7 Ways to Suck-Proof Your Next Road Trip
Do you know what I missed most last year?
Road trips
Not the A to B kind - the "that was so fun; when can we do it again?" kind - You know the ones.
So last week when I put the call out for your family togetherness stories and a few mamas wrote back about road trips, I got to thinking about taking one with my kiddos for spring break.
I really don't want it to suck, though.
So I've been writing down ideas to make it super fun ever since.
Here's what I've got so far:
#1 - Go with the flow
I'll never forget the time I made my family miserable because I wanted to stay at Padre Island National Seashore and the weather wouldn't let me. I was so, so angry. (And that road trip totally sucked!) Now I know road trips were made for detours. (Oh, and another thing - whatever you do, do not ask your husband if he's going the right way or if you should look up a better route. Here are 4 other things husbands want wives to know from iMOM)
#2 - Choose a rockin' playlist
Last week Mindy wrote these words about a spontaneous "Spring Breakation" she took with her kids: "It was the best road trip we've ever taken! We rode with the sunroof open, music blasting, sharing snacks, laughing, and singing. It was a nice change from our usual moody car trips." (Thank you for sharing, Mindy! Road trips are SO much better with good music.)
#3 - Change spots
I don't know about your family, but everyone in my family has "their spot" in our truck. We've ridden tens of thousands of miles in those spots. So you can bet it feels weird when we switch it up - and kind of fun, too, especially since it means I get to sit in the back and toss a tiny ball or play a game with my little guy while my husband and big teenager sit in the front and chat. Break the norm. Get out of your spots. (Also, did you know that teenage boys actually open up more when you're side-by-side rather than face-to-face? Here are 7 other ways to get teens to open up in this iMOM article if you happen to need them like I do.)
#4 - Stop and see the cool stuff
You know you want to stop at that Paul Bunyan statue, see what it's like inside the smallest church in America, and actually stop and see the Crazy Horse Memorial instead of just ride by it. Do it. Take a few minutes to stop and see everything you can. Rope your kids into researching what's close to your route - there are loads of websites and books to help! (Don't ask me how I know.)
#5 - Find audiobooks that'll make you want to ride further
I promise they exist. We've found a bunch that saved our bacon on our last road trip - a 20-hour nonstop (except potty breaks) drive from North Carolina to Maine with a determined dad, anxious mom, and two tired teenagers. Here's a list of our favorites.
#6 - Eat roadtrip-only treats
Lemonheads, Reece's Pieces, Starburst, Twix. Whatever thing you secretly love but never let yourself or your kiddos eat in real life, grab it for when things start going south in the car. Trust me - Lemonheads can save your sanity on a long interstate stretch.
#7 - Relax (seriously, go with the flow)
In the grand scheme of life will it really matter if you get there late, have to stay somewhere you didn't plan or get a little lost? Trust me, road trips are WAY more fun with a mama who's relaxed. So do whatever you need to - as my mom would say, "take a chill pill", read, journal, edit photos, play with planner stickers - whatever. Just have some fun, take your time wherever you are, and stop worrying.
Want more?
You can find a few more ideas in this pre-pandemic post I did about road-tripping.