No matter how many times you've done it, when you're traveling with family, it helps to make a very detailed packing list. Especially with kiddos who travel better with "something familiar," it's worth the effort. Who wants a meltdown halfway through the airport when you realize you've forgotten something, anyway? (I'm talking about adult meltdowns---most kids do just fine. 😉 )
Here are travel packing tips from our (mom) experts, for the next time you pack for vacation.
I'm an optimist, but with airlines having lost my checked luggage more than once (my bags went to Paris and Hawaii without me!), I try to pack light and use only carry-on bags. If I do need to check a suitcase, I use it to pack things I could replace if I had to. What stays with me includes everything my family will need on the plane:
I also keep with me everything we'll need within our first 24 hours at our destination:
Some of the smaller items fit in what the airlines call a "personal item" (I call it my purse). The medium-sized essentials go into the carry-on that I'll stow in the overhead compartment. It's a good idea to pack my packing checklist so that if I lose everything, I know exactly what I need to replace. In a nutshell, if it's critical travel gear, it stays within reach. Everything else can go in the checked bag just in case it decides to take its own adventure!
"...When we decided to move into our RV we had to do some major downsizing. It was difficult to decide what would come with us. The decision ultimately came down to how useful an item was. If something has multiple uses it makes it that much more appealing. Consider how you will use the item you are packing, if it is absolutely necessary, bring it.
Often we think we will need something, then end up never using it. It is amazing what we really can live without. The less you bring with you means the less you have to keep track of and the less you have to bring back with you. Try to stick with the necessities and not over plan for every possible disaster..." Find more at https://statebystate.net/we-minimalized-sort-of/.
"As our children are still young, most of the packing still falls to me. Packing is definitely something that I start thinking about a week or two before each trip jotting down items on a handwritten list. We travel a lot and the longest that we've spent continuously on the road with 
the kids is 14 weeks. I'd like to think that we've got our packing strategy down to a tee. One item that has made our packing and re-packing easier is packing cubes. These simple fabric/mesh zip bags come in lots of sizes. We use them to keep everyone's clothes separate. Even the kids know exactly which cube all the socks live in!
Perhaps my favourite thing about using packing cubes is that we don't need to unpack all the time. For example, right now in our closet, there are lots of packing cubes already filled. For example, one contains the children's travel toys (toys they don't play with at home). Another contains travel size washing up liquid, an elastic washing line and all the other laundry items we need only when we're on the road. Another is a travel First Aid Kit and so on. This system saves me so much time. I know that when we go on holiday next that all I need to do is fish out the already packed cubes and add some clean clothes. Try it, it'll save you hours."
"...Make sure you check your kids bags if you let them pack themselves. You don't want to arrive in Hawaii and have a bunch of winter clothes and no 
swimming suits packed! I usually make a checklist of things they need to pack so they can feel like they are independent, but I have them lay everything out on their beds and go and make sure they made good choices before they pack their bags.
It's a time-saver for us to do it this way. I also have a tricky way to pack your jewelry so it doesn't get all tangled. You can read that post over on my blog."
"...Quick hitting packing list for each person: 2 (maybe 3) pairs of pants, 4 shirts, 7 pairs of underwear, 1 swimsuit, 7 pairs of socks. Some might think, no way can we pack so little. Remember most of the time you will be doing different activities so you can wear those pair of 
jeans more than once. And, if they do get dirty, just wash them in the sink or the bathtub. You can easily hand wash the clothes and hang them to dry. Voilà, clean clothes!
One last tip… Buy different color packing cubes. I usually can get the above clothing list into one cube per person. The larger cubes are great for the adults and then as you move on to the kids you can use the small and medium ones. I love packing cubes because I quickly can locate each person’s clothes and not have to pull everything out of the bag to located that one item that is hiding at the bottom.
"Get ready to teach your kids life skills that will last a lifetime by teaching them to pack when they are young for camping trips or overnight sleep-overs. Teaching kids to pack for an entire trip, regardless of length or destination in just a carry on is doable! I’ve used the same checklist for nearly 15 years and it has never failed me (or the rest of the family).
It’s simple and easy enough for most 7-year-olds to do practically by themselves. The key is to give the kids the list and let them create their ‘outfit piles’ according to the list. Then, before it all goes in the carry-on, it is checked by an adult. Finally, outfits are put into a zipper-lock bag and it’s done! This method has worked so well for our family that we have been able to pack for 3 weeks in Switzerland (in the winter) using just a carry-on and backpack! You can grab the full packing tutorial over at https://www.captivatingcompass.com/packing-with-kids/.
