Are you ready for a family road trip? If you’re like most people, the thought of road-tripping for an extended period of time fills you with equal parts excitement and dread. You can’t wait to get on the open road, but at the same time, you know that eating healthy is going to be a challenge. Never fear – follow these simple tips on how to eat healthy on a family road trip, and you’ll be able to eat well even when you’re on the go! Whether you’re seeing family for the holidays or just choosing to drive rather than fly here’s how you can keep your family healthy while on the road.

 

Pack an Ice Chest

Packing an ice chest and having it available in the car has been a lifesaver for us on each of our road trips everyone’s favorite drink options are available to them with just a reach behind a bag of ice keeps everything cool and food items can be packed such as string cheese pre-sliced or chopped fruit veggies like it, or cucumber you can slice them squeeze a little bit of lemon and a little Tajin and you’ve got a snack that everyone’s happy with.

You can make fruit-infused water ahead of time and keep it refreshingly cool in the ice chest. Not only does this reduce single-use plastics by cutting back on packing bottled water, but it also gives you a more flavorful option for hydrating.

You can also pack dry snacks such as chips, bananas, nuts, dried fruit, and health bars to help keep everyone happy while on a long stretch of a drive

 

Eating Outdoors 

There are lots of rest stops that have spots to eat, take an extended break at a viewpoint,  or grab a bench at a park along the way. You can pre-pack burritos or sandwiches or find a smaller local brick-and-mortar shop along the way that can provide healthy meal choices.

Also prioritizing the outdoors for eating encourages activity. The kids have a place to walk around and play. The adults can shake off that highway daze with a quick walk around the area. 

Grocery Stores

Stop at a grocery deli over fast food and you’re guaranteed to have a greater opportunity to make a healthier choice. Decent in taste and easier on the wallet a grocery store deli can save the day. And you don’t have to settle for the traditional fried chicken tenders, mac and cheese, and Jojo potatoes. Though those are great you do have other options. For example, there is a black bean hummus in the refrigerator section right next to the deli counter that my husband and I  absolutely love and I can find it at Walmarts and the Safeway family of stores across multiple states. I will have that over a hamburger and fries any day. I can eat the whole container! 

Grocery stores also have options that satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. You have a wider selection than what you would have at any given fast food place as well. Chances are in a well-stocked grocery store you can find a version of that thing someone in your group is craving that’s healthier than what you’d find at your typical fast food. Craving the crunch of chips? Then go ahead! You can look for chips that have less sodium or a veggie-based chip that can still satisfy the need for crunch.  

 

Fast Food Options

Still, let’s just admit that sometimes it’s fast food or nothing. Every once in a while that’s ok. You can still choose the healthiest option available to you once you’re there. For example, instead of everyone getting their own fries, what if you all shared one order? Instead of the fried chicken sandwich, can you do grilled? You can ask for no cheese or no added salt. Thanks to health advocates there really are more healthy options today than in the past. To get a bit of guidance you can check out the Healthy Fast Food HelpGuide here. 

Road trips are a time for family, friends, and adventure. But eating healthy can be a challenge when you’re on the go. Follow these simple tips to make sure you and your loved ones stay healthy while traveling this season! Do you have any other tips to share? Let us know in the comments below!

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If you’re planning a road trip, you’re probably looking for ways to save money. There are lots of ways to do this, from choosing your route carefully to taking advantage of discounts. Whether you’re seeing family for the holidays or just choosing to drive rather than fly here are some tips for how you can save money on your next road trip.

Save Money on Gas

One of the number one concerns right now when driving anywhere is the cost of gas prices. While on the way down gas is still a significant budget consideration. Here are three major ways you can save on gas for your next road trip.

Gas apps on your phone such as GasBuddy can help you find the cheapest gas station in your immediate area or where you’re headed to.

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Gas rewards using a gas reward card, not a credit card, will oftentimes give you a bigger discount on gas prices.

Smart GPS apps like Google Maps help save money on gas as well! It always shows us the fastest route to get there and we’ll avoid slowdowns. Taking the time to avoid stop-and-go traffic can also help us save on gas.

Save Money on Food

The desire to go for what’s quick and easy at the roadside travel center is easy to understand but can definitely make a dent in your budget. Eating out with fast food or restaurants is always the easier option but not necessarily healthy and it also is easier if you go to the grocery store on your budget.

Pack your own food consider the idea of packing what you know everybody already loves from your own refrigerator and ice chest pack drinks and waters that you can have on the go.

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Grocery stores are also an easy option for a healthier meal Google grocery stores near me and you will be able to find any grocery store of your liking that’s in the area I’m a huge fan of black bean hummus that I can find usually at Safeway or a Walmart in my area and I will eat that on the road and be perfectly happy don’t even miss a fast food option 

Book a hotel with a meal included  You can save on food expenses by booking a hotel that already includes your breakfast that’s a great way to start the day and feel like you are getting the biggest bang for your buck we always appreciate it the Holiday Inn Express for their quick breakfast that we could have before we left in the morning it was a great way to start the day 

Ready to start saving on your next road trip? With a little bit of planning, you can use these tips to make the most of your budget.

