Taking a Christmas road trip with your loved ones is a wonderful idea—as long as the expedition has been meticulously planned. Otherwise, the drive could easily turn into slow-moving circus-on-wheels marked by restlessness, fatigue, and disorder. Resist the lure of spontaneity—such a prospect is grossly impractical when you’ve got young children to look after. Instead, prepare ahead of time and heed our tips to keep your trip from taking an unwanted detour.
Tune up the ol’ jalopy. First things first: ensure that your car is ready for the road. Load up on gas, check the engine and brakes, and make sure the tires are properly inflated—don’t forget to check your spare, too. If you’re going long distances, bring your car to the casa or a reliable mechanic and get a thumbs-up on road-worthiness before you go. It won’t hurt to learn a little about preventive maintenance throughout the year, to make sure you’re prepared for those annual expeditions. And, although it goes without saying, make sure that your vehicle isn’t color-coded on the day of your departure, lest your trip get postponed due to a pesky legality.
Map it out. There’s nothing more irritating (to passengers and drivers alike) than getting lost after hours in transit. So don’t forget your map! Plot out your entire route from start to finish to avoid making a wrong turn, and include alternative routes to take in case you run into traffic (or a provincial funeral, complete with a marching band). Ask friends or relatives who’ve recently been to your destination for prominent landmarks you can look for when you feel you’re starting to go astray. You can also get your kids involved—and avoid the resounding “Are we there yet?”—by making them simplified maps of the entire course so they can keep up with progress of your journey.
Safety first. It’s vital that the entire family buckle up while in a moving car, and that youngsters are seated in the back so they are the most protected. However, in case of minor accidents, make sure you have a well-stocked safety kit immediately on hand. Pack your kit with gauze bandages and Band-Aids, disinfectants for wounds, and basic medication for headaches, stomach cramps, diarrhea, and motion sickness. If you or any of your family members suffer from a specific condition like asthma or diabetes, bring supplies of the special medication—and pack a few days’ extra rations, in case you get waylaid or stranded.
Snack attack. The quickest way to appease a bored brood is through their stomachs. Chips, cookies, nuts, cereal, trail mix, and popcorn are always popular with young snackers. Place these munchies in re-sealable plastic bags to minimize spillage—also, avoid wet or saucy foods so your kids won’t make a mess in the car. Opt for bottled water to wash it all down, rather than soda or tea-based drinks—the latter are caffeinated, and will increase the chances of roadside stops for bathroom breaks.
Games, games, games! In-transit entertainment will make the time fly by and are great opportunities for family bonding. Try a scavenger hunt: make a list of things for your children to spot out the windows, and they cross off as many of the items as possible for a prize. Or a car-counting challenge: make another list, this time of all types of vehicles, and the person who counts the most cars for each category wins. An interactive diversion the whole family can enjoy is the “group story” game, where a person begins a story and stops midsentence at a crucial moment, and the next person continues until the next crucial moment, and so on and so forth, until you have a full family saga going. If you run out of ideas, check out this site for a detailed list of games. Your passengers will be kept occupied—and in high spirits—all the way back to your front door.
Are you planning to take a road trip vacation with your family this Christmas? Share your tips for a fun and successful long drive! Leave a comment below or talk it up with other GIRLTalkers on our forum!
