Happy, entertained kids make the best travel partners.
Even your most wildly anticipated family vacation can fall flat with kids, simply because they're away from the routines and comforts of home. "A little creative planning can help keep the kids busy and happy when traveling, and make things easier on you," says Sheila Ellison, co-author of the book 365 Way to Raise Great Kids. Here are some tips from her and a few other travel-savvy parents:
Plan to Share, Share the Plan Before you leave, make sure even the youngest tot knows about your destination with a few picture books, or at the very least by leafing through some colorful brochures. Any kid older than 10 should be able to go on the Internet to research which hotels have pools and plan at least one of your stops, be that a music store in the area or a side trip to the World's Largest Peanut. (Books to inspire such ideas include Jane & Michael Stern's Encyclopedia of Pop Culture and the same duo's Roadfood: The Coast-to-Coast Guide to 500 of the Best Barbeque Joints, Lobster Shacks, Ice Cream Parlors, Highway Diners, and Much More.) If they're old enough, put one child in charge of, say, the snack or entertainment budget, or have a teenager burn a CD of acceptable travel tunes. Children are way more cooperative when they're invested in the success of the trip.
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