Grab our Travel Goals Newsletter every Thursday for more travel tips and news. And when you’re ready to see sample travel itineraries to a particular destination check out our detailed destination guides across the U.S.

My first experience with travel guidebooks was as a tool to make the most out of our trip to Italy. This was going to be our first time traveling to Rome and we wanted it to be a rich experience. 

I combed through a Rick Steves Italy book for a general sense of what was possible, how long to stay and what we all might want to see. Then as I took another look I dove into recommendations for neighborhoods to stay in and restaurants to eat at. The thorough guide also helped me plan for day trips and get recommendations for where to buy tickets online for everything from trains to the Colosseum to the Vatican. 

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Since then guidebooks have been a key part of my travel strategy. Even after Covid, they are a go-to part of my travel planning strategy that I use to discover locally run eateries, great neighborhood experiences, and useful advice. Read on to learn why a guidebook is still worth it today.

Advantages of Using Guidebooks

When my family and I toured the Vatican we had a Rick Steves audio guide in one ear. We kept looking at each other as we walked saying things like, “Hey did you know…” or “That statue is…” We could pause the audio at any time and still, we had a private guide right with us the whole time (and it was free)! We learned the cultural context and perspective that came with Rick Steves’ love of history and locals that we would not have known otherwise.

We’ve traveled many places since then and while a Rick Steves guide is still a go-to resource for our European travel, there are so many guidebooks to choose from! While I also use podcasts, blogs (hello!), and a ton of other online resources guidebooks remain a key part of our travel planning strategy.  I’m going to outline why I think they should remain an important resource for you as well. Helping you with travel tips on where to go, when to go, what to see, and how to do it all within your budget, travel guide books are your all-in-one-place travel asset.

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Here are a few reasons why you want to include travel books in your planning strategy. 

1. Rich information all in one place – guidebooks are such a time saver! As a working mom in charge of most of the family travel planning, this is a must for me! While I love the versatility of online resources I have to hunt for this and that all on my own. A guidebook’s author has already done all that work for me and packaged it neatly into one product! Score!!
2. Authority – authors of guidebooks know this destination inside and out. Moon Guides for example uses well-qualified travelers to write guidebooks for travelers! Rick Steves has been to Europe multiple times a year for decades. Rough Guides, known for their straightforward opinions about locations, even have a Staycation travel guide series. The expertise and tips that come from that level of knowledge ensure you will have a better experience no matter what your travel motivations are. 
3. A hard copy of a physical book – don’t underestimate the joy that can still be found by holding the information in your hands. While yes, I have a kindle, I still enjoy holding a book and actually find it easier to keep track of notes I’ve taken on a paperback. A physical copy of the book can be easily flipped through, written on, and even have important pages ripped out for your safekeeping. Don’t want to take the whole book with you in your travel bag? No worries. Just cut out the chunk you want and bring that along. 
4. Practical souvenir – when I look at the guidebooks lined up on my bookshelf I think of all the good times we had in those places. The bookshelf becomes a lasting memory of travel adventures. And I know that I can reference them again if I start to plan a return to a previously visited location. 

Because there is so much information in a given guidebook you can customize what you take away from each book.

Which Guidebook Should I Use?

Whether traveling across the United States on a national parks tour or traversing across Europe on an anniversary trip, guidebooks can help you craft an ideal itinerary customized to your needs and preferences. 

New releases of travel books are happening all the time so how do you narrow down a choice that will fit your style? Let me help you with information about a few of the major travel guide players. 

Lonely Planet deserves a spot on the list because of how well-known they are as well as how much they write. They have travel guides that cover just about anywhere on the planet that you would like to visit. 

Moon Guides are my favorite recent discovery. They prioritize the local community and are often written by local experts who feel a special connection with the location that you can feel in their writing. They bring cultural and political awareness to their writing that encourages all adventurers to see their destination as a whole. 

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National Geographic is a trusted authority and it’s no wonder they’ve chosen to spread out into the development of a travel guides series. From New Zealand to the Cote d’Azur, from the Keys to Alaska, they’ve got an affordable travel guide for you filled with the beautiful photography you’ve come to expect from Nat Geo alongside the details of how to get to and enjoy your destination. In the Travelwise section of each guide, they also include notes on local etiquette and accommodations for travelers with disabilities. 

DK Eyewitness Travel Guides were my priority travel guides for the boys. They are famous for their imagery, diagrams, and colorful photography. The travel guide remains informative while grasping the interest of new travelers. 

Rough Guides are a resource for me when planning our trips outside of Europe. They have guides on over a hundred destinations and provide trusted and independent reviews.

