originally published in 2018
Summertime is a great time to spend exploring with your family. Often we all want to break out of the house and go search for fun things to do with our families. The thought process often looks like this: Where do we go? How far away is it? Can my kids handle all that time in the car? What on earth are we going to do to entertain them until we get there?
More than 1/3 of all American families will take a vacation of 50 miles or more away from their home in the next 12 months. A whopping 2/3 of Americans say spending quality family time together is the number 1 priority while on vacation. Vacations make lasting memories that families can share and reminisce about for years to come.
As a mom, it’s very important to try and make the vacation as magical and happy as possible. Most adults don’t like being in the car for too long, let alone children. Here are some tips to maximize your happy vacation!
(1) Safety First – Make sure your children’s seats are properly installed. This happens more often than you think. Make sure your car’s oil has been recently changed, check your tires, and top off any liquids. If you don’t have any roadside assistance, consider becoming a member of AAA or calling your insurance to see if they have services.
(2) Plan your trip during lighter travel times – During the week, non-holiday days, and in the beginning or the end of summer are typically the less crowded times. If you’re traveling to other parts of the country that start school in August, it would be best to travel during these times as at least the local kids will be in school.
(3) Consider your seating arrangements – If you’re traveling with young children, seat an adult next to them to assist them in anything that they need or if they become fussy, the adult can help entertain them, feed them, etc. Consider renting a larger car, a minivan or larger, if traveling with a larger group. That way everyone can have more space, be more comfortable, your luggage will fit better, and you have more room for souvenirs!
(4) Leave early – As a Long Islander, we almost always have to travel through NYC in order to get anywhere. Often growing up and now with my children, we leave between 4am-5am in order to get past rush hour traffic and through the Bronx or over Staten Island.
(5) Take a ferry if possible – Going to New England? We are fortunate enough to have two local ferries. Plan your trip so that once you are on the ferry you can use that time to relax and rejuvenate. Let your little kids walk around, check out the top deck which has a great view of the sound, give them some snacks, and make sure to use the bathroom. If you have children in diapers, the Port Jeff-Bridgeport ferry does not have any changing tables but allow you to go back to your car during the trip. The Cross Sound Ferry does offer changing tables.
(6) Make frequent stops – Plan to stop every 2 hours or 100 miles to stretch your legs and let your kids burn some energy. Buy an exit guide like this one or use the website/app roadtrippers.com to help you plan where to stop along the way. We are planning a long car ride to the south this summer and both of these will be my lifeline. Roadtrippers.com shows you lodging, restaurants, things to do, nature stops, offbeat attractions, and more. It’s easy to use and has proven vital to my road trip planning!
(7) Think of some fun car activities – Sing songs, play car games, watch DVDs, play games on the iPad or other gaming device, and print out or buy activity books. If your child still naps, then plan to be at a stop during the normal waking time (as long as possible) and get their energy out so when they nap in the car it won’t through off their whole routine, forcing them to then stay up till midnight when you finally reach your destination. Don't forget a bunch of snacks!
What’s most important is to have a fun family vacation, not the perfect vacation. There will be those tough spots during a road trip, but it’s all about your attitude and how you help try turning it around!
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