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~You cannot plan for everything, so be flexible.
Be spontaneous and open to the experiences you are
trying to have. Keep your cell phone charged in
case of an emergency.

~ Pack light, survey your bags and pack lighter still.

~THINGS weigh you down, slow your travel and generally
distract from the purpose of the travel.

~Next trip, everyone gets one backpack with two pair
of shoes, hiking boots and Tevas, all the clothes necessary
for a month long adventure.

~Packing wisely will be its own lesson.

~Give children responsibility for the trip.

~Keep a log of expenses,
simple and rudimentary is fine. Keep a log of
daily mileage, rest stops, motels and favorites,
anything, to engage children in the travel process.

~Children can learn to read maps and navigate roads,
necessary life skills.

~Stop at welcome centers upon arrival in a state.
They are friendly centers with clean restrooms, fresh
hot coffee and water, plenty of state information and
complimentary maps and brochures. Plus, locals
are more than happy to share their own state favorites.

~If you can, travel without reservations
at least on the way out. I end up capable of doing
more miles than I think and if I had reservations
might feel compelled to stop early.

~Rooms are usually easy to come by especially
if you follow the “off the road by 9PM” rule.

~When you check in, ask for the AAA rate
or the best available rate. Also, there
are hotel coupon books at the state visitor
centers and they offer very good same day deals.

~Every moment does not have to be educational.
Fun, laughter and joy have educational value of their
own.

~Letting kids be bored or restless is OK too,
they will be bored and restless and learn
from that alone.

~Hands-on activities create a real learning environment.
Children, unaware of how much information they truly retain,
not realizing they are learning something new.

~For long mileage days, have ample rest stop/sightseeing events in the middle of
the day. It makes travel special and provides adequate time away from driving. We drive four hours or so in the morning, have a sightseeing event for three or four hours and return to driving until we are tired or it is 9:00 P.M.!

~ Service stations in the west can be miles apart so you need to be prepared for anything. Always top off your tank when going into unknown long stretches, Death Valley for example where no gasoline is sold or Yosemite where the first station out of the Park had a price per gallon a gouging $3.95 for regular gasoline when the average price we were paying was $1.97 per gallon.

~Stop regularly. Even if you just stopped
an hour ago if someone needs the
bathroom or a break, it’s better to
stop again than listen to whining for miles.

~Leg stretches are important too, to avoid
Deep Vein Thrombosis, DVT. Take a baby
aspirin daily if your doctor recommends.

~Build in two or three day rest stops at a single location.
You need to catch up on sleep and children physically need the time out of the car. It also allows for extra exploration of an area without the rush to push on to the next place.

~Enjoy National park campfire programs
and junior ranger classes. They are fun
for the entire family.

~ Hiking teaches patience, map reading and
overcoming formidable challenges.

~ Enormous mountains can be scaled one foot
ahead of the other through sheer perseverance.

~ When you are tired and think you cannot go on,
reach inside yourself and you will find you can.

~ Be prepared. Pack like Michael does. Ready
for any possibilities you could encounter on the trail,
especially if you would get lost. Have a plan.

~ Beauty and joy in the present moment, and that,
absolutely being enough. Breathing in the glory of
it all. Savoring the experience, like the precious gift
and accomplishment it is.

~The journey is the destination.

~ Arrive at busy national parks as early as
possible in the morning or late in the afternoon
to avoid crowds. Hiking trails and sights will be less
congested, particularly at the popular parks.

~An added benefit: wildlife is more likely to be
viewed in the morning or evening.

~Don’t forget to pack your random acts of kindness.

~Make sure you are compatible with the people you travel with. Especially
With ADD ever-present.

~Pack two way radios, caravanning or not.
They are great to keep in touch with teenagers or for emergency.

~Don’t be afraid to detour your
intended route. You never know
what you might find along the way. Besides,
what is a few miles of detour in a nine thousand mile journey?

~Include children in the decision making
process. It is a trip for all so honor input and opinion.
It also makes for a more cohesive time and encourages teamwork!

~ Pack a tent and sleeping bags, just in case. I wish we had a tent to camp in
National Park campsites.

~Don’t miss the chance of a lifetime to sleep under the stars!

~ Any opportunity for family time around the campfire is priceless

~Allow room for Souvenirs!

~ If you plan to stay at a National Park Lodge, which I highly recommend,
book early, as long as a year in advance is usually necessary. It is worth it, an experience you and your children will never forget. I hope my children will one day
return to these lodges with their kids in tow.

~See a sunrise and sunset at least once on your trip.

~Short cuts are not always the shortest route.

~Check and recheck one or more maps to be certain the road
you are driving is the correct road to meet your
travel goals.

~A dotted line road is the scenic route and worth
taking for the road less traveled views.

~ However, if you need to make time on an organized road, select an
Interstate highway whenever possible.

~Keep written journals of your trip. Have children keep a
journal too. Encourage them to write something, anything in their journal
each day. Your memories, their memories are priceless later on. Maybe, a template for their own journey as adults someday.

~For destination spots, stay a minimum of two nights if you can. To truly visit and appreciate an area, two day’s works well giving everyone time to recharge their batteries and look forward to the days ahead.

~Safari night is the best fun on four wheels and is usually the most memorable.
It’s easy to accomplish and free!

~Buy an annual National Park Pass for $50
It provides admission to Parks, Monuments, Sites and Memorials for one year.
It will save you money if you are visiting many parks.

~Three meals a day are unnecessary. A large breakfast, Continental
or buffet, is usually included free at motels and will last until late afternoon when a
generous early dinner can be had.

~Keep fresh fruit, bought daily, or healthy snack foods to
fill in during travel times.

~Favorite meals are picnics outdoors, campfire
roasted dinners or Lodge specials.

~Read up on sites before you travel!

~ Kid friendly venues are definitely worth stopping to see.
They are carefree fun and a good change of pace from historical sights and National Parks. Mitchell Corn Palace, Graceland and a rodeo in Buffalo, Wyoming are favorites.

~Visit Friends and Family when you have the opportunity!

~Shorter trips are easy to plan in an effort to
reach a fifty state goal. You can fly to one area
of the country at a time and see surrounding
states to that region.

~The journey is the destination, after all.
A lifelong pursuit, this fifty states goal.