Ask Ollie
Plan a Family Day Trip
Here's one to try together!
Be the travel agent! Plan a real outing with three stops, lunch and a budget.
Reviewed by our team.
Safety first
- Outing safety: an adult must check and approve the route and go along
- Phone map use needs adult supervision
- Possible food allergens in the lunch plan
- Outdoor risks on a hike or picnic such as weather, terrain and travel
- Nothing should be booked or bought online
What you need
- Paper, 2 sheets
- Phone, or a paper map
- Pencil, 2
How to do it
Grown-up prep: Agree on a budget ceiling and a day the family can go. Be ready to check the route and approve the plan, and to go along on the trip. Nothing should be booked or bought online. Check lunch ideas for any food allergies in your family.
- Pick a free or cheap outing, like a park, library, hike or picnic. Ask: Which outing do you think would make everyone in the family happiest?
- Write a start time and three stops on your plan.
- Note how long you will stay at each stop.
- Look at the map and estimate the travel time between stops. Ask for help if you need it
- Plan lunch and make a packing list.
- Set a budget and keep your plan inside it.
- Pitch your plan to the family as if you ran a travel agency! Ask: What questions do you think your family will ask?
- Answer questions, change the plan, and ask a grown-up to check the route. Ask for help if you need it
- Go on the trip, then rate how well your plan worked. Plan the next one! Ask: What would you change next time, and where should we go after that?
Play it again
- Rainy day plan: make a trip where every stop is indoors.
- Swap planners: each family member plans a different outing, then vote.
- Tiny budget: plan a great day for exactly zero dollars.
Kids loved this? There are more where it came from.
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