"Even as a seasoned traveler, I'm still guilty of overpacking. We love packing cubes and zip-tight storage bags to keep things organized, but one of my latest discoveries is grocery delivery services! On our recent week-long trip to Orlando, and our first with our newborn, I discovered Instacart and it was the greatest! [Groceries] arrived at our hotel lobby so quickly and everything was fresh! There are a lot of these types of services in the US, so check out what's available in your travel area before you head out to help save some room in your suitcase.
Another quick tip we learned on our Orlando trip was all about taking advantage of checked car seats. Most airlines let you check a car seat for free, but they don't specify that if you place your car seat in a protective carrier, that you can only put a car seat in it. We were able to toss a week's worth of diapers in there with plenty of room to spare! Just tuck the diapers (or whatever) in the seat, buckle them in so they don't get tossed around, and voilà, more space saved in your suitcase!"
"...Aside from our set of clothes and toiletries, our luggage always has a medicine kit for the most common health issues you can encounter while traveling. One issue that I don't want to deal with
is figuring out where the pharmacy is in an unfamiliar place. Not to mention, if they even carry the medicine that I am used to. It even gets more complicated when you are traveling abroad, where the medicine might be prohibited or carried in a different formulation..." More at https://gofamgo.com/staying-fit-for-travel-otc-remedies/
"One of the greatest parts of traveling is minimizing. Knowing you can survive for weeks on just the basics on your back is empowering. Packing light does involve conscious planning and investing in high quality gear.
Backpack. Unless we are travel camping, we carry on our luggage. We know our personal items are safe and will arrive with us. We love Osprey packs with their synching straps, padded 
electronics sleeves and thick hip belts. These packs give us maximum flexibility when finding our lodging down a cobblestone street, across a rice field or over muddy dirt roads.
Ultra-light. All items must be as light as possible - no big jackets, no heavy shoes. Down jackets are perfect (and currently conveniently fashionable!) A lightweight waterproof shell is an insulation layer and a must for day packs. We carry thin sarongs instead of bulky towels.
Educational tools. It’s hard to leave the paper travel guides and books behind but for minimalist travel, we have converted to ebooks on the Kindle and tablets. A library subscription gives us access to print resources. We use downloadable audio guides to destinations, and supplement studies with podcasts and YouTube videos. Each of the kids carry only an academics notebook and a journal/sketchpad for studies.
Traveling light means it’s fast and easy to pack up and go to a new destination. It’s easy to find what you need quickly. We off-load clothes, pamphlets and maps as we travel. We take lots of photos and few souvenirs."
"As a person with a lot of medical problems and disabled my packing is a little different then a normal healthy person. I have to make sure I have my medications and in an adequate amount for my trip and whatever equipment I need. I travel with a shower stool and a wheelchair...[and] a foldable cane for travel...!
My best tip 
is make sure your medications are in your carry on because if your luggage could get lost or held up you may not have your medications when you need them. We also travel as a family and when you have kids you have to take Ziplock bags with you! They are great for half-eaten snacks or if your kids are prone to motion sickness can be used in a pinch for those moments. We also go to Disneyland quite a bit. If you go on the water rides having a plastic baggy can protect anything you don’t want to get wet!"
Bedtime stories: and how I accidentally made our bedtime routine easier.
Some of the best things were invented accidentally: chocolate chip cookies, the Slinky, and even pacemakers, for example. (Wow!)
One special night during our standard bedtime routine, I accidentally invented a magical pillowcase. My then- four-year-old child was nestling down after her bedtime story, and suddenly didn't want her blanket. Or a sheet. She wanted something different: in her words, "just a little blanket to match my little body, but a light one." Fumbling through my linen closet to see what we had, I grabbed a king-sized pillowcase. I brought it to her and it was exactly the size she had in mind.
Well, ummmm...of course I did! My answer was obviously yes, and with that, her smile was brighter than all the stars in the sky. It was far more magical than the pillowcase.
Even now that she's almost six, she still sleeps with her magical pillowcase every night after bedtime stories. Knowing that she's holding a pillowcase full of my love has made bedtime a peaceful and happy time. She still asks about the hugs, snuggles, and kisses. They're always in there, of course. It's the kind of sweetness that makes me fall in love with her all over again.
