The biggest mistake you can make when planning a family vacation is not involving the entire family. You probably think that when it comes to vacations, parents know best. But you might be surprised to realize that children, even young ones, can provide valuable input. Children are as exposed to advertising as the rest of us and they have their own ideas about what the family vacation should entail, so listen to them.

There's no right formula for a successful family vacation. In fact, one size does not fit all when it comes to spending quality time with your family. Your family vacation doesn't have to be two weeks long, or taken during summer months, or spent at the more popular tourist destinations. Busy working parents can't always coordinate this amount of time away from work, and believe it or not, children often get bored when traveling this long.

Thinking "outside the box” when planning your family vacation can lead to some interesting and memorable times. Instead of one long vacation, break your time off up into smaller chunks and plan multiple vacations throughout the year. Traveling off-season means lower prices, less crowds and a different perspective on the destination.

For example, Florida is a great place to visit during October, and it wouldn't be difficult to add a day or two ont

o the 3-day Columbus Day week-end. If you don't want to miss school, plan a family vacation to Colorado during the summer months instead of during the height of ski season. Or, spend spring break exploring local attractions and other areas of interest right in your own state.

Next time you're planning a family vacation, let you children voice their opinions and allow them to research the ideas they present. The Internet makes this easy, and you'll all have a better time as a result.

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