Vacations Blog

Louisiana as seen from Natchez, MS on the banks of the Mississippi River

Last week, I embarked on what most of my friends considered a sheer act of lunacy.  A desperate deed by a clearly crazed man.  Maybe so, but Ohio winters are long and I’d had enough!  I packed up the kids (all five of them), crammed them into our trusty Caravan, pointed it south and started driving.

I didn’t stop until the temperatures rose above 70 degrees and people started referring to me as ya’ll.  I didn’t stop until I found heat, humidity, fried foods, sunshine and zydeco music.  The kids were on Spring Break last week and I made tracks to my hometown in Louisiana.

I thought I might share with you just a few things that go into planning just such a road trip.  A road trip with kids, that is.

Know Where You Are Going

This seems fairly logical.  Those college road trip days are a thing of the past.  Remember spinning the compass wheel on Friday afternoon and heading off for a weekend of adventure in whatever direction it landed?  Not so much fun with kids.  Kids want stability and knowing that their journey has a definite ending point provides assurance.  On the opposite hand, if a kid has any inclination that you may be lost they will freak!  Trust me on this.  Know where you are going and map a direct route.  Then you can start looking for alternatives.

Look to the Road Less Traveled

The Natchez Trace Parkway

Consider alternate routes that will provide interesting sightseeing points.  A little bit of research can make an otherwise mundane trip a lasting memory.  Kids don’t necessarily appreciate being cooped up in the car, strapped to their seats for hours on end so these little jaunts can be extremely rewarding.  It can be as simple as a scenic highway with frequent overlooks to as complex as a full day side trip with an extra night’s stay to take advantage of area attractions.

Know Your Audience

If your kid eats, sleeps and breathes all things ball, oozes masculinity at the ripe old age of five, and buries his face in his hands, groaning and making puking sounds during the kissing scenes of any movie, chances are an interesting side trip to The American Girl Store in Chicago is not going to be appreciated.

Why so sad little boy?

On the other hand, if your kids freak out, screaming with joy at the prospect running up and down grassy hills they will certainly appreciate any jaunt that includes Indian Mounds.

The Pharr Indian Mounds

Take Your Time

Seriously, what’s the hurry?  It’s a vacation.  The whole idea is to get away from hectic and grind and rush and any of those other words that mean hurry up and work harder.  I get tense when hurried, even while not driving.  Vacations are supposed to be relaxing.  A meandering pace with frequent stops keeps everyone interested, almost giddy anticipating the next exciting adventure around the bend.

Remember Your Cards

I’m not talking about playing cards or even the credit cards–though I doubt I’d leave either behind on a road trip.  No, I’m talking about your membership cards.  The Zoo membership card and the Science Museum membership card.  Almost all of the major zoos and children’s museums have what is called reciprocal admission privileges.  That means that if you are a member of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium your membership card will get you into the Alexandria Zoo for free.  Or the Nashville Zoo, or the Reid Park Zoo in Tuscon.

The Alexandria Zoo

The same holds true for your Children’s Museum membership.  There are over 250 participating science centers and museums that offer reciprocity admission benefits.   It’s a good idea to call ahead to verify if the center or zoo you are planning to visit participates.

Bring Entertainment

Let’s face it, the allure of the road has only so much appeal to a youngster and eventually they are going to need alternate forms of entertainment.  And while a rousing game of License Plate Bingo or Slug Bug can pass a few restless minutes you’re going to need more.  Our iPod got plenty play during our recent trip.  I made a few play lists with the kids favorite songs (and mine) before hand so as to keep the search requests to a minimum (and my eyes on the road).

But inevitably I had to pull out the big guns.  The portable DVD player.  There was a time I had sworn them off in the car.  That was until it took us 7 1/2 hours to make the 3 hour and 15 minute drive from our house to Indianapolis.  Long journey does not begin to describe that trip.

If you need to make up some time or just need some quiet time, my experience is that a good movie will provide a near perfect hour and a half to two hour window.

Let Your Kids Be Kids

It Echoes!!! It Echoes!!! The Illinois Monument at the Vicksburg Battlefield and Memorial Vicksburg, MS

It’s OK if your kids go a little crazy.  It’s a vacation for them, too and while they may not have had their shoulder to the wheel grinding out nine to fives they certainly have earned a break from the routine of school and chores.  The road trip provides them an opportunity to experience their world in a tangible and exciting way.  Watching them yell, “Wahoo!!” every time the van doors opened cemented the fact in my mind that I was doing something good for them.  And me.

There are countless other things you should include or consider when planning a successful and enjoyable road trip with the kids:  cameras (and chargers–I’m an idiot that learned this the hard way), insurance cards (medical-God forbid you should need them), wipes for dirty hands in car, etc. etc.   But what’s the fun in endless planning?  Eventually, rubber needs to meet the road and the journey must begin.

Our trip, I am happy to report, was a resounding success.  The kids had a great time as did I.  Honest!  I also let out a “Wahoo!!” myself every once in a while , but usually at inappropriate times so as to keep the ruse of lunacy alive.

Inspiration for this post came from a colleague here at UpTake.  Her post 18 Travel Tips for Planning a Road Trip was brilliant.  My purpose here was simply to augment her excellent advice.  If you are anything like me, you certainly appreciate a good augmentation.