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Family Travel Tips: 18 Ways to Enjoy a Road Trip

Whenever one of my friends returns from sometrip in their own way. These items can be
time away, I ask: "Was it a vacation, or wasgift wrapped and given to the kids as you
it  just  a  trip?"need a diversion from boredom or sibling
arguments.
When traveling with kids, true vacations are
pretty hard to come by. With the packing, the11. Make sure to talk about your vacation
car seats, the change in sleeping schedules,like it is the ultimate adventure. The
and all the inevitable whining that comesenthusiasm that you bring to the prospect of
along, it would be way easier to stay homepiling into the car will help in untold ways.
(especially  when  traveling  by  car.)
In  the  Car:
And yet traveling is important. When we
travel, we open to a world that was12. If you can, do as much traveling as
previously unknown to us. We touch otherpossible while your kids are sleeping. Of
cultures and other ways of life; we broadencourse, safety is paramount. If you find
our own perspectives and understand, finally,yourself getting at all sleepy, pull over and
that  our  small  problems  are  just  that.switch  with  your  spouse  or  find a hotel.
When we travel with kids, we open their eyes13. If you do not like to drive at night, or
to all of this and more. Even when we take ayou are driving through countryside that you
simple trip to visit distant relatives, wewould like your children to see in the
show them a world of love that they may notdaylight, make sure you leave plenty of
had  known  existed.travel time. Plan on a maximum of seven hours
of driving per day. Get up early, drive a
Here are eighteen tips to help you enjoy roadbit, and then check into your hotel in the
trip  traveling  with  your  kids.mid afternoon and enjoy the swimming pool.
Have a nice, relaxed dinner and leisurely
Before  the  trip:check  out  some  local sites in the evening.
1. Use online trip planning websites to14. While driving during the day, plan to
locate kid friendly parks, historicstop at least every hour and a half. Stretch,
monuments, and other attractions in advance.take some bathroom breaks, and remember that
Plan at least one child oriented activitygetting  there  is  half  the  adventure.
each day, even on those driving days.
Involving your kids in the planning of your15. Finger knitting really helps my kids to
vacation will help them to get excited aboutpass the time. All you need is a ball of
the  trip,  too.yarn. There is no mess and you can find
simple instructions online by doing a Google
2. When you are doing your research andsearch for "Finger Knitting." During our last
booking your destination, consider an allcar trip, we all arrived at our destination
inclusive resort. These types of arrangementswith  lovely  pink  finger  knitted  scarves.
(in which your lodging, dining, attractions,
and activities are included) can really help16. During a routine fuel stop, ask each
you relax and enjoy your precious vacationchild to choose five or six postcards, which
time.they can send to their friends. Make sure to
bring your address book and postage stamps so
3. Have each child pack their own smallyou  can  mail  them  on  the  way.
backpack with the books, workbooks, and
activities  that  they  most  want  to bring.17. Allow one child to be the "navigator"
each day. The navigator looks at the map and
4. Have a kid friendly travel map on hand, asgives recommendations on where to stop for
well  as  a  pair  of  binoculars.snacks,  gas,  and  meals.
5. Consider buying or borrowing a portable18.  Try  these  simple  Travel  Games:
DVD player. We only get ours out on long
trips, but it has been really helpful,The Alphabet Game: Find all the letters of
especially if you are traveling very longthe alphabet, in order, on license plates,
distances.billboards, and road signs. Or find objects
that  begin  with  each  letter.
6. Get each child a special book of games,
puzzles, or simple coloring books, just forI Spy: One person spies something in the
the  drive, along with some washable markers.landscape or in the car and gives clues. (One
possible variation on this game is "20
7. Bring some music that everyone will enjoyQuestions.")
singing along to. We love our CD of old
campfire songs. You can even create your ownLicense Plate "I Spy": See how many states
CDs  of  family  favorites.you  can  spot.
8. Bring a Frisbee or a football for when youLicense Plate Alphabet: Find all the letters
stop at a park. You want to help your kidsof the alphabet, in order, on license plates.
burn some energy in a reasonable amount of
time.Letter Bingo: Print out Bingo sheets with
clip art or words depicting sites you will
9. Pack healthy snacks, such as nuts, trailsee  on  your  trip.
mix, apples, energy bars, and bottled water.
A package of baby wipes often comes in handyUltimately, it is important to remember that
for  little  messes  in  the  car,  too.there is no such thing as a perfect family
vacation. Prepare as much as possible in
10. Pack a journal and a disposable cameraadvance, and then relax and go with the flow.
for each child, so that they can document the



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