How to Take a Family Road Trip

Summer is here, and we are preparing for our first family road trip for the summer. Summer family vacation road trips have been part of so many comedy movies and jokes, but they remain one of the most cherished, loved things to do as a family. Few other activities can bring a family together and make everlasting memories like a family road trip. With a bit of planning, skills and good luck, a family can have a fabulous time.

Be creative with the budget.
When budgeting for a trip, few people consider what they would spend if they were at home. We’d be eating, doing at least a few fun things and using gas even if we were at home, so items like that come off the top of the budget from the start. It makes the total a lot more palatable.

Travel days are the worst.
As I told the kids as set off in our car for a 15-hour road trip, “Any fun we have today is just bonus. But don’t expect it.” Surprisingly, it was a wonderful trip, but I don’t get used to it. Travel days often have more than their fair share of yelling, pouting and grumpy attitude. They are what they are, so I plan accordingly. This is when I am thankful for technology like iPads and Nintendo 3DS. It is amazing how time flies when the kids are entertained by these devices, BUT we have strict rules with them because I don’t want them to be overused and expected. They are the thing I suggest after we have looked outside at the scenery  chatted about what we look forward to seeing or what things we loved and listened to a book on CD.

Visit family and friends along the way.
It makes the trip more fun. It is amazing how many friends and family we know all across the country. It is great to connect with them and also get out of the vehicle to stretch our legs and enjoy a good time. It is wonderful watching your old friends hang with your husband and kids — like different chapters of your book all coming together.

Never eat at a chain restaurant.
Okay, this is my general rule at home too, but on road trips it’s a mistake. You learn a lot about a town and the food when you go where the locals go. There are great apps like UrbanSpoon or Google Local that help you find restaurants that your family may enjoy. Also, do not eat at a restaurant with pictures of its food out front. They never seem to work out well.

Always listen to the locals.
Any chance you have to ask a local — a friend or the clerk at the gas station — where to eat, play or shop, you should listen.

You need a rest day at least once a week.
This may involve a few hours of TV, a trip to a bookstore, laundry or laying around the condo or hotel. I know vacation time is limited, but this will keep you sane during all the days of swimming, touring, lunch with friends and walking around town. Rest is the idea on a vacation, right?
Dine in for a meal or two.
We eat some fabulous meals while we travel, but we enjoy going to a local market and grabbing some food to prepare for meals in, especially for breakfast. This allows us to sit back, eat and enjoy the scenery of our vacation. My kids tend to act well at this dining table too. 😉

Pick a road trip theme song.
One of our past road trip them songs was Third Day’s God of Wonder. Whenever things get tense in the car, my husband and I crank it up. The road trip memories brought up by music continue long after the trip odometer stops. I can’t tell you how many bad moods have ended by playing songs and the laughs they bring when we randomly catch them on the radio.

Remember that a family road trip is about the journey. Slow down and keep things interesting. Plan, but keep some improvisation alive, it will give a sense of adventure to the trip. Keep the goal in mind…have fun!