Traveling with kids is easy—if you have the right gear on board. Here are some tips on what to pack and why:
Food and drinks: Tote along a cooler packed with healthy snacks if your family is going to be hitting the road for a family vacation. That way, you won't have to rely on whatever snacks are available at the roadside fast food restaurant where you decide to pull over for your family rest stop. Some solid bets for the cooler: low-fat chocolate milk or soy beverage, fresh fruit and veggies, and oatmeal-raisin cookies (homemade, if you can swing it).
Cleaning essentials: Hand-sanitizer is great for washing hands at roadside picnic tables. Baby wipes are great for cleaning up mealtime messes (and pretty much any other mess that goes with kids), but a more earth-friendly option is to tote along wet, soapy washcloths in a zipper-sealed bag.
On-board entertainment: Pack a back-seat organizer with age-appropriate toys and learning materials. Craft kits, magnetic board games, felt boards, puppets, books, and a lap-desk are always good bets. Music and audiobooks can help pass the time on a long and boring stretch of highway. Note: if you have a portable DVD player and it can play mp3s, you might be interested to know that a single DVD can hold 1400 songs.
Comfort: Neck supports (available in both kid and adult sizes) may encourage kids to nap on the go.