Good sleep habits are important, as everyone knows (and as the National Sleep Foundation reminds us, too). Fortunately, there are many gentle ways, and effective sleep routines, to 
promote hitting the hay. We've used the same routine, plus or minus some tweaks, since she was two. She's almost six now.
Our bedtime routine takes 30 to 60 minutes. I plan for the long version and that reduces my anxiety about what I "need to get done" afterwards.
After dinner, even now that my child is older, I carry her upstairs. (Yes, many would say she's too big for this, but I'll do it as long as my body lets me and she wants me to do it.) She puts on her jammies, we say prayers and sing lullabies and brush teeth and go potty. We do the steps in the same order every night, and I conclude with a special saying about love that I've told her every night since she was born.
(afflinks)
asleep feeling connected and loved? It's four stories in one, so we pick and choose depending how much time she needs to wind down.
understanding.
separation day or night, including the times I haven't stayed in the room for my child to sleep. She knows we're connected even if I'm not physically there.Once we're done with the other steps, I crawl under the covers with her and we talk about 
whatever she wants to for about 15 minutes. I often ask her the three questions that I've written about previously. Then she gets into what she calls her "sleeping position." We say "Night night, I love you, sweet dreams" several times at her request. I give her a hug and a kiss, then out the door I go. She falls asleep on her own a couple of minutes thereafter.
If she can't sleep, she calls me, usually for "one more question." I come back, answer her question, and give her an extra hug and kiss. Repeating that part of the bedtime routine, when necessary, is very calming for her. She trusts that I'll always return if she needs me. Reading a book (usually from the aforementioned list of bedtime stories) is a great activity to help my child relax. We repeat them because a routine is, well, routine.
Watching TV is what my husband does to wind down. My child and I can't look at big screens for at least a couple of hours before bed. It's just too stimulating for us. Bedtime baths don't work for 
my child, either---also too stimulating. Some people listen to music to wind down. Not us, for the same reason (plus, it keeps "playing" mentally and causes trouble falling asleep). I remember not being able to "count sheep" when I was little---they just kept jumping, and I didn't know how to "turn them off." 🙂 A lullaby and bedtime story are enough for us.
Some people find that playful roughhousing with their kids helps them relax, but that's not our story. I absolutely will be upbeat and loving, and in a calm way, playful. Positive connection of any kind makes for a very good bedtime routine.
Call us sensitive people because, well, we are. Calm is a good thing for us.
Creating a bedtime routine that promotes good sleep habits, in a safe and loving environment, helps reduce sleep problems now and down the road. Know what's developmentally normal, too---some kids, especially babies, naturally wake in the middle of the night.
Want to know something? I'm an adult and I wake up at night, too. I'd stay asleep if I could and suspect the same is true for my child. As adults, we never know when a child has a growing pain, an impending illness, a growth spurt, a developmental leap, or a jolting dream that's hard to separate from reality. Kids wake up for lots of completely valid reasons.
A child learns to sleep one way or another; and my parenting style is to respond to my child whenever she needs me. I don't write that judgmentally; I share it to let you know you're not alone if you're doing that and getting pushback from anyone. Nighttime parenting is parenting, too.
May everyone in your family have sweet dreams tonight!
Perseverance and hope for the future: Every once in awhile, adults receive the gift of a new perspective.
Late last night, a teacher friend of mine texted me and said she had the flu. She asked if I could substitute teach her play-based science class of four- and five-year-old kids the very next day. Already in my pajamas, I responded to her text, "Sure, happy to." She had no lesson plan for me; I had nothing particular in mind to do. I crowd sourced a bit among my Facebook friends to ask for ideas, but given how late it was and the other things I already had to accomplish that night, I had little time to prepare anything. And I definitely wasn't heading out to the store in my jammies.
Fortunately, having tried my hand at improvisational comedy awhile back, I didn't sweat it too much. Plus, I had a secret weapon: a wonderful book about engineering that I could weave into our science discussion. In truth, the book isn't about engineering so much as it's about perseverance.
If a kid falls off his scooter, he's likely to deal with the crash, move past it, and try again. If I fell off a scooter, I'd be more likely to say, "Well, that didn't work out so well! I'm going to do something else." Not that I'm a stranger to perseverance; not at all. But as an adult, I don't usually continue to test the strength of my bones if I fall down.
I digress.
The book I brought to class that addresses perseverance so beautifully is Rosie Revere, Engineer (afflink). Without spoiling the story, I'll divulge that Rosie wants to invent something to help her great aunt. However, her plans aren't working. In one attempt after another, she hits roadblocks. She's tempted to quit.
