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