Comments on: Great (and Fun) Tips & Tricks for Road Trips with Children http://www.milehighmamas.com/2009/05/21/imperative-and-fun-tips-tricks-for-road-trips-with-children/ Denver parenting, with altitude Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:29:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: JoAnn, The Casual Perfectionist http://thecasualperfectionist.com http://www.milehighmamas.com/2009/05/21/imperative-and-fun-tips-tricks-for-road-trips-with-children/#comment-6491 JoAnn, The Casual Perfectionist http://thecasualperfectionist.com Sun, 07 Jun 2009 17:25:27 +0000 http://www.milehighmamas.com/?p=2946#comment-6491 Thanks, Melissa! They really are cool. You should try traveling again! If you do, I hope it goes well! Thanks, Melissa! They really are cool. You should try traveling again! If you do, I hope it goes well!

]]> By: Melissa Taylor http://www.milehighmamas.com/2009/05/21/imperative-and-fun-tips-tricks-for-road-trips-with-children/#comment-6490 Melissa Taylor Wed, 27 May 2009 22:52:41 +0000 http://www.milehighmamas.com/?p=2946#comment-6490 The pack it folders look amazing. How did I survive without knowing about them? Oh, yeah. My kids hate to travel. Maybe we'll give it another go - thanks for the tips! Cheers! Melissa www.imaginationsoup.net The pack it folders look amazing. How did I survive without knowing about them? Oh, yeah. My kids hate to travel.

Maybe we’ll give it another go – thanks for the tips!

Cheers!
Melissa
http://www.imaginationsoup.net

]]> By: JoAnn, The Casual Perfectionist http://thecasualperfectionist.com http://www.milehighmamas.com/2009/05/21/imperative-and-fun-tips-tricks-for-road-trips-with-children/#comment-6489 JoAnn, The Casual Perfectionist http://thecasualperfectionist.com Mon, 25 May 2009 19:29:30 +0000 http://www.milehighmamas.com/?p=2946#comment-6489 Great tips, Julie! We always take advantage of the free breakfasts...some of them these days are actually pretty substantial! When I was growing up, my mom and dad always left SUPER early in the morning so that we could sleep in the car, too! Great tips, Julie! We always take advantage of the free breakfasts…some of them these days are actually pretty substantial!

When I was growing up, my mom and dad always left SUPER early in the morning so that we could sleep in the car, too!

]]> By: Julie http://www.milehighmamas.com/2009/05/21/imperative-and-fun-tips-tricks-for-road-trips-with-children/#comment-6488 Julie Mon, 25 May 2009 04:10:20 +0000 http://www.milehighmamas.com/?p=2946#comment-6488 When we have a long trip ahead of us my husband goes to bed around 8:00 and we leave in the morning around 2:00. The kids sleep for the first part of the trip and around 8:00 or when they awaken we stop for restroom break, breakfast, change into the clothes for the day. We are away from home and they are fresh and everything around them is new. Sometimes we are already to our first stop for vacation. We also have the portable TV's (They only go with us on Vacation) I will buy a new DVD for the trip. We also have songs for kids on CDs and we look for songs that fit the trip. We play the ABC game where you go through the alphabet looking on signs, license plates, etc... We also do at least 2 road trips a year. We also look for the hotel that includes free breakfast to make 1 meal cheaper also, it allows you to get on the road faster. We also look for a hotel with a swimming pool. It wears the kids down at the end of the night. When we have a long trip ahead of us my husband goes to bed around 8:00 and we leave in the morning around 2:00. The kids sleep for the first part of the trip and around 8:00 or when they awaken we stop for restroom break, breakfast, change into the clothes for the day. We are away from home and they are fresh and everything around them is new. Sometimes we are already to our first stop for vacation. We also have the portable TV’s (They only go with us on Vacation) I will buy a new DVD for the trip. We also have songs for kids on CDs and we look for songs that fit the trip. We play the ABC game where you go through the alphabet looking on signs, license plates, etc… We also do at least 2 road trips a year. We also look for the hotel that includes free breakfast to make 1 meal cheaper also, it allows you to get on the road faster. We also look for a hotel with a swimming pool. It wears the kids down at the end of the night.

