I also posted this in the completed adventures forum so not sure of the rules but for families looking for advice I included some travel tips, some simple and some essential on a blog I put together for my daughter to look back on and reminisce. We just got back from a pacific northwest trip from south Orange County CA to Canada, east through Alberta and south through Montana and back home.
Here's my blog: gabbydaddyrover.wordpress.com
My 5 - year old gabby was great and the trip was mostly about paying attention to her and what she wanted to do. We hit county, state, national parks, some off road, others just camp sites, trying to keep it as cheap as possible. Here are some of the things that are essential for little kids on long trips.
1. DVD player, some electronic entertainment - dvd players, tablets. I know we like the outdoors but it's essential if you are asking them to sit in the backseat for hours.
2. Deet - They will be miserable if they are getting bit by bugs
3. Porta pottie - take a small one and learn to use it or a PETT toilet. There was nothing better than Gabby needing to go bathroom in the middle of nowhere and we could pull over and take a break. The porta pottie also offered much freedom and efficiency to keep moving in the direction i was heading.
4. Snacks - kids always want to eat
5. Craft box/toys - we made gabby a craft box before we left and bought dollar store toys along the way.
6. Easy food - Don't plan on making a great outdoor bbq if you know all your kid really wants in a pinch is a quesadilla or pbj or canned chili
7. Barf bag - If your kid isn't used to long trips, chances are they will throw up at least once - make sure you have a place outside the vehicle to put all that stuff - clothes, seat pad, etc.
8. Fresh clothes - change your kid at night before bed so they feel good and clean and wake up smelling nice not like sweat or a camp fire.
9. Break - if you are traveling far make sure you stay at a place like a KOA or hotel with a pool/playground every now and then. We stayed at a hotel or KOA at least once every four days of primitive camping. Kids need to play with other kids or they will get frustrated and act out - kind of like your dog when you leave him cooped up too long.
Here's my blog: gabbydaddyrover.wordpress.com
My 5 - year old gabby was great and the trip was mostly about paying attention to her and what she wanted to do. We hit county, state, national parks, some off road, others just camp sites, trying to keep it as cheap as possible. Here are some of the things that are essential for little kids on long trips.
1. DVD player, some electronic entertainment - dvd players, tablets. I know we like the outdoors but it's essential if you are asking them to sit in the backseat for hours.
2. Deet - They will be miserable if they are getting bit by bugs
3. Porta pottie - take a small one and learn to use it or a PETT toilet. There was nothing better than Gabby needing to go bathroom in the middle of nowhere and we could pull over and take a break. The porta pottie also offered much freedom and efficiency to keep moving in the direction i was heading.
4. Snacks - kids always want to eat
5. Craft box/toys - we made gabby a craft box before we left and bought dollar store toys along the way.
6. Easy food - Don't plan on making a great outdoor bbq if you know all your kid really wants in a pinch is a quesadilla or pbj or canned chili
7. Barf bag - If your kid isn't used to long trips, chances are they will throw up at least once - make sure you have a place outside the vehicle to put all that stuff - clothes, seat pad, etc.
8. Fresh clothes - change your kid at night before bed so they feel good and clean and wake up smelling nice not like sweat or a camp fire.
9. Break - if you are traveling far make sure you stay at a place like a KOA or hotel with a pool/playground every now and then. We stayed at a hotel or KOA at least once every four days of primitive camping. Kids need to play with other kids or they will get frustrated and act out - kind of like your dog when you leave him cooped up too long.