How-To: Take the Day Trip with Your Kids (yes, you can!)

We took a day trip to the mountains and it didn't go nearly as planned. In fact, we had unexpected terrible weather and it threw off the whole plan completely. To some, this may look like a frustrating day, but we still had a really great day and the boys couldn't stop raving about it to my husband, Alex, at bedtime.

I shared parts of our day in my stories on Instagram and it really raised a lot of interest and conversation. As I went through my messages, I really started to see that even though adventuring and day trips with my kids are second nature to me, that's not the case for everyone. I'm so happy that these conversations and questions were brought up because it gave me a new perspective to consider and if you're feeling like traveling or day trips with your kiddos are intimidating, you're in the right place.

I wanted to bring some of the conversation here so that you have a permanent resource to refer to if or when you choose to take day trips with your kids. I'm going to run through the basics of what a day trip looks like for us and I'll break it down into digestible bits so you leave here feeling encouraged and confident to take your next step.

Let's start from the beginning, shall we?

First of all, I love a trip. My bag is always on the verge of being packed and if you joke about going somewhere, I'll have a place booked within 15 min. That's just who I am, but our family can't take a bunch of big trips like that so day trips here or there are really my little golden pockets of joy.

When did I decide to take the day trip?

Some of you will love this and some of you may get anxious hearing my response. I'd been throwing around the idea of the trip for 2-3 days beforehand, but after talking with Alex and working through scheudles etc., I didn't commit to the idea until about 9pm the night before. Personally, I enjoy being spontaneous, but I also know that some people really thrive on a schedule (which is great!).

Action: If that's you, then I encourage you to think about how much time you need to comfortably plan the trip. Is a week enough time or do you need more? Find that sweet spot and start making plans one step at a time.

How did I decide where to go?

I wanted something doable AND enjoyable. So I started to think about the places that where within driving distance and thought about how long we wanted to be in the car. We ended up going to Boone, Price Lake (which is off the Blue Ridge Parkway), and West Jefferson. I used to live in Boone and I truly love it there so it's a frequent trip that we enjoy taking whenever we need to fill our mountain cup. Not to mention, it's just enough of a drive to make it worth it. It's not too long, but it's not the shortest drive either.

Action: So, when you're planning where to go, I encourage you to think about the vibe of the day. Wanna go sit on the beach? Find the closest beach. Wanna breathe in mountain air? Find the closest mountain town. Wanna visit a city? Find the best (and safest) big city near you that has plenty to do.

If this is intimidating for you, then I encourage you to start with a place of which you're familiar. Going to an unknown city with your kids for the first time when you're already anxious about being gone may be a recipe for a high anxiety day. So go somwhere that you love and don't be afraid to start small with a trip that's 30-45 minutes away. Take the steps you need to feel comfortable and slowly build up that confidence to those bigger trips that may be a further away.

When did we leave?

Honestly, whenever we were changed, fed, and out the door. Don't force yourself to a strict time on when you HAVE to leave because odds are, you'll get stressed out and it will start your trip in a funk. We all know that life happens, right? Someone doesn't want to put their shoes on, someone has to go potty, someone took their shoes off and can't get them back on, one kid is in the car and another is running around the front yard with their shirt off . . . you get the idea. Life happens and kids can't be happily rushed. A phrase that's been saving me during stressful moments of trying to get out the door is this: "I would rather show up late with a child who feels loved, than to show up on time with a kid who has a broken spirit."

We had a tentative plan to leave our house between 8:30am-9am. I think we finally left around 9:20am, but it wasn't a big deal and we got there when we got there.

Action: Leave when it feels best for you. If you have to work around a nap schedule, make sure you think through that so you know when it's best to leave. If you have a longer drive and want to maximize your time at your location, I encourage you to prep as much as you possibly can the night before and consider waking up before the kids so that you're ready when they wake up. Then, all you have to do is have breakfast and get them ready to go.

How did I plan or prep for the day?

