The cost of airfare has been rising steadily, and even with the price of gas hitting record highs, more families are taking mini vacations closer to home. Hitting the road when the mood strikes is a fun way to spend time with the family, and being flexible enough to take last-minute trips shows kids the value of being spontaneous.

Sound like fun? Of course, but children have short attention spans and this can make long road trips difficult for everyone. Pack a few activities for the children to play with on the road, and be prepared to make frequent stops – to stretch, grab a bite to eat, or use public restrooms. No matter what, don’t throw the kids and their Disney luggage into the family van and expect to drive eight hours straight just to make good time. You’ll be in for quite a surprise.

Get the Kids Involved in Planning

Involve kids when mapping out the road trip. Make a list of local sites you want to see and then make a list of sites that appeal to the children. Ask for their input and don’t forget about natural sights they might enjoy. If you’re driving down the coast of Florida, you’ll likely see alligator farms and a multitude of orange groves. Wouldn’t the children love to feed a gator or pick their own fruit? You bet.

Let the Kids Pack Their Own Luggage

While it may not be practical to put the kids in charge of packing their suitcases, they can certainly help. Let them know what the weather will be like and how many outfits they will need. If children can pick their own outfits and pack them in a fun Disney luggage set, they will feel very grown up, and the sense of involvement they get will add to the excitement of the journey.

To get younger kids involved, lay out a variety of outfits and let them narrow down the choices, or tell them they can pick out something on their own, like two pairs of shoes or two sweatshirts, for example. When packing younger children’s suitcases, let them watch you fold and place their clothing inside – eventually they’ll be doing it themselves, and younger kids love to watch and learn.

Keep Them Busy

Thanks to technology, it’s easy to put on a kids movie in the car, but don’t rely on movies for the entire trip. Children tire of doing the same thing and the goal is to keep them happy so adults can enjoy the ride. Playing simple games that involve the whole family and get kids to notice their surroundings are a safe bet. You can look for out-of-state license plates or see who can be the first to find the whole alphabet on billboards. These types of activities will keep kids engaged and create a memorable bonding experience for the whole family.

Don’t Forget the Snacks

Snack-size bags of chips or cookies, fresh fruit, juice boxes, and string cheese are all easy to take with you. Bring a small cooler if you have one, too. You can pack more snacks this way and avoid paying high prices at rest stops for vending machine junk. Sharing homemade popcorn in the family car or van is also a nice way to kick off the road trip.

Frequent Stops Are a Must

Incorporate a few extra hours of driving time into your daily itinerary for restroom breaks, sit-down meals, and unexpected “detours.” If kids see a sign that reads “Buffalo Preserve – Next Left,” making an unplanned stop to see the buffalo will add to the fun for everyone. The little detour may even turn out to be a high point of the trip - you never know. Stay flexible and open to seeing a variety of sights.

Creative Loading

It’s inevitable. At some point during the course of a road trip, someone in the family (usually kids, but sometimes adults, too!) will need to retrieve something from their luggage. If you’ve packed all the luggage tightly into the trunk, you’re going to have a problem finding things on the fly. Load your vehicle carefully and keep frequently used items in the front of the car for convenient access. Kids will feel better with their favorite Disney luggage tucked away at their feet, knowing they can reach for their stuffed animals, books, and toys whenever they want.

In the end, getting your kids involved in your vacation is easy – and keeping them comfortable along the way has a lot to do with your planning. Give kids a chance to be responsible, buy them a fun luggage set online to keep things exciting, bring along car activities and snacks, and keep items kids will access frequently in the front of the car. Once on the road, you may be surprised with all there is to do is see in your home state.

Labels: Disney Luggage, luggage online, online luggage, Road trips and kids