Getting there is half the fun. Plan a vacation car trip that's enjoyable for the whole family.
Is it a vacation if it starts out in a jam-packed mini-van with fast-food trash, sticky car seats, radio station disagreements and capless markers lost in the seat cushions? Can it still be called a vacation?
You bet. And for many families, it’s the only way to travel.
Traveling by car has many advantages over flying. It’s far less expensive, it allows you to see sights along the way, and upon arrival you have your car with you, not to mention anything from home that you were able to fit in the car.
For many families who believe that “getting there is half the fun,” the added bonus is that the whole family gets to spend time together.
More than four times as many families take vacations via car than those who fly, according to the Portrait of Family Travel.
A successful car trip for your summer vacation may require some advance planning. Make your family’s time in the car part of the vacation fun.
Every traveler gets a fun bag
Give each child a tote bag and have him fill it with hand-held games, Mad Libs and other puzzle books, pens and pencils, crayons, and other things to keep them occupied. Right before the trip, add a surprise – a small toy or book – some snacks and a couple extra batteries.
Take your own pillows
Even if you’re staying at a hotel or a house where bedding is provided, let the children take their own pillows. They’ll sleep better on their nights away from home, and they’ll be able to set up a comfortable spot in the car.
Stock the car
First make sure the car is cleaned out from your last trip or daily errands. Stock the car with a roll of paper towels, two boxes of tissues (one for the front seat and one for the back), and several small bags for garbage. Also be sure to have a couple of lightweight blankets, bottles of water, and a first aid kit. If you have toddlers, here is a checklist for must-haves for a car trip.
Give everyone a job
Assign every member of the car a job for while you’re on the road. If you have a small cooler for food for the trip, put it near the person designated to pass out cold drinks and sandwiches. Give someone else the job of passing out snacks and other food. Dub someone the navigator, give him a map and let him point out interesting things coming up. Switch jobs and seats every few hours.
Car games
Nothing makes travel time go by more quickly than getting involved in a little competition. Start a car game with your kids and watch the miles whiz by.
Try books on tape
Check out your local library for books on tape and pick up a few that the whole family can enjoy. Try a classic, like Huckelberry Finn, any of the Harry Potter books, The Hobbit, Kipling's Just So Stories, or Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Listening to a book together makes for a more enjoyable trip than separate headphones for each child.