]]> By: JoAnn, The Casual Perfectionist http://thecasualperfectionist.com http://www.milehighmamas.com/2009/05/21/imperative-and-fun-tips-tricks-for-road-trips-with-children/#comment-6487 JoAnn, The Casual Perfectionist http://thecasualperfectionist.com Sat, 23 May 2009 21:58:56 +0000 http://www.milehighmamas.com/?p=2946#comment-6487 Thanks, Kagey! We've had pretty good luck with rest areas in the past. Unfortunately, the running joke with this trip was that MOST of them were CLOSED! Ack! T, we packed a picnic lunch and did for the first couple days of our trip. After the camping, the food was gone (as we'd planned it), so we did restaurants from there on out. It worked really well! Thanks, Melissius! Flexibility is the key. :) Amber, those are great ideas! Thanks, Lori! dsb, that's a great tip about the toilet! The last thing we do is flush all the toilets, but I'd never thought about doing the bleach! Amber, that looks like a great product! Thanks, Bonnie! You'll have to let us know where you go! Thanks for your tips on air travel, Jenna! We're going on a plane with Claire for the first time in July. That's a great tip about bringing our own cup! Happy travels to all of you!! Thanks, Kagey! We’ve had pretty good luck with rest areas in the past. Unfortunately, the running joke with this trip was that MOST of them were CLOSED! Ack!

T, we packed a picnic lunch and did for the first couple days of our trip. After the camping, the food was gone (as we’d planned it), so we did restaurants from there on out. It worked really well!

Thanks, Melissius! Flexibility is the key. :)

Amber, those are great ideas!

Thanks, Lori!

dsb, that’s a great tip about the toilet! The last thing we do is flush all the toilets, but I’d never thought about doing the bleach!

Amber, that looks like a great product!

Thanks, Bonnie! You’ll have to let us know where you go!

Thanks for your tips on air travel, Jenna! We’re going on a plane with Claire for the first time in July. That’s a great tip about bringing our own cup!

Happy travels to all of you!!

]]> By: Jenna Hallock http://www.milehighmamas.com/2009/05/21/imperative-and-fun-tips-tricks-for-road-trips-with-children/#comment-6486 Jenna Hallock Sat, 23 May 2009 03:23:49 +0000 http://www.milehighmamas.com/?p=2946#comment-6486 Joann, You have actually convinced me that I want to take a road trip! Wow! We always fly with the kids, but there are so many wonderful things to see close by that I want them to experience too. Similar rules apply to air travel as well - with the added inconvenience of *someone* regulating what beverages or lotions (etc) you can stow in your backpack. I always choose a new toy for each child. I allow them to choose some of their favorite small toys/lovies to bring. And I always allow for fun snacks that they wouldn't otherwise have at home! Of course the best part is always that comp. soda - so I highly recommend bringing an empty cup with a lid, even for older kids. Even without turbulence, it's a heck of a job trying to keep that little cup balanced on a flimsy tray. :) We're headed to Seattle and Philadelphia this summer. Of course, as kids get older it's great to involve them in planning and packing! I recommend starting a few days early with the packing so that they can really think that through and give you extra time to do laundry when they decide they *must* have a certain outfit or jammies for the trip. And give them options for things to see and do once you're there! Happy traveling! Joann, You have actually convinced me that I want to take a road trip! Wow! We always fly with the kids, but there are so many wonderful things to see close by that I want them to experience too.

Similar rules apply to air travel as well – with the added inconvenience of *someone* regulating what beverages or lotions (etc) you can stow in your backpack. I always choose a new toy for each child. I allow them to choose some of their favorite small toys/lovies to bring. And I always allow for fun snacks that they wouldn’t otherwise have at home!