Rick Steves is my number one trusted guidebook for travel in Europe. You cannot beat the detailed reviews of locations. His passion for history and art comes through with each guide. His lens brings you context that you might have otherwise missed. His obvious attention to locals and culturally respectful practices is much appreciated. There is also a wonderful Rick Steve Audio app which I mentioned earlier loaded with walking tours and location-specific guides that add another level of support to your adventure.

How to Pick a Travel Guidebook

Your personal taste in travel has an impact on the types of travel guides that will resonate with you. Looking for authors that immerse themselves in a local experience and highlight activities that benefit local communities is a priority for me. For example, I recently purchased Detours: A Non-Colonial Guide to Hawai’i. The perspectives found in the book as well as the recommended self-guided walking tours open up a side of this oftentimes over touristed location that I would otherwise miss from a more traditional travel guide. 

You can customize your search by looking at reviews for travel guides. Check out Amazon book reviews and dig into why people appreciated (or didn’t) that particular series style. Once you’ve settled on one (or 2 – 3 if you’re like me), books can easily be ordered in your local brick-and-mortar book store or online through Amazon. 

The impacts of the pandemic should be taken into consideration when picking your travel guidebook. When was it last updated? I have found that in buying a 2022 edition it is still wise to do your due diligence. Travel guide authors are doing their best to catch up with updates but I still look up websites to confirm opening and closing hours as well as hours of operation. You would do this anyway I’m sure. It’s a wise practice as we know some smaller local businesses had to deal with quite a bit of hardship during Covid. 

If you’re looking for an edge when planning your next trip, consider adding a travel guidebook to your resources. Travel guidebooks are a valuable asset for making the most out of your trips. They can help you save time and money, as well as provide an insider’s perspective on destinations. When selecting guidebooks, be sure to consider your needs and the specific destination you are traveling to. And finally, subscribe to our Travel Goals newsletter for more useful tips like this!

Your kids are growing up. They’re looking you in the eye or they’re already taller than you. You have teenagers. Summer vacation ideas for families with teenagers can be different than those with littles. Travel for teens can be more engaging if they are directly involved in the process. Empower your older kiddos to get involved in the planning with your travel planning guide below. The benefits include a strong sense of budget, better safety and fun for all. Talking to your teens about the aspects of trip planning outlined below, also ensures there are more unique experiences that the whole family will enjoy!

Determine your destination

Do you have a particular inspiration? Our oldest played Assassin’s Creed: Origins and now he’s obsessed with going to Egypt. Or do you have a particular item on your bucket list for a family trip? A family heritage trip for example. Has a cheap flight opportunity dictated your next destination? Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights) has you dreaming about that $300 flight to Peru and an adventure to the Rainbow Mountains. Determine your destination to start off your planning then guide your teens through these trip-planning questions:

1. 1. Who’s going? Is this a multigenerational trip where there are different interests and different fitness abilities to consider? Or is everyone pretty much on the same fitness level?

1. 1. For how long will you be gone? How many days do you have to build an itinerary? Be sure to take into consideration the length of and arrival/departure times for the flight.

1. 1. When are you going? What will the average weather be like? What type of activities do you want to tackle during that time of the year?

1. 1. Make a budget. How much money can we spend over the course of this trip to keep ourselves responsibly within our limits? Do your kids want to buy souvenirs? How much money can they afford to contribute to purchasing a memento for themselves?

1. 1. Refine your destination. Do you want to stay in one major city? Or spread yourselves over an entire region? Be honest about wishes so that you can narrow down your planning later.

Research Things to Do

It’s easy to feel like you have to do it all because you may never be back. Trust me, I know as I was once the official Queen of Over Planning. But you’ll be doing your kids a favor by teaching them to look at all the possibilities and then systematically narrow down to the most essential hikes, activities, or places to see.

1. 1. List your absolute must-see destinations. Try to narrow it down to single digits, keep it under 10. The ones that excite you or that you would feel like you missed a huge opportunity if you didn’t see X. Those are your top destinations for this trip. These are the four and five-star show stoppers.

1. 1. Create a Back-Up Plan. Move the other activities/events that didn’t make the cut to your backup list. These are the two or three-star events that you’ll get to if you have time or need a replacement for something that was closed.

1. 1. Research. Do some basic research on your must-see list. Do you need a permit to hike that trail? Are advance tickets available for purchase? Are there any tricks that can get you and your family a better experience or less time waiting in line?

Book Necessary Tickets, Trains, and Ferries

Consider how you want to travel from place to place while on your trip. Is it easiest to rent a car and move from Point A to Point B, or is it cheaper to drive your own car for the whole trip? Will you need to book a flight to a second location or can a train or ferry get you there just as fast? Remember that this trip is for a finite window of time. So spending a bit of money on faster transportation helps you save time for more experiences.

1. 1. Find the app – Take a look at the local public transportation options in the places you are traveling to. This is often the cheapest way to get around the area. Cities will sometimes have public transportation apps. One of our best finds when visiting New York was the subway app we uploaded to our phones. You can also use popular ride-sharing apps if the city has them.