I didn't plan ahead of time to do this, but every time I got to a natural stopping point during the story---every time something didn't work out---I'd ask the kids, "Should she stop trying?"
Every time I asked, they'd passionately yell, "Nooooo! She should try again!"
One boy responded so emphatically that he fell down.
And again, Rosie would try and then fail. So, I'd ask, "Should she give up and do something else?"
"No! She needs to keep trying!"
And we kept on like this throughout the story. I could tell one or two kids were starting to worry that it might not work out, but nonetheless, they all held on tightly to hope for Rosie's future. And they never strayed from it. They simply believed.
These kids kept believing everything would be alright as if no other option existed. Things simply had to work out. Their faith was unwavering; they trusted. They held steadfastly to their confidence without flinching.
Somewhere around three quarters of the way through the book, I realized that these children were giving the adult in all of us an incredible gift. There was beauty in their unquestioning belief that everything would be alright; faith in the positive and unwavering results of perseverance; simple trust that stories can have happy endings. Without knowing beforehand, I realized this was exactly what many adults need for their own own hope for the future. It's not that they didn't see the setbacks. They obviously did. However, they didn't believe that setbacks alone should make someone stop trying.
Their innate belief in goodness and hope for the future was just...simple. No one "taught" these kids to believe; they just do. And I caught myself wondering why adults often doubt so much. Why I often doubt so much. Even fairy tales don't always have happy endings. Kids know this, yet they maintain their hope. Why shouldn't we have just as much faith?
And the thing is, we can have that faith that things are going to be alright. We can kick our cynicism out the door and feel so much lighter. It doesn't mean we're not real, nor does it mean we're blind do the realities of life. All I think it means, really, is that we can release our long-held beliefs that things might not be okay, and replace them with trust and hope. Even when setbacks slow us down, they don't need to stop us from pursuing what's important. Things might just turn out okay, after all.
We can make optimism our default. I saw proof of that in the children.
I rarely do a book review of a single book. Usually, I group children's books into categories, like "Best Books to Build Self-Esteem and Confidence." However, Craig Pomranz's brilliant book, Made by Raffi (afflink), gets its very own review---and for good reason. Several good reasons, actually.
To be clear, I plan to add it to my "Best Books..." list above (and hey, just like magic, it's already there)! It is, indeed, a marvelous way to help kids build self-esteem and confidence. In short, this book is about a child learning to feel comfortable in his own skin.
Here are the types of kids I think would benefit from reading this book:
The main character, Raffi, is so extremely relatable, feeling different from other kids and wondering if all kids feel that way. He wonders if he's "normal," just like many children have. And by "many" children, I mean every human who's ever been a child. (Yep, that's all of us.)
Judging by how traditionally mainstream many of the other characters in the book appear, I suspect if they were real, they'd head home to so-called normal life (whatever that is), watch normal TV shows, and engage in normal pastimes. Raffi's life is his own version of normal, with loving and supportive parents---but he's not into stereotypical activities.
If you believe girls can like toy cars and boys can like dolls (and I hope you do believe those things), then this book is right up your alley.
As I explained to a friend today, this book challenges toxic masculinity in every way, but without shaming anyone. It's simply about fostering acceptance of others. That's one of the beautiful things about it.
It's for the boys who aren't football players; and for those who are. It's for the girls who aren't ballerinas or pretend-princesses; and for those who are. It's wonderful for highly sensitive children (HSCs) and those who know them. Made by Raffi helps kids, no matter who they are, feel good enough for the world around them. And of equal importance, it helps them relate to those who are wired differently than they are.
Children absolutely need to know that not all lives look like theirs; not all kids feel the same way they do about things. Everyone experiences life in his or her own way. This book will drive understanding and compassion.
If you get one thing from this book review, it's knowledge that Made by Raffi is important children't literature for those reasons.
This book is about helping kids accept themselves fully; to be who they were born to be without fear of judgment, or worse.
Visually, I love that Raffi is surrounded by rainbows throughout the book. Although the book isn't about rainbows, the consistent visual theme underscores how we're all different, yet connected. I'd struggle to find a child who doesn't say his or her favorite color isn't "rainbow" at some point during childhood, so the imagery is perfect. What an appropriate metaphor for the story.
