Category: Travel and Vacations

Road trips with your family are a great opportunity to bond and make memories on the way to a getaway.

They can also be stressful, heavy on the wallet, and potentially dangerous.

But you’re a great parent, so you want to ensure safe travels on your road trip.

I’ve put together 5 essential tips to ease your mind and enjoy your next big road trip with your loved ones.

1. Stock Your Emergency Road Kit

If you don’t have a basic emergency road kit, you need to get one.

You should have jumper cables, a small battery charger, spare tire, and a small plastic gas can. Make sure you have your bases covered.

You should also consider a small first aid kit with bandages, antiseptic wipes, and aspirin. Being able to treat small cuts or deal with minor aches will keep your moving.

I also consider my travel mug as part of my emergency road kit. One less stop for coffee keeps my trips on schedule.

2. Visit Your Mechanic

Make sure your inspections are up to date to provide safe travels.

You’ll want your mechanic to check tire pressure, brake pads, and all of your fluids before you hit the road. Looking for a mechanic in a strange place can be costly and can disrupt your trip.

If you’re planning far enough ahead and don’t feel confident about your vehicle, this could be the perfect opportunity to lease a new or used car.

Plenty of vehicles made in the last ten years have all the safety options, charging ports, and storage options you need for a road trip. If you’re trying to decide whether to buy new or used, there’s a great breakdown of pros-and-cons here!

3. Start Hands-Free and Stick to It

I recommend keeping maps in your car since you never know when you’ll be in a low service area.

I wouldn’t recommend using them as your main navigation tool, though. Before you leave, set your smartphone or GPS to your destination and leave it alone. You need your hands on the wheel at all times.

If you have voice activation options, set them up in advance of your trip rather than figuring them out on the road. You can keep your music going and skip tracks without looking away from the highway.

4. Need Medication? Bring Extra

If members of your family need medication, pick up your prescriptions in advance.

Get a pill organizer to ensure you have what you need for each day of your trip. If you need to keep medications cool, try a lunchbox with an ice-pack for an efficient solution.

5. Power Up

Does your family use lots of electronic devices on a road trip?

To make sure you can focus on safe travels and keep your eyes on the road, charge your devices the night before.

Depending on the length of your trip, consider portable chargers, extra cables, or even a power strip. The last thing you want to be doing is digging around for a cable when you’re on the highway.

Safe Travels

Family road trips are some of the most fun memories I have of my childhood.

They’re also some of the best memories I have with my kids. Planning ahead can ensure that you can keep your mind on your trip and have the best time.

hike, travel, tourism and people concept – happy family roasting marshmallow over campfire

When you are inundated with emails from work at all hours of the day and night, you need to hit the great outdoors! When your children refuse to look up from their tablets and smartphones at the dinner table, it’s time for a family camping trip.

However, if the mere suggestion of camping strikes fear in your loved ones, here are some helpful family camping tips which will help you all disconnect from daily life and remember the thrills and serenity of nature.

1. Pack Right

You do not want to overpack on your voyage, but it is likely you will need a variety of outfits even if you are only away in the woods for a few days. Layers are important for cold nights and misty mornings; you can then discard the fleece pullovers and leggings as the day warms up.

If you are near a lake or a swimming hole, make sure you remember bathing suits. And take into account the fact that everyone may get muddy- so one extra pair of socks per person is advisable.

Invest in a lightweight travel pack for each camper. Kids can help out by carrying their own stuff and learn a lesson in prioritizing essentials. Not every teddy bear gets to go on the camping trip!

2. Plan your meals

Meals may be the biggest challenge of the family camping trip, especially when everyone has different palates. Most kids are used to grabbing whatever they like from the refrigerator at every hour of the day.

One of my favorite family camping tips is to pack a dutch oven. These handy items can cook a meal for a crowd easily and you can use them for breakfast, lunch or dinner. You can find a wide variety of cast iron dutch oven recipes for camping which will help you please even the pickiest eaters on your family camping trip.

3. Leave the electronics at home

To really reap the rewards of a family excursion into Mother Nature, you need to put down the iPhones and the computer. If you need your cell to stay in touch with work or you are concerned about a medical issue, lock it up in the glove compartment of your car so you can get it if you need it.

If your kids are not used to entertaining themselves without their devices, now is a great time to “get crafty.” You can show them how to create a nature journal to describe or sketch the flora and fauna they see, or they can make artwork out of leaves, twigs and stones.

