Day 1~Traveling for Thanksgiving?

“Over the river and through the woods . . . ” I’ve always loved this traditional Thanksgiving song, written by Lydia Maria Child in 1844. You can read all the lyrics here at Wikipedia. If you’re among the millions of American families hitting the highways this week to spend time with family at Thanksgiving, read on for a few helpful links and tips.

Mom’s Minivan is a fantastic site packed full of ideas to keep kids happily occupied on road trips. You’ll find instructions for games and activities, fun printables, and lots more helpful suggestions. Check it out!

Rand McNally’s website shares a handy checklist for an emergency car kit. Be prepared!

My June Digest included lots of road trip tips and recipes for meal and snack solutions on the road.

Pack food, pack water, and pack a good-sized container with a lid (like an ice cream bucket or coffee can.) Take wipes or damp washcloths in a plastic bag or container. Toilet paper and hand sanitizer are a good to have on hand as highway rest stops are heavily trafficked this week, and may run low on supplies.

I put half-filled water bottles in the freezer the night before our trip, then add a little water to them in the morning. The melting ice keeps us supplied with cold water throughout the trip. I also put a couple of my favorite tea bags in my purse. When we stop at rest areas I just get a cup of hot water–lots cheaper than buying tea or coffee!

Cheese cubes, pretzels, grapes, nuts, cereal, raisins, bananas, cut up vegetables and dense muffins, cookies or bars make for fairly mess-free and nutritious snacking. Books on CD make the trip go much faster. It’s handy to pack one bag containing a change of clothes for everyone, formula, diapers, medicines, etc. That way if the trip takes longer than expected, or anyone needs a change of clothes, you won’t have to go digging through all the luggage, just one bag.

I keep a supply of plastic grocery bags in the car. At every rest stop we do a “garbage sweep” of the van and throw out any trash. It helps keep things clean and tidy.

These are just a few tips that work for my family. Feel free to leave a comment with any additional suggestions!

On behalf of the whole Econobusters team, I’m wishing each and every one of you a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving. Thanks for joining us on this Thanksgiving Countdown. God Bless!

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