This is a sponsored post
It’s Easter and spring break time across the United States. This is a prime time for couples, singles, and families to get away and recharge a little bit. The weather is getting warmer, days longer, sun shinier. As part of our Easter break, we are taking a road trip! We are hitting our nation’s capital Washington D.C. to see the sites and experience the history. We are heading down with four other families, so that would be 23 people in all. Yes, 23. It’s going to be a terrific time as these are families we really love to spend time with.
While the time spent in D.C. will no doubt be epic, one thing Vera and I always try to avoid is having the drive down become an epic fail. We are crazy with preparations, trying our best to ensure a safe, happy, and mostly enjoyable ride. Hey, with three kids things can happen, right? All-in-all, we do our best and we have a pretty awesome track record of avoiding the fails so far. We go by a few key things every time we travel. These tips will hopefully ensure a, relatively, easy road trip for you and yours!
Relax
The days before the trip and the trip itself can be very stressful for everyone. Don’t freak out when planning and packing. Don’t be frazzled when you are trying to get the kids up and out early the day you want to leave. Do not go crazy and snap at them whenever they ask a kid question or annoy each other or act like, well, kids. Just take a deep breath, relax, and enjoy the ride. It’s fleeting and it won’t last forever. Soak up the time, take some selfies and some video, sing some songs, and love your life. That’s what the trip is all about anyway, isn’t it?
Prep the Car
You are about to spend a long time in your car. You may never have spent this much time in one sitting before. Get it ready. Clean it up, organize it, and have it looking good. Fill the car with snacks and tissues. Make sure all the fluids are topped off and the gas tank is full. Make sure you take care of any possible issues you’ve been seeing when you drove for the last few months. Vacuum and wash the car, make it nice like a fresh hotel room! Get this thing primed and ready for travel. Be prepared, Boy Scout.
Bring Gadgets…and the Chargers
Yes, I know, the kids spend too much time on tablets, phones, and DVD players. Yes, I agree 100%. Traveling for a vacation is not one of those times to put your foot down and stand for something. This is the time to suck it up and then load it up. Pack all the gadgets you can find into that car and make sure you have any and all chargers and accessories readily available. Don’t be shy. Ask the kids what they want to take, and then take even more. It can’t hurt…believe me.
Plan Screen-Free Fun
Sure, I was just imploring you to load up on the diodes, but don’t forget the trip is all about fun with you and your family. It’s about singing songs, talking about what you see outside the window, and figuring out what to do when you get there. Talk it up and make it fun for everyone. Classic games, such as I Spy and the License Plate Game, are a ton of fun and never get old. Seriously, kids still love these and you will love the time spent playing them and enjoying each other. Bring out card games, puzzles, crosswords, and books of any kind, too. Bring some books and brochures about your destination, too. It will help now and when you get there. The more the merrier.
Plan Rest Points and Quick Sightseeing Breaks
It can get boring, even with movies and sing-a-longs. The roads can be long with not that much going on at times. When you are planning your route and your expected arrival time, bake in some rest stops along the way. Bathroom and snack breaks are key to a more enjoyable trip. Plus, it lets the kids and you stretch and get some nervous energy out. A little fresh air and some walking is any road trips good friends. Always has been and always will be. Maybe you can plan the stops to match with some cool, even obscure, sights that you would not see otherwise. There are places like that all over America, probably just for that reason. Live it up and don’t get too crazy (see “RELAX”), if you get there an hour later, who cares? Bake in the time from the get-go. Don’t plan to be somewhere at the exact time you are supposed to arrive. See the sights, baby. Half the fun is getting there, no? You never know what you’ll find.
Get App Happy
We all love our smartphones. Vera and I live and die with the things. It’s our business and livelihood! As with work and the day-to-day social lives we lead, a phone is only as good as the apps that are on it. For road trips in particular, I think there are a few must-have apps that will really make your life easier. I like using Waze, which helps you navigate around traffic jams and construction delays. I also like iExit, which helps with planning rest stops, etc. by locating gas stations, grocery stores and coffee shops nearby. GasBuddy finds the cheapest gas near me. Any good weather app is also key to making life a bit easier. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the Allstate Good Hands Rescue® app.
Allstate Good Hands Rescue® service is an on-demand, pay-per-use (yes, no membership fees at all) 24/7 roadside assistance service available around the clock. The service accessible to everyone (not just Allstate customers) both online and via the free mobile app. From flat fixes to jump-starts, drivers that use the service are never stranded and are not alone during their time of need. The GPS and constant status updates make it easy for you and the service provider, and you can rest easy. It’s a must for anyone taking a long Easter road trip or a short trip to the grocery store. Why wouldn’t you use this??
Don’t fail your road trip…epically.
This post was written as part of the Allstate Influencer Program and sponsored by Allstate. All opinions are mine. As the nation’s largest publicly held personal lines insurer, Allstate is dedicated not only to protecting what matters most–but to guiding people to live the Good Life, every day.
8 comments
These are great tips. Road trips are awesome, but they can quickly descend into chaos and misery if you aren’t prepared.
Road trips are so fun! thank you so much for it this list because I always tend to forget something!
Family road trips can be a great way to spend a vacation. I always make sure I have lots of snacks and things to keep the kids entertained.
I like the idea of setting up pit stops. My son has to go to the bathroom often so we stop frequently.
That road side service is so helpful! We had to use it once when our car battery died and they were there within 15 minutes!
Thanks for the great advice you shared in this post. I think the most important is to be able to call for help when and where you need it. I love that Allstate Good Hands Rescue service is a pay per use service so no money wasted there. It makes me feel more secure to have it during road trips.
It’s really important to have plenty of entertainment when you’re on a road trip with the kids. These are all very helpful. Planning some activities that doesn’t include gadgets is a great idea!
That’s some pretty cool tips! It’s good to be prepared when you have kids on board and you’re about to embark on a long drive to somewhere!