4. Don’t forget the first aid kit!

From bug bites to blisters from new hiking boots to the ill-timed fever, you will want to be prepared with some medical care essentials when you are out in the woods. Make sure you pack band-aids, insect repellent, aspirin and rubbing alcohol to deal with those unexpected bumps and bruises.

It’s not just the kids who may require medical attention. Include any regular medication needed by the grown-ups on the trip. You don’t want to be an hour’s drive away from the nearest pharmacy if predictable health conditions arise.

5. Let everyone know what to expect

Another one of the most important family camping tips to remember is communication.

If there are family members new to camping, it’s important to prepare them for what they can expect. Children who are scared of the dark should know they will be sleeping outside under the stars. Grandma should be alerted to the fact that the public bathrooms are a fifteen-minute walk from the campsite.

Put a positive spin on the adventure! You all will be making memories that can last a lifetime.

Just let the first-timers know what it means to “rough it” if this is not one of their regular activities. Otherwise, you may expect some complaining to mar the fun.

Follow These Family Camping Tips For a Happy Escape

Whether you are exploring one of our country’s amazing national parks, or just starting out at a local campsite, a family camping trip can be the perfect way to reconnect with your loved ones. Without the distractions of the modern world, you can share good grub, fresh air and plenty of laughs by just getting away from it all.

Start planning your camping trip today!

Does the idea of a road trip sound great in theory, but make you groan when you consider all the details? You’re not alone.

Family road trips often sound like an amazing opportunity for quality time and bonding. But the tenth cry of “she hit me” and repetition of the Wiggles soundtrack can quickly drive you crazy.

Luckily, we’ve got all the info you need to make your family road trip a success. Read on for some smart travel tips that’ll help you actually enjoy your next adventure.

Making the Most of Family Roadtrips

A road trip is a great way to travel as a family. You have the freedom to go wherever you want and can easily pull the car over for food and bathroom breaks. You’ll also get to explore parts of the country that you would miss if you were flying to your destination.

But it’s not all fun and games, and a road trip can quickly turn into a nightmare if you don’t prepare correctly. Here are some smart travel tips to get you started:

1. Do Your Research

The best thing you can do to make your trip go smoothly? Research. Get online and find where other parents drove, where they stayed, and the activities they recommend.

Speak to other parents and get suggestions for experiences or itineraries. Keep in mind the ages of your kids (and theirs) so you can ensure you’re getting the best advice for your situation.

2. Travel With Other Parents

What’s better than a road trip? A road trip with other parents and kids. The more people you travel with, the less likely you’ll hear “I’m bored” from your kids.

You’ll also be making decisions as a team, and can enjoy a well-earned glass of wine at the end of the day.

3. Drive Safe

Before you leave, it’s a good idea to get the car checked out. Whether you have a teeny Toyota or a handicap van, take it in for a service and check that everything is working as it should.

Before you leave, check the tires. You may also want to check the back seat to ensure all windows and doors have the child safety locks activated and there are no choking hazards back there.

4. Take Entertainment

There are now more ways to entertain your kids than ever before. But even the most prepared parent can still hear whining on a long drive.

The answer? Pack more options than you think you’ll need.

However you feel about screen time, most parents allow at least an hour or two on road trips. Here are some other great options:

• Reading
• Family podcasts
• Games like “I Spy”
• Audiobooks
• Talking
• Looking up information about the area
• Listening to songs
• Writing in journals

5. Take Frequent Breaks

If you’re close to your destination, it can be tempting to keep driving, even when the whole family is tired. Instead, avoid setting a strict schedule and play it by ear.

That means regularly taking breaks for snacks and the bathroom. Encourage the kids to run around (set up a quick game of tag or race around the car), and try to stretch your legs yourself.

Smart Travel is Sane Travel

A family road trip doesn’t need to be stressful. By following the above smart travel tips, you can enjoy spending time together as a family and see the sights without losing your sanity.

What are your top road trip tips? Leave a comment below and let us know! Then, check us out for more tips on thrifty living and more!

Are you thinking of heading overseas on a family vacation?

Taking the family overseas is a great way to bond as well as expose kids to a different culture.

Before you take off, however, there’s a lot of research and planning that needs to take place in order to have the best experience possible. Here are a few tips to ensure the whole family has fun the next time you’re going on vacation:

1. Make sure you have all paperwork ready

The first step is making sure you have all the documents you need for international travel. This typically includes proper identification, such as a passport.

When you’re traveling with the family, make sure everyone has what they need well in advance of your departure date.

Once you arrive at your destination, make sure all documents are stored safely so they’re not stolen or lost during your trip.

