Holidays can happen at any time of year—summer, winter, weekends or whenever you can all get away. If you want to make sure that it’s a holiday you want to remember down the line, put on both your creative hat and your planning cap for the holiday roadtrip of a lifetime.
Plan the Roadtrip
You have a lot of planning to do if you’re going to not only create a memorable trip, but also one that minimises mishaps. Little things like tie down straps help and can prevent accidents and a pack of wipes can solve an accidental spill in record time.
So, what are the things you need to do to get the big and small things right?
It’s not only about the destination, but the journey. Plan your route to include the scenic stops or wild animal viewings along the way—or near to the road you’ll take. Historical sites, places of geographical significance, archaeological digs, scenic views and places of fun can all be included.
The holiday begins once you leave the house. Plan to sleep over in some places in order to make the journey more enjoyable, rather than driving too far on a single day.
Furthermore, plan for unfortunate events. You may encounter rain or floods or you might have a flat tyre. Traffic may delay you and you might get stuck in a hot desert, with lots of mosquitoes. Think about any problems that could occur, and plan an escape or solution. Pack those carjacks and headlights. Pop in some extra water and food and always keep the insect repellent in the car.
Also, you should never leave without warm rain jackets! Weather is unpredictable and you never know when you’ll need them.
Select a Variety of Destinations for All Preferences
If you’re going to go to the outback, and you all love camping in the wild desert, you’re going to have a happy family. However, usually different family members want different destinations. So, include some mountain and some sea in the journey too. Or add some city visits and rural outings.
Of course, there are places that have all of those features in one, or very close to each other. Make sure everyone has at least some time in their favourite kind of place, if you can.
Gather Entertainment Ideas
You’ll have a lot on your plate if you have bored kids. Pack books, audiobooks, toys, games and create a list of car games.
Pack for the car and the holiday home in such a way that there’s no chance of boredom. You may spend most of the day and evening at various venues, but you will still need to have activities on hand for down time. You may be of the growing opinion that screen time should be minimised. If so, be prepared for the inevitable complaints, but be firm and stick to your guns—but provide fun alternatives.
Also, allow the children to develop their imagination through imaginative play. Collect ideas before you go, and have at least one for each day of the week. Chances are you won’t have time to use them because the kids will be too tired to stay up late, but at least they’re there in times of need.
Be sure to bring some craft or handiwork to do. Training children how to knit or carve are lost arts.
Plan Outings and Activities
When on holiday, you may be one of those people who like to go down to the beach and sit there all day. However, for those of you who like variety, plan outings like hikes or caving for the fit. You could include visits to historical or science museums, sightseeing trips, strawberry picking, or visits to famous restaurants. The greater the variety, the more you will be positively stimulated.
Create a Storybook
It’s always exciting to create a holiday storybook. Each day, family members can write a little story of the day in the holiday book. They can include photos they’ve taken with an instant camera, or add entry tickets to the attractions you visited.
Make Life Comfortable
Take a little extra to make life comfortable. A buckle strap will help keep things tidy and locked away, so do take a little extra ‘stuff’ that will enhance the experience. Extra pillows and favourite candles are allowed, and don’t take up too much space. Why not bring a small coffee maker, or your best eyelash curlers? Whatever you need to make it feel like you are at home will help, even a treasured photo.
Create Bonding Times
One of the greatest joys of holiday times is those times of bonding. Whether you sit around a bonfire at night and sing songs together, or whether you lie on a mat and watch the stars, you’re creating memories. Share your view of the world or perhaps you want to catch up with each person on a personal level. This is the ideal time.
Conclusion
Holidays are a time to be productive and creative, and also work on your family’s unity. If you have tips for other families, please share below.
