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