Why Family Vacations are Important #CokeHappyHour

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CokeHappyHour #CollectiveBias

I know I rarely talk about personal stuff here, because I’m a bit introverted, but Summer is right around the corner, and the recent Share A Coke campaign by Coca-Cola inspired me to share a personal story with you.

What’s your earliest memory? Mine is being on the beach. It wasn’t a fancy beach, more like a tiny lake with a small strip of sand, that quickly turned into a grassy hill, but those were very happy memories. I remember the cute little hat that I kept taking off, and my Mom would have to chase after me to put it back on. I remember catching a tadpole in a sandwich bag. I wanted to give him some silly name and begged Dad to let me keep him, but ended up having to let the poor thing go back into the lake. I remember my sister, who was still a toddler back then and just started walking on her own – I was upset that we couldn’t play catch, because she kept on falling and crying all the time [what a crybaby, am I right?]. I remember our little campfire, and the fruit drinks Dad made in a cool-looking teakettle – it tasted so much different when made over real fire!

Sharing a drink became sort of a tradition in our family [maybe it was even my parents’ tradition before they had us, I never asked], so whenever I’m skyping my Mom and she’s drinking tea, I go to the kitchen and pour myself a cup. When she comes to visit, she brings the same brands of loose leaf tea, that Dad and her drink every day, so I always have a piece of home in my house 🙂

I actually don’t drink pop very often these days, but it’s very refreshing once in a while, especially when it’s warm and sunny outside. So, Mom, Dad, Kate – here’s some virtual Coke for you! [Coca-Cola is so universal, it tastes the same everywhere] You all may be across the ocean, and I don’t get to see you often, but the memories of that little lake, and of all our family vacations, staycations, and picnics will forever be in my heart. I’m not just saying this as an overly dramatic cheesy closing line – I really mean it!

By the way, I didn’t have to go far to get those cute bottles – there’s Walgreens right around the corner within walking distance of my house. FYI, there are two sweet promotions going on right now that you might want to know about:

• Every Wednesday through Friday from 4:00 to 7:00pm, Buy 1 Coca-Cola 20 oz. bottle and Get 1 Free 20 oz. bottle to share! You can load the coupon instantly on the Walgreens app or click here for more information.
• May through July you get 3,000 Balance Rewards points when you buy participating Coca-Cola products when you purchase $10 of participating Coca-Cola products.

For more information on these promotions, visit the official landing page.

Are you ready to start creating fun Summer memories? You really don’t have to go far – even a simple lawn picnic in your backyard will be an exciting change of pace. Here are some tips on how to make any family vacation fun:

• Bring games! Younger kids will have a blast playing just for fun, older kids will look for an incentive, so think of fun prizes. They don’t have to be expensive, or monetary at all. Think voucher: my favorite when I was growing up was the “skip a chore” voucher, where I got to skip one chore I normally would have to do, like wash dishes or vacuum my room.
• Treasure hunt! Bury or hide something and let the kids search for it. Sure, it takes some preparation, but that experience is unforgettable for a child. The treasure can be anything, but if it’s edible, it’s better to hide a box with a piece of paper inside, redeemable for the prize.
• Drinks! Nothing is more refreshing than a cooler full of Summer drinks. While Coke is an obvious choice, don’t forget ice tea, lemonade, and plain bottled water. [you can stock up on those at Walgreens]
• Have fun! No one is ever too old for some fun in the Sun 🙂

Of course there are more ways to spice up your family vacations and staycations, but remember that it’s important to do things together. It’s never fun when one of the parents just falls asleep while the other sits there reading their books/magazines while the kids are building sand castles. Family time is for the family, napping and reading is “me time” which I’m sure is relaxing, but it won’t help create fun family memories 🙂

So tell me, ladies, what are your earliest Summer memories? Who will you share a Coke with? Do you have any tips for throwing a fun family vacation? Share your stories in the comments below!

---