A few weeks ago I read an article in the Wall Street Journal that centered on just that question.  You can read the article here and then come back and comment.

So what are your thoughts?  Are the reasons for skipping a vacation valid?

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Summertime beach vacations are a matter of tradition for many families – they have been going to the same beach for years and can’t imagine going anywhere else.  For the rest of us, planning a beach vacation can be tricky.  Here are some things to consider when plotting your next trip.

• Quiet or busy?  Do you want to be part of the action with lots of activity or do you prefer a relaxing, private beach?
• Condo or resort?  Beach towns generally have a mixture of both and each has distinct advantages and disadvantages.  For our family, a condo works well because of the convenience of multiple bedrooms and a kitchen.
• On the beach or off?  Beachfront rentals are more expensive (in some cases much more expensive) but that can be worth it, especially with kids.
• Big waves or small?  If you are traveling with younger kids, a calm destination with low waves and less undertow will allow them to play in the water.  Older kids will likely enjoy larger waves.

Our non-negotiable requirement is proximity to an ice cream shop.  There is something about ice cream and beach that just can’t be beat!

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Every road trip should start with a well-packed car but how do you decide what to bring and what can be left behind?  Here is how we pack the car for our marathon road trips.

1.  Start with a clean car – inside and out.  Remove all car seats, throw away the accumulated debris and give the inside a good vacuum and scrub down.  Be sure to wipe down the car seats before putting them back into the car.

2.  Decide on seating arrangements.  Like many families, we have certain pairs that are better than others.  If you have a combination that always leads to bickering, space them as far apart as possible (preferably out of seat kicking range as well!).

3.  Arrange the space so it is comfy and inviting.  For our trips, everyone gets a water bottle, snack bag (we use individual lunch coolers), travel pillow & blanket, and a TravelKiddy.

4.  Make it special by adding something new for snuggling – a small stuffed animal works great.

5.  Give the kids some options.  We let everyone pack a small bag with a few of their favorite blankets, animals, and books.

6.  Pack the supply cabinet- an ice chest with additional snacks in a convenient spot and a mixture of favorite and new DVDs round out the fun packing.

7.  Don’t forget the parent essentials: zip lock bags (in a variety of sizes), first aid kit and a sickie cup or two.

What is on your road trip packing list?

family road trips · Road Trips with Kids

Add a little education and generate excitement about your upcoming vacation by using books to spark interest in the destination.

Guidebooks:  Traditional guidebooks have little to offer kids – some of them are dry for adults as well!  But there are now many guidebooks on the market written just for kids.  The Planet Explorers guidebooks by Laura Schaefer are among our favorite.  She manages to mix the right balance of trivia, facts and destination tips to allow kids to play a meaningful role in the trip planning.  Unfortunately the titles are limited right now but she is always adding new destinations so it is worth a check to see if your vacation spot is on the list.

Puzzle Books:  Usborne Publishers makes some great puzzle books that feature the USA or World atlas spread over a series of pages.  Kids learn a bit of geography and have fun working puzzles.  On our travels we have found many puzzle books not found in the US – our kids still play with them today.  In fact, these have been by far the best souvenirs from several of our European adventures.

Trivia Games:  Not exactly a book but trivia games like University Games’ Brain Box – USA and Brain Box – The World are a fun way for the entire family to learn more about new destinations.

Magic Tree House books:  Far and away my favorite way to spark interest in both the history and geography of a vacation is with this series.  Jack and Annie have traveled almost everywhere in the world, visiting historically significant time periods in their journeys.  Both the fictional tales and the related research guides offer a rich insight into the culture of a country and/or time period.  The short chapters and detailed illustrations make wonderful read-aloud books for young readers.  Emerging readers will appreciate the appropriate vocabulary (challenging yet not frustrating) and even older readers can enjoy the quick read filled with interesting details – especially in the research guides.

What are your favorite resources for sparking interest in a new destination?

education travel · travel books for kids · traveling with kids

Everyone agrees that electronics – from DVDs to ipads – make road trips with kids easier but even the most tech savvy kids are likely to get bored without some variety on long road trips.  Stop the “Are we there yet?” refrain with these suggestions for great road trip games.

1. Bring along some trivia games the whole family can enjoy.  Big Box USA and Brain Quest are sized for travel and designed for play by kids of multiple ages. 
2. You can never go wrong with the classic travel games – try the standard license plate game or try something new with one of three versions of Car Tag.
3. Solo play games are a must – from brain teasers to water games all kids need some time for alone play while on a long trip.
4. Pit stop fun – don’t forget some balls, jump ropes or frisbees for fun at rest areas along the way.  Use the time wisely to burn energy in active kids!

Happy travels!

brain teasers · games for kids in the car · road trip games · travel games