| America's first choice for family vacations | | | | in a portable DVD player and allow each child |
| is very quickly becoming the road trip. The | | | | to take turns choosing the movie. You also |
| reason is that it is the most affordable | | | | may want to get each child a journal if it is |
| option for large group travels in a time when | | | | age appropriate, as well as a small |
| many people are hesitant to rely on air | | | | disposable camera. This will enable them to |
| travel. If you are taking a vacation with | | | | create their own unique diary or travel guide |
| the whole family, you know that sometimes it | | | | of their family vacation. |
| seems less like a vacation, or more like a | | | | |
| colossal nightmare. When you decide to take | | | | Before you get in the car, make sure you have |
| that family road trip, keep on hand some | | | | a cooler fully stocked of both food and |
| useful road trip tips that will ensure you | | | | drink. This will minimize times you will |
| all get the vacation you have been looking | | | | need to stop, and also save you money on gas |
| forward to for so long. | | | | station or fast food snacks. Take a quick |
| | | | break every couple of hours for bathroom |
| The fun thing about road trips is that you | | | | needs. And you also want to have several |
| allow yourself to be opened up to a world you | | | | trash bags and several packages of |
| may have never seen before. Experiencing a | | | | anti-septic wipes handy for spills and |
| road trip with your children is an exciting | | | | messes. |
| way to teach them about the country, and open | | | | |
| their worlds to new experiences and new | | | | Make sure you have taken full advantage of |
| things. It is also a great way to see | | | | online travel guides and US travel guides so |
| historic areas you may not have gotten a | | | | that you have your route completely mapped |
| chance to had you taken a flight. Make sure | | | | out ahead of time. Ensure you are fully |
| your road trip is all of the excitement you | | | | aware of weather and road conditions in each |
| have been waiting for by ensuring your road | | | | city you will be visiting, and how long it |
| trip planning takes care of every possible | | | | will take you to get from one place to the |
| scenario. | | | | next. You can use travel guides for both |
| | | | weather and mapping so take full advantage of |
| Games, books, puzzles, coloring books, are | | | | them. Make a copy of the travel guide for |
| all great things to keep your children | | | | each of your children, and have each child be |
| occupied in the car. Keeping your children | | | | a navigator on a different day. Kids love |
| occupied will soon become a task that is | | | | to participate in activities for grownups and |
| paramount once you have been on the road for | | | | they will enjoy the feeling of being in |
| an hour or two. Ensure they each bring all | | | | charge. |
| of their favorites so that there are no | | | | |
| excuses to being bored. Have a list of fun | | | | Always remember to expect the unexpected and |
| in-car games that you can play along the way | | | | do not put too much pressure on yourself. |
| - trivia, license plate games, I-Spy, or | | | | There is no such thing as the perfect |
| anything that will be age appropriate for | | | | vacation, but proper road trip planning will |
| your children. You may even want to invest | | | | get you as close as possible. |