Packing for a road trip is easy: just look at your car (minivan, SUV or truck) as one big four-wheeled suitcase. You have almost unlimited luggage space, you can plug in the cooler or warmer, and you can even sleep in it. That is, unless you''re planning family vacations with kids, dogs, toys, lawn chairs, bicycles . . .
Kids will expand to fill all available space, so you may need to add a few checklists to your trip planner.
Let''s begin with the obvious: luggage. Each child should have his or her own backpack, suitcase or duffle bag. You might consider a car-top luggage rack to free up space in the car or trunk. Keep overnight items in tote bags and pack the long-term clothing and toys in the luggage rack.
Towels can double as travel pillows and blankets, so you might consider having one for each child in the car.
Most people start out with a cooler in the car filled with sandwiches and drinks. It might be easier and not much more expensive to buy food and drinks on the road. A six-pack cooler can hold a round of drinks and take up far less space.
Speaking of snacks, snacks like pretzels are healthier and less sticky than doughnuts and candy. If your hotel doesn''t offer breakfast as part of the room charge, take along boxes of your kids'' favorite cereals, some plastic bowls and spoons that you can rewash, and buy a carton of milk. You''ll save a fortune.
Babies take up even more room than children, with car seats and diaper bags. A week''s supply of diapers is light, but voluminous. If you have to pack baby food and formula, a fold-up playpen and a crib, you might want to wait another year and have Grandma visit you instead.
If you insist on taking small babies on family vacations, stock up on damp wipes and gallons of sunscreen. And don''t forget window shades to keep the sun off that delicate skin while in the car. Create some type of itinerary or trip planner so that you never, ever leave the baby alone in the car. This can be tricky if you''re a single adult traveling with several small children.
These items will make the trip much more pleasant and enjoyable for the whole family: