This article was originally published on Travlerz
Ah vacation, we don't know about you guys but after this year we can't think of anything we want more than to get on a plane and forget about our problems for a while while we explore a new place! Sadly, like you, we're also mostly stuck at home and our dreams of vacation are just that, dreams. But after seeing these hilariously awkward photos of vacations gone wrong, we're thinking that a few extra weeks at home really isn't all that bad. So stay safe and stay healthy as you scroll these hysterical photos that will make you happy you're not on some ruined vacation.
Too Close For Comfort
Though it may feel a little bit mean at times, there is nothing more priceless than a photo of a kid’s reaction to seeing an animal really close to them. This family was at a drive-thru petting zoo when one of the animals got curious and decided to walk into their car.
This kid's vacation was totally ruined once he looked up realized this animal's massive teeth were so close to his head. Can anyone say, "childhood trauma?"
Can You Look At This Without Cringing?
While we still have a bunch of really incredibly awkward family photos to go through, this one is probably high up on our list. The Aqua family decided to wear these matching outfits to take a family photo that should literally win an award for how uncomfortable it makes people.
Because you see, they’re not just wearing any matching outfits, they are actually wearing scuba suits for their family vacation photo.
Everyone Say "Cheese”
Family photos can be such a pain, especially when you’re a little kid and all you want to do is continue exploring. Yet, parents try, and these ones were no exception.
They tried really hard to get everyone to look at the camera so they could get a shot of their family trip. Unfortunately someone was feeling a little tired and grumpy and not at all in the mood to cooperate with mom and dad's wishes.
A Photo To Remember (Even If You Don't Want To)
While it may be rare, sometimes what was supposed to be just another family stroll on the beach can become an ultimate disaster. And when this dad posted this family photo online, he actually took the time to explain exactly what happened.
The family decided to take a few family pictures and since their kids weren’t in the best mood, they thought it would be a good idea to swing them. But then just like that, he looked over and realized his baby was literally flying away, but don’t worry, he confirmed that the baby was just fine.
The Quintessential Aquarium Photograph
For some reason, parents from all over the world have been taking this particular photo of their kids for decades. They go on vacation and show their children these massive animals for the first time at either the aquarium, museum, or even Disneyworld to name a few.
Yet, you never really know how your kids are going to react to the experience, especially if they are little. So when these parents decided to take a picture of their daughter in the aquarium, her reaction wasn’t quite as happy as they wished it had been.
Do You Think They Knew They Were Getting Photobombed?
When we first saw this photo we thought it was an alien. But it actually looks like the stingray purposely chose to photobomb the photo, creating one of the happiest photobombs of all time.
Apparently, it’s not that uncommon to come across “smiling stingrays”, especially if you’re on a Caribbean cruise and end up going on a stingray excursion. You get to not only swim with the cute animals but you can also be lucky enough to get a cool picture like this one.
When Grandma Wants To Go To Chippendales
This grandma totally knows what's going on! Apparently, when the family was having a party, she thought it would be a great idea to take the party Chippendales, and well, it's safe to say that she was very happy with her decision.
She even got to pose for a "family" photo with some very interesting gentlemen and will probably cherish the photograph for a while.
Classic Angry Teenager On Vacation With His Family Pic
It’s safe to say by the look of the older son in this picture that he is just not into anything that is happening around him.
What was supposed to be an exciting family adventure ended up with the rest of the family exploring and looking at the bright side of things, but with him probably hoping someone would just teleport him out of there.
Time For An (Awkward) Family Photo
If you’re a big family, it can take some time to plan for the perfect family vacation photo. You think of the best angle for everyone, of the outfits everyone is wearing, and of how awkward you want that photo to be.
Clearly, this family totally succeeded in the awkward front, since they decided to pose in a very interesting way in the spur of the moment.
Literally A Train Wreck Photo
It’s not that easy to plan a vacation that will make the entire family happy. Every detail needs to be sorted out, and sometimes one or two family members will simply be less impressed with the vacation choice.
It’s probably clear from the expression of this guy in this photo that if it was for him, he wouldn’t particularly have chosen to be on that train at that moment. Hopefully, the rest of the trip got a little bit easier for him.
Kuddos To The Photographer For Seeing The Wave And Not Saying Anything
Should we tell them, or you will? This family, who just wanted a cute picture together in the sea didn't see a huge wave coming and the result is history.
It is very cute though to see their parental instincts kicking in, as both parents are holding on to their kids as strongly as they can. Though the moment was probably not fun, the photo is hilarious!
Blending Into The Background
It is clear from this picture that this girl probably realized after taking this photo, that wearing her Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles shirt was a terrible idea for the family outing.
After posing for a picture together, something happened with the settings of the camera that ended up making the girl blend into the background and looking like her head was just floating there.
Excuse Me, My Eyes Are Up Here
When this family went on vacation to Hawaii they had to take some photos with the scenery and with some of the locals.
Immersing into the culture was important for them, and so, they were all very excited when they got to pose alongside two Hawaiians. By the looks of it, the little boy was a little too excited about the experience.
