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Family Travel Tips: 18 Ways to Enjoy a Road Trip
Whenever one of my friends returns from some time away, I ask: "Was it a
vacation - or was it just a trip?"
When traveling with kids, true vacations are pretty hard to come by. With the
packing, the car seats, the change in sleeping schedules, and all the inevitable
whining that comes along, it would be way easier to stay home (especially when
traveling by car.)
And yet traveling is important. When we travel, we open to a world that was
previously unknown to us. We touch other cultures and other ways of life; we
broaden our own perspectives and understand, finally, that our small problems
are just that.
When we travel with kids, we open their eyes to all of this and more. Even when
we take a simple trip to visit distant relatives, we show them a world of love
that they may not had known existed.
Here are eighteen tips to help you enjoy road trip traveling with your kids.
Before the trip:
1. Use online trip-planning websites to locate kid-friendly parks, historic
monuments, and other attractions in advance. Plan at least one kids' activity
each day, even on those driving days. Involving your kids in the planning of
your vacation will help them to get excited about the trip, too.
2. When you are doing your research and booking your destination, consider an
All Inclusive Resort. These types of arrangements (in which your lodging,
dining, attractions, and activities are included) can really help you relax and
enjoy your precious vacation time.If you are booking a trip to Mexico or the
Caribbean, check our special page on
Mexico Travel Deals before you book to see if there is a coupon code or
special offer you can use to save even more.
3. Have each child pack their own small backpack with the books, workbooks, and
activities that they most want to bring.
4. Have a kid-friendly travel map on hand, as well as a pair of binoculars.
5. Consider buying or borrowing a portable DVD player. We only get ours out on
long trips, but it has been really helpful, especially if you are traveling very
long distances.
6. Get each child a special book of games, puzzles, or simple coloring books,
just for the drive, along with some washable markers.
7. Bring some music that everyone will enjoy singing along to. We love our CD
of old campfire songs. You can even create your own CDs of family favorites.
8. Bring a Frisbee or a football for when you stop at a park. You want to help
your kids burn some energy in a reasonable amount of time.
9. Pack healthy low-mess snacks, such as nuts, trail mix, apples, energy bars,
and bottled water. A package of baby wipes often comes in handy for little
messes in the car, too.
10. Pack a journal and a disposable camera for each child, so that they can
document the trip in their own way. These items can be gift wrapped and given to
the kids as you need a diversion from boredom or sibling arguments.
11. Make sure to talk about your vacation like it is the ultimate adventure.
The enthusiasm that you bring to the prospect of piling into the car will help
in untold ways.
In the Car:
12. Do as much traveling as possible while your kids are sleeping. Of course,
safety is paramount. If you find yourself getting at all sleepy, pull over and
switch with your spouse or find a hotel.
13. If you don't like to drive at night, or you are driving through countryside
that you would like your children to see in the daylight, make sure you leave
plenty of travel time. Plan on a maximum of seven hours of driving per day. Get
up early, drive a bit, and then check into your hotel in the mid afternoon and
enjoy the swimming pool. Have a nice, relaxed dinner and leisurely check out
some local sites in the evening.
14. While driving during the day, plan to stop at least every hour and a half.
Stretch, take some bathroom breaks, and remember that getting there is half the
adventure.
15. Finger knitting really helps my kids to pass the time. All you need is a
ball of yarn. There is no mess and you can find simple instructions online by
doing a Google search for "Finger Knitting." During our last car trip, we all
arrived at our destination with lovely pink finger knitted scarves.
16. During a routine fuel stop, ask each child to choose five or six postcards,
which they can send to their friends. Make sure to bring your address book and
postage stamps so you can mail them on the way.
17. Allow one child to be the "navigator" each day. The navigator looks at the
map and gives recommendations on where to stop for snacks, gas, and meals.
18. Try these simple Travel Games:
The Alphabet Game: Find all the letters of the alphabet, in order, on license
plates, billboards, and road signs. Or find objects that begin with each
letter.
I Spy: One person spies something in the landscape or in the car and gives
clues. (One possible variation on this game is "20 Questions.")
License Plate "I Spy": See how many states you can spot.
License Plate Alphabet: Find all the letters of the alphabet, in order, on
license plates.
Letter Bingo: Print out Bingo sheets with clip art or words depicting sites you
will see on your trip.
Ultimately, it's important to remember that there is no such thing as a perfect
family vacation. Prepare as much as possible in advance, and then relax and go
with the flow.
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