Hitting the Road – Parent Style!

By Mary Jane Bogle

For many of us, summer means vacation. And while traveling by plane can get you to your destination quickly, airline hassles seem to increase with every passing year. Thankfully, our vast continent offers countless family-friendly vacation spots we can reach by car, with more people opting for road trips than ever before.

Of course, road trips bring their own unique challenges, especially with kids. Want to make your next road trip the best one yet? Follow these tips and tricks to create memories that will last long after you pull the car back into the garage.

Know the route – Relying exclusively on map apps might land you in remote areas just when you need a potty stop. Knowing the surrounding terrain is a must for campers, and no one wants to drive from hotel to hotel in the dead of night hoping for a vacancy. Planning ahead with a few well-placed reservations and a quick look at aerial views of your lodgings can go a long way toward alleviating all that stress!

Manage the mess – A three-drawer plastic storage tote can help you keep snacks, wipes, and games organized. Place one within easy reach of older kids or the person in the front passenger seat. Small lap desks can keep crafts and meals-on-the-go contained, and remember to store plenty of trash bags, making cleanup a breeze at the day’s end.

Stock up on snacks – Offering your kids a variety of snacks can stave off those hunger pangs when you’re still a few hours from your destination. Plan for a variety of healthy snacks (think fruits and veggies stored in a cooler), with a few sweet treats packed for good measure.

Keep the crew hydrated – Be sure to leave room in the cooler for plenty of water bottles and fruit juices, along with some caffeinated beverages for the drivers. Just be sure to pack the cooler out of reach from little hands, or you’ll have small passengers bouncing off the walls long before you reach your destination!

Introduce new children’s authors – There’s no better time than a road trip to enjoy a good audio book as a family, especially for reluctant readers or kids stuck in a particular genre. Take advantage of your captive audience to expand their reading horizons. With a little luck, you just might capture everyone’s attention long enough to avoid the never-ending round of “Are we there yet?” questions.

Play classic car games – Consider laminating colorful maps of the United States. Give your kids dry erase markers or stickers to mark state license plates on that state on their maps … helping your kids learn geography while keeping their eyes peeled for that elusive Hawaii or Alaska plate! I Spy is always fun, too, and even preschoolers can join in the Alphabet Game. (Bonus: keeping your travelers’ focus on the passing scenery instead of a tablet can help them avoid car sickness something everyone in the car will appreciate!)

Make meals part of the memories – Avoid food chains and plan to eat at least one meal a day at a local restaurant. It’s a great way to support local businesses and introduce your kids to new tastes and textures at the same time.

Plan for pit stops – Taking a break every few hours will do more than just help your family avoid road fatigue. It will give you a chance to explore some small towns along the way something you miss completely when flying!

Leave time for unexpected journeys – By all means, appease the planner in your family with scheduled events, but make sure to allow time for side trips, shopping, and any local activities you might not know about until you get there. a