“Mom, he won’t stop looking at me!”
“He pointed his finger at me!”
And the whining goes on and on and on…
This is what I used to think about what a family road trip would look like, with all of us cooped up in the car, and my kids driving me crazy getting on each and every last nerve. But, I have to admit, I did some careful planning for our North Coast road trip for spring break and it turned out to be a fun and memorable trip! No matter where you are going, the trip starts the moment you’re backing out of your driveway, so here are some tips for making the family road trip one for the memory books:
1. Plan the trip as a family
We like to use www.roadtrippers.com. A great resource to type in your destination and see all the activities and landmarks along the way. Let the kids pick a few fun stops to make because when they are involved in the planning they are likely to be more excited about the trip!
2. Do some research
When planning a road trip, figure out how many activities you want to do in each town/area and plot which towns you’ll stay the night. Head to your local AAA and get a paper map (yes, those still exist) and have the kids highlight the route! Getting books about your destinations is also a great way to get the kids excited and learning a little about the sites before they see them.
3. Lodging
I like to score the best deal possible on lodging, so I head to Groupon to start my search. Many hotels on Groupon or VRBO’s offer extras like tickets to a local zoo or aquarium, or free bike rentals, etc. These are great money saving options if you can find one in the town you want, but if I can’t, I head to www.priceline.com and use their “Express Deal” option if I like the amenities I see listed about the mystery hotel. When booking an Express Deal through Priceline, you don’t know which hotel it is in the vicinity that you picked until you book, but you can get a good idea when looking at the listing.
4. Pack Smart
For in-car entertainment, I pack a few toys that the kids haven’t played with for a while, or I get some from the local dollar store that will keep them occupied for a while. Magnet toys on cookie trays are a great idea to keep kids busy for long periods of time! I also throw in the i-pads and travel DVD players for when the novelty of the toys wear off. Make sure they each have a pillow or stuffed animal for car naps (if you’re lucky enough to have a car sleeper).
When packing clothing, pack each day’s clothes in a gallon size zip lock bag that you can just grab at each stop. This will make the in-and-out of hotels so much easier so you’re not having to take a big suitcase in at each stop.
Pack non-messy snacks and waters in the car where it is easily accessible. Have a bag ready for garbage, and maybe some small bags for queasy kids on windy roads!
5. Leave time for adventure
Mystery Spots or Big Foot Museum signs that grab your attention? Pull off the road and check it out! Kids love when there are fun and unexpected stops, and this usually helps them get those wiggles out from sitting for a long time! We always pack some sports equipment to throw a football around on the lawn to help stretch our legs.
Road trips have now become one of our favorite types of vacations just because there is so much room to be flexible and have fun. Make sure to check for deals and discounts online for the big places you want to visit or check for a list of reciprocal programs for your zoo and museum memberships (many offer discounted or free admission).