1. 1. Purchase in advance – Often you can save money by purchasing tickets in advance. Sometimes people believe they can catch a great last-minute deal on tickets but that is usually not the case when dealing with transportation. Choosing to travel by train or ferry for part of your trip? Advance tickets can save you money and bring peace of mind.

Book Places to Stay

Teaching your teens about the varied possibilities for stays will help them save money in the future. Do they want the traditional hotel, an Airbnb-style home, or camp under the stars? What do they appreciate about the types of stays you’ve done in the past? Getting a list of the pros and cons of each type of stay and showing them prices teaches them to adjust their expectations based on a predetermined budget.

After narrowing down your options, walk your teen through these three considerations.

1. 1. What do the guidebooks say – Are there local neighborhoods that put you close to most events, attractions you want to see? Or do you plan to do a lot of walking to your attractions so you can immerse yourself in the local scene? Thinking about where you want to stay can help you create a realistic idea of how much time you need to get to each event.

1. 1. What do the user reviews say – teaching your kiddos to take a look at how others have rated the places you are considering is a life skill they won’t regret learning. You can look through multitudes of listing ratings and get a stronger more confident sense of what you are booking.

1. 1. Compare your options – determine the pros and cons of each type of accommodation. What impact does your choice have on the budget? Think about your priorities. If you are determined to hit the local markets and try your hand at making a meal but your living space has no kitchen, is it worth keeping on your list? Will you need A/C during your trip? Should breakfast be included? Answers to these questions will help you choose the best option for your family.

Build an Itinerary

Now that you know exactly what you’d like to do and how you’ll do it, it’s time to teach your teen how to build an itinerary. Take yourself through each day. of your tribe’s adventure.

1. 1. Outline Each Day – Where do you need to be and when? Take a look at downtime. Are there windows of time with nothing to do? Use this information to build a daily route for the number of days of your trip.

1. 1. Be ready to adjust – by cutting out some items when you realize you’ve booked too much, you allow your tribe to have downtime. Or can the budget allow for an additional day to be able to fit some of those items in?

1. 1. Sharing is caring – Once settled you can share the itinerary with others so they know where you are expected to be and when. Major life skill development here because in a very short amount of years these teens will no longer be in your house. When they’re jumping all over the place you’ll be glad you taught them to share their plans with others!

Figure Out the Details

Now is the time to work out the things that will make a trip go that much more smoothly. Use the tips below to help your teen think about the little things that make a stay just that much more enjoyable for everyone.

1. 1. Eating options – If you are staying at a home, or a hotel with a kitchen, figure out where the closest grocery store or market is.

1. 1. Packing lite – can you get what you need into a carry-on bag? Having a washing machine and dryer in your accommodations can help keep clothing demands down.

1. 1. Money needs – do we need to exchange money? Determine where that will happen to get your tribe the best rate.

Keep Copies

Teaching your teen to keep copies of important documents can save so much worry and time.

1. 1. Passport – If your passport is lost, or worse stolen, you’ll be grateful to have printed paper copies with you. One option is to keep the copies in the safe in your hotel room. While traveling keep them in a separate bag or even with another member of your tribe. Having a copy, along with those extra passport photos that you’ve stashed away since they were taken 8 years ago at Costco, allows you to go to your nearest embassy and get another reissued relatively quickly.

1. 1. Car Rental Agreement and Travel Insurance – Keep a copy of your car rental agreement and travel insurance information. While I know a lot of this information can be available on your phone, it’s a big assumption that your phone wasn’t lost with your wallet/purse. If you’re a victim of a pickpocket you’ll want to have a backup. As mentioned above you can keep a copy in the room safe, or with another member of your tribe. But don’t forget the value of saving a copy of your documents in the cloud.

1. 1. Credit Cards – Keep the number of your credit cards in a safe place (don’t need a copy of the actual card) or with a trusted tribe member at home. You want to be able to reference the number, expiration date and the number to call if your wallet is stolen or lost.

Using this guide to involve your teens in the planning process will help everyone feel actively involved. Even if they just take a piece of this guide and contribute their thinking around one point of the planning process, you’ve empowered them to take care of themselves and their own travel in the future.

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You’ve got teens and tweens now. You’ve evolved from the monkey backpacks that had leashes to them tripping over their own ever-growing feet. They want to create their own island within the house that allows them to marinate in Youtube sans interruption. You want to have shared family adventures in the great outdoors sans technology. Whether you want to engage your kiddos in a family bonding outdoor experience, empower your children to be safe and knowledgeable about hiking, or want them to help plan for your next national park adventure, this is your guide to teaching your kids about hiking preparation and safety. Hiking is an activity that is about more than tips and trails. This is an opportunity to get away from it all, bond outdoors, and teach life skills in the process.

