Keeping Family Trips Fun

According to the United States Department of Energy, travel continues to grow in popularity every year. The department predicts that even more people will be on the road this year. And while traveling with your family can often be a super way to spend quality time together, let’s face it: it can also be stressful. Increase your chances of a fun, stress-free and safe vacation on the road with kids by following these simple tips:

Beat the Doldrums with Child’s Play

“Are we there yet?” Why is it that those words are always uttered exactly at the moment when mom and dad’s own energy levels are at their worst, making it easy to lose patience? Prevent a tired response you’ll have to apologize for later. Make sure your children have something to play with. It will keep them entertained, alert, and, hopefully, behaving kindly towards one another. Magnetic board games, portable video games and classics such as the license plate game, “I Spy” and the alphabet game will keep your kids in good spirits and actively engaged no matter how long the highway is.

Remember to Stay Clean at Rest Stops

When stopping at rest stops, make sure that the kids getting back in the car don’t also bring the bacteria and germs they came into contact with in the bathroom. Bring products that keep your loved ones healthy, such as liquid sanitizer for the hands and Lysol Disinfectant Spray, to kill rest stop germs that can be transferred from the rest room to the surfaces in your car. To prepare for those inevitable spills and “oops” moments, keep wet wipes and paper towels within arm’s reach.

Eat Wisely

Smart families know that joining the thousands of other travelers re-fueling their bellies at the convenient but often-times unhealthy roadside restaurants isn’t their only choice. Keeping a small cooler in the backseat filled with healthy snacks like string cheese, bottles of water, fresh fruit, and cut vegetables is an excellent way to avoid losing precious time in line during vacation.

Not enough room to keep a cooler in the car? You can still find a way to eat healthily on the road by going past the fast food restaurants just off exits. Travel a few miles farther, preferably with the help of your car’s on-board satellite, to the local grocery stores. They’ll be full of the fresh fruit, vegetables, trail mix, water, and other healthy goodies you’ll want. And it will be far less expensive to boot.

Keep Everyone Happy

Pick a vacation destination that everyone in the car can enjoy. While it’s certainly a temptation to pick places that focus only on the kids’ enjoyment, there are plenty of choices to keep everyone in the group entertained regardless of age. Parents and grandparents can have just as enjoyable a vacation as the kids in the camper with proper planning. What are some family-oriented vacation spots that cater to the kids as well as the adults? Consider Yellowstone National Park, Orlando’s Disney World, or California’s Disney Land.

A chaotic disaster? Or an unforgettable bonding time? Family vacations have been known to produce both. But with a little strategic planning, you can make sure that your next trip is the latter.

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• Tags: Family, Keeping, Trips