Poconos, and Family Vacations. FIR real.

(Get it?! Fir?!)

Let’s talk cabins, the woods, and family vacations.

At this stage of my life, a family vacation is really just parenting in a different place. And my preferred locations involve forests, creeks, and rocks of all sizes.

I live in NJ. Relatively close to PA, the Poconos, the Delaware Water Gap and NY state, all of which have lots of spots that would meet the criteria for my preferred locations in which to parent vacation.

So, just BEAR with me a minute.

If you want to LEAF your worries behind, then do NOT vacation with your family. Your people don’t magically turn into easy-going humans without any needs when you travel. But getting to the ROOT of it, family vacations are about so much more than rainbows and unicorns. They are time spent together learning about each other and sometimes that learning comes through simple activities, caring for one another, and, yes, even struggles. WOOD you believe it? OAK-ay, I’ll stop now.

Here are 21 REAL things you can do in fabulous woodsy places:

1. Hire a documentary family photographer to make interesting and emotional photos of your time together. I happen to know one you can contact. She’s lovely. Click HERE.

2. Rent a cool-ass A-frame cabin.

3. Swim near in a waterfall.

4. Get muddy.

5. Dress your children.

6. Fix a door.

7. Walk among the trees, even if its raining.

8. Celebrate a birthday.

9. Hug.

10. Play board games.

11. Fall down.

12. Take a nap.

13. Eat cake.

14. Cry happy tears.

15. Lick a paint-by-water book.

16. Have some bacon.

17. Skip rocks.

18. Hike.

19. Read a book.

20. Scream.

21. Laugh.