Types of Hikes

The first thing to consider is the type of hike. Be clear with your kids what the difference is between types of hikes. They in turn can be prepared as opportunities come across their paths. There is a big difference between your older teen getting invited to go backpacking with friends over a long weekend vs. taking an extended break from college to do thru hiking of the Pacific Crest Scenic Trail. Teaching them the difference empowers them to make safe choices.

Day Hiking – getting out into nature and unplugging temporarily from the day to day hustle of life. Evenings are spent in the relative luxury of the indoors.

Backpacking – multiple days of hiking and overnight stays outdoors. This can be a weekend or a weeklong outdoor adventure. It includes a bit more preparation for packing, a small number of overnights and meal planning

Thru Hiking – this is a long, high mileage trail that is a species of outdoor adventure all its own. There is a certain mental preparation and commitment to Thru Hiking. It requires the hiker to educate him or herself on long term planning and preparation.

Day hiking is our focus for this article but the tips here could easily apply to a short weekend backpacking trip. For those of you interested in Thru Hiking … God love you.

Researching Trails

Show your teens how to use All Trails, blogs, or park websites to educate themselves about which trails are best for your family. You don’t necessarily have to teach them how to read a topography map (go for it if you have the patience). But they should develop an understanding of trail ratings on the site of their choice as well as elevation gain. The formula used to determine difficulty could be different for each site you visit. It usually involves some type of math with distance and elevation gain. As a family you can create guidelines for beginners (e.g., 2 – 3 miles round trip distance and up to 300 ft. elevation gain) and/or moderately skilled day hikers (e.g., 4 – 8 miles round trip distance and up to 900 ft. elevation gain) depending on your family’s health and who is going along for the trip.

Research seasonal constraints for the area. Is the trail only open on the weekends during the winter months? Are roads closed when it snows? What are the expected temperature levels in the summer? Show your teen how to research not only for general season considerations but also, as the event gets closer, to check out weather expectations for the day/week.

Considering multiple trails? How much time do you have? Think about your pacing and how long it takes you to walk a mile right now. The more strenuous the trail the less mileage you’ll get per hour hiking. Look to see if the park or trail website can give you an expected time estimate. Then add to it based on expected breaks. For example, we hiked a rather strenuous trail at Pinnacles National Park that listed 3 hours expected, but we took 4 to complete it (I’d like to say it was because we stopped to take a lot of pictures, but let’s face it we stopped because we were sucking wind. Photography is a total cover-up – I’m outing all of you).

Teach your teen to consider how you’ll navigate the trail. Is this a point-to-point easy trail that’s less than a mile? Are you ok with someone missing it to drop you off and park at the far lot? Or do you want to stay together and make it a round trip of almost two miles? Are the parking lots usually full by 9 AM? Is there a second lot available nearby? Get them thinking about the whole process so they don’t end up missing out due to a lack of planning.

How to Train for a Hike

A hiking trip will be much safer if you are ready for the physical demands of your adventure. Talk with your family honestly about your current levels of fitness. What kind of walking and/or running are they willing to do in order to prep for a future hiking trip? Walking the level sidewalks of suburbia will be much more straightforward than a hike with drop-offs and 1,000+ feet elevation gain. So remind your teen to consider what type of walking or where you are running when getting ready for a hike. Or you can always suggest practicing on easier trails first.

Strength training can also be a part of hike preparation. We don’t just use our legs to walk a trail. Carrying a day pack uses core muscles. All that drinking water gets heavy! A pack can strain shoulders and neck muscles if this is a new activity.

Speaking of strained muscles, let’s not forget the power of stretching. Introducing simple yoga moves and stretches can help prevent injury. Teach teens to stretch and warm up their muscles before stepping out on the trails.

What to Pack

Teens and tweens can definitely pack their own backpacks and suitcase for that matter. This is an empowering activity and allows them to make choices and deal with those choices. I’m not embarrassed to say that we let one of our kiddos hug himself and shiver through most of a day in Yosemite in late fall because he was going through a “shorts only” phase and wouldn’t wear anything else. Hiking pants just were not in his repertoire at the time regardless of parental warnings. So there you go – an instant learning experience for him. Now I’m not suggesting you hike to Everest Base Camp with a kid who will only wear shorts but … Owning packing responsibilities comes with age and just requires a bit of training. Providing them with an essential gear list is a huge help. Follow this list and your teen will be ready for most outdoor adventures.

Backpack – A high-quality, lightweight day pack or backpack is vital to a successful hike. Having one that fits right and can sit comfortably on your back when fully packed is worth the investment.

Water and snacks – water and high-protein snacks that can keep you hydrated and energized throughout the day.

Sun Protection – you don’t want burned skin so grab a hat and sunscreen.

Extra layers – warmth may not be on your mind in the middle of a sunny day. But when the sun goes down you’ll be grateful for those extra layers of warmth. Hiking clothing, appropriate to the day’s overall weather, can be complemented with a fleece or wool pullover, rain jacket or gloves to make you more comfortable.