With Made by Raffi, what might've been considered uncool is now...okay. More than okay, in fact; our protagonist is every bit as worthy of acceptance and kindness as all the other children. Others can fully "see" him without judging his differences as anything inferior to their own.
It takes something really special for me to read it to my own child, much less to recommend it to others' families.
Made by Raffi is so much more than just a picture book (although the artwork is fantastic and tells a story of its own). It's a book every parent should read to his or her child, and then read to his or her own inner child, too. It's exactly the right combination of feel-good message along with important life lesson.
I'd suggest this book for young readers through the middle grades of elementary school and beyond. I add "beyond" because I'm well past elementary school (and---ahem---equally far past young adult), but it was exactly what I needed to read to feel good about the future of children's literature.
I'd dare say it made me feel better about the amount of kindness the world is capable of showing. Thank you, Craig Pomranz, for writing this important book.
Follow us!
We appreciate your support! Click here to see all the children’s books, parenting books, toys and games, travel necessities, holiday fun, and wellness-related items that we’ve used and loved. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. However, pricing (including sale prices) and shipping are still from Amazon. Once you click the checkout button from your Dandelion Seeds cart, it’ll direct you to Amazon to complete your purchase.
I never really had friends growing up. In fact, I can’t think of one name that comes to mind when I think back on my childhood, including high school. I really wanted to write this for the women out there who truly struggle with building relationships because there are so many benefits of having friends. We are such good mommies and spend the majority of our time happily with our kids. But Mommies need friends too! I think for us, it’s about finding time and balance---but friendship is still definitely needed.
As an adult, I can look back and clearly see how not having friends has affected a big part of me and there are many benefits of having friends.
As a child, we were always moving. Every year we were in a new house and I was at a new school. I was ALWAYS the new kid. By the time I got to high school, I already knew I wouldn’t be there long and there was no reason for me to even try and meet people. I was right. I attended six different high schools.
I remember wanting to go to my high school prom so badly or have a friend to celebrate with on our graduation day. It was little moments like this that made me long for someone---anyone.
I didn’t get a chance to know what it felt like to have a friend to laugh with but I always missed that feeling and I still miss it for my younger self. How could I miss something I never had? Because we are all designed to have personal connections with people. As an adult, I miss not having a friend who I could share childhood memories with.
I developed some habits and carried on a few things into my adult life that were unhealthy.
I was always super shy and insecure. I didn’t know who I was…ever. I always felt lonely and left out. As I got older, I found myself holding me back from relationships because that’s what I always did.
I met someone who I shouldn’t have right after high school. I started working at a restaurant and he was the first guy that showed me any attention. A boyfriend was something I always wanted---so I took the bait.
This is a separate blog post but the point of this is I was so desperate for a personal relationship with someone that I spent my twenties in a physically and mentally abusive marriage. He ended up passing away from a rare health condition. That’s also another blog post.
At this point, I was 29 years old. I moved back to my old town with my children and started a new life. I got remarried to a wonderful man who loves my children as his own. We also had a child together. We are now complete.
One day, my husband asked me who I go to when I need to talk. I said, “You honey.” That got me thinking… I wanted to make friends now.
I started meeting other moms at sports practices, ladies at church or neighbors---but there was always something holding me back from truly getting to know them.
Up until that point, I thought my husband was all I needed. I would tell myself, “He is a good listener and gives great advice. Why do I need friends?”
That’s when it hit me. I didn’t actually think he was all I needed. I still felt that void in my life for a friend. I was self-protecting myself from past insecurities.
Now that I had identified that truth, I couldn’t ignore it. I was starting to see all of the benefits of having friends. I didn’t immediately start looking for my tribe. I didn’t want to force it. However, I was taking the initiative to meet new people.
I spent time praying that God would send me exactly who I needed to come beside me and be a part of my life. It didn’t happen fast---but it happened. Now, I have the most amazing friends I could ask for. They are truly my tribe and I am so thankful for them.
In social terms, a tribe is a group of people with similar values and interests. They are there to support you. They are loyal and trustworthy. They are always there when you need to talk. You can be your true self when you are with them because you know they will not judge you. They encourage you to be the best you can be.
The trick is finding your tribe. We are constantly in contact with people. We all have several people we would call our friends but not everyone will be our tribe. That was the hardest part for me to learn. There is a fine line between your friends and your tribe. You can have many friends but you only have one tribe.
It doesn’t matter the size of your tribe. Quality over quantity is what I like to say. My tribe consists of three people. We are all unique and different in many ways and that’s what we love about each other.
