Going on a Road Trip? Use This Friendly Checklist for Help
Winter might be knocking on our door, but that doesn’t mean you need to spend all season cooped up indoors. Temperatures are steadily dropping, sure, but on the plus side, the extra time off from school and work mean that Mom and Dad have rare opportunities to spend time with the kids in new, meaningful ways. One of my favorite ideas that I constantly advocate is to spend more time outside.
As a nature enthusiast through and through, I’m here to tell you that your vitamin D intake doesn’t have to plummet during the chillier time of year. (Fun fact: snow actually refracts sunshine, meaning you get a double dose coming from the sky and the ground! That’s why wintertime SPF is so important!)
On the contrary, there’s a unique sort of bond to be made with each other by taking a road trip to your closest mountain range and having a holiday vacation. The confined space makes everyone chat, share stories, tell jokes, and play games – whereas at home, separate rooms let the little ones seek refuge from Mom and Dad’s “excessive” questioning.
A memorable winter road trip to a breathtaking ski resort is the best gift you could give the entire family. Rather than shopping new Audi vehicles or fine Tiffany jewelry, Mom and Dad might think about putting some of their gifts on hold in order to budget for this immaterial – yet unreplaceable – gift of experience.
Most people think of vacationing over the summer, chasing the kids around a tropical beach, flying off a waterslide and plunging into the cruise ship’s pool, or stargazing on a warm night before retiring to the pop-up camper. And while these are all great, you don’t need to wait until the temperature starts heating up to have a fantastic getaway. (As an added bonus, you’ll save money by traveling in the off-season!)
I remember last August during our road trip through the Olympic Peninsula in the Pacific Northwest, I kept daydreaming about how majestic the scenery would look if we came back in the winter. Now we’re taking what we learned from that experience and applying it to an all new adventure!
Whether you’re on the West Coast and taking the family to Crystal Mountain in Mt. Rainier National Park or you’re making a trip from the East Coast to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, these road trip tips will ensure your travel goes as smoothly as possible until you arrive at your Winter Wonderland.
Now that you’ve heard me ramble about why you should absolutely take this vacation, without further ado, here’s your promised checklist for everything you need to pack and know before you and yours drive to the snow!
✓ Snacks – Intermittent potty breaks will be inevitable, but keep everyone happy (and the car in motion) by packing some snacks and beverages to enjoy in between stops.
✓ Pillows and blankets – The more rest everyone can bank, the better!
✓ Tablets – Of course, the kids won’t be eating and sleeping the entire trip. A movie or some math games are a great way to pass time.
✓ Headphones – If you’ve ever had to listen to more than 10 minutes of Candy Crush with the volume on, we don’t need to say any more.
✓ Portable power bank – Avoid the dreaded dead battery (and the complaints to follow) by making sure you have backup power on deck.
✓ Activity book – An alternative option is to pack car activity books, such as an iSpy Passing By workbook that keeps the kids offline and makes everyone in the car participate by taking in the scenery until you spot the next item. MadLibs are great, too!
✓ Sled – See a snowy, rolling bank where you can safely pull over? Don’t wait until you get up to the mountain to show the kids how fun the snow can be! You’ll save money by buying gear outside of the tourist areas and the kids will get excited, making any possible grumps in the back seat turn their frown upside down.
✓ Roadside tools – Finally, make sure you have the equipment you need to change a spare or dig your tire out of a snowbank!
What are your road trip essentials? Where are you heading this winter? Let us know in the comments below!
