What We Learned On Our Family Vacation
- Lauren Catron
- Sep 26, 2020
- 4 min read
We recently returned from a 10-day road trip out west. We have traveled with our toddler before, but this would be the first trip where the majority of our time was spent in the truck. It was also our first time visiting national parks as a family.
You can read all about our adventures in my three-part series.
We had a blast and we learned a lot during our trip. Here are a few of the big ones:
Plan Ahead
We've been planning this trip for months. My husband did a ton of research and planned out which route we would go, and what order we should visit the different places. This route was based off recommendations for different roads to take, where we wanted to stay, and for how long.
I researched popular restaurants and shops we should stop at. I talk more about eating local down below.
We booked our rooms and cabins early. It's essential if you want to stay in a cool cabin like the Shoshone Lodge & Guest Ranch, or the cabins at Cowboy Village Resort in Jackson.
We also bought an annual park pass for access to all the parks. We bought ours at LL Bean, but they can be purchased at a number of different places, and online. They are $80 but will save you money in the long run. For example, to enter Yellowstone is $35 per vehicle. The $35 pass gives you access for seven days. If you plan to go to multiple parks like we did, the annual park pass will save you money, and hence the name, it's good all year!
BYOS - Bring Your Own Snacks
As the days got closer to our trip, I bought a lot of different snacks. When it was time to load up, I put them in a basket to sit in the back seat for easy access. Snacks are great for any road trip, especially with a toddler. Have a variety on hand in case your picky toddler decides he does or does not like a particular snack that day.
Having snacks on hand helped out tremendously, especially when you are out in the middle of nowhere Wyoming!
Bring Your Own Cooler
When you are in the park, especially with COVID, places to stop for food and drinks can be few and far between. Plus they can add up quickly. It's a smart idea to bring your own cooler. Of course, we our partial to our Yeti, as it keeps things cold, for like ever. We were able to put juice and a case of water in there for quick access. It also helped keep our sandwiches cool.
Save Your Money, Pack a Lunch
If you read about our trip to Yellowstone, you know by now the first day in the park cost us $60 for lunch! Ugh. We quickly learned we could buy some sandwiches, some fruit and veggies, chips and some drinks and stash them in the cooler. When it was time for lunch, we found a perfect little shaded spot and ate our lunches there. It cost us about half as much, and we'll remember that spot for years to come.
Eat Local
This is a rule of thumb any time we travel. We always try to eat local. We can eat at a chain any old time, but how often are you in Wyoming or South Dakota? Eat and drink as the locals do. It adds to the experience so much more!
Be Prepared to be Out of Range
When traveling through the parks, especially through the mountains, you will inevitably lose cell service. So, if you use Youtube Kids to save your sanity in the car, have a backup plan! Henry has an Amazon Fire 7 Kids Edition, which I highly recommend. You can preload videos, games, etc. that work without WiFi. This thing saved us from many meltdowns. I also had on hand stickers, crayons and paper, books and a few toys.
Also let your family know you will be out of service so they don't think you fell off a mountain or ran away from home since you aren't returning texts or calls!
Drive Far, Work Your Way Back
We learned this the hard way our first day in Yellowstone. We were so eager to see everything, we stopped the first time we saw a place to pullover. This left us nearly three hours away from our cabins at 6:00 p.m. So the next day, we decided to drive to the farthest point, with no stops. Once we got there, we worked our way back throughout the day, stopping to explore the various points. This helped, but I recommend keeping an eye on the clock and map to see where you are, and when you might need to head for dinner. Or just pack something to eat for dinner, and take all the time you want! Dawn and dusk are some of the best times to see the animals as they are the most active then.
Wear Them, If You Can
Going to a park, especially one like Yellowstone, there are a lot of dangers that lurk for young kids. Henry is at the perfect age that we were able to wear him during most of our trip. This helped ease our worries he would wander off a boardwalk into a geothermal area, or worse, him having a meltdown while walking. We walked a lot, so wearing him in our lillebaby Complete All Seasons Baby Carrier made things so much easier. It holds up to 45 pounds, and is so easy on your back! Plus, if he needed a nap, he could sleep in the carrier!
Allow for Naps (especially with Little Ones)
Speaking of naps, for the love of God, don't skip them!! Your child, your husband, and everyone else will thank you! Plus, it's nice to take a break from the day and refresh.
Go with the Flow and Have Fun
Lastly, go with the flow and have fun! Don't stress out about the things out of your control. Enjoy the scenery and the company of those with you. Have fun, take lots of pictures with people them in (those are the ones you will want when you are older!!) and remember the memories you are creating with last a lifetime.
Enjoy!
Lauren
XOXO
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