The truth about traveling with kids
I’ve been traveling my whole life. My mom never shied away from throwing us kids into the car and just going on a road trip. I’ve been from one end of the US to the other. I know, I know. Only the US? But anyone who’s driven from one end of the US to the other knows how much of a task that is and how different the culture is from one area of the country to the other. If you aren’t aware, from San Francisco, CA to New York, NY it’s almost 3000 miles (4800 km). That’s further than Lagos, Portugal to Narva, Estonia. There are 7 other countries you’d pass through on that drive. The US is vast.
Traveling with 4 kids is no easy task. I’ve learned a lot and questioned my sanity along the way.
Be patient; traveling is exhausting. For you and especially the kids. If you are losing your patience, stop somewhere, let everyone get out, stretch and reset. For sections of the trip that is not possible on, communicate. Let the kids know, “hey, this section of our trip is going to be long and some of it will be boring. There’s nothing we can do about it. But it wont be forever.” The more you communicate, the better the trip will go. Will they whine? Yes. #Parenting.
Start small: If you are planning a big trip but your kids aren’t used to traveling, start small. Trips across town, then to the next town over, then a little further. It might take a little getting used to, but they will get used to it.
Plan stops: Planning a road trip? Plan stops along the way. Go sightseeing, find a cool town and walk around, stop for food, stop at a rest stop, etc. It may add time to your trip, but it will also add value. Your kids will start enjoying road trips and looking forward to them. Some of my best memories I have with my kids are of little places we stopped along the way. A small German-inspired alpine village in the mountains of Washington State. The fire burning behind a waterfall outside of Buffalo, NY. A Cemetary in Sleepy Hollow, NY.
I’m not one of those people who are going to sit here and pretend that if you follow my tips everything will be great. It won’t. Travel never goes 100% to plan. Traveling with kids is unpredictable and, at times, very frustrating. I got into a huge argument with my teenager on one of our trips, not my proudest moment. We were all tired; I’d been driving for 3 days. Blah blah blah. Insert excuse here. The point is, expect it to be hard. Expect your kids to be difficult. If you prepare for the worst, when something comes up and someone has a meltdown, it will not ruin the entire trip. It will be a speed bump. My best memories are from traveling, and I wouldn’t trade those for anything. I believe traveling brings out the best in people and shows you other perspectives. Even if you're staying within your own big-ass country's borders.
And, just remember, snacks and little games are your best friends.
Have you traveled with children? What was your experience like?
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