The Best Road Trip family always!

The best road trip the family is increasingly impossible. Travelling with Panache (Cat Tales Press, 2006): I was a senior journalist, with a focus on travel literature for the past 13 years and author of Connecticut consumed. My day starts globetrotting professional, accompanied by my husband, who together provide the transport of my young son (now 13) in a backpack. A year later we had a baby in tow!
One of the golden rules of traveling with children, especially under 10, twoThe activities of the day, preferably in the morning and afternoon. As a travel writer's family, we have an average of 15 activities per day, which was in the days when the child is there designated parking spaces and baby changing rooms for men's room does not. The good thing was, we learned how to survive a trip-the hard way.

What was in the hundreds of road trips we took as a family were the mostpractical things that we, in our rigorous travel aid now.

Frankly, we have learned the hard way. On one of our first car trip to Virginia Beach, we accidentally booked a squalid motels that can be found in Delaware. Of course we do not stay, but it was fun looking for a hotel on the same night as a sort of funky Convention was in town and the rooms available were quite rare. And it was much later in the night when it shouldbecause our state "Short Cut" had added earlier that day by two hours for our trip!

The most important thing is that, in terms of a journey, labeled "best", "last", "best" should be avoided. When we pre-plan family trips with the expectations of over-the-top, you can rely on. Yes, they are smooth trip took place without problems. But usually something goes wrong, even if you are dealing with a cranky baby for afew hours. I'm not saying to hit the road, thinking, awww, it will be terrible. I say, on the road, not thinking in black and white but in gray areas. If possible, as my husband always says, 'do not expect anything and you will not be disappointed. "

In the meantime, to help iron some of the bumps that can be run in a family, here are some suggestions:

• You know surprises later on, to depart as a rule,what to expect. This is done only with sufficient time allocated for preliminary planning and research. Before going in two years even photos of the target via the Internet or in brochures in their search for a sense of familiarity. Communication is also crucial. For example, if funds are limited, should be "shoppers" in the family knows exactly what is planned for souvenirs.

• A special case should be provided for each family member. So that everyone has something to look forward. For example, when we drive to Bar Harbor, Maine, made a detour to get a scoop of ice cream lobster for our son Marshall.

• There are tons of books, games, cassettes and videos for travel by car. The best travel kit "that I had never seen Baldino created by our city (Easton, CT), Library Director, Betty. Other libraries are children of this type of travel bags for hire. If the library is not the loan for a trip> Kits, create your own kit as prototypes using Bernadette, games full of things such as shelves, crayons / markers, coloring books and classics.

• The best games are simple, creative games. Let's see who can spot an out-of-town license plate. (To be discovered by a plate out-of-town, ask the children what is the state capital!) My infinite, best game of all time? One person thinks of a person, place or thing and the other tries alternatelyI think that answers the question "yes" or "no".

• Children need to recognize that snacks satisfy hunger, not to stop or change the unpleasant emotions, fatigue or boredom. (For children irritable or annoyed to see the first tip.) We all know what healthy snacks, fruits, vegetables, plenty of mineral water. What I recommend is a packed lunch for each child. This not only gives the child a sense of control, but gives a little 'more in search of distractionEating while driving!

• Always, absolutely always a benefit ball and Frisbee in the trunk for impromptu exercise time for all passengers.

• If something negative happens, do not call them "bad." Once, after arrival at our hotel in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, met our Clan Maxwell tired of the road blocked by a truck and cars. As it turned out, Jimmy Buffet and his band were at the hotel. After twenty minutesDelay we finally arrived to find the lobby bustling country singer's entourage. Just when things could get heated, I said: "It 's an adventure!" From that point on, every trip, no matter what happened, shining a positive light on everything, with the exclamation: "It 's an adventure"