Our last family vacation involved over 30 hours of driving, along with keeping our 10 children (relatively) content for all that time. The things you choose to take along can really make a difference when it comes to whiling away the hours. Here are some suggestions!
Audio Books
Telling stories used to be one of mankind’s primary forms of enjoyment, and you can enjoy this tradition 21st century-style with good quality audiobooks.
Our hands-down favorite is the complete Chronicles of Narnia, narrated by Paul Scofield and dramatized by Radio Theatre, which means there’s music and sound effects in the background to bring everything to life. It’s over 23 hours of storytelling and beautifully packaged in a durable box for easy traveling.
Other stories that will be enjoyed by everyone in the family are Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Fantastic Fox (free on YouTube) by Roald Dahl, The Wind in the Willows and The Reluctant Dragon. For some real drama and excitement, try something by H.G. Wells or Edmund Rice Burroughs (of War of the Worlds and Tarzan fame).
Tidy Toys
Traveling can be messy, so it’s best to not bring toys that add to the chaos. The most obvious choices are things like stuffed animals, dolls and a favorite action figures, but here are a few more ideas.
If your child likes to build, the LEGO Juniors suitcases are a great way to keep everything handy and neatly stowed away. The suitcases also have dividers inside that your child can rearrange to make different sized compartments.
These are also mess-free:
- Etch-a-Sketch
- Mad Libs
- Pop-It toys
- Reusable (wipeable) coloring books
- Boggle
- LCD writing tablet
- Scavenger hunt card game
- Scratch art papers
- Box of trivia questions
Sing a Song
While deciding what music to bring, don’t forget selections that everyone can sing along to. How about some musicals and theater productions, or a CD of children’s songs or folk songs?
The Wee Sing series is great for young children. The songs are catchy and easy to learn. They are also very educational!
The music of Peter, Paul and Mary is fun to sing along to, as are Mamas and Papas tunes.
If you’re looking for budget-friendly travel ideas, there are lots of options for your family – everything from cheap staycations to affordable beach vacations.
I’d love to hear your family travel tips, too!
Disclosure: This post contains sponsored links from various partnerships. I was selected by Clever Girls to receive a complimentary toy selection in exchange for my thoughts.
Audio books are the best! My dude is still too small for most travel toys but he likes music and stories.
These are fun ideas! They will come in handy when we drive down to New Mexico.
Great suggestions! I always pick up a few new toys before vacation that I can pull out during a challenging moment. These audios are great for future reference