My method is to pack and plan in my head before putting anything into action. So the night before, I was thinking of everything I needed throughout the day and then all of my packing happened in the morning before we left while the boys were playing and having breakfast.

My Packing List:

-Change of clothes for both boys

-Diapers and wipes

-Lunch for all of us (sandwiches, chips, pouches, and bananas)

-Full water bottle for all of us

-Snacks for all of us (Chomps and That's It Bars)

-Basket of toys for boys to play with at the lake or a field (I love the brand Green Toys for days like this.)

-Picnic Blanket

-My current reading book (just in case!)

-Towels should've been on my list, but I did forget these and we ended up stopping to grab some.

Action: If you thrive on a schedule or having a plan, then planning and prepping ahead is going to be your best friend when it comes to doing stuff like this. Don't hestitate to do what you need to do in order to feel organized. Even if it looks like making a list of things to grab on your way out the door or putting sticky notes on bags that are prepped for the day's activities (change of clothes, lunch, snacks, swim suits and towels, toys for the field, etc.).

How do I keep the kids entertained in the car?

Personally, we are a screen free car. We try to save shows or movies for really long drives (4-5 hours or more) and utilize other activities for car trips that are on the shorter side. Keep in mind that this is how our family has operated since day one so our kids don't really know any different. All that to say, if you've done screen time in your car with your kids before now, don't go cold turkey on a day trip and take it away after reading this. Remember that you have to do what works for you!

We've travelled a lot with our kids so they're used to being in the car and can hang for longer drives. If the drive is intimidating to you because your kids haven't been on many long rides, I'm here to tell you that it's okay! Don't get down on yourself and don't let this be the one aspect to withhold you from going. My biggest piece of advice with this (and parenting in general) is to give your kids a chance to surprise you. They may be little rockstars in the car and be fine for the drive or it may be a total disaster, but at least give them the chance to try. I also want to take a second to reassure you that we've had both of these experiences- the good and the bad. The bottom line is that you just keep going. You try again because no two trips (especially with kids) will ever be the same.

If you feel like you need to do a show or movie for your own sanity with the drive, then do it! Remember to have so much grace for yourself because this is a big step and you're doing something new. So the best way to tackle it is to start where you're comfortable and as you get more confident, then you can slowly change a thing or two as you want.

Back to the question on hand- our boys have "car baskets" and these are just small plastic baskets with lids that we fill with different activities for them.

Car Baskets Include:

-So. Many. Books. (from home or the library. Pro-tip: get library books that match your day trip!)

-Family Photobooks from Chatbooks

-Drawing pads

-Cars, planes, or other transportation vehicles

-Water Wow Pads

-Sensory Toys or Puzzles (like a buckle toy, sensory boards, Pop Its, etc.)

-Stuffed Animals

[Car Basket Recommendations Linked Here.]

Other Forms of Screen-Free Entertainment:

-Tonies Box with stories

-Elizabeth Mitchell Radio on Pandora (a kid friendly station with some music for you, too!)

-Go to Youtube and find stories like "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" , "The Very Quiet Cricket"

or "The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh."

Another Pro-Tip: Use sticky notes to help them count down the time until you get there. If it's a three hour drive, then use three sticky notes and label them 1-3. Pull the sticky note down every time an hour has passed. You can put this on their window or on the rearview mirror- whatever works for you.

Action: Do what you need to do to keep the peace in the car. If putting a movie on is helpful and less stressful- do that. If that's not your style, then I encourage you to try the "car basket" or other screen free entertainment ideas that I have listed above. Talking to your kids, playing "I Spy," or singing songs together is also a great way to build a connection and keep them interested in the drive.

What did we do on our day trip?

The first thing we did was head to Price Lake so we could have lunch and spend some time playing in the beachy area of the lake. We have a few large "Market Baskets" that really come in handy whenever we need to carry a lot of things at one time so I definitely used these to pack for the day. It was so helpful to be able to have everything in one basket so I could have free hands for the boys as we walked from the car to the lake.

