FIRST Long Car Trip to Florida Then Georgia, Need Any Helpful Advice Etc

With books on tape from the library, we are always good to go. Throw in a bag of stuffies, books, ds or children's laptop and some snacks for a fun trip!

Does your daughter like taking pictures with a digital camera? I know my 3 year old does and this may help keep her occupied. Buy a cheap memory card at Walgreens and take your memory card. Let her snap away and not worry about her deleting any prize photos of your own. Just an idea?
Good luck!

Essentials include...
whatever she sleeps with (favorite stuffed animal or blanket)
snacks and beverages

It's been 2 years since I've been down that way. The best rest stops are always the Welcome Centers (usually the first rest stop when you enter a state). Virginia has a really nice rest stop on 95, but I don't remember where.

Try to do most of the driving at night or during your daughter's nap time.

Bring along some kid music. Whether you listen and sing along as a family, or she has her own cd player with a headset. Other ideas for the car to keep her busy...
magnetic doodle board
books - if you can read in the car, read her a story - or get her a book on tape
her favorite doll

i'm a picture nut..so how about giving the young girl a disposable camera to create an album of the trip? you could stop as you cross each state line to take a picture. plus this album could be all of her making, something she'll treasure it forever and so will you. have a safe trip.

K. W.

We took an expandable plastic folder and filled it with activities, sticker books, magnetic paper dolls, MadLibs (my kids LOVE madlibs), and a disposable camera. Or the suggestion about using your digital camera would work too. The kids took pictures throughout the trip and loved it.
Books on tape from the library are good for a few hours as well.
We have raised road warriors - they can last for days in the car.

Books, coloring books, workbooks, Leapster, MP3/iPod with children's songs, books on tape, etc.

Also, does she have a scooter? We got DD a Razor scooter before our last road trip and folded it up, threw it in the back of the car (with her helmet of course) and she zoomed all over at rest stops, sidewalks, etc. GREAT for getting out pent up energy!

we recently drove from va to ga. i had the 5 year old. we were moving and his vehicle was loaded down with what we needed for two + weeks until we could move into our house. we did not take 95 and went direct - started one morning and arrived late afternoon early evening. we have stories for the car - cd, music that he likes, cds with books, lots of snacks, books, drinks, etc.

Things we bring for car trips:
dvd player with a new video
Leapster, sometimes with a new game
headphones for dvd and Leapster (don't forget extra batteries!)
coloring book & crayons
spiral notebook (mine likes to write and draw) & pencil, pen
doll with a couple of outfits
snacks
blanket/snuggie - snuggies are perfect for the car
lovey/stuffed animal

If you don't want to eat at fast food restaurants, take a break at one (get a drink) and let her run around the play area for a few minutes. I like the scooter idea, too (I'll have to remember for one of our next trips). We also leave around 3 am to avoid rush hour where we live (which begins around 6) which means dd is still sleeping. We either load her up in her pjs and put extra clothes in the back seat, or put her to bed dressed, ready to go. We stop around 8 for breakfast and then again around 1 for lunch. We try to avoid the rush hours and drive straight through as much as possible.

Enjoy your trip!

jsut had a road trip from chicago to texas then louisiana the back home. Have a cooler of snacks. We always try to leave a round naptime so that the trip isnt as h*** o* the kids. if you cant find a good rest area or playground we usually stop at a nice large grassy nole. those r my tips, they helped us :)

My daughter (6) likes to play with her leapster in the car on long trips...it keeps her really busy. There are a million games for it...you can pick the Leapster 2 & games up for $20-30 on ebay. Also pick up some maze books and ISpy books. A Disney Mix Stick (like an ipod) will also keep her busy...you can get them on Amazon for around $10 & load it up with music. My daughter loves to listen to hers in the car! Have a great trip! Where are you going in Georgia? Oh, & we ALWAYS leave on long car trips at 3 or 4 in the morning...then the kids sleep for at least the first 7 hours or so. It makes it so much easier on everyone :)

A coffee can. ( yes, we had them when we went on trips.. you never know when you just can not make it to the next rest room).
Snacks, sanwhiches. You never know when you are stuck in a traffic jam and can not get to an exit.
Washrag and towel, to freshen up.
We look for rest areas with playgrounds. To let them stretch their legs and run for a while. If you have AAA motorclub, they will send you a list and a map of your route.
Keep frequent meds avial, Tylenol, pepto etc

You can do the license plate game. Car bingo. Sing the 99 boxes of cheerios song. Books are always good. Even get a book on tape to listen to together. We downloaded interactive songs to our Ipod and play them in the car when our son is crabby.
Good luck and have fun.

Georgia has a nice rest area at the welcome center. Other than that, they're basically plain rest areas. As for what to do with your 5 yr old--see how many of a certain color of car she sees, see how many of specific ABCs on the road signs & semi's she can notice, have her look for orange/palm trees. Just anything silly like that which may grab her attention. Have fun :)

I travel alot with my kids --- at rest areas -- stop about every 2hrs or so --- we would play tag or have races in the picnic areas -- I have two boys and they have alot of energy so I would try to let them watch a movie on the DVD then we would stop at a rest area -- I would bring them breakfast -- cereal and milk, and fruit and then we would play. stopping at restaurants wastes alot time and rest areas offer time to play and run around

N.

Here are some tips to keep her busy in the car.
http://www.bigbluetrunk.com/ourcorner/689