I'll be honest: we've had some insanely sleep deprived family vacations. We followed every parenting book in the...well, book, but when our kids were babies, toddlers, and preschoolers, they struggled to sleep anywhere, no matter what we did. This torture, of course, followed us on any trip we took. Now that our kids are older, we all sleep better, but there are still nights on the road when we … [Read more...]
Renting an RV: Tips for RV summer travel
July 5, 2017 By
As a parent, I understand it can be appealing to rent an RV for a family road trip. Your schedule is your own (and so is your bathroom!), and you're not confined to airports, flight delays, or even hotel reservations. On a whim, you can detour to visit something new, or delay a day to remain somewhere special. Before you take the plunge and rent an RV for a family road trip, however, read the … [Read more...]
Road trips with teens
March 28, 2017 By
Anytime you travel with kids, you can expect a bit of work. Things that worked on your last trip might not work on your next one, especially if you will be traveling with a teen. This is also especially true if your travel includes hours upon hours of being in the car. Fine tuning travel with teens can be something that is tricky but especially when that travel will be in the car. A little bit of … [Read more...]
How to prepare meals in a camper van
January 31, 2017 By
When your family hits the road in a camper van, you want your kids to be well nourished throughout your journey. After all, well-fed kids are generally happy kids, which can make your road trip more enjoyable. However, a small campervan kitchen might pose a challenge and leave you scrambling for diverse and delicious meal options that your youngsters can enjoy. Once you’ve devised your road trip … [Read more...]
Top 5 Tips to Prevent Motion Sickness in Children When Traveling
October 16, 2015 By
You’ve just booked the perfect trip. You and your family are about to experience the adventure of a lifetime. But if you have small children, motion sickness might put the breaks on your travels. Whether you’re traveling by boat, car, plane or train, small children are prone to nausea, light-headedness, and fatigue while traveling. Motion sickness is usually brought on by mixed signals in … [Read more...]
Exploring Holland Michigan with kids
August 10, 2015 By
The following post is written by Pit Stops for Kids' Midwest contributor, Kate Basi. The town of Holland, Michigan was settled by Dutch immigrants in the mid-19th century, and has made a name for itself as a go-to destination for experiencing Dutch culture. Situated near Lake Michigan, three hours from both Chicago and Detroit and 35 minutes from Grand Rapids, Holland boasts two stand-out … [Read more...]
Five budget travel hacks you thought you’d outgrown
March 20, 2015 By
You traveled extensively as a young adult, but now you’ve settled down with a job and kids. Think your budget travel days are behind you? Think again! The following budget travel hacks can still be implemented with kids in tow. All that’s needed is a little flexibility, nostalgia, and sense of adventure! 1. Take the bus or train: Train travel is admittedly less convenient in the US than many … [Read more...]
Winter driving tips for holiday road trips
December 3, 2014 By
It can happen in an instant, and last February, it did: one moment, we were making the turn from an icy highway onto a ski resort access road, and the next, we were sliding into a snowbank, nose first. Luckily, everyone was ok, but our car suffered upon its impact with the wall of snow. After rolling into the parking lot, we spent valuable ski time accessing the damage and making sure our car … [Read more...]
One Tank Wonders: where to travel after school starts
September 12, 2011 By
Our family vacations extensively during the summer months, but by autumn, school and sport schedules once again reign. Do we stop traveling? Never! But our adventures do take place closer to home. In fact, some of our favorite trips have taken place less than one tank of gas away from our hometown. Shorter trips are less stressful, usually less expensive, and easier to plan. You can be in the car … [Read more...]
Road-trip troubleshooting: when things go wrong on the road
July 25, 2011 By
I'll admit it: I've run out of gas on the road during a family vacation. (I've also had a U-Haul trailer break down on me in the middle of the night in the middle of Washington State, but that's another story.) It wasn't much fun, and I'll tell you what I wish I'd had at the time (both times): Allstate's Good Hands Roadside Assistance. Now I do (which as the laws of the universe dictate, … [Read more...]