2. Research, research, research

This step should really be done before you even decide that you’re going on vacation. Researching where you’ll be is key to a successful trip, especially when traveling as a family.

First, make sure everywhere you’re planning to go is safe for a family. This might not always be obvious, so try to read reviews or consult a travel advice website before leaving.

Next, get a good idea of what you’ll want to do and activities, tourist attractions and restaurants that will be good for the whole family.

3. Plan out an itinerary

After you’ve done your research, you should be ready to build out your itinerary. It’s crucial to have an itinerary planned out well in advance to prevent surprises from popping up.

For example, make sure every restaurant you pick is family-friendly and that there will be menu items everyone can eat. Some restaurants around the world won’t be accommodating to certain diets or feature children’s menus.

4. Pick the best accommodations

When going on vacation as a family, picking the right hotel or other accommodations is key to having a great trip. First, make sure the hotel you’re looking at allows children.

Also, read reviews of the hotels online and do a special search for reviewers that stayed there with children. There’s often a lot to be learned from people who have already stayed there.

Reading reviews and looking at user photos is also key to getting an idea for how big the hotel rooms are and what amenities they have. Hotel rooms differ around the world and they might not be the size or have everything you’re used to at home.

If you’re craving more space and a more authentic vacation, you could also consider renting holiday homes. Renting a home in your destination often gives you more space for the family, as well as helps you assimilate into the culture and feel like a local.

5. Pack a survival kit before going on vacation

It’s always best to plan for the worst, especially when you’re traveling in unfamiliar territory. To do this, you’ll want a well-stocked backpack or purse to take around with you on your daily excursions.

Stock this pack with essential you know you’ll family will need, because you might not be able to pop into a store and buy them quickly. This can include things like diapers, batteries, a map, a bilingual dictionary, water bottle and more.

Do you have more tips for traveling with the family? Leave them in the comments below.

Looking to start planning your next family vacation but aren’t sure where to go?

Colorado Springs is the perfect spot. It has something for everyone to enjoy.

There’s outdoor sports and adventures, amazing sights, and lots of culture. With so much to do, it’s hard to figure out where to start planning!

Thinking of what you should do on your next Colorado vacation? Then don’t miss out on this awesome list of things your family can do in Colorado Springs.

There’s All Sorts of Sunny, Outdoor Fun

Colorado Springs has a comfortable, sunny climate. In fact, there are 300 days of sun a year!

There are plenty of places to golf, camp, hike, and horseback ride.

For heart-pounding adventure try white water rafting on the Arkansas River. It’s the most popular place to raft in the country.

The area is also known for outdoor rock climbing. There are many rock formations to try.

One activity Colorado Springs is not known for is skiing. After enjoying the warm weather, head North for some skiing.

Vail, Colorado has some of the best skiing in the US. Leave your gear at home because there are plenty of great ski rentals in Vail.

Colorado Springs isn’t just about adventure. There’s plenty of other things to see.

Visit One of the Many Sights and Attractions

Colorado Springs has fabulous sights and attractions. Some are man-made, some from nature.

A must-see on your Colorado vacation is Garden of the Gods Nature Center. Its beautiful red rock formations make for incredible views.

Nearby, check out Pikes Peak. This majestic, 14,000-foot purple mountain was the inspiration for the song “America the Beautiful.”

At the bottom of Pikes Peak you’ll find Santa’s Workshop. It’s an amusement park with 2 dozen rides. The park is open from May through December.

Other attractions include The Ghost Town museum, The Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad, and America’s only mountain zoo!

Though this is an active city, there’s still lots of culture and relaxation to enjoy.

Dine, Play, Sip, and Stroll

Enjoy dinner at The Airplane Restaurant. You can have a great meal inside a Boeing KC-97 tanker.

The Royal Gorge Route Railroad is another unique dining experience. They serve a 3-course dinner on a 3 hour roundtrip train ride.

For a little adult fun, there are casinos and wine-tasting rooms. There are 14 breweries and distilleries to tour. Print out a brewery tour passport and map to plan where to go.

There’s also a vibrant arts scene in Colorado Springs. Take in a show at the Philharmonic. Go to the Old Colorado City ArtWalk and tour galleries and outdoor installations.

Are You Planning a Colorado Vacation?

If so, then Colorado Springs is the perfect place to go. There’s so much to do you’ll be able to appease everyone in the family!

Before you start planning what you’ll do there, plan how you’ll afford to get there. Going on a family vacation doesn’t have to mean putting yourself in debt. Check out this post: 5 Tips for Handling Your Travel Finances Next Vacation.