Illumination – planning on a sunrise or sunset hike? You’ll want to have a headlamp packed in your gear. They are relatively small and can save you from long dangerous walks in the dark.

Navigation – make sure you’ve got a designated map carrier in the group. Another option is to download the trail maps to your phone so you don’t need service to read them. The All Trails Pro version or Google Maps provides this option.

First Aid Kit – there are small kits that fit in the bottom of a pack. You’ll be glad to have it if the situation arises.

Emergency Kit – going on a more remote hike for a long distance? A small collection of life-saving items can fit into a small bag and complement your first aid kit. If need them you’ll be glad to have waterproof matches, a whistle, a knife, and a compass. You can create emergency shelters from a space blanket or simply a large plastic trash bag. These are small on space but huge on comfort if an emergency arises.

Sanitary Items – when you gotta go, you gotta go. And if your tribe is out in the wilderness there is a way to be prepared for such a situation. Bring a trowel and biodegradable wipes to help take care of business.

What to Wear

There are some basic clothing specifics that need to be taken into consideration based on the location of your hike. Is this a short hike in sunny California in the late spring? Or are we hiking uphill in the snow at one of the Utah Big 5 national parks in mid-November? Teaching your kiddos about the best clothing to wear while hiking can make the experience more positive, make them feel less vulnerable to the elements, and bring them back to the outdoors again and again. Consider introducing this basic hiking clothing list to your teen to help them pack with intention.

Dress in layers – it may be cold in the mornings and evenings. But once the sun is out and you’re active that layer can come off. You’ll want to have a moisture-wicking shirt and warm fleece layers you can remove.

Rain jacket – this is light and easy to pack as it doesn’t take up much room. You’ll be grateful to have it if it’s needed.

Hiking boots – for safety and comfort make sure you have proper hiking boots with good tread. Ankle support is essential. More challenging moderate/strenuous trails are not the place to realize your running shoes just won’t cut it.

Thick socks – your socks are all that stand between you and a blister. Make sure you have thick, sturdy socks. They should stand up to miles of walking and not slip down to the arch of your foot mid-trail.

Hat and sunscreen – cover up from the sun to avoid sunburn, especially if it is warm and your teen wants to wear a tank top. Nothing rubs worse than a pack strap on sunburned skin.

Day pack or backpack – each kiddo can carry their own pack at this point in life so one parent doesn’t have to feel constantly like the mule.

Camera and camera clip – this is optional. But remember how I suggested photography stops can help in more ways than one.

Hiking Safety

Yeah, there are some basic safety issues that this picture brings to mind. No child, you shouldn’t walk towards the cliff with face in phone. Hope your feet aren’t sweaty my dear, as you lean over the precipice while barefoot. Oh, and while we’re talking let’s agree to not walk backwards to get that perfect selfie of hiking Angel’s Landing at Zion. Dear Lord, I’m elevating my blood pressure just thinking about it. But hey, deep breath, chill out…not my monkeys, not my circus.

As a parent in order to stay sane, you focus on what is in the realm of your sometimes questionable influence. You and your tribe will be all the better for following these basic safety tips.

Itinerary – teach your kiddos to leave an itinerary in the center console of your car at the trailhead. Always let someone know when you are heading out, especially if going solo.

First Aid Kit – all hikers should have this on hand even if only planning for a hike that last a couple of hours.

Trail Map – teens can learn to keep a map of the trail on hand that doesn’t require cell phone service. If a trail is not well-marked hikers are happy to have a map to help negotiate the surrounding areas.

Wildlife Safety

Teaching our children to not only love being out in nature, but also to respect it and honor boundaries is a vital part of educating them for a positive outdoor experience.

National and state park websites will remind us to not scream or shout while on park trails and this is a good thing. But there is a level of natural noise that we make hiking along a trail and that’s ok. Don’t try to be silent while hiking. Natural levels of noise warns animals in advance that humans are coming and they often will leave the immediate environment. If it seems that an animal is getting too close, stand still and make a calm but louder noise to announce yourself, slowly raising your arms out wide. This lets it know you are human, not prey or competition.

With that being said, your goal is to teach your kiddos to keep their distance from wildlife. Animals in the wild are best admired from a far distance. Always stay calm. If an animal gets too close, sudden noises and quick movements are not recommended. Back away if necessary always keeping your eye on the animal to see what its reaction is going to be. The National Park system has this webpage to help you discern the best course of action for dealing with bears specifically.

Don’t forget what is cute and cuddly looking from a distance has its own priorities up close.

Hiking Trail Etiquette

You want to teach your teens and tweens about the right of way. Besides simple rules like don’t play music and step aside to let others pass when you are stopped, there are a few codes of conduct that help kids know how to negotiate situations that may happen on crowded trails. Pay attention to your surroundings if you have to step off trail to let others pass as native flowers or plants can be damaged.

