Summer provides the best time for families to get away and take a break from work and the monotony of routine. My family loves to travel, and we make trips all over the world quite frequently.

In high school I traveled to a plethora of different places every summer. And in college, I used to travel nearly every weekend with friends, and I saw many exciting places. I loved to blare my radio and drive all over Florida near the beach. Sometimes, I would visit my father in Montana. On occasion, we would load up and head to New Orleans for a good party. I felt so free to explore this land. My favorite places I visited are California, New York and for some odd reason, Indiana.

When I became pregnant for the first time, I never imagined that traveling with children could be such an adventure and a curse. This article contains ideas I collected during my journeys with my family over the years. Hopefully you will not learn the tough way we often did.

Infants ~ Double check your baby bag to make sure you did not leave out any essentials. Be prepared to stop frequently if you still breast feed. You could pump your breast milk ahead of time and store it in bottles on ice. When the baby cries for milk, just sit in the back and let someone else drive while you feed her in her car seat.

~ Babies do not appreciate snow and colder climates as do adults. Our family traveled to Niagara Falls, Canada, in the middle of winter, and our son much preferred the hotel room. Even when we bundled him as much as possible he cried constantly. I suggest proper planning for the vacation to ensure everyone can enjoy it.

Toddlers ~ Bring tons of toys. My family drove from Texas to Connecticut last year and during this 35 hour ride, our son became bored. Either buy smaller singing toys or recycle ones he has not seen in awhile. Bring lots of healthy snacks. If you can stand to listen to music he likes, this works as well.

~ If you travel in an airplane, either bring a car seat or a booster chair. I did not want to lug around anything bulky in between flights, but the airline suggested that sitting my toddler in his place with the seat belt fastened was sufficient. The safety belts are simple enough for an infant to open, and my tot soon learned his way out. I suggest investing in a small booster seat which folds up like a briefcase. It straps to the seat and keeps the kids in place.

Children ages three through six ~ Most young children will not remember going to the places that adults enjoy. At this age, they like trips to Disney theme parks and places which are kid friendly. My parents took my sister and me to places such as Cancun and Colorado, while my sister was young. And while I still have fond memories, she did not know we went until last year when I told her all about it.

~ Bring surprise grab bags for the kids to enjoy in the car or on the plane. Stuff them with toys, stickers, crayons and coloring books. It makes the trip great for the whole family. Also, be prepared to make bathroom stops frequently, and try to only buy drinks when necessary.

Ages seven through twelve ~ For longer trips, pack portable CD players so that everyone can listen to the music they like. Books and journals provide entertainment and education during the wait. If you have access to a television in the car, pack DVD’s that everyone loves. Or, if you travel on a lower budget, you can play games like “I spy.”

~ Ask your kid’s opinions on where they would like to go. Choose a couple of different places to narrow the search. Then take a vote and follow through with the trip. Your children will respect you for including them in the planning.

Teenagers ~ Give them more freedoms and their privacy. If you can afford to, rent adjoining rooms. For older teens, you can book their rooms across the hotel. This provides a strong sense of independence and can prepare them for the trips they might soon take without you.

~ Include them in the decisions on what you will do while on vacation. If they choose to sit it out, allow this. They can hang out at the pool or watch movies. After all, this is their vacation too.

I would love to hear you ideas and adventures away from home with your children, even if you are camping in the backyard. You can e-mail me.

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About the author: Brooke Hadley currently writes freelance feature articles and has six years of professional writing experience. She has recently been published in Mystic, CT, Los Angeles, CA, and Austin, TX. She currently lives in Austin with her new hubby and their son, Skylar Austin. Email Brooke Hadley: PersistentGerl@hotmail.com.

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