From Podcast Episode 3
Kids come with a lot of STUFF. Playpens, high chairs, car seats, diaper bags, extra outfits in case of a blow-out. Sometimes just to overnight somewhere, it takes a U-Haul and an act of Congress. So should you just give up that nomadic itch once the kids come along?
Emphatic NO!
Traveling doesn’t have to be expensive, and it doesn’t have to be far. It’s not about the miles, it’s about the experience. If all you have time and resources for is exploring within your own state or beyond the next city, do it! You might be surprised at what you can find, and kids love adventures!
Renee & I have always traveled with our kids, but we’ve gone about it differently. For both of us, in the early years with little ones, we visited family. This ensured we had a place to land (home base) and keep somewhat to a pseudo-routine while the kids could nap.
With little to no travel budget in those days, we road-tripped. With very small children, this was an exercise in short entertainment cycles. Renee took a binder in the car, with free print-out sheets of color pages, puzzles, mazes, and such. We each reserved small Dollar Store type books, toys, or games that had been reserved just for the trip. Every half hour or so, something new could be deployed.
Stopping often was key. If it was a rest stop on a state border, no one could re-enter the car until they’d run around the building at least twice. Bonus points for extra exercise. Old-fashioned play areas or ball pits at fast-food stops helped, too and had the added perk of boosting our kids’ immune systems.
We’d play the usual car games: how many different state license plates can you spot? Find (in order) signs starting with each letter of the alphabet. Create scavenger hunt check lists or bingo cards with a small prize for winning (e.g., 5 cows in a field; blue VW, gas station starting with S…). Try listening to podcasts or audio books or sharing playlists of different music genres with each other. Depending on how long your trip is, you could even start learning a language together as a family.
Renee mentioned some great audio book resources on the podcast.
As the kids grew older, and with the advent of screens, we played movies in the mini-van. As a result, I can pretty much quote from memory the entire script of all Pixar films made in a certain decade. Limiting screens in the car is a good idea, though. Part of the point of driving to a destination is experiencing the sights along the way, and if you’re face-down in a video game or endless scroll, you miss it!
Once your kids are potty trained, can eat regular food, and sleep in a regular bed, the amount of “stuff” you have to bring with you shrinks. This allows for trips further afield. The Blaylock family set as their goal to see all 50 states by the time the oldest was set to leave home. This gave us about 12 years’ time, and we strategically used credit cards with air mile benefits to do this. With each trip, mom and dad got to pick some educational activity, and the kids got to decide on something fun. When we made it to our last state (North Dakota), it was an accomplishment we were all proud of and something the kids want to do again with their own families someday.
If you’re traveling with older kids–teens or college-age–consider letting them ask a friend to come along. They’re much more apt to have good attitudes when they know they can take a time-out or two from mom and dad and do something more their own speed.
More adventurous and budget-conscious families can camp. The US has thousands of miles of gorgeous national parks with amazing things to explore. Camping is the cheapest way to see them if you’re up for that. Do a bit of research on reward programs for credit cards, discounts with AAA, or check out some discount travel sites. Think about unique ways to travel as well, like traveling by rail with Amtrak or short 3 or 4-day cruises, even up the east coast or on some of the nation’s rivers.
A 2019 Forbes article found that 11% of Americans had never traveled outside the state where they were born. Around 13% have never flown, 40% have never left the United States, and about 32% don’t even own luggage! Many people want to but feel limited because of money, time, or being unfamiliar or uncomfortable with the idea. Maybe they feel the Travel Channel is enough?
Both of us have been fortunate enough to travel throughout the US and overseas. Our kids have been on mission trips of various types in high school and college. Travel is worth the time and expense for so many reasons:
It gives you a better grasp of geography
It broadens horizons by seeing how other people live, eat, and interact
It lets you see beyond yourself; not everyone’s like you
It opens opportunities–for exchanging ideas, making friends and connections
It gives you a greater appreciation of where you live–your state & your country
It gives you a better palate–eating what’s local wherever you are is an adventure in itself!
Most colleges offer study abroad programs these days, and more and more students are taking advantage of the opportunity. Often, it doesn’t cost much more than a regular semester at home, and the confidence gained by learning to navigate the world is well worth it. Traveling as a family helps prepare your kids to explore as adults. The memories we’ve made together on our trips are some of the best!
All 50 States! 
Climbing to the Blarney Stone