When your kids are grown and happily living on their own, it’s not easy for parents to just move on with their life. And when they move away? Because quite simply, your life was filled with taking care of the kids, so much that you may not remember what you ever did BEFORE kids. But we can tell you that it all gets better and with these simple empty nest travel tips, you’ll begin to enjoy you, your spouse and life again.
No parent embraces the idea of their kids moving across states. It’s hard enough when they leave home, let alone when they move far away. You’ll go from seeing them every day to a few times a year. Even if there’s only a few hours drive between you, it can feel as though you’ve lost a piece of yourself.
But, the optimists among you won’t dwell on the distance. It isn’t that far in the grand scheme of things. You could even see their move as an opportunity to explore America when you go to visit. The chances are that their new location will take you to areas you’d never come across otherwise. Or, it may take you closer to a part of the country you’ve always wanted to visit. Make the most of life by turning visits into vacation opportunities with these empty nest travel tips.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
Table of Contents
Empty Nest Travel Tips: Your hotel is the base, but you don’t need to stay there
If your kids have families, the chances are they won’t have room to spare. As such, you may opt to book into hotels when you go to visit. Obviously, you’ll want a base which is close to your family. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t branch out on days when they’re busy.
If your child lives in Houston, you could book into somewhere like the Quality Inn & Suites NRG Park. On your free days, you could head off to see the rest of Texas.
If they live in Jacksonville, you could book into somewhere like the Red Lion Hotel, and take time out to visit the Florida Keys.
All it takes is a little research. It may also be worth extending your trip by a day or two to ensure you have time to fit everything!
Empty Nest Travel Tips: Branch Off in a Different Direction Each Visit
To ensure you get the most from your time away, it’s worth branching out in a different direction each time you visit. This ensures you can see everything you want, without straying too far from your family.
Get yourself a map, and draw a circle of 165 miles or so around where your child lives. Then, mark off everything you’d like to do within that radius. You may want to look further afield after you’ve achieved your goals, but this should keep you busy for a few visits.
Empty Nest Travel Tips: Use Your Kids’ Home as a Pitstop
If your kid’s new location takes you closer to somewhere you’ve always wanted to visit, use their home as a pitstop. In the nicest possible way, of course! In fact, you may want to spend longer with your family than you do traveling, and that’s fine.
But, if you’ve always wanted to visit New York, you can use the excuse of visiting your child in Philadelphia. Just two hours further, and you’ll be in New York.
Why not take the whole family along so that you get to make the most of their company, too? It could be a new experience for everyone!
