We're getting close to summer's end, and during the dog days, you might want to make some memories. You'll want your family to be involved, especially if you have kids. These are their halcyon days that will glow golden in their minds decades down the line.
For many individuals, family road trips produce these memories. Because of that, you may want to collect the family and strike out on the road this summer. Some of the kids might be going back to school soon, but there's still time for one last adventure before you turn the page on summer 2020.
If you're going on a road trip, there are certain things you'll want to do, and others you'll want to avoid. Let's go through a few of our top suggestions right now.
Plan Something Everyone Will Enjoy
When you're thinking about tips for a successful summer road trip, at the top of the list should be planning for every party member to enjoy themselves. Let's say, for instance, that you're going traveling with your spouse and three kids. The kids are various ages and have different interests.
Maybe they're into:
Sports
History
Rollercoasters
Since each person likes something different, you should try and plan a road trip with stops that appeal to each of them. You might ask each one during the planning phase what they would most like to do.
Maybe you can stop by The Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. You can stop at a couple of museums for your young history buff. There is bound to be an amusement park nearby for your child who likes rollercoasters.
Stay Safe this Year
A road trip this year might look different than it would in any other year. That is because of the pandemic that's still raging in this country.
Owners and operators have opened many attractions again, but you'll need to call or do some emailing before you leave to make sure that you can visit everywhere that you'd like to. You should bring masks for all the kids and talk with them about safety beforehand. You'll all want to:
Practice social distancing at the attractions you visit
Wash your hands frequently when you can
You should be able to have fun and do a variety of exciting activities. At the same time, you do not wish for anyone in the family to catch Covid-19, so adhere to the CDC guidelines.
Have Some Car Activities
If you're traveling with some younger kids, and you'll be on the road for days, then you'll want to have some car activities ready to stave off boredom. That might include smartphone apps if your kids are old enough for their own phones.
If your car comes with a built-in entertainment system in the backseat, then you'll likely want to take advantage of it to distract your younger family members.
You might also try out some of the classic road trip games that families pass down throughout the generations. You can play Mad Libs, or I Spy. You can watch for license plates that start with different letters and see who can spot every letter from A to Z the fastest.
Combine Informative and Fun
You should think before you leave about what kind of trip you want this to be. If all you're concerned about is letting the kids run around and see some roadside attractions, then that's fine.
However, you might want to combine the frivolous with some educational activities. That might mean visiting some historical sites or national parks. Sometimes a nature walk to spot some exotic flora and fauna can be just as much of a bonding activity as a waterpark.
You may want to stop by some art or aeronautics museums. You can look for culturally-significant places in each state through which you pass. In a time when Covid-19 makes school returns uncertain, it's not a bad idea to sneak a little education into your trip.
Visit Relatives
You can use the trip time to reconnect with some relatives if it is practical to do so. Maybe as you plan out your route and decide on some of the things you most want to do, you can think about whether relatives live close to those spots. Perhaps you have an aunt or some cousins you don't see very often with whom you want to reconnect.
This year, with the pandemic causing so much stress in many people's lives, it's more vital than ever for families to draw together. Your relatives will likely be happy to see you. You can talk about what's been going on in your lives and theirs and commiserate about your struggles.
Just be sure that you're safe with social distancing and mask-wearing while you're visiting. The last thing you want is to infect them or risk them infecting you.
Try to Visit Some Places You've Never Seen Before
One of the things that's so wonderful about this country is that there's so much regional diversity. You have swamps, deserts, forests, plains, and all manner of other climates. There are huge cities and rural areas where few people live.
It can be informative to go to places and see things that you never have before. It broadens your mind and your children's minds to see people living different lives from yours.
If you always take the same road trip, then mix it up this year. Go out of your way, intending to see some places you never have previously. If you've never been to a particular state, then head in that direction.
It might make you feel a new sense of unity and connectedness. That's vital in this very contentious election year.
If you follow these tips, then your summer road trip should be a memorable one. Your children will think back on it fondly as adults, and you will as well. Make sure to take pictures so you can save them and post them on social media when you return.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
