Like many other families, our family takes a number of road
trips each year. We have three beautiful young daughters and people often say to me
How can you stand to take road trips with young kids? In fact, I love taking road trips.
I now prefer them to traveling by plane. Here are my top 10 tips for having a fun and
non-stressful driving vacation.
1.Leave early in the morning, before Breakfast.
This way you can get a few hours under your belt while the kids (hopefully) sleep in
the car. Then stop for breakfast.
2.If your budget allows, buy your child(ren)
a new toy for the trip. Dont let them play with it until you are in the car and on your
way.
3.Bring along a portable DVD player if your car doesnt already have one.
For long trips, pack at least 3 or more DVDs. Its even better if you can buy a couple of
new ones to keep your child(ren)s attention better.
4.Pack a cooler with lots of
your kids favorite snacks, drinks and sandwiches. Keep the cooler handy in the car, so you
can just reach in and give them something. Packing your own food saves on costs.
5.Stop at a nice rest area to eat your meals. This will be less stressing then hauling the
kids into a crowded McDonalds. When we travel from Texas to Maryland each year we stop at a
beautiful rest area in Tennessee. It has nice bathroom facilities and is located on several
acres giving the kids a chance to run around and exhaust some of their energy.
6.Stop every 3-4 hours. If you are traveling with small kids like us, you will really want
to take advantage of this tip. Kids dont have a concept of time. By the time 3 hours goes by
in a car it seems like forever to them. Even stopping at a gas station and letting everyone
get out of the car and stretch their legs for a few minutes really works.
7.Play car
games. A favorite of ours is Cops and Vettes. One point is given for every police car spotted
and two points are given for Corvettes. But if you call a car and its not correct then you
deduct the points. It even helps to spot that hidden police car before he spots you!
8.Bring plenty of pillows and blankets. Children are more likely to sleep in the car if they
are comfortable.
9.If you plan to stay somewhere overnight before traveling the next
day, pack everything you need for the night in one bag. That way when you get to the hotel
you dont have to unload the whole car. I buy the biggest Ziploc bags I can find and put my
childrens clothes in them and write their name on it. Then I only take what is needed.
10.Check the hotels to see if they offer free breakfast. Our favorite hotel to stay in is
Holiday Inn. Kids stay and eat free. If we arrive at the hotel in the evening, they can eat
dinner for free and then breakfast the next morning. Once again it saves on costs, especially
if you pack your own lunch.
I hope these tips help you on your next road trip.
Vacation Rentals - Vacations-Abroad.com is the easiest place for travelers to search vacation rentals in several different countries. Our list of vacation rentals includes holiday apartments, vacation condos, holiday villas, vacation homes, holiday flats, guesthouses etc.
