Being raised by a “fly by the seat of your pants” mother is not nearly as fun as it may sound. Family trips growing up always ended up feeling chaotic and inadequately planned. Now, my father was a bit more of a planner, but there’s only so much he could do when he was also dealing with someone who felt there didn’t need to be any forethought made for the trip. This all culminated in my being an over-planner when it comes to trips. So stick around as I share my tips that I have picked up over the last 17 and a half years of planning family trips.
What’s the Weather
I can not stress this first point enough, checking the forecast for your destination should always be your first step. Without doing so, you may end up in beautiful, sunny Florida on a week when the state is expecting a hurricane to make landfall with nothing more than some shorts, tank tops and flip flops. Or in my family’s case, heading to Denver and not having appropriate clothes. Luckily for us, the weather is supposed to be absolutely beautiful while we are there. The same can’t be said about the freak snow they received just last week. So my go-to rule #1 is always to CHECK THE WEATHER.
Lists, Lists, and More Lists
This is where I’m sure I differ from others, but can also be helpful. I have become the queen of making lists when it comes to packing for a trip. I start off with a list for each person going. On that list, I note how many articles of each type of clothing that person will need and any additional necessities (diapers, wipes, etc). If your little people are old enough to pack their own bag, this checklist template will help keep them on track. Next are two of the most important bags that go with us on any trip: the bathroom/shower bag and our “Boo-Boo Bag” as it has come to be known.
Our Boo-Boo bag has saved us more times than I can count. I don’t know if I am the only one with accident-prone children, but having my own little junior pharmacy on our vacations has saved me countless hours of having to go buy bandaids, cough medicine and pain relievers, just to name a few.
Here are the most important items that I keep in our bag:
- Bandaids & Neosporin
- Tylenol/Advil (for all family members)
- Allergy medicine, as well as, a fast acting antihistamine (Benadryl)
- Bug bite cream
- Prescription medications
- Thermometer
- Hand Sanitizer
- Rubber gloves (you never know when you might need them)
Other Necessities
For our trips to go as well as possible, there are a few other things that I always plan ahead for and pack. As we are not frequent flyers (or flyers at all) and prefer the more scenic route, we need our van to be ready for the drive as well. Other than making sure the standard maintenance is completed, I always take the van to the carwash for a good scrubbing and to detail the inside. Next, I pack an ample amount of snacks and drinks to keep the little people’s tiny tummies from causing frequent stops.
Also on the necessity list is entertainment for the kids. Each child packs a backpack with things to keep them occupied during the drive. The joy of this is that the child gets to pack what it is that they really want and know they will use. The bags will be as diverse as the children are. So whether its a book to read, a barbie to play with or a coloring book and crayons to show their artistic flair, they will have something to keep them from saying, “Are we there yet”?
One of the last things that I always try to do while getting ready for a trip is to find something new to surprise the kids with on the trip. Whether it’s a snack or new game for the car ride or a DVD for the in-car player, it always helps to lift the mood when the natives get restless. This trip, I have a few surprises up my sleeve.
First, I am bringing along both the snack and License Plate Game that I found over at Happiness is Homemade. I have also printed out and laminated Tic-Tac-Toe boards that I found on Made By a Princess – Parties in Style. And to round out the surprise, I hit up the $5 DVD bin at the local Wal-Mart Supercenter (sadly Target is an hour and a half away).
“Wherever you go, go with all your heart.”
– Confucius
So there you have it. A brief, yet thorough overview of how I plan and pack for a trip. To some, it may seem like overkill, but for us, it works. I hope these tips have been helpful and may give you some ideas for the future.
Is there something that your family does to prepare a trip that I may have missed here? Drop them down in the comments below and I will add them to our next family trip. And don’t forget to come back next month when I really break down those family vacations for you with a healthy dose of expectations versus reality.