When we found our spot, I put out our picnic blanket and got us set up for lunch. We were there for almost an hour and the boys spent their time going back and forth from eating to playing in the lake. Unfortuantely, rain came and we got packed up to leave. After that, we walked around a toy store in Blowing Rock, explored downtown Boone (with ice cream, of course!), and then made our way to West Jefferson. The rain followed us the whole day and for a day that wasn't supposed to have rain, we got a lot of it. We did have to change our plans, but in the end it was fine and we still had plenty to do.

Action: Do a little research and make a list of activities for you to do throughout the day. If it helps you to have a tentative schedule, then I encourage you to make one. If you're feeling pretty go with the flow, it still doesn't hurt to have a list of options just in case.

Do I still get uneasy when traveling with the kids?

Yes, aboslutely. There are definitely parts of the day that are more uneasy than others. For instance, I was more uneasy by the lake than I was when we were walking through downtown, but the big takeaway here is that I choose to not let my uneasiness rob me from the experience of taking the trip. That's kind of the point tho, isn't it? To get out of our comfort zones?

What about naps?

Don't hate me for saying this, but I didn't work a naptime into the trip. We aren't sticklers on sleep time and from day one, our kids have gone everywhere with us and have learned to be flexible in a lot of areas of life- including sleep.

So what did napping look like for this particular day trip? Graham (my youngest) would sleep on the longer drives from town to town. When we'd get to a new spot, I'd get him out of his seat and sometimes he would be up and sometimes he would doze on my shoulder as we walked around. Then, on the drive home- both boys were knocked out. We got home in time for dinner and they had an earlier bedtime that night. This is how we've always operated and it works for us!

Action: If your kids require naptime, then I would ask you two questions:

1) Can their nap be in the car?

2) Can you consider a day trip to a place where you can also visit family or friends?

If they can have a nap in the car, then maybe your day trip starts early in the morning so they can nap on the drive home or between activities if the drive is a little longer. If they can't nap in the car and you have family or friends that live in a cool area, ask if your kids can nap at their place. Then you get to visit with loved ones and the kiddos get refreshed for the next part of your day.

Let's end with some encouragement!

I know this can seem daunting or really hard- especially if you've never done this before. My biggest piece of advice is that you just have to try. You have to commit and follow through, even knowing that there may be some big emotions, failed plans, or unexpected weather. I love to think of this as something that my kids and I are getting to experience together. Just as they're learning to be on a day trip- out of their norm and away from home, so am I. So I don't hesitate to talk to them about that stuff throughout the day. "Oops, mommy forgot towels today. I guess we'll stop and grab some real quick, can you help me to remember to pack towels the next time we go to the lake?" They love to feel like they're part of the day and overall experience.

YOU CAN DO THIS! I promise, yes you can. You'll have to step out of your comfort zone and it may take some planning, but I promise you- it's so worth it. It's worth it for you all to get out of the house and do something new TOGETHER. It's worth it to get you away from the mess of the house and the dishes in the sink so you get to experience the beauty of nature and fun pockets of a new town. I know a lot of people say that they want to wait until their kids are older, but why not start now? If we're waiting for it to get easier or better, we'll be waiting for a long time and I want to reassure you that you deserve to be out of the house, doing something new and fun NOW. Not 5-10 years from now. Plus, if you start now, then who knows where you'll be a year from now. Adventuring with your kids is not wasted time, it's precious time. Time to slow down and truly enjoy just being with them.

At the end of the day, you HAVE to start where you feel comfortable and confident. Take the baby steps that you're ready to take now and slowly build your confidence.

You'll never know if you don't try. I know you may be wondering "what's the worst that could happen" and feeling the need to operate out of fear, but instead, I want to encourage you to operate out of this perspective instead.

"What's the BEST that could happen?"

Now, let's go do this! Feel free to message me and chat through anything you'd like, I'm here for you.

SB

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