In the Fall, I'm a football mom like Liz. But in the summer, I'm a baseball mom. Two of my boys travel for tournaments on the weekends. Needless to say, we are on the road a lot! Those drives and hotel stays are fun at first, but they can become tiresome. So this week I'm going to talk about how to make road trips easier. Start by planning ahead!
- For the driver
- audiobooks!
- update your music - because finding a good station is almost impossible on the road, even if you have satellite - it repeats!
- I like to listen to a movie with the kids, like Wreck it Ralph or Despicable Me, it makes the time and the miles fly
- For the kids
- get movies onto the devices - they can take a while to load, don't wait till the last minute!
- don't forget the chargers!
- don't forget the headphones/earbuds!
- bring a book - mine have summer homework, and even if they didn't I encourage them to read something
- something different - mine will sometimes bring an old gaming system for a change of pace, like a PSP or Nintendo DS
- for younger kids - there's a ton of creative, fun stuff available that wasn't when my kids were little - Crayola mess-free comes to mind
- what NOT to bring - no stickers, no little pieces, nothing you can't replace! (see Liz's article about how to keep these things safe)
- do bring something different to pull out at the pit stops or buy a trinket on the road - more waiting and sitting still at restaurants can be tough!
- Know where you're going
- GPS isn't perfect, I print out a map to be safe
- figure out how long it will take
- see if you can avoid construction
- pick good spots to stop for meals or rest breaks
- if I have friends in the area, I like to give them a heads up, possibly meet them for lunch between games
- Be comfortable - sitting for a long car ride, you need to be comfy or you'll be cranky
- bring long sleeves--even tho it's hot outside, the a/c keeps a car brrr cold even when the fan is on the lowest setting
- pillows if space permits
- sunglasses and a spare
- don't pack stuff in your suitcase you want easy access to in the car
- Food! I'll be talking about snacks and drinks on Wednesday
Got more to add? I'd love to hear it! Any travel plans coming up? Happy Trails!