When it comes to overall health one aspect gets pushed to the side. Social health (a.k.a. your tribe) is just as important as mental, emotional and physical health. It is proven that social health can impact a person’s overall health and well-being.
Benefits of having friends include but are not limited to:
If you were like me and didn’t think you needed a tribe, try changing the way you see it and focus on the health aspect of it. Maybe try looking at it as you would exercising or eating healthily. It’s a win/win situation! Health benefits as well as having people to share life with.
This sums it up better than I could if I were trying to explain it.
Who came to your mind when you were reading this? That is your tribe!
There is something special about coffee time with friends. It is a chance to get away and breathe for a couple of hours. You can talk about anything and everything. It’s a place you can go to fill up your cup so you can have more to give to your family.
I realize it might be easier said than done. If you are that mama who hasn’t connected with anyone yet, keep looking. Try joining special interest groups, get involved in a small group at church, volunteer or invite someone over for a playdate. Also, find someone in the same season of life you are in. It helps to have friends who are sharing the same experiences as you.
There have been things I have personally learned over the years. I wish I could go back but of course, that can't happen. All I can do now is to teach my children what I wasn’t taught and that social health is extremely valuable and having at least one good friend who they connect with is one is so important.
Thank you for reading this blog. My name is Sandra Tanner (I'm the one in the middle with my tribe) and I am a wife, mom, and blogger for Optimized Life. I would love for you to take a look at more!
When taking a family road trip, you need to know basically two things: 1) where to go and 2) how to get there happily.
Based on my experience, these are some of the loveliest destinations for United States destinations. There really is beauty in the journey.
the park in "regular" shoes while seeing some of the most breathtaking sights in the country. The Carmel area is a great day trip along your route.
se to other state and national forests that should be on everyone's "must see" list. Make sure to check out Zion National Park and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
Most of the west coast is covered in natural hot springs, but this interactive map shows the best "hot spots" (no pun intended, well...maybe) across the entire U.S. Lots happen to be along some pretty interesting and centrally located spots, too.
You could combine visiting hot springs with driving the Blue Ridge Parkway, which is what some people call "America's favorite drive." Here's the route many drivers follow. Note that if you go
during Spring Break, some portions might still be closed due to weather. Always verify ahead of time.
Colonial Williamsburg makes a fantastic starting point for family road trips. Not only is it educational, but it's a great midway point between New York and the Carolinas. So, you can drive
either direction along the coast and see some amazing sights. Drive north to New York if you want to experience more "big city life." Drive south if you'd like something a bit slower paced.
Of course, Florida can be a road trip in and of itself. From theme parks to beaches to the Florida Keys, there's something for everyone---and enough to keep a family entertained for quite some time. Check your weather before hurricane season and enjoy the benefits of traveling off-peak if you can (although beaches will be colder, or much hotter, then).
As with all things, know your audience (in this case, the people who'll be in your car). Younger kids often, although not always, need a lot of movement. It may seem counterintuitive, but I plan to reach our destination as quickly as possible--and that might mean less movement in a single day. It might mean a single uncomfortable day, but then it's over. If you plan too many stops to "get wiggles out," it can become increasingly difficult to get back into the car every time. Drive the maximum amount you can handle before that mandatory wiggle time.
Alternatively, and what works especially well with older kids, is to make the journey part of the adventure. There might not be much between Albuquerque and Las Vegas, for example, but spending half a day to walk around Meteor Crater would be a really memorable adventure for the whole family!
"Road tripping internationally only comes with one tip...Know before you go. Things you need to consider if you’re planning an international road trip are:
cost of the car, van or camper rental.These simple, plan-ahead tips will help ensure a more enjoyable road trip through most international countries."
"...We've done some epic road trips in the last five years including driving the ring road around Iceland with a baby, driving around Cyprus with a toddler and this week, we're driving the entire length of Taiwan by car.
We've learnt a lot on our long car journeys. [Among what we've learned], we've had disasters, adventures and a lot of vomiting! 
Some of our top road trip tips are:
"...We are in the car all the time and have learned how to make it a better experience for everyone. The best advice I can give is to break long trips up whenever possible.
When we first started traveling full-time we would drive five or six hours at a time. This made for 
some really long days. We all felt tired and cranky by the time we arrived at our destination. Now our travel days are only two or three hours. This means we are all in a better mood when we get to our destination and we have time to enjoy it too.
