Tips on Taking a Family Trip
Planning and Memory-Making
Mom still talks about it, that 1953 summer when they piled into their old blue Dodge and headed for D.C. Yes, the monuments and cherry blossoms made an impression, but so did the hotel--the Carroll Arms. It had been named for her; she just knew it. But she was only nine then . . . Family trips have a way of lingering like that, so pick your spot, pack your bags, load up the car, and make train/airline reservations if really taking off. Oh, yes, and don't forget the kids.
Planning the Trip:
Says author of Bird’s Eye View (Time Warner Group, July 31, 2001), J. F. Freeman, “When I was a kid, my dad and I toured the Civil War battlefields of Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. That trip was one of the principle reasons I became a teacher of American history.” You can make that kind of difference, too. At the very least, you’ll be making memories. So, whenever you can, take your children with you wherever you go and involve them in every way possible. Once you’ve chosen your destination, or to help you make a decision, gather the family around and . . .
- Visit your local AAA for TripTiks and tour books with maps, mileage, and photos.
- Find infomation on accomodations, events, weather, eateries, and attractions on the Internet.
- Contact specific sites like the one offered by the National Parks System.
- Visit online sites like TripAdvisor for reviews, blogs, even videos from fellow travelers.
- Highlight your routes on a map--whether by car, boat, train, or plane.
- Tally the distance to be covered each day and in total, along with time estimates.
- Call ahead for hotel/motel reservations along the way and at your final destination.
- Make a list of items to be packed, including stamps, addresses, books, journals, crayons, pencils, games, camera, cell phone, and chargers.
Start now; America is calling. Head to such favorites as New York City, Philly and D.C., Civil War battlefields, and Presidential libraries. National Parks are out there waiting too, as are such popular attractions as the Golden Gate Bridge, Disney World, and Bar Harbor. Want off the beaten path? Consider renting a houseboat, joining an archeological dig, hiking the Appalachian Trail. There are so many choices. You can even hitch a ride on a covered wagon, glide down waterways on a raft, canoe, or kayak, or settle in on a dude ranch. Adventure travel companies abound to help you; for more information head to the library, bookstore, and/or Internet.
On Your Way and Back Home Again
Then, during your travels, have your child/children create a travel log, making note of miles covered, sites seen, places stayed—and illustrate it, too! And don’t just send postcards en route to friends and relatives. Send them home, as well. Once you get back, they’ll be waiting for you, a record of your trip. Perfect scrap book additions, they’ll rekindle memories for a long time to come. Then get those photos developed, too, and into a photo album or that scrap book as soon as possible. And don't forget to add labels.
Then start planning a subsequent family outing for the next school break. Short trip or long, makes no difference. Just get out there, kids and all. As has been said, it’s all about being in their lives today, so you’ll be in their memories tomorrow.
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