When it comes to family memories, there is nothing quite like being packed into the family car like sardines, for hours, on the way to some amazing vacation spot. The well prepared family will get there in one piece, so plan ahead and make sure that your car is stocked and ready to go. Let the summer road trips begin!
Make sure your spare tire is ready to go in case of emergency.
Plan a staycation to remember.
Keep it healthy on the road by packing your own protein-rich snacks. Bag them in small Ziploc bags that you can dole out at intervals. Avoid sugary snacks that can lead to sugar highs (not fun to deal with when trapped in a car for many hours at a time). Some snacks that work well for long car trips include unsalted pretzel sticks dipped in a single-serving of peanut butter, cheese sticks, and trail mix made up of a few raisins and a sugarless cereal. And don’t forget a bottle or two of water, which can be refilled along the way.
Stretch your legs and expend some energy at rest stops: pull out a Frisbee or a jump rope if there’s room to play.
Discover fun car games for the road.
Don’t count on video devices to keep your kids distracted. I’ve found that road-tripping tots can manage 15 minutes of cartoon watching at most. Books are better: bring along a selection of children’s books — some favorites and some new titles. Gather some road trip games (travel bingo, map puzzles). Host an in-car spelling bee or trivia competition. Keep a family travel journal: pass around a notebook from person to person, asking each to detail a highlight of the day’s fun.
Amy Bizzarri is a Chicago based-writer and mom of two kids. You’ll also find her at tiramisumom.com.