Traveling means eating out a lot more than usual, ordering rich foods you may not necessarily make at home. Or picking at your kids’ fried meals because you just need one or two fries or the chicken finger they didn’t eat. Desserts always seem to be a welcome option, too, when on vacation and snacks are a must, because we all get hungry from all of the touring and walking around.
When traveling with kids it’s not so easy to take off at any time to hit the gym or go for a run. Moreover, you may be staying in an Airbnb without a gym. If you are like me, you may not be a morning person or a runner (like my husband, who will get up at 4:30am to get in 10+miles). So how do you stay fit while on vacation with the kids? I have come up with seven ways to keep fit when traveling–especially if you are not a runner.
Walk From Site to Site
If you are touring in a city, depending on how much your kids can handle, create an itinerary that has you walking from site to site. Forgo the taxi or metro ride and walk. Walking also lets you get to know the city better as well. Make sure you have sturdy shoes for this, as you don’t want you feet to get tired. Walking is some of the best exercise you can do. Every time we go to Disney World, we clock 10-11 miles per day, which is good because our diets are not so good while there.
Carry a Day Pack Filled With Reusable Water Bottles and Cameras
When we travel, we always try to bring our reusable water bottles, extra sweaters or jackets and camera gear. Add this to a daypack and you’ve put in at least an additional 5-6 lbs of gear on your back to carry while walking from location to location. The additional weight will help you to burn the calories you ate and drank during dinner the night before.
Carry The Kids
At some point, the younger kids are going to want to be carried. This is a great work out for your bicep muscles and leg muscles. Holding that 30-40lbs of kid in your arms is really going to test how strong you are and sooner than later you will start to feel the burn. Once the burn sets in, put them on your shoulders and make your legs do the work. Those thigh and hip muscles will be put into motion.
Squat Down to Your Kids Level
When talking to your kids about what they are seeing, don’t just bend over, squat down. You will be amazed at how many squats you will get out throughout the day. Besides it brings you down to their eye level. When at a museum looking at a piece of art, squat right next to your child and talk to them about the artwork. Same thing when you are in a cathedral or even an aquarium. Doesn’t matter where you are, just make sure to squat to their level. Your legs will love you for it.
Don’t Travel With Kids? No Problem. Learn how to stay fit while on vacation and still have fun (without the little ones).
Climb That Medieval Stair Master
Many old cathedrals in Europe come with a good bell tower with hundreds of circular stairs going to the top. If not too busy, try to race your kids to the top. Be careful, though, as some stairs have become slippery with age and foot traffic. If you happen to be in one of those small hilly European towns like Cortona in Italy, most likely you, will find stairs leading to the top of the hill. Once again, challenge your kids up this medieval stair master. Bet the kids will win. Visiting Iceland? Make sure to stop at Skogafoss and give the steps to the top of the waterfall at try. That, for sure, will make you short of breath. Maybe you happen to be in Chaing Mai, Thailand, and are visiting Doi Suthep Wat. First, you must climb the 300 steps up to get to the Wat. Here is another opportunity to run those calories off. Oh, and how about Temple IV at Tikal, Guatemala? That one will challenge you for sure. Add the back pack and you will have burnt even more calories climbing those stairs to get to the top of the temple to watch the sunrise or to look out over the jungle. It’s not hard to find places with many stairs to climb when traveling. Make it into a game with the kids. Either race them or count the stairs and see what number you come out with. Bet ya it will be different for each person.
Get Out Of That Beach Chair
If you are on a beach vacation or by the pool, it’s very tempting to just want to sit back and watch your kids play in the sand or water. Get up and get dirty. Start digging that sand to make a sandcastle. You will feel it in your core and your biceps and triceps. Create races into the ocean on the beach. Start at the top of the beach and race your kids all the way into the water. If the kids are in the pool, swim with them into the deep end. You will have to tread water, which is great for your core. If the pool isn’t too busy, you can have swim races from one end to the other. Swimming uses every muscle in your body and is one of the best exercises you can do. If you haven’t done it in a while, don’t be surprised at how tired you get so quickly.
Schedule a Hike
Spend a day getting out into nature. Being outdoors in nature, climbing over rocks, roots, fallen tree branches is guaranteed to burn the calories. Kids will love it too. It’s a great respite from the hustle and bustle of cities while on vacation.