Hiker vs. Hiker – the group hiking uphill has the right of way but always step to the side to let others pass if you are stopped to rest.

Hiker vs. Biker – bicyclists should give the right of way to hikers or horses. Come to a full stop, especially if negotiating the path with horses, and let others pass.

Hiker vs. Horse – hikers should always yield to horses. If coming up from behind calmly announce yourself and your intention to pass. Step as much to the side as possible while approaching.

Our boys did a brief stint in the Boy Scouts and they left with a strong sense of the Leave No Trace principles. This short list of seven points allows us to make the smallest impact on the environment as possible. This is an important thing to teach our kiddos so that the environments we hike in can be around for generations to come.

Living on the East Coast and interested in supporting a fantastic organization to get all kids out into nature? Check out the outdoors.org Youth Program.

Ready to get your tribe out into the great outdoors? Check out our post on One Perfect Day in Zion National Park. Or try a California adventure that avoids the crowds by hiking Pinnacles National Park.

Hiking with your tribe can encourage an active lifestyle for the years to come. Just follow the steps in this article to have a more enjoyable experience with your tweens and teens. And let us know in the comments how your hike went! Do you have any advice you’d like to share with families who are venturing out this year? Share it with us so we can all benefit!

Maybe all those months of downtime have finally convinced you there’s no better time than now. Or maybe you’ve finally saved enough for that first international trip on your bucket list. Whatever the reason you’re ready to start planning your first international trip. Here are your top questions answered before you take off down the run way.

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How far in advance should you plan international travel?

We are all for last minute impromptu travel deals! But you are truly doing yourself a favor if you plan at least one year out. International trips can take a chunk out of your budget. So even if you only have a foggy dream in your head of adventurous destinations, you can still start setting aside money. Starting a travel budget and researching different countries can happen long before flight deals come across your radar. Using a site like budgetyourtrip.com can help you calculate potential costs for each of the countries you’d like to see.

Research flights using free online tools such as Google Flights, paid subscription services like Going (previously known as Scott’s Cheap Flights) or an app like Hopper that can look at flights and hotels together and predict the best time to buy. You can get a sense of what the average cost is for when you’d like to travel and then be ready to snap up a deal when your alert comes in. If you are open to the unknown you can sign up for travel deal alerts and let the cheapest price determine your next adventure location. Often times the deal will cover flight dates that span multiple month’s long windows so you can pick dates that work best for you at the cheapest price.

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What are some things you should learn before traveling to another country?

Learn about the best and cheapest way to get money during your first trip. Airport exchange rates often do not benefit the customer so check the exchange rate at your bank to possibly get a small amount to carry with you. This can help you kick off your trip comfortably until you can get to an ATM.

Usually local ATMs will have the best exchange rates. Check with your bank for international ATM availability or charges that may be incurred should you use another ATM. See what fees are charged. Use cash or debit when you can. If you must use plastic, a debit card is going to help you avoid the additional international fees that credit cards can send to users.

Learn more about your cell phone data plan. Confirm ahead of time that you will have an international data plan or price the cost of an upgrade. This allows you to determine if you need to pick up a wi-fi hotspot or not before you leave for your trip.

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Learn a few basic expressions in the language of your new country. Showing an effort to communicate with others in their home language is a gracious way to connect. Trying out simple phrases such as “thank you” “good morning/evening” is an easy way to start. For the more adventurous, learn how to ask a local for a restaurant recommendation. You may even want to learn a few basic phrases that can help when things don’t go as planned such as learning how to ask for directions. This is something the whole family can practice together.

How to best prepare for your first international trip?

So you’ve got your tickets! You’re ready to focus in on your destination. Book a place to stay that includes a kitchen. You can spend too much of your time and a significant amount of your travel budget by constantly eating out in restaurants. And even eating at the best can be too much when staying more than 2 – 3 days. You and your family will want a home-cooked meal or you’ll want to feed a craving for something you are missing from home. Staying at a local home, a hotel suite with kitchen amenities, or even a hostel with a shared kitchen gives you and your family the ability to save some money to put toward better experiences. Taking the time to shop at a local market can not only be healthier, but it gives you the added bonus of a deeper dive into the daily lives of the community.

Book your day trips in advance. This is definitely not the place to wait for last minute deals. Train, ferry and bus tickets can often be much cheaper when booked farther out. One of the great benefits of international travel is the ability to use your base as a jumping off point to other outlying areas. Check in with the whole family about what they would like to see. You can engage your tweens and teens with this part of the trip by asking them which places they would prioritize seeing. Put those on the list as well. The city where you land can be just the start of your trip as high speed trains and well developed ferry or bus systems may offer opportunities to easily see more of your new country. The bus and train systems at your base location may offer a full daily schedule of easy day trips to other cities.

