Skip to content
Child Care Answers Logo
  • News & Stories
  • Events
  • Contact
  • Resources
    • Family Help Guide for Child Care
    • Child Care Program Help Guide
    • Employer Help Guide
    • Community Help Guide
  • Our Services
    • Families
    • Child Care Programs
    • Community Partners
    • Employers
    • Reports and Data
  • Team
    • Our Expertise
    • Our Staff
    • Our Board
    • Careers
  • Get Involved
    • Partner with Us
    • Advocate
    • Volunteer
  • Find Child Care
  • Donate
  • Resources
    • Family Help Guide for Child Care
    • Child Care Program Help Guide
    • Employer Help Guide
    • Community Help Guide
  • Our Services
    • Families
    • Child Care Programs
    • Community Partners
    • Employers
    • Reports and Data
  • Team
    • Our Expertise
    • Our Staff
    • Our Board
    • Careers
  • Get Involved
    • Partner with Us
    • Advocate
    • Volunteer
  • Find Child Care
  • Donate
  • News & Stories
  • Events
  • Contact
arrow back All News & Stories
Activity Ideas Families Infant and Toddler Preschool School Age

Road trip! Tips for Vacations with Children

Lauren George
May 15, 2022

“Are we there yet?” is the phrase I hear over and over in the car – even for a quick five minute drive. So, call me surprised when I hardly heard this during our 11 hour drive to and from the beach for spring break. My kids are four and eight, and this is only our second long car trip we have taken as a family of four.  Traveling with kids can be fun but also super challenging. Planning ahead and prepping them ahead of time helped things run a little more smoothly and gave them an idea of what was to come.

Pack and prep.

Filling a suitcase with shorts and swimsuits is only the start when you’re traveling with little ones. When my kids were babies, we had a whole different set of needs for both road trips and traveling by air.

It was a whole different experience for us this time around without strollers and pack-n-plays, but we still pulled some of our old tricks out of the hat when it came to gathering road-trip supplies. We took time the day before to charge our iPads, download our shows, and pack our snacks – then we were ready to hit the road! We filled up the tank the night before, and I made a stop at the local coffee shop for a giant iced coffee so we could leave right when we woke up.

Plan stops along your route.

Despite the fact we pack our car full of snacks, I always make an effort to plan stops before we leave the house. It is important for both myself and the kids to get out of the car, move around, and eat a meal together. Our favorite stops are Chick-fil-a and Cracker Barrel (their new fave!), because there is more to explore than just eating, like shopping and play areas.

You can also look for fun rest stops and other novelty experiences along your route, like the world’s largest peach or a giant rocket ship! We always split our trip into two days and find local parks near our hotel to get some energy out before the next day of driving. Playing, shopping, and relaxing in the rocking chairs makes these stops totally worthwhile.

road trip stop

We made it…now what?

Finally, after hours and hours in the car – we made it! The kids were so excited to see the ocean, to feel the waves, and get their toes in the sand. Before unpacking, we headed down to the beach. After enjoying the sunshine and warm sand and a family dinner, we got down to business to help make the rest of our trip a little easier (and help us save money too!). That first night, we made time to go grocery shopping to get the essentials for breakfasts and lunches in the condo. While I LOVE eating out at local restaurants on vacation, eating a few meals in saves a ton of money, and it makes me feel better about splurging on a yummy lobster roll or spending a little extra on souvenirs.

beach time

 

Make the most out of your destination…and prepare for the unexpected.

While the purpose of our trip was rest and relaxation on the beach, kids often need more than that. We spent a fair amount of time hunting for shells, swimming, building sand castles, and attempting to find treasure with our metal detector (with limited success). Beach time was our primary mission, but you never know what Mother Nature will throw at you…or when little ones will just declare they’ve had enough. To help avoid any unnecessary drama, we also came prepared with activities, including coloring books and board games for the condo. Throw in a side of putt-putt, dinners out, and doughnut adventures, and it was a trip for the books!

putt putt miniature golf

Related News & Stories

Find new ways to grow.

Sitou in African attire holding his parents' hands
Families Family Engagement Inclusion Providers

Culturally-Inclusive Conversations: “Ask Questions, and Be Curious.”

January 14, 2023
mother and son in front of a christmas tree looking glum
Activity Ideas Families Infant and Toddler Pre-K Preschool School Age

Happy Holidays?

December 9, 2022
process art
Activity Ideas Families Infant and Toddler Preschool Providers School Age

Process Art Tips and Tricks from a Former Teacher

July 18, 2022
Newsletter

Early care and education news to your inbox

Count on our newsletters to get you the most important early care and education news, when you need it. We send a different newsletter each month to either families, child care professionals, or communities/employers. Sign up for one or all today!
CCA Logo White

Contact Us

info@childcareanswers.org
Phone: 317.636.5727 Toll Free: 800.272.2937
1776 N. Meridian St., Suite 101
Indianapolis, IN 46202

Our Partners

FSSA Logo

© 2023 Child Care Answers. All Rights Reserved.

Subscribe Privacy Policy
Twitter Logo
Facebook Logo
Instagram Logo
LinkedIn Logo
YouTube Logo
tiktok logo
Filter by Topic
Filter by Role
Filter by Resource Type
Post
Culturally-Inclusive Conversations: “Ask Questions, and Be Curious.”
The family is a child’s introduction to the world. A child’s identity is grounded by their culture and heritage. For families, there is pride and honor in sharing your culture with your child. As they step out of the home and into new environments, like child care, holding onto a family’s culture can become complicated. […]
Sitou in African attire holding his parents' hands
Post
Happy Holidays?
Oftentimes, we have high hopes for the holidays. We want to go to all places and do all the things. Just imagine it now – Mariah Carey setting the tone as you are sipping cocoa by the fire, and your little ones are quietly crafting at the table. It will be cozy, magical, and perfect, […]
mother and son in front of a christmas tree looking glum
Post
Process Art Tips and Tricks from a Former Teacher
I have always found a purpose in art. The creative process provides me with time to think and space to express my feelings; but it wasn’t always that way! Being a bit of a perfectionist, it was hard to let go of the “cookie-cutter” crafts. I wanted so badly to be good at art that […]
process art