There is nothing more American than going on a good ol' family road trip. I love road trips. They really speak to my slower-is-better mentality and my "oh, what the hell" mindset. I love making unexpected stops in weird places. I love having my preconceived notions about cities and states thrown out of the car window and replaced with a new appreciation for a new place. Road trips are magical and are a cheaper (although definitely not safer) alternative to flying, especially when you can squish your family in a car instead of buying individual plane tickets.
So when I would tell people our plans, I would get the self-knowing little "good luck to ya" smirk. I mean, going on a 21-day road trip with a 5 year old and a 1.5 year old isn't a walk through the park, but come on! Support my quest to fulfill this rite of passage as an American. Maybe it's because most of my peers remember this from the 80s:
So maybe the Griswolds had a negative impact on your ability to think road tripping is a good idea. Maybe you think that a road trip with your significant other is the most romantic idea you could ever come up with, but when you add kids to the equation, it's the equivalent of being kicked in the balls. Well, you're kind of right. With your family, you'll never be able to roll the windows down and let the wind blow through your hair, hold hands lovingly with your partner, listen to good music, or enjoy the peaceful quiet of a comfortable silence. Sigh. I miss those days.
But, if you're prepared - very well prepared! - traveling with your kids can be really lovely. If it were just my husband and me in the car, we would drive and drive and drive until we reached our destination. With kids, we are forced to stop every once in a while lest we be driven insane by the shrill pitch of their whining. Stopping means that we have to research good places to stop along the way. Places with cool parks or neat restaurants or an amazingly kitschy roadside attraction. We get to experience America more than just passing it by on a highway inside of a car.
We got to see 10 family members, 12 close friends, and we meet 5 new people who we now consider friends. That would have been hard to do if we would have just bought a plane ticket to any one of those places on the map and stayed put.
So, go live the American dream. Buy a copy of Neil Gaiman's American Gods, an ode to America and its love of roadside attractions. Use roadtrippers to your little heart's content. Make delicious snacks to take with you in the car. Meditate for a few days before your trip so you don't lose your shit on your kids. Prepare EVERYTHING. And go have fun. Enjoy the beauty that America has to offer.
But, if you're prepared - very well prepared! - traveling with your kids can be really lovely. If it were just my husband and me in the car, we would drive and drive and drive until we reached our destination. With kids, we are forced to stop every once in a while lest we be driven insane by the shrill pitch of their whining. Stopping means that we have to research good places to stop along the way. Places with cool parks or neat restaurants or an amazingly kitschy roadside attraction. We get to experience America more than just passing it by on a highway inside of a car.
We got to see 10 family members, 12 close friends, and we meet 5 new people who we now consider friends. That would have been hard to do if we would have just bought a plane ticket to any one of those places on the map and stayed put.
So, go live the American dream. Buy a copy of Neil Gaiman's American Gods, an ode to America and its love of roadside attractions. Use roadtrippers to your little heart's content. Make delicious snacks to take with you in the car. Meditate for a few days before your trip so you don't lose your shit on your kids. Prepare EVERYTHING. And go have fun. Enjoy the beauty that America has to offer.