With summer in full swing, there is still time for a family road trip. For me, road trips are both nostalgic and opportunities for new experiences with my family. Recently, we headed south to Los Angeles to visit relatives we have not seen since before the pandemic. I have learned lots of tips to have a successful family road trip.
In preparing for the trip, it is easy to cede the packing to mom. As a dad, if you are not doing the packing, I suggest you take charge of the in-car snacks. I have become responsible for the snack bag (with consultation, of course) and ensure a good mix of healthy and less healthy treats, salty and sweet ones, and novel snacks. To make the long car ride less tiresome, special, car-trip-only snacks help, even if they are junk. This time, it was special gummy candy, which was doled out in intervals for all to enjoy.
I also loaded up the tablet with movies and kid-appropriate TV shows. I am not a fan of the electronic babysitter, but on a long car trip, I don’t see much harm in providing my daughter with entertainment that she doesn’t usually watch. We also limited the amount of time watching the screen to after lunch so that there was an incentive for expected behavior. It worked, and there was far less whining as a result. Headphones are essential for happy parents, and I have found that the over-the-ear type is more comfortable for most kids.
I want my daughter to see the expanse of what California looks like outside of our area. My wife and I are veterans of long car trips with our parents and recall many hours spent staring out the window. We talked about how the landscape of dry, yellow hills, oak trees, and stray cows was more of what California looks like than the beachy coastline where we live. As we drove, I pointed out the neat rows of almond trees and the oil rigs in the middle of the state so that she would learn more about California. I showed her the California aqueduct and explained how the water travels south to supply the residents. We also talked about the range of temperature, given the summer heat.
As a kid, I remember being told to wait to use the bathroom until another exit or two (or more). I now do the opposite. We take advantage of the expected rest stops, stretch our legs, and feel the difference in the climate. I especially like this part of the road trip. On our coastline, summer often seems like a mythical creature. The intensity of the heat is a novelty (for a limited time). My wife and I both grew up in hot places, so it is reminiscent of our pasts. It is a new experience of hunting for the shady spot, keeping a drink handy, and being wary of metal playground equipment for our daughter. We also read the signs about the region’s history, learning how the Native Americans shaped the land and the animals seen in the area (including warnings of rattlesnakes).
In the past, I would have focused just on getting to the destinations. This time, we stayed in a reasonably-priced Santa Barbara hotel on the way home for two days. With the last year of being at home, we felt like the benefits of exploring somewhere new and mitigating risks by wearing masks were worth the detour. My family would accompany my father on sales trips he would take to the cities and towns up and down California as a child. While he was out drumming up business, my mother would take my sister and me to see what the town had to offer. We saw lots of historical sites, local museums, playgrounds, or just enjoyed the hotel pool. For my daughter, I want her to know the diversity of places and see the uniqueness of towns on the way. Knowing we were going to travel to Santa Barbara, I looked at what kid-friendly activities were there. I planned one major kid activity (the Zoo) and then left the other time open to figuring out something else to do. We ended up finding a great science museum that offered fun for all of us.
Once we returned to the hotel, we joined our daughter in the small pool to be her playmates. As a family, we rarely are in a pool together. Fun was had as we chased each other underwater, had splash fights, and I threw my daughter up in the air to land with cannonballs in the water. As a dad, I would hope my daughter would learn lot from the Zoo and science museum, but it is these activities that my daughter will remember–the playful, relaxed activities as a family.
For a successful road trip, you need to set aside the expectations of a rigid schedule and adopt the right attitude of exploring what you see along the way. Take the time to read the posted information, try new foods, and explore what is unique about your destination. We don’t usually have to watch carefully for rattlesnakes at home, but we did on this trip.
Robert (Rob) S. Weisskirch, MSW, Ph.D., CFLE is a Professor of Human Development at California State University, Monterey Bay and is a Certified Family Life Educator. He and his wife are parents to a chatty, elementary school-aged daughter and reside in Marina.
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