Aren't Photobombers Just The Worst?
We’re not sure what counts as the most awkward thing in this photo. Is it the squirrel that decided to photobomb the shot, or the fact that the animal is looking straight at the camera?
Whatever it is though, this couple ended up having probably more of a cool photo than an awkward one of their vacation, depending on how you put things.
Child Down, Repeat, Child Down
When a photo involves more than one child, the probability of one of them falling over is enormous. This family who was traveling to one of Europe’s most popular tourist attractions, Stonehenge, decided it was time to capture their cute family with the ancient monument in the background.
Unexpectedly though, one of the little boys decided to act out at the perfect time for an awkward photo.
Nobody Wanted To Look At The Photographer Who Brought Them There
It’s safe to say that this photo wasn’t taken any time recently, and we can only guess how the kids in this picture feel about the awkwardness happening here.
We can only guess how the parents probably positioned them exactly where they are while looking for the perfect angle to get each kid’s right expression, as they all looked in different directions for the “pose.”
(Not) Feeling The Magic
If there is one magical place that all of us have to visit at least once in our lives, it's Disneyland. There are fun rides, some of our favorite Disney characters, and of course, we also get to try some seriously delicious food.
But even though the place may be magical to many, it doesn't always impress every single family. Sometimes you’re just not into that magic, and apparently, these kids would rather be anywhere else other than Disneyland.
Having Your Vacation Flushed Down The Potty
Let’s unpack what is happening here - first things first, who on Earth thinks it’s a good idea to go explore the history of the toilet?
Second of all, how hilarious is it that in addition to visiting this wonderful museum of toilets with different shapes, sizes, and materials, this family had to snap a photo of the kids right next to one of the beautiful collections? At least the kids seem to be pretty excited about it.
In The Midst Of Chaos
At a first glance, this looks like a wonderfully happy family photo. But when you take another look at it, you realize the chaos in the background and there is just no right reaction.
While the family is excited about the fact that they are on vacation altogether, someone apparently wasn’t feeling so well because a police officer and an EMT can be seen running frantically in the background.
A "Fun" Exploration
Now, there’s no way we’ll ever know what exactly is going through their heads, but we’re guessing it’s not something very happy.
While exploring caves can be a fun activity, it doesn’t seem like whoever planned this trip for the family took into consideration that probably none of them would be impressed. At least they have this photo to remind them of how much fun they didn’t have.
The Worst Album Cover
Seriously though, doesn’t this look like the latest album is about to drop? Looking at this picture, we are instantly reminded that back then the world wasn’t as digitized as it is today.
So when a picture was taken, you couldn’t just delete it right away - and judging by the looks of the family in this photo, they would have probably passed on this one.
Not Impressed With The Landfill
When traveling with little kids, it’s extremely important to ensure that their health and safety are in check, especially when visiting a place that could be deemed dangerous.
Though we can’t really understand why this family vacation was at a landfill, we are glad to see that these kids’ parents had all of their safety gear with them, which was forever documented in this awkward photo in front of a landfill.
A Survival’s Souvenir
Though this looks like just another cute family vacation photo at first, when you read what each of their shirts says you realize that this is no ordinary photo. Their shirts read: “I survived Hurricane Erin”, which is a hurricane that took place in August 1996 in Destin, Florida.
The hurricane resulted in damages that cost about $700 million and destroyed the lives of so many people, so we’re happy that at least this family was okay!
That Would Have Been Preferable To Going On This Vacation
Though this is undeniably a very creative vacation picture, there was quite a bit of time and effort put into getting it to the right angle. In order to really bury the guy completely, they probably had to dig a huge hole for him to fit in there.
They then had to work out the woman’s perfect angle and position to make it seem like she had no head.
A Not So Fun-Fiesta Family Photo
So this awkward photo apparently got so much attention from the public that the mom had to go online to explain the story behind it. According to her, her daughters absolutely fell in love with Mexico after watching a movie about the lovely country.
But because a vacation to Mexico was way too expensive for the family, the mom decided to take the daughters to a Mexican restaurant where they each got the sombreros featured in the photo.
When You're Basic AF
How many people can you count here holding up the Leaning Tower of Pisa? While there's certainly a good number of people attempting to do so, we wonder if any of them actually caught the right angle.
In their defense though, it’s pretty hard to visit the iconic place without having the typical awkward “holding up” photo, so props to them for trying their best to do so.
When The Only Matching Outfits You Have Are Stolen Hotel Robes
The cringe is so real with this one that we almost want to call it a winner in this list. It’s simple, there is an invisible list of do’s and do not's when it comes to the outfits one should wear in a family photo, and wearing a robe is most probably in the "do not's" part.
But still, these rule-breakers decided to roll up with their robes and take one of the most awkward family photos on the internet.
Is His Sister Snow White Or Something?
One of the most popular tourist attractions for families with kids is petting zoos. The place allows parents to not have to entertain their kids the entire trip, instead, they can just let them play and interact with the animals.
