When we took our first road trip from Florida to California back in March people said we were crazy to take our little kids on a road trip across the country. We weren’t sure what we were getting ourselves into, but we hit the road and hoped for the best. It was such an amazing trip, and the kids did great. At the time of that trip our son was four and our daughter turned one during the trip. It turns out we weren’t crazy, and they did awesome in the car! Before we even got home we started planning our next trip.
For our most recent trip we drove from Florida to Maine to Niagra Falls and home with so many amazing stops along the way. Our son is now five and our daughter is one (19 months to be exact). This trip was even better than the first for so many reasons. The trip was a shorter distance, and we had one extra day. We were really able to take our time and enjoy our stops, and we even made a few unexpected stops. The kids are great travelers, and I see us taking road trips for many years to come.
Five Reasons You Should Travel with Your Kids:
- Kids are Better Travelers Than You Think– Give your kids some credit! Our kids love staying in hotels and they think being in the car all day with mommy and daddy is the best! They didn’t complain, they just enjoyed the journey.
- Your Kids CAN be Entertained in the Car– If they have a variety of entertainment and they are excited about the journey then they will be just fine. We took books, coloring supplies and, of course, technology. I think our daughter watched Minions a dozen times. After a couple days I tried to replace it on the iPad with Frozen, but she wasn’t having it. Just give them some options, and let them pick. Not once did they ever seem bored.
- Kids Learn From Experiences– My son knew all about The White House and The Statue of Liberty from school, but seeing them in person was a completely different moment. He couldn’t wait to get back to school to share his experiences with his friends. He’s in VPK, and I don’t regret for a moment taking him out of school for a week.
- They Are Only Little for a Little While– Take the time to be together as a family whether its a road trip or you have a destination you plan to spend your entire vacation at. Cherish the moments you can spend with your kids as a family. It was so fun seeing our kids laugh together and just hanging out as a family.
- They Don’t Have to Remember the Trip for it to be Memorable– Remember you are creating memories for yourself too. Having a special travel moment with your kids before they will remember it gives you an amazing story to tell your kids when they are older.
I posted this sweet picture of my daughter looking out at the ocean in Maine in front of a lighthouse with the caption “I know she won’t remember this, but we will.” My friend replied with “She may not remember it, but it will leave an impression on her.” That really stuck with me and serves as motivation to continue to travel with my kids to any place our hearts desire.
I hope you love traveling with your kids as much as we do! Let’s hear about your favorite vacation memory with your kids.
Amanda says
I was a child a bit before all the technology became portable and cars had dvd players. We played games (like A my name is Anna), listing out of state license plates, the alphabet game, singing songs and adapting the motions to sitting. We had fun on our trips. Oh, and sometimes my dad made us play the quiet game…LOL Kids love to travel!
TwoLittleRippers says
We love the quiet game!