| Whenever one of my friends returns from some | | | | the kids as you need a diversion from boredom |
| time away, I ask: "Was it a vacation - or was it | | | | or sibling arguments.11. Make sure to talk about |
| just a trip?"When traveling with kids, true | | | | your vacation like it is the ultimate adventure. The |
| vacations are pretty hard to come by. With the | | | | enthusiasm that you bring to the prospect of piling |
| packing, the car seats, the change in sleeping | | | | into the car will help in untold ways.In the Car12. If |
| schedules, and all the inevitable whining that | | | | you can, do as much traveling as possible while |
| comes along, it would be way easier to stay | | | | your kids are sleeping. Of course, safety is |
| home (especially when traveling by car.)And yet | | | | paramount. If you find yourself getting at all |
| traveling is important. When we travel, we open | | | | sleepy, pull over and switch with your spouse or |
| to a world that was previously unknown to us. | | | | find a hotel.13. If you don't like to drive at night, or |
| We touch other cultures and other ways of life; | | | | you are driving through countryside that you |
| we broaden our own perspectives and | | | | would like your children to see in the daylight, |
| understand, finally, that our small problems are | | | | make sure you leave plenty of travel time. Plan |
| just that.When we travel with kids, we open their | | | | on a maximum of seven hours of driving per day. |
| eyes to all of this and more. Even when we take | | | | Get up early, drive a bit, and then check into your |
| a simple trip to visit distant relatives, we show | | | | hotel in the mid afternoon and enjoy the |
| them a world of love that they may not had | | | | swimming pool. Have a nice, relaxed dinner and |
| known existed.Here are eighteen tips to help you | | | | leisurely check out some local sites in the |
| enjoy road trip traveling with your kids.Before the | | | | evening.14. While driving during the day, plan to |
| trip:1. Use online trip-planning websites to locate | | | | stop at least every hour and a half. Stretch, take |
| kid-friendly parks, historic monuments, and other | | | | some bathroom breaks, and remember that |
| attractions in advance. Plan at least one kids' | | | | getting there is half the adventure.15. Finger |
| activity each day, even on those driving days. | | | | knitting really helps my kids to pass the time. All |
| Involving your kids in the planning of your | | | | you need is a ball of yarn. There is no mess and |
| vacation will help them to get excited about the | | | | you can find simple instructions online by doing a |
| trip, too.2. When you are doing your research and | | | | Google search for "Finger Knitting." During our last |
| booking your destination, consider an all-inclusive | | | | car trip, we all arrived at our destination with |
| resort. These types of arrangements (in which | | | | lovely pink finger knitted scarves.16. During a |
| your lodging, dining, attractions, and activities are | | | | routine fuel stop, ask each child to choose five or |
| included) can really help you relax and enjoy your | | | | six postcards that they can send to their friends. |
| precious vacation time.3. Have each child pack | | | | Make sure to bring your address book and |
| their own small backpack with the books, | | | | postage stamps so you can mail them on the |
| workbooks, and activities that they most want to | | | | way.17. Allow one child to be the "navigator" each |
| bring.4. Have a kid-friendly travel map on hand, as | | | | day. The navigator looks at the map and gives |
| well as a pair of binoculars.5. Consider buying or | | | | recommendations on where to stop for snacks, |
| borrowing a portable DVD player. We only get | | | | gas, and meals.18. Try these simple Travel |
| ours out on long trips, but it has been really | | | | Games:The Alphabet Game: Find all the letters of |
| helpful, especially if you are traveling very long | | | | the alphabet, in order, on license plates, billboards, |
| distances.6. Get each child a special book of | | | | and road signs. Or find objects that begin with |
| games, puzzles, or simple coloring books, just for | | | | each letter.I Spy: One person spies something in |
| the drive, along with some washable markers.7. | | | | the landscape or in the car and gives clues. (One |
| Bring some music that everyone will enjoy singing | | | | possible variation on this game is "20 |
| along to. We love our CD of old campfire songs. | | | | Questions.")License Plate "I Spy": See how many |
| You can even create your own CDs of family | | | | states you can spot.License Plate Alphabet: Find all |
| favorites.8. Bring a Frisbee or a football for when | | | | the letters of the alphabet, in order, on license |
| you stop at a park. You want to help your kids | | | | plates.Letter Bingo: Print out Bingo sheets with clip |
| burn some energy in a reasonable amount of | | | | art or words depicting sites you will see on your |
| time.9. Pack healthy low-mess snacks, such as | | | | trip.Ultimately, it's important to remember that |
| nuts, trail mix, apples, energy bars, and bottled | | | | there is no such thing as a perfect family |
| water. A package of baby wipes often comes in | | | | vacation. Prepare as much as possible in advance, |
| handy for little messes in the car, too.10. Pack a | | | | and then relax and go with the flow.Jamie |
| journal and a disposable camera for each child, so | | | | Jefferson writes for Visit today for the latest |
| that they can document the trip in their own way. | | | | online Coupon Codes including family vacation |
| These items can be gift wrapped and given to | | | | packages and discount travel promotions. |