ON THE ROAD
Taking a Family Road Trip
Keeping children engaged and entertained on a road trip is key to happy travels.
By Alexis Nicols
An enjoyable road trip with kids begins with a good plan. | PHOTO: FRIENDS STOCK/ADOBE STOCK
WHETHER YOU PREFER A PLANNED ITINERARY or a go-where-the-wind-blows vacation, setting out on a family road trip is a great way to build memories. It’s also an appropriate way to travel with kids of all ages, from tiny tots to teens. A little planning goes a long way to ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey for the whole family. With proper preparation, you can make the drive as much fun and just as memorable as the sites you plan to see.
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Do a quick maintenance check before setting out. | PHOTO: FRIENDS STOCK/ADOBE STOCK
BEFORE YOU HIT THE ROAD
Plan and download your route, or get CAA to create a TripTik® for you. Having offline access to your adventure always comes in handy in case you drop cell service. Booking tickets and making reservations in advance can save you time and prevent last-minute disappointments, but don’t overplan. Sometimes the best parts of a trip are the things that you stumble upon or are suggested on the go. Asking locals for advice on what to see or where to eat or stay will often reveal secrets you won’t find in any guidebooks. Before you get on the road, it’s also a good idea to check in with your favourite travel influencers and peruse reviews to generate an inspiration list of places to visit, eat and stay.
Next, ensure your vehicle is road-trip-ready. A quick maintenance check — oil change, fluid levels, tire pressure and battery health — can help prevent unexpected hiccups on the road. Don’t forget to stock the car with essentials — a first aid kit, snacks, water and a back-up phone charger. You may also want to consider blankets, neck pillows, umbrellas or rain ponchos and some towels, so you’re ready for everything from car naps to a quick dip in a lake.
And a smooth homecoming is just as important as the journey itself. Before leaving, prep a frozen meal or plan a simple dinner for your return. You’ll be grateful for it after a long drive and the kids will get to enjoy the comforts of home right away. Catching up on laundry before departure also means fewer chores when you return.
Ensure you’ve planned and packed some family-friendly activities to make the drive time fly by. | PHOTO: FRIENDS STOCK/ADOBE STOCK
KEEPING THE KIDS ENTERTAINED
A well-packed vehicle can make all the difference on a long drive. Pack a mix of healthy snacks and fun treats to balance everyone’s energy levels. To save on mobile data usage, load up tablets with movies, audiobooks and games in advance. Go for travel-friendly board games like old favourites such as Boggle, Yahtzee and Battleship. Consider sticker and colouring books to occupy the little passengers, and think of Road-Trip Bingo, I Spy and 20 Questions to provide fun for everyone in the car. Playlists and podcasts can also make the miles fly by. Pick a series that the whole family will enjoy or even learn about the areas you’re about to visit. The Backyard History podcast is ideal for your travels in Atlantic Canada, with interesting historical stories that are family-friendly. The How Stuff Works podcast is also good family fun and appropriate for all ages.
Take advantage of naptime and drive as long as the slumber lasts, but when the kids are up, you’ll want to stop every two to three hours to let them have a break. If you don’t have a specific destination planned, stopping at a chip truck, rest stop or local landmark for a stretch adds a welcome break to the journey.
Whether staying at hotels, at campsites or with friends, setting a limit on the number of hours driven each day makes for a much safer trip. Kids can generally handle six to eight hours. Little ones may need the driving day to be a bit shorter and older teens may be able to handle longer days better. Taking into consideration your kids’ personalities and temperaments, find the perfect ratio between activities enjoyed and distance travelled.
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Whether spending time relaxing or sightseeing, the family time together is where the memories are made. | PHOTO: FRIENDS STOCK/ADOBE STOCK
TAKE A BREAK
While you may want to create an action-packed, non-stop itinerary and fit everything you’d like to do all into one trip, this can become overstimulating. Consider building in one day every third or fourth day of travel to do nothing — a day filled with the stuff the family would do at home, like watching TV, playing games, going on a walk or just hanging out. And while exotic eats might be what you are looking forward to the most on the trip, make sure the little ones get some comfort food, favourites that they’re used to. A little taste of home helps keep kids from getting homesick or overwhelmed.
With thoughtful planning and the right resources, your family road trip can be an adventure to remember — for all the right reasons. CAA