Shorter trips are not always possible for family's on vacation. You may need to get to your destination in one day. If this is the case you can still use this tip. Make sure you stop every two or three hours and let the kids out. When you stop for gas or a bathroom break, let the kids run around for a few minutes. It might make the trip longer, but it will be better for everyone to get out and stretch their legs." More at https://statebystate.net/holiday-road/
"...Listening to audio tracks is entertaining and educational. While road tripping through the Peloponnese region in southern Greece, we listened to interviews of Rick Steve’s free audio guides 
on the Eastern Mediterranean. While exploring Hawaii, we tune into hula music on the radio or a CD. When we toured Florida, we listened to Hoot, Flush, Chomp and Scat by Carl Hiaasen - youth fiction that takes place in the Everglades and Keys. We download Podcasts to listen together: KidsNuz, StarTalk and RadioLab. [Or] we sync to the car speakers with Bluetooth or an audio cable so everyone can hear clearly.
We love a very loose agenda when road tripping - with time and freedom to stop in an interesting looking shop or cafe, or run across a field. [Often, we] take breaks in small towns to get coffee and snacks, interact with the locals, learn about their town culture and history and to download another audio track!..."
"...Take good old favorites like the license plate game…but give them a 
twist. Make up rules just for your family like the first person who spots three different states gets to choose the music for the next (fill in time parameter). Or the next vanity plate or even choose a letter or number and the person who spots the most of that…wins! Third tip is choose music your whole family likes to sing along to!...Kids and adults sometimes like to snuggle and take naps on long car rides. Don’t think of the drive to your destination as “before the vacation” try and make it fun and “part of the vacation..”
"...Here are my favorite tips for road tripping with the kiddos.
homeschool. Audiobooks make for both great learning tools and road trip entertainment. In addition to audible.com, we like the kid-specific tales3go.com and our local library as resources."...We have mastered road tripping and ensuring that the ride is enjoyable for all. Start by thinking back to when you were a child and there were no electronics. How did your parents 
entertain you? Some of those tried and true games really work. To entertain my 6 year old our favorite is the alphabet game. For this game all you need is your eyes and signs or licenses plates. To play, everyone starts at A and whoever finds all the letters A to Z in order, wins. It’s a race and you can’t use the same “a,b,c…” as someone else. For my toddler, his favorite game is trying to get the semi-trucks to honk their horns. You play this game by moving your arm up and down as if you were pulling the string for their horn. He gets a big kick out of it and also is focused on finding “another big truck”..."
"...Here are my best tips for road trips with kids:
Follow us!
We appreciate your support! Click here to see all the children’s books, parenting books, toys and games, travel necessities, holiday fun, and wellness-related items that we’ve used and loved. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. However, pricing (including sale prices) and shipping are still from Amazon. Once you click the checkout button from your Dandelion Seeds cart, it’ll direct you to Amazon to complete your purchase.
Vacation activities and sightseeing with kids!
Last week in our travel series, our travel experts wrote about choosing accommodations. There's nothing like knowing where your home base is to provide some comfort before you explore the area!
When you're on a family vacation, though--be it spring break, summer vacation, or anytime at all--it's important to plan vacation activities ahead of time. That said, I've always said that on vacation, I like to go where the wind blows me. That's my way of saying I love sightseeing without a plan. Alas, now as a mama, experience tells me it's sometimes better to have an idea of what we'll do before we go.
Let's see what all of our travel experts have to say this week.
My best advice is to incorporate some memorable, fun, and unusual-for-you modes of transportation into your sightseeing activities. Preview the area you're visiting online, including mapping distances, then decide who in your family can walk, light rail, bike, or tuk-tuk to whatever sights you're prioritizing. If your kiddos are little, they might get a thrill from an open-
air bus tour, and you'll see places where you want to return and spend more time. The internet is great, but there's just no way to replace getting the lay of the land with your own eyes.
One of my favorite vacation activities of all time was a horseback ride through the rainforest of Costa Rica, surrounded by howler monkeys, before swimming in a waterfall-fed pond. Getting there was (more than) half the fun. Make the journey part of your sightseeing adventure. What a wonderful way to make sightseeing memories! Check out our must-have travel items for kids of all ages, too.
"Travelling with babies, toddlers and young children means very slow travel for us. Sight-seeing is spread out and copious amounts of time are spent in play parks and soft plays around the world. We try to factor in outdoor activities every day whether it's beach time or a short hike. Making sure that the children get plenty of time to run around, be wild and have fun is an absolute 
priority.
