You know how much I love celebrating birthdays and my son’s 13th birthday was no exception. Except now that he is older, he doesn’t let me throw big, themed birthday parties for him. No Lego Star Wars or Super Mario Parties for him. =( I actually came up with a lot of teen and tween birthday parties (blog post coming soon), but he was insistent that we don’t go all out for him with a party. However, that didn’t stop me from creating a memorable gift. And boy did I! For my son’s 13th birthday, we surprised him with a trip with a friend who is also turning 13. And after I fill you in, you will be able to surprise your kids with a vacation to anywhere as well.
How to Surprise Your Kids with a Vacation
So being that my friend and I are the coolest moms ever (obviously not according to our sons!) and we thought of this amazing Mother/Son Road Trip idea to celebrate them crossing the threshold into the teen years, we had to come up with a creative way to surprise them with the news as well. My anti-crafty, anti-Pinterest friend actually came up with the concept of using Dr. Seuss’s book, Oh, the Places You’ll Go (affiliate link) to tell our boys about the trip and she did the text as well. I just did all the crafty, cute presentation part! =)
Of course, as you will see, the only challenging part is actually the writing! My friend took the original Dr Seuss book, Oh the Places You’ll Go (affiliate link) and adjusted and added personalized verses to the text. Your wording is going to vary based on where you are go, but I will show you what we came up with to help inspire you. I can’t show you a majority of the pages as they show personal information, but just know that sometimes we changed the names on the pages to match our sons and we even put all of our photos on one page!
In terms of the presentation, all I did was type up the verses and words in a word document using the Times New Roman Font (it matched the best). After I printed out our additions, I cut and glued on the words. On the last page, we added a personalized birthday message as well. Oh and of course, I was working on this in the wee hours of the night before my son’s birthday so the photos reflect that (Read: Not the best lighting and quality). But I still think you will get the idea and you can easily come up with your own version of this gift using the book to surprise your kids with a vacation!
Hope this gives you some inspiration on ways to surprise your kids with a vacation! I have heard lots of stories of families telling their kids they are all getting flu shots or going to the dentist and then driving them straight to Disneyland instead! Doing a book like this seems much more fun to me because your kids will have a present to open and the anticipation and fun that comes with planning a vacation with their family ahead of time. Have you ever surprised your kids with a vacation? How did you do it? Did you use the flu shot story? Would love to hear how you convinced them (and got them all in the car kicking and screaming?!)
Looking for more gifts for your kids to open when you are giving them an experience? If you are tired of all the “stuff” and your house already looks like a toy store (like mine!), considering giving your kids an experience instead. Amusement park tickets, horse back riding lessons and a zoo membership are all great experiences to give your kids at Christmas or on birthdays. Check out my post on ideas on how to wrap up these gifts so your kids aren’t stuck only opening an envelope on their birthday! =)
Wow, I really needed this advice! As a parent of a very selective eater, eating out has always been stressful. I love the suggestion of planning a few meals out that cater to the rest of the family, instead of always centering around what the picky child will eat. Giving a late snack beforehand sounds so simple but could make such a big difference in everyone’s experience. Thanks for the helpful tip!
Explor Olhos de Agua
This post truly captures the challenges of traveling with a picky eater. It’s so relatable how one child’s eating habits can impact the whole family’s vacation vibe. I love that you offer a solution instead of just highlighting the problem. Predictability is key for picky eaters, and your approach to planning ahead makes so much sense. Looking forward to trying out your tips on our next trip. Thanks for sharing such practical and thoughtful advice!premium tours in Mexico
Thank you for such a helpful and informative post. I’ve been trying to find clear guidance on this topic for a while now, and your blog really helped me understand things better. The examples you included made the ideas even easier to grasp. Please continue to share your insights. Posts like this are the reason I keep coming back to your site. Keep it up and thanks again for sharing your expertise!Exploring Tróia
Wow, I absolutely love the idea of surprising kids with a vacation in a creative way! The dentist or flu shot trick is hilarious, but creating a book or a gift they can unwrap makes the moment so much more special. Experiences over things is definitely the way to go. We gave our kids a trip to the aquarium last year and wrapped it in a puzzle. It was so fun to watch them figure it out!fishing charter reviews Playa del Carmen
This post is packed with creative inspiration! I absolutely love the idea of surprising kids with a vacation through a personalized book rather than the classic “flu shot” trick—so much more thoughtful and memorable. It adds an element of joy and mystery that builds anticipation. We’re planning a trip to Disney World soon, and I might just create a vacation reveal gift like this! Thanks for the fun and family-friendly idea.Wellness retreats Cambodia
Wow, Shannon sounds like such an inspiring mom! Transitioning from teaching to being a full-time stay-at-home mom to three energetic boys must come with both beautiful moments and big challenges. I really admire how she finds ways to celebrate the special days and bring joy to the tougher ones—that’s such a powerful mindset in motherhood. Also, I’d love to see some of her birthday party ideas! It sounds like she puts a lot of love and creativity into them. Wassertemperatur Cannobio
This post highlights such an important aspect of travel that’s often overlooked — the hassle of luggage. I love how Bounce luggage storage offers convenient, secure options for tourists and locals alike in places like Subang Jaya and Sepang. Definitely something I’ll consider for my next trip! cheap Disney tickets
This post really hit home! My son is turning 13 soon and I’ve been struggling to come up with birthday ideas that feel special but aren’t over-the-top like when he was younger. I love the idea of gifting an experience, especially a surprise trip with a friend. It’s so creative and thoughtful! Thanks for the inspiration—I’ll be watching for your teen and tween birthday party ideas post too. So excited! downtown Scottsdale hotels
I totally relate to this! As kids grow into teens, they definitely outgrow the themed party phase, but that doesn’t mean birthdays should be boring. Planning a surprise vacation for a 13th birthday is such a unique and meaningful gift idea. I’m always looking for non-traditional birthday surprises, and this just gave me the perfect idea for my nephew’s next celebration. Can’t wait to read your follow-up post with more teen birthday ideas! wine tour Douro Valley