Road Trip Fun For Everyone
If you’re planning a family vacay “your way”, you might like to join the 39% of Americans opting for road trips as a more flexible, low-cost way to see the country. With a young family, cars are one of the most practical travel options since you can load in as much as you need, from strollers to potties, and if you’re lucky, the baby will sleep as you go. For older kids and teens, provided you have the legroom covered, iPads, phones and good old fashioned chatting can probably take care of the rest. But with blended families and wider age ranges becoming increasingly common, how do you make a family trip fun for everyone?
Are you sitting comfortably?
The average family road trip lasts for 2 hours and 53 minutes, according to a recent survey; that’s a long time to sit if you’re not comfortable. If you’re planning to use the car for vacations regularly, think about the right model for the job. Four doors are handy for getting everyone in and out, without having to twist across to strap in toddler car seats or hop out to release grumpy teenagers. This is why sedans are so popular with families of all ages; your priorities should include a teen-friendly amount of leg room and separate trunk storage so you can pack in as much as possible safely and comfortably.
Break up the journey
It can be tempting to shoot through to your destination with a sleeping baby, but older children will appreciate a pit stop, with a chance to stretch their legs and no doubt have a snack. It’s important for you as the driver too: the AAA recommend planning a break every 2 hours or 100 miles in order to keep you alert and refreshed. If you’ve got young children on board, you’re likely to be fairly tired to start off, so stay safe and take those breaks.
Making memories
If you’ve already checked out the advice on car journeys with toddlers, you’ll be up to speed with entertainment and snacks, but for something the whole family will love, why not get everyone involved in choosing tracks for a playlist which can evoke happy memories in years to come. You could also pack a Polaroid camera for the kids to have fun capturing shots along the way, or let them shoot some video to edit and play with when they get home; it might even be a fun opportunity for older kids to teach the younger ones some tech skills.
Road trips are becoming increasingly popular as an affordable way to take the whole family away, but the age-old dilemma of keeping everyone satisfied remains the same. Happily, technological advances have taken care of most of the entertainment needs, but you still need to ensure that everyone is comfortable and not cooped up. Then you can get on with making memories to treasure for years to come.