Are We There Yet?

The most annoying travel question.

As I’ve said before, my family travels by car. But no matter what type of transportation you take, parents and travel companions be warned, you are going to hear the annoying, are we there yet question.

I know that my siblings and me were guilty of asking this question, not once but multiple times on our trips and it can quickly become aggravating. With the use of technology and some preplanning before travelling, you do not have to hear this question or hopefully not as often.

Ideas for kids or adults to kill time while travelling:

1. Activity books 
2. Car games (Ex. eye spy) 
3. Music
4. Books/magazines 
5. Movies
6. Playing cards
7. Travel board games
8. Game systems such as Nintendo 3ds (Don’t forget the games)
9. IPod
10. Ipad or tablet 

Some of my personal favourite car past times are:

1. Books
2. Movies
3. Ipad
4. And when I was younger my Gameboy, I loved playing Pokémon

These are just some ideas. You may find that your miniature travel buddies can’t read in the car but listening to music might be the key to keeping them entertained. If you are going to bring electrical devices, make sure they have plenty of battery to keep the entertainment going.

Last tip, the best time killer for travelling at any age is sleep!

Car mishaps

Tucker waiting for his car ride

Before beginning any adventure, you need to plan your trip, including your transportation and what to pack. Our safari van is our mode of transportation.

Our van has served us well and has its share of miles. Its age was becoming apparent when my family was travelling to Florida. "You have faith brother" was the response of a customs officer when we were crossing the boarder. The man was in disbelief and wanted to know how many miles the van had and if we were seriously planning on taking it south. The van had broken down the week before so we were just as unsure of it as he was.

My family's 2002 Safari van

Luckily our van survived the trip, mostly, minus the side mirror falling off on the interstate and the air conditioning breaking down in 40°C weather. But as I said, mostly.

The important thing is to know your vehicle and before departing, be prepared for mechanical failures and perform a vehicle maintenance inspection. This includes:

• Making sure tires are in proper condition and pressure
• Inspecting wiper blades
• Having washer fluid
• Etc.

Make sure your car has an emergency first aid kit and physical maps. You can’t always rely on a gps. Preventative action is best and when your mirror does fall off or customs is laughing at you, if you are prepared for these mishaps, it won’t damper your vacation.

My story

Hi I'm Jessica and welcome to my blog on my family’s countless vacation and travel adventures which go hand in hand with my family’s mishaps and mistakes.

Growing up I was lucky to have parents who would take my siblings and me on family vacations over Christmas break, March break, summer vacation and other times throughout the year. Some of these destinations include driving down south to South Carolina, Florida, or visiting relatives and attending sporting events throughout Ontario. I should note that our mode of transportation has always been by car, never a plane, train, or boat. This just increases the amount of time we have had to spend together in a confined space.

These times in my life have provided me with unforgettable memories and along the way have taught me some dos and don’ts for travelling with your family.

Whether you are just taking a one hour drive or are flying halfway around the world, I hope my blog can provide you with some advice or help you remember, that no matter how awkward, embarrassing, or big the mistake was, one day you will be able to look back and laugh at it. If not, you can always find some comic relief, laughing along with my family and me.

Remember, it’s not always about the destination but about the journey and who you are able to spend it with. So sit back and enjoy the ride.