The sun’s out in most of the continental U.S., school’s out for the summer, and the 4th of July is nearly upon us. This means it’s road trip season for many traveling families! Here’s how not to go insane, stay safe, and possibly (ok, probably!) even enjoy those stretches of interstate that currently separate you from your beach holiday, Grandma’s house, the perfect camping site, or wherever the road is leading you.
In-car entertainment:
I remember a lot of elbow-jabbing contests and off-key sing-offs when I was a kid in the car, but luckily for the next generation, children need not be subjected to such horrors. For little ones, I always recommend the pre-packaged travel bags sold by Family Travel Kits as a great value, and try to live by the rules I set for myself before our longest road trip ever (22 days long!).
For older kids, the iPad reigns, but Nintendo DS games rank second, and books third (and this is only because my kids get car sick easily when reading).
Pit stops at your fingertips:
If you have a smartphone, you can access the over 300 pit stops and travel tips offered here at Pit Stops for Kids. The easiest way to do so while on the road is to bookmark the Interstates page, or the state page of your choice. Another option is to click on the Road Trips tab to see where others have gone and what they’ve done.
Road Trip Safety:
Everyone knows to check their oil and tire pressure before leaving on a long road trip, but have you given much thought to what you’d do in the event of a road-side breakdown? I’ve heard my share of horror stories; families stranded on interstates, families spending their entire vacation budget on car repairs, families leaving a precious lovely at a gas station and being forced by a three-year-old’s wails to backtrack 100 miles to retrieve it…oh wait, that was us.
It makes a lot of sense to use a roadside assistance service for these contingencies (although I’m not sure which plan covers lost lovies), and Pit Stops for Kids has partnered this summer with Allstate to make it easier for traveling families to do so. You don’t have to use Allstate for your insurance needs to purchase their Good Hands Roadside Assistance program, and there are NO monthly fees; you only pay if and when you need to use it. All you have to do is call their 1-800 number when in need!
You don’t have to sign up for the program ahead of time, but it’s beneficial to you if you do. By providing your names and credit card number (if you wish) now, getting timely assistance when you need it (flat tire in 90 degree heat, anyone?) is a breeze. You can even sign up other family members so that they’re only a phone call away from help if or when they need it.
When Allstate approached me about this Good Hands Roadside Assistance program, I really liked the simplicity of it. No need to look up local phone numbers of technicians or gas stations, and no need to pay monthly for something you may only need once. It’s a program I plan to use on my next road trip, which is why you’ll see an easy link to Allstate embedded in this post. Go sign up, and worry about something other than roadside problems on your next trip…like car sick kids or your spouse refusing to ask for directions. Trust me, there’s always something.
