Family Vacation Ideas

I just returned from a driving holiday with my 9 year old and 6 year old. It was the most enjoyable trip we have ever had. In fact my husband and I thought that we were traveling alone for most of the 10 hour drive each way.

You ask, How is that possible? Audio books, yes audio books for kids! We downloaded both of the kids a few titles, it was much cheaper than buying the books and easier than packing them. We put them on their iPods and Wha Laa! built in babysitter....entertainment and imagination booster. We downloaded a series of books for our son he is still listening to them every moment he has now that we are home.

The kids asked me said to share their favorite titles with others so they can also experience these great stories so here is the links to them. 'Sandry's Book Circle of Magic 1' by Tamora Pierce. There are also 3 more books to this series that can be found at the same website. My 9 year old rated them BRILLIANT!! Our 6 year old loved 'The Light Princess' by George Mac Donald and she also enjoyed Black Beauty and Favourite Stories also found at the same website amounst many more titles.

We refuse to buy our children a nintendo or any other hand held gaming screen as at home we have a internet business and lots of computers, televisions, a Wii and a playstation.

Traveling is suppose to be for new interesting things and we all see it as a break from screen time.

There are so many great things you can do to break up long drive trips and bond as a family. We love car games like I Spy! Punch Buggy, travel bingo and our favorite Bubble.

The rules to Bubble are easy and extra challenging when there is a lot of construction on the roadside. One person needs to be a fast score keeper and we find it best to team up and spot the yellow bubbles on the top of construction vehicles, ambulances and so on( not police cars). You get an extra point if the bubble is bubbling and you loose a point if a police car passes you. The first team to 100 wins!

We also research and plan our stops online before we leave home, choosing activities in towns that we can take a break in. We have been ice skating, bowling, booked dinner at mexican restaurants, stopped at a swimming pool, played golf at a putt putt.

Since including a few organized driving games, audio books and breaks for each trip we have built in so many more great family holiday memories.

So if you have a young family and can afford a drive vacation with our crazy increasing petrol prices. Then download some audio books for the kids, plan a few fun stops and make it a rememberable family experience!