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It’s definitely important to stay in shape to really be able to keep up with active kids and pre teens! These are great suggestions to keep limber and able to physically enjoy more rigorous travel
I’m on holiday to lounge about, relax and be lazy lol. Running up 300 steps for a view of the city or island is great…but not for me lol. Definitely, these are ways to get the kiddies tired come evening so all they just need is food and a bath before bed. Ahhh…I see you, mama! Lol.
Where are you guys rock climbing in that first photo?! Our boys climb indoors but we’re hoping to start getting them outdoors!!!
Boone NC- I wrote a post on it! It was so fun, of course the kids blew me away.
I’m NOT a runner so it’s nice to see some great ideas for staying fit while traveling! I love walking around and exploring new cities and hiking while traveling. I just wish I knew of a fool-proof way to keep my feet from hurting after several long days of walking and exploring!
Good shoes makes all the difference. They may not be the trendiest or cutest, but they work.
I love reading your posts. It is indeed hard to stay fit while travelling. I do try to walk everywhere (depending how accessible the place is to pedestrians and how safe it is – big cities in India are neither), but thank god my neighbourhood has nice parks to jog and run). Also, water, less loads and loads of it!
As I dont really like hiking a lot, when I travel I try to eat more veggies than meat. Also, I barely ever drink.
I imagine that travelling with such adventurous kids will always keep you active! Whenever I see families hiking together I always think it’s great, as it must be such a good experience for the young ones. And a great way to keep up an active lifestyle too.
Great tips. Even without kids! Always good to stay active and fit!
A lot of people with kids will really love this post. Even as a solo traveller, I use a lot of these methods (though squatting more to tie my shoes or something).
Some great tips to work a little bit of extra activity into your travels:) Love how creative you guys got!
Great tips! It’s so important to stay active and fit, with or without kids.
I feel like when we travel, I’m always walking so I feel like that’s fit enough. Other than that, I’m like, “I’m on vacation, I’m not working out!”
I hear ya, but I tend to eat about 20 meals per day extra so I have to add some additional exercise.
I always work out in the hotel pool or gym while traveling. I do so to counteract all the extra food that I am eating.
Yep I find myself eating a lot extra too.
Although I do not have children, I can say that in recent years my holidays have been very active, it is a necessity and pleasure to see more things and have more fun as well as keep fit!
What some great ideas for keeping fit while travelling. They are all such fun and let you see the area from a different view as well!
I feel like going on vacation with kids always ends up feeling like a workout. I carry them so much more than normal, plus we walk and do other things.
Love these ideas! Kids are full of energy so it’s important to keep them active. It’s also great to keep them off their tablets for a while.
For trips I like to pack healthy but yummy snacks for my stepson. Thanks for sharing!
XO
Candace
https://www.thebeautybeau.com
Haha! I love the idea of lifting your children to get a bit of exercise. My children are too big to be lifted but I may consider a short ride on my back. Climbing those medieval stairs is also a great idea.
Yes I really do agree with these helpful suggestions to be fit while traveling. Thank you so much for sharing this!
The hike would be awesome ! And for us, we love walking and even running around together. Obviously, with watter bottles each.
These are awesome tips for staying fit while you travel! I find it easier to stay fit with my kids b/c I feel like I am always chasing them and they have so much energy that I just try to keep up!
I’m always chasing as well and trying to stay awake with them.
This is such a creative way to keep fit while traveling. Thanks for advice.
My daughter is 2.5 and all I do is carry or push her everywhere in her buggy. I’m surprised at how it’s kept me fit(ish) all this time
When I go on trips, I usually try to walk more than anything. This way, I get exercise but also get to experience things more closely.
Carrying the kids is enough of a workout for me! Lol they’re HEAVY!
Agreed!
so funny to mention carrying kids. I didn’t realize what a workout that is until recently on vaca!
You can feel the burn in your arms for sure.
This was a very creative list! Walking from site to site is a good option! I also think carry the kids is a cute but good idea as well!
Wonderful tips, yes carrying 30-40 lb kids are not fun. I did it, so I try to carry a stroller most of time. But for hiking or rock climbing, that doesn’t work.
These are really great tips and its very important to be active and fit. Thanks for sharing this post.
These are great tips! Kids are so energetic, gotta take advantage of that! I always move a lot when i am on holiday! Walk, swim, etc.
This is such a great post. Not easy at all with kids, there are a lot more you need to consider. Thanks for all the great tips.!
Wish id read these before i went to the coast for two months on my own with the kids. Come back 7kg fatter!!
It’s great in theory, but with the temptation of all the yummy food it’s hard not to. Hope it was an awesome vacation.