But you never really know if your children are going to actually find the activities interesting, and by the looks of this one, one of the kids was totally up for it and the other one was sadly caught in the midst of the chaos.
I Came In Like A Wrecking Ballll
There's something so painful about having to relive an awkward moment you probably want to forget. But thanks to the picture, this woman is going to remember the moment she fell on the water exactly at the same second a snap of this guy was being taken.
At least the photo makes for a fun throwback for the entire family.
Can We Go Home Now?
Sometimes, no matter how much you want that family photo to be taken, there is no way you'll be able to make your kids cooperate.
Take this guy and his kids for instance, while he is really trying to be smiley to the camera and to have a beautiful picture of them to remember, his older kid is not impressed with the entire situation at all!
Future Olympic Diver Right Here
Okay, this photo kind of gives us mixed feelings. While we're sure the baby was okay and secure, there is no way that whoever took this photo didn't see what was going on there.
While they all pose awkwardly for the photo, the small kid who is in the carrier seems to be about to jump to the water, and we just hope it's all thanks to the angle.
Can I have Some More??
Another hilarious picture of someone who probably didn't think the whole thing through when they went for a family stroll at the local drive-thru zoo.
One thing that people should always remember when they're in a place full of animals is to probably close the window. Though if he had closed it, we wouldn't get to see this incredibly awkward photo.
I'm On A Highway To...
Who thinks to themselves, "Let's get a vacation photo on the highway?" Well, these guys. This couple looked at this beautiful scenery and decided to get out of the car and take this legendary photo that is so perfectly awkward.
Even so, awkward or not, we have to say that the photo certainly gives us the feels for the simpler days back then.
Generations Of Happinness
There's something really interesting about this vacation photo. It somehow seems like happiness increases a little bit in every generation, as their expressions couldn't differ more.
The small kid has a huge smile, while the middle girl has a slightly smaller smile - and the older son? Well, let's just say that he is another unimpressed kid on a family vacation!
Riding It All The Way
There is so much to unpack in this photo that we don't even know where to start. First of all, there is the scenery which looks incredible. But then there's the mom and her child, who seem pretty happy to be posing for a photo together.
But then there are those two on the right who are probably having the most fun out of everyone in this picture.
A Day He Will Never Forget
Now here's a picture that this wonderful dad is probably never going to forget. The awkward photo is hilarious, as he posed without realizing that he had put an entire suitcase on top of his child.
All we can see are the kid's little legs, but we're sure it ended up just being a hilarious photo to be added to their collection of vacation pictures.
Posing With Bananas
We have no idea who had the brilliant idea of taking this vacation photo while posing with a banana, but well, props to their creativity!
What's probably even funnier is that both kids seemed to have adhered to the idea, especially the little girl in yellow. They will forever be able to remember the day they all ate and posed with a banana in nature.
Where Is The Camera?
One thing that is probably important to establish before taking a family photo in a studio is to clearly point out where exactly everyone should look.
Just by looking at this photo, we sense they had no idea where the camera person was located, since their looks are all over the place. Not to mention that the older daughter seems like she's wishing she wasn't there.
Not The Best Vacation
Sometimes all you can do is smile, wave, and make the best out of the situation. Look at these guys for example. it's impossible to guess what was going through their minds and to understand what is happening with the person who is hidden behind the baby.
Hopefully, they got to have another take after this one because this picture is all over the place.
Just Picture The Mustache on All Of Them
There is so much going on in this picture, although everyone is just posing. First off, really, just try to picture that incredible mustache in every single one of these kids? Can you see it?
Also, though it was very common for families to wear the same outfit in a family photo, this particular family's choice of this blue shirt seems to have been a bit much.
Do You See The "Cats For Sale" Sign?
Another awkward family vacation photo with so much to unpack... First off, their poses are hilarious, but the little girl totally wins the show!
The guy on the back also did his best to look pretty cool, so props to him! But then there's the sign that, once you see it, you can never really unsee Were there really cats for sale there?
An Accidental Horror Movie Cover
We're not sure what the idea behind this photo was, but it sure made it for a perfectly awkward and possible horror movie cover.
The random bear in the back, the baby doll on the boy's lap, and the different tools they are holding (plus the uncomfortable smiles, of course), are just perfect if you're willing to not sleep at night.
A Comedy Movie Poster
These guys totally nailed their awkward poses in a way that almost reminds us of the poster for a hilarious comedy film.
Both guys are so invested in their pose, and each of them nailed the perfect expression for the context of this picture, including the little girl who was sadly cropped out. By the looks of it, it might have been taken a couple of decades back.
No Words For This One
Listen, we are really tempted to just leave this one out here and leave it out for interpretation because this photo might be a winner. There is only one thing we can think of, and that is, "Why?"
The person being carried into the ambulance was probably okay, hence the decision of the family to pose together as their family member was being taken to the hospital.
Are We In The Same Century?
While it says that this picture was taken back in 2006, we're wondering if there was a mistake made there - is the photo actually off by a century?
Everything about it, including the scenery, the random bear, the clothes, and the family's expressions makes us think that there is nothing in this world that could make this photo more awkward.