On road trips, consider a scavenger hunt.
Before departure, the adults on the trip are charged with learning about interesting things online that we may see on our way. We give each person a list of things to look for and try to take a picture or draw a picture of what that item is when we see it.
Prizes are awarded at each pit stop and are usually a postcard or key-chain from that stop. It’s fun to see who collects the most “trophies” from each trip.
Avoid the hodge podge of souvenir clutter by opting for one type of souvenir you can collect over the years and display with an artful flair.
Flag patches stitched onto a cozy blanket, framed local stamps, or a postcard album can turn souvenir junk into souvenir art.
When picking your collection piece, be mindful of how your life will change over the years. A shot glass collection may seem like a great idea in your 20-something travels but when you find yourself vacationing with children of your own, hunting for that perfect jigger probably isn’t on the agenda.
A practical travel kit should include:
Packing for a short (i.e., a week or less) spontaneous trip? Here are a few tips to help you out:
Putting your items in separate bags allows you to grab what you need when you need it, and it makes packing the car (or living out of a small room) much simpler.
When coming home from a tropical destination, a jungle, or a developing nation, never bring your suitcase home immediately. Instead, take it to a laundromat and wash all your clothing — and the bag — in HOT, HOT water. Some places will even steam your bag for you.
Do this and you might avoid the horror that my sister encountered upon her return from a tropical country: upon pulling her favorite jeans out of her suitcase, she discovered a native spider had taken residence inside her bag … and given birth!