A family vacation should be fun and exciting while still leaving room for relaxing. After all, isn’t the point of a vacation to “get away from it all?” But, too many times vacationers attempt to cram too much activity into each day, making everyone cranky, tired and (especially this time of year) very hot.

While there is value in staying at the parks as long as possible in order to make the most of your time, and your money, everyone will have fonder memories of the trip if they also had some time to just unwind. One great, and free, way to please the whole crowd is to give the kids (and even mom and dad) some time to cool down, and slash around, in your resort’s pool. This lush tropical oasis is a welcome respite from the scorching sun, and it was likely a selling point for why you chose the hotel you did. Yet so often I see families get so caught up in theme parks, attractions and shopping that they miss out on the basic fun that comes along with splashing around in some H2O. The kids will love it, and their time at the pool gives parents a much needed break to read a book, relax or just lay back and catch some rays.

My suggestion is to start the morning in a theme park (or whatever activity you’ve chosen for the day), come back to the hotel during the sun’s peak hours (which is also the busiest time of the day in the parks) for an afternoon dip in the pool (and maybe even a nap), and head back out later in the afternoon or evening rejuvenated and ready to have some more fun. Oh, and don’t forget the sunscreen!

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