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Plan for trips to other places you’d like to see by checking online services for train and bus tickets. You can purchase these months in advance and save a lot of cash by doing it this way. As someone who has felt the pain of standing in front of a train station ticket kiosk gut kicked by the price gouging, trust me to say this is not what I wish for you. Online ticket services provide schedules built around a 24-hour clock in order to help avoid confusion, can be translated to English, and are usually straightforward to use.

Museums and cultural sites all have different hours and days of operation. You’ll need to do your research on which places are open and when so you can create a schedule that doesn’t leave you surprised standing with your family in front of a closed building. Most major cities have a City Pass style card that can be purchased in advance which gives you access to multiple locations for a flat fee. These passes can also offer skip the line privileges which save you time and money so be sure to review what perks come with each pass. Children often can get into museums for free so be sure to research costs of entry for each age group in your tribe. You may not need to buy a pass for each person.

How do you prepare your (teens’) body for international travel?

The short answer to this question – you can’t. Jet lag is real. Traveling abroad comes with long-haul flights for many of us and the inevitable change in time zones. You’ve heard the advice that you should skip all adult beverages on your flight (easy enough for the kids but I’m sure you’re not in a rush to do that). Drink tons of water (now you just have to use the nasty airplane bathroom more). Or you can try to adjust your sleep schedule gradually a few days in advance of your trip. But if you are like us that is just not possible. You’re still working and kids are going to school right up to the last minute. You don’t have the luxury of stopping your current world to adjust to future time zones. Let’s be honest – we don’t even manage to do that for daylight savings time!

Instead, help yourself tackle jet lag through your planning. You can’t avoid it but you can be ready for it. How you plan your time during your trip is the best way to help you and your tribe recover from the significant time difference.

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Trust me when I say do less to enjoy more. And my friend, I have learned the hard way. On our 8-day trip to Italy, I didn’t give us a second of downtime. We went from thing to thing to thing. The energy is there at first – the excitement of a new place. The awe of seeing things you’ve only seen in books. But that can’t last forever and your body will stop with or without your permission.

I did not plan for that much-needed rest on our first international trip. As a result, Florence is barely a memory. It’s the place my oldest slept on the street, my youngest slept in a book store by the train station, we groaned our way through those last two museums, we missed our timed entry to the Duomo and my husband couldn’t even enjoy what I still to this day consider the best sandwich I’ve ever eaten from Come Dio Comanda because he was so wiped out from jet lag he couldn’t process my request to try it. Let me say that again dear reader. My husband, the wannabe chef, couldn’t eat. This is bad. Create an itinerary for your trip with the idea in mind that you need to purposefully schedule days with nothing to do.

But…

With all that being said, jet lag can be a good thing. At least in the beginning. I know. I know. Now I’ve confused you. I truly don’t mean to. There is a method to my madness so stay with me. Remember how I mentioned there is that energy at first? That energy of the new and as-of-yet unexplored? Your sleep schedule is off and the city is calling you. This is the good side of jet lag. And we encourage you to answer the call. Can’t sleep? Then get out into your city (where it is safe to do so) and enjoy the time to have the streets to yourself. The Trevi fountain will never be as deserted as it is at 3 A.M. Some of our best photos have happened when we couldn’t sleep. So take advantage and see the best of your new city when no one else is around. Just don’t treat this as if it will last. Your energy will drain and this may be something you can only take advantage of once. That’s ok. Use your best judgment. Give your family the downtime later in your schedule and you will be able to catch up on much-needed rest.

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How can you explore a location beyond the tourist traps?

Talk to a local any chance you get. Taxi drivers, tour guides, the local host of your Airbnb are all possible connections to the behind-the-scenes locations that locals enjoy. Reach out to ask about those high-quality non-touristy places that will help you truly get to know the area. Want to know the best place to eat in the local market? Ask someone who lives there, the person selling flowers, or candy, or fabric. These locals spend all day every day at the market and have probably got the true inside scoop on which food vendor is the best.

An important bonus is that your kiddos will see you trying the language. Showing that respectful attempt to connect in another language is a life skill that you’ll want to pass on. You’re trying out some of those phrases you learned earlier in your planning. Recognize that there is a vulnerability that occurs when you have complex thoughts in your mind that you don’t have the language to share. Being able to share that with your children builds empathy toward others who have the same struggles with English.

So dust off that passport and get out there into the world much more prepared with these travel tips and answers to all of your top questions. I wish you all the excitement and hope that comes with planning an international trip! If you’d like to bring the vacation to you while waiting for your plan to take off down the runway take a look at these internationally inspired staycation ideas:

Italy Themed Weekend Staycation

7 Steps to the Ultimate Mexico-Themed Staycation

Or if you are interested in more international adventures you can check out the following posts:

Your Ultimate Lisbon Itinerary

Paris in April 

Barcelona with Teenagers 

The Ideal Rome 3 Day Itinerary 

The City of Guanajuato: A Very Special Place

Mexico City Historic Center A Detailed Guide