The fifth edition of Road Trip USA: Cross-Country Adventures on America’s Two-Lane Highways (Avalon Travel, April 2009; $29.95) is now out, just in time for summer travel. In addition to having the pleasure of interviewing author Jamie Jensen last week about his updated book, he shared his top tips for taking a family road trip.
Here’s what Jensen has to say about hitting the open road with young ones:
1) Break the trip up into manageable, sane segments, rather than try to cover 600 miles at once. It’s hard for most kids to sit still for long periods of time, so stop every 90 minutes or so to get out, stretch, have an ice cream, take a swim break or see an historic marker. It makes each day special and different.
2) Let everyone make decisions, including the kids, otherwise people will get frustrated. (Dads in the driver’s seat in particular need to learn this lesson.)
3) Use the child locks in rental cars. (Jensen says his brother had a proclivity toward opening the back door during family road trips, before there were such things as child locks on doors ...)
4) Have everyone use the Internet to research the trip. This lets family members learn about the destinations along the way and helps in planning itineraries. There might be sites, events or activities that the kids are excited about seeing, such as a minor league baseball game scheduled for the day you plan to pass through a destination. You can make these types of events themes for the day, or set them as a treat at the end of a day. (It’s not quite bribery, but it is effective.)
5) Use a GPS system, and let the kids program it. They’ll then be more aware of where they are and what’s coming up, plus it helps them to remember the places along the way. You can then download the route and map and have it as a memento after the trip.
Do you have a favorite family road trip tip? If so, share it here in our comment section or on the Jensen Q&A post for a chance to win the new edition of Road Trip USA. Individuals will automatically be entered into the drawing!
Giveaway rules:
Comments must be left by Monday, May 4, 2009, 5:00 p.m. Pacific time.
Only one entry per person.
Comments must include a name and valid e-mail address. Anonymous comments are not eligible for the giveaway.
To enter you must be a U.S. resident, age 18 years or older. Employees and vendors of TravelMuse, Inc. and their family members are not eligible to enter.
Winners will be picked randomly. The first winner will receive the fifth edition of Road Trip USA, valued at $29.95. The next two winners selected will receive either the Route 66 or Pacific Coast Highway pocket guide, valued at $9.95 each.
No substitutions including for cash are permitted.
Winners are responsible for any taxes and fees associated with receipt or use of a prize.
