Less scheduling on a vacation can be a win for everyone
Here’s Why Your Next Family Trip Should Be a Playcation
Published on Feb. 14, 2025
I’ve taken my kids to Disney, Yellowstone and even London, and there’s one underlying truth I’ve learned about having a successful family trip: Sometimes, the less planning involved, the better. Kids, especially those 12 and under, don’t need much to keep them happy and occupied while on vacation—that is, if you leave them to their own devices, give them space to (safely) explore and put them around other kids their own age.
Think about it—you can take a kid to the dumpiest hotel, and as long as it has a pool, they’ll happily splash around in it for hours, making up games about mermaids, creating elaborate jump sequences for their sibling to copy, or playing sharks and minnows with any other kid that happens to be in the vicinity.
That’s where the idea of a playcation comes in. Read on to find out exactly what a playcation is and why it’s a win for everyone in the family.
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What is a playcation?
Playcation is a made-up word, in the same vein as coolcation and SKI trip. Collins Dictionary offers this suggested definition: “A vacation predominately consisting of play; especially from a child’s perspective.” And that sounds about right to me.
Learn from my family vacation planning mistakes
I figured out the hard way that less is more when it comes to traveling with kids. I grew up outside of Washington, D.C., and frequently visit my mom, who still lives in the area. I’ve dragged my kids to the Smithsonian museums to share some of my favorite collections from my own childhood, like Dorothy’s ruby red slippers at the National Museum of American History and the glass-enclosed beehive at the National Museum of Natural History.
Despite the fact that my kids clearly told me they had no interest in going sightseeing, I was set on doing something educational with them, and, hey, people come from around the world to see these amazing artifacts so they should be grateful they get to see them on a family trip. Not so fast, Mom. They would have been happier to stay in suburban Virginia and spend the morning jumping, swinging and climbing at the neighborhood playground. I now know to wait until they’re a few years older and actually express interest before I force culture on them.
How to plan a playcation
This doesn’t mean you’re doomed to staying close to the generic hotel pool or spending your entire vacation at a cookie-cutter playground. The trick is to find a resort or destination that caters to a playcation, where kids can have space and time to play, while mom and dad have grown-up fun nearby. One spot my entire family loved was the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Arizona, which we visited last Memorial Day weekend. Here are my tips for making it work.
Create a home base
During the day, we set up in a cabana by the resort’s recently refurbished Canyon Creek Lazy River. In the cabana, we had space to spread out and ample shade, a TV where my husband could watch the Mets play baseball, and waiter service to cater to our every whim. My two kiddos loved floating around in circles on the lazy river—at 9 and 11, they’re confident swimmers, and we could keep an eye on them from the cabana. My husband and I took turns escorting them down the slides at the resort’s AquaRidge WaterPark. The Gullywasher raft ride, with its steep dips, was our favorite.
On our short weekend trip, we didn’t have time to play golf at either of the two courses at the on-site Wildfire Golf Club or visit the Revive Spa, but both are ideal options for parents who don’t mind splitting up so one parent can be with the kids while the other enjoys adult time.
Set the kids free
Nighttime, though, is where the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge really shines when it comes to playcations. The courtyard lawn turns into a giant playground for the kids. There are crafts to make, hula hoops and other toys to play with, and loads and loads of kids running around free. The enclosed AstroTurf lawn is gently lit and feels like a safe place for kids to explore and play. Meanwhile, my husband and I sat nearby, listening to a cover band play music while enjoying a glass of wine and each other’s company in relative peace.
Carve out fun for older kids too
For tweens and teens who might die if they didn’t have access to electronic fun and their parents, the resort’s brand-new Copper Alley restaurant is a welcome addition. It offers classic arcade games that kids can play for tickets that can be traded in for prizes. Parents will appreciate the wood-fired pizzas, fresh salads and grown-up beverages.
The takeaway for a terrific family vacation
Of course, you don’t have to spend your entire playcation at the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge or any other resort, for that matter. For us, we made core family memories by taking an early morning hot-air balloon flight over the Sonoran Desert with Rainbow Ryders Hot Air Balloon Company. And—guess what?—because I made sure everyone wanted to go and understood the time commitment before I signed us up, we all had a magical and enjoyable time.
As I start to plan our summer 2025 playcation, I know last year’s will be hard to top!
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Reader’s Digest has published hundreds of travel stories that help readers explore the world safely, easily and affordably. We regularly cover topics such as the best places to visit (and the best times to visit them), tips and tricks to zoom through airport security, flight-attendant secrets, hotel-room hacks and more. We’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. For this piece, Anne Fritz tapped her experience as a longtime travel writer and deputy editor for Reader’s Digest online to ensure that all information is accurate and offers the best possible advice to readers. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
