Traveling with kids is rewarding – and humbling.
I have been dreaming of a trip to PA for several years, so when the opportunity to travel for a cousin’s wedding came up, we jumped at the chance for a long family vacation. It was a great opportunity to teach the kids American history, but to be honest, most of the lessons learned in PA were for me.
Lesson 1: Research! – One of my favorite parts of vacation is looking forward to the trip. I love having all of my thoughts/maps/coupons/reservations in one place. Looks slightly obsessive, I know, but the great thing about having all of my ideas in one place is that we have the freedom to choose from lots of great options. When inspiration strikes (like the enormous train museum we stumbled upon) it is easy to compare it to the other great destinations in the area and decide where we want to spend our time.
Lesson 2: Double check when packing – Taking a trip with the wrong power cord for your camera results in lousy images and a frustrated momma. Trust me on this one.
Lesson 3: Take advantage of the down time. I like having time to sit quietly together in the car and chat, but traveling is also a great opportunity to squeeze in lots of learning. Educational destinations are an obvious choice (Independence Hall, Valley Forge, and Gettysberg were high on my list of PA must-sees) but we probably learned just as much during our driving time.
PA is a place full of stories, and we savored them all. Before visiting Hershey Park, we read Milton Hershey’s biography,Chocolate by Hershey (which is fascinating by the way) and on our way to Gettysberg we read Abe Lincoln’s Hat. There are so many great books out there, and reading them in a special place only makes them more memorable.
Lesson 4: Expect imperfection and enjoy the bumps in the road. We encountered a massive hurricane, closed roads, a lost stroller, and tired kids but a little flexibility made those quirks (except for the tired kids) fun. The unexpected events are probably what we talk about most. I love hearing my little one jump into conversations about PA saying, “my stwoller is in Gettysberg!”
Yes, traveling with kids requires extra work, but it is fully worth it. I learned a lot, and I’m ready to put my lessons to work. The trick now is to decide where to go next.
