10 Steps to Happier Travels with Children

Your vacation plans sound fantastic, but there's one thing you dread... the 12 hours in the car before you arrive at your destination! As avid cross country travelers with two young boys (4 and 5 years old), we generally have smooth travel even on our trips of 2,000+ miles. Here are 10 things we do to make the process of getting there go more smoothly for our family:

1. Pack light in the entertainment department. On our first trip across the country I crammed bags full of books, crayons, and toys, thinking that the boys needed a lot of things to keep them entertained. They quickly burned through the bag and the result was books, crayons, and toys strewn all over the car, melted crayons that slid under the car seats, and never ending questions of what else I had brought for them! Crayola makes a great travel item - markers that only write on the paper in the coloring book. There are a variety of coloring books to buy that come with or without the markers (if you've accumulated markers from past trips you can save some money and buy just the book). The only time we ever buy these books is when we go on a long trip. They have become a special treat that is associated with travel. I have also tried the finger paints and other brands with paint brushes, but the plain old markers seem to work the best.

2. Pack a lunch and a ball or frisbee. When it's time for lunch, instead of running into McDonald's and gulping down a cheeseburger and fries to save time, stop at a rest stop and have a sandwich and some fruit and chips. Many rest stops on interstate highways have playground equipment - obviously a great place to stop and have lunch and let your kids burn some energy! Even if you don't come across one with playground equipment, bring a ball or frisbee and enjoy a little exercise with your kids. They need an outlet for their abundant energy, and you will feel better, too!