When it comes to family-friendly cultural experiences, it's all about ancient ruins and history museums for us...From the Acropolis in Athens with a baby to visiting the temples in Bagan, Myanmar with kids we've had nothing but amazing experiences visiting historic ruins. When they were younger, we carried the kids around sites in baby slings but now they run around pretending to be explorers. Likewise...we've had the pleasure of visiting some amazingly child-friendly museums worldwide. For example, visiting South Korea with kids, we found that almost every museum has a superb interactive children's museum attached. A brilliant way of combining sightseeing with play."
"Activities and sightseeing on a family vacation are very important to us...We love to be outdoors so we look for a place with a lot of hiking, camping, swimming or historical sites to see. I start by finding the website for the 
destination we are going to and seeing what the locals recommend. We plan our itinerary around these activities starting with the most active activity since the kids have been sitting in a car or airplane for so long. Next, we look for deals online from websites like Groupon. There is even sometimes a "City Pass" type of card that you can purchase for each family member that gets you into the most popular places..."
"...I’m sharing my top 3 lessons I’ve learned over the last several years traveling with small children.
instead of worrying about staying on a schedule.More ideas at https://mommyandmetravels.com.
"E=MC2
Excitement = Museums X Coffee 2 - That was our travel formula before we had teenagers. It was perfect for our little crew. It's my number one sightseeing and activity planning tip. We’d take in a museum in the morning when we were fresh, stop for a spot of lunch near somewhere that had a place to let the kids get rid of some energy while the parents grabbed a coffee (double shot, of 
course). Then, it was onto the next exciting activity.
We found that our kids regularly needed a time to just play - at a park, in the water, along a hiking path or out in a grassy field. Museums are fantastic! Art, history and science are all incredibly inspiring, but don’t forget to sprinkle in a bit of free play to let their little brains organize and process all that information. Now that we have teenagers, we still follow this sightseeing and activity formula. It’s worked for so many years, it's now a comforting routine for all of us."
"...Here are our top three tips:
Once we've narrowed down our wish list, we plan out each day, leaving room for relaxing, snack times, and free time to just play around. We try to plan out restaurants too, to make sure we won't need reservations and that they are kid-friendly!" - Read more at www.grabmypassport.com
"Fear of Missing Out or FOMO is real. It’s a common mistake to condense everything into how long the trip is. You're already there, might as well do it, right?
Try to not be tempted to overachieve. Enjoy and relax. Don’t drive yourself nuts as I did when we went to Walt Disney World for the first time. Have time for rest and cool spots..
.
Doing nothing should be in your itinerary. Take this time to rehydrate, rest your aching feet from walking, or talk to your family and reflect on what you just saw and experience." - Read about their rookie mistakes here.
"...From our experience, giving yourself lots of time, being prepared and staying flexible are key to creating great memories.
Time. Allow yourself the opportunity to ease into a place...We find that discovering sights and wildlife on our own is so much more memorable than taking an expensive tour and having someone else show us and tell us about a new place. Often tours go too fast and don’t allow time to just wander.
Being prepared. We try to do background research as a family before getting to our destination to know about the history, culture, wildlife, language and people. A story helps the kids connect to sights. Maps are fantastic visuals.
Be flexible and forgiving. Most important is balancing the kids’ and adults’ needs. Check in with everyone and learn how to compromise. Don’t be too attached to an idea of what the experience should be. You might not have time to see it all but you have an introduction to the place and can plan to return someday!"
"..
.We make a list of priorities that are important that we get to experience. Everyone gets to pick 1 thing that is we absolutely have to do. That way everyone gets a say in how the vacation goes. We also look at accessibility for my wheelchair. I normally Google the location to see what is interesting around the destination and also look for tours..."
"...being that we are very budget conscious, we try to participate in family-friendly, inexpensive activities that we all will enjoy. This often includes hiking and playgrounds, but can also be visiting museums and historical sites too. Having an ASTC membership has saved us tons of money and allowed us to visit some incredible museums across the country, for free. If you don't have one of these ASTC memberships, but you enjoy visiting museums when you travel, I highly recommend getting one.
...By waiting until October to visit San Diego for instance, we were able to save a ton of money because kids go free the whole month. So instead of just being able to buy tickets to Legoland, we were able to visit several attractions." - More at https://statebystate.net/6-tips-to-save-money-while-traveling-america-with-kids/