Of course the best part is always that comp. soda – so I highly recommend bringing an empty cup with a lid, even for older kids. Even without turbulence, it’s a heck of a job trying to keep that little cup balanced on a flimsy tray. :)

We’re headed to Seattle and Philadelphia this summer. Of course, as kids get older it’s great to involve them in planning and packing! I recommend starting a few days early with the packing so that they can really think that through and give you extra time to do laundry when they decide they *must* have a certain outfit or jammies for the trip. And give them options for things to see and do once you’re there!

Happy traveling!

]]> By: Bonnie http://www.milehighmamas.com/2009/05/21/imperative-and-fun-tips-tricks-for-road-trips-with-children/#comment-6485 Bonnie Fri, 22 May 2009 13:14:12 +0000 http://www.milehighmamas.com/?p=2946#comment-6485 Wow, great tips! I'm going to check into some of those gadgets. I think you've inspired me to plan a road trip!! Thanks for all the great advice. Wow, great tips! I’m going to check into some of those gadgets. I think you’ve inspired me to plan a road trip!! Thanks for all the great advice.

]]> By: Amber's Crazy Bloggin' Canuck http://www.milehighmamas.com/2009/05/21/imperative-and-fun-tips-tricks-for-road-trips-with-children/#comment-6484 Amber's Crazy Bloggin' Canuck Thu, 21 May 2009 18:12:39 +0000 http://www.milehighmamas.com/?p=2946#comment-6484 In the mail today, I received THE COOLEST THING and I am thrilled to add it to our family vacation strategy. A local mom has put together an amazing "Are we there yet" kit with oodles of great games and car-friendly crafts. Check it out! http://www.lhlearning.com/newproducts.html In the mail today, I received THE COOLEST THING and I am thrilled to add it to our family vacation strategy. A local mom has put together an amazing “Are we there yet” kit with oodles of great games and car-friendly crafts. Check it out!

http://www.lhlearning.com/newproducts.html

]]> By: dsb http://www.milehighmamas.com/2009/05/21/imperative-and-fun-tips-tricks-for-road-trips-with-children/#comment-6483 dsb Thu, 21 May 2009 17:41:11 +0000 http://www.milehighmamas.com/?p=2946#comment-6483 For your list of things to do before you leave home: * Pour bleach in the toilets. (And shut off the water to them if they have a tendency to run, but most don't.) Not only does it prevent a mold ring from starting in your toilet while you're gone, it will even get rid of it if you already have one! That is at the very, very bottom of my list -- the absolute last thing to do before leaving. Even after everybody has piled into the car, then decided they needed to go back in to go to the bathroom one last time after all. Because, obviously, then you have to pour bleach in again. After you pour the bleach in the last toilet, if somebody needs to go, you stop at the gas station down the road. If you're leaving pets at home (presumably with someone coming in to feed them) who would drink from the toilet, obviously you'll have to close the bathroom door or not bleach it. For your list of things to do before you leave home:

* Pour bleach in the toilets. (And shut off the water to them if they have a tendency to run, but most don’t.)

Not only does it prevent a mold ring from starting in your toilet while you’re gone, it will even get rid of it if you already have one!

That is at the very, very bottom of my list — the absolute last thing to do before leaving. Even after everybody has piled into the car, then decided they needed to go back in to go to the bathroom one last time after all. Because, obviously, then you have to pour bleach in again. After you pour the bleach in the last toilet, if somebody needs to go, you stop at the gas station down the road.

If you’re leaving pets at home (presumably with someone coming in to feed them) who would drink from the toilet, obviously you’ll have to close the bathroom door or not bleach it.

]]> By: Lori in Denver http://www.milehighmamas.com/2009/05/21/imperative-and-fun-tips-tricks-for-road-trips-with-children/#comment-6482 Lori in Denver Thu, 21 May 2009 17:16:33 +0000 http://www.milehighmamas.com/?p=2946#comment-6482 I'm bookmarking these excellent ideas for future reference. I am amazed by your organization skills! I’m bookmarking these excellent ideas for future reference.

I am amazed by your organization skills!

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