When I was a kid, vacations meant car trips — my sister and me in the back seat, Mom and Dad up front, (wresting with maps that never got refolded), and a cooler of snacks for stops along the way.
Over the years though, we drove less and flew more. We got to our destinations quicker, but lost out on the fun of roadside picnics, unexpected adventures and never-ending games of I Spy, License Plate and 20 Questions.
This year, the great American road trip is back for millions of families who will be bypassing airports and heading out in their sedans, minivans and SUVs.
According to a recent AAA survey, 55 percent of Americans say they are more likely to take a road trip, due in large part to the lowest gas prices in more than a decade.
“We are well on our way for 2016 to be a record-breaking year for travel,” said Marshall Doney, AAA president and CEO.
For families with kids, car trips can be a budget-friendly way to go. Packing your own food and snacks saves on expensive restaurant stops and, at most hotels, kids stay free in their parents’ rooms.
Some chains offer even more. At most Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Resort hotels across the country, kids stay — and eat — free.
Many family-friendly attractions and destinations offer special deals on admission and lodging packages.
>>Old Sturbridge Village has a Family Fun Package. For $167 (plus tax), you get an overnight stay for a family of two adults and two children and tickets to museum in Sturbridge, Mass. (You can add an additional night for $99.) Some exclusions and blackout dates apply. Information: osv.org.
>>Bradford Inn & Suites in Plymouth, Mass., has a Thomas the Train Ride and Stay Package, which includes an overnight stay and continental breakfast for two adults and two kids and four tickets to Thomas Land, located at Edaville Railroad in nearby Carver, Mass. The package starts at $256.92. Information: bradfordinnsuites.com.
>>If you’re heading to a national park in late August, you’ll save as well. The National Park Service turns 100 this year and is waiving entrance fees from Aug. 25 through 28.
Even the best planned trip can hit some bumps in the road — but these days, you don’t have to travel with a pocket full of change for a pay phone. As long as your mobile device is charged (you did pack that cord, right?), you can find cheap gas, avoid traffic back-ups, plot alternate routes and never miss a fun attraction.
The Gas Buddy app helps you find the cheapest gas and closest stations on your route.
Waze, a traffic and navigation app, posts real-time traffic info from drivers in your area. The app alerts you to any accidents, road hazards, road or bridge closures or traffic jams ahead, posts area gas prices so you can find the cheapest fuel, and lets you coordinate arrival and departures times when you’re traveling with friends.
Parenting magazine called Restroom Finder is one of the best apps for moms. The app lets you find nearby public bathrooms, search for facilities with specific features (changing tables, handicap access, etc.), and rates cleanliness.
Ever wanted to see the world’s biggest ball of twine (Cawker City, Kan.), or a palace completely covered in corn (Mitchell’s Corn Palace, Mitchell, S.D.)? The Roadside America app features a collection of the country’s quirkiest tourist attractions with directions, addresses, hours, reviews, photos and contact information.
When you have to stop to eat, Out to Eat With Kids and My Kids Eat Free apps let you search by location to find free or reduced-price kids meals.
But technology is no substitute for preparation. AAA rescued more than 350,000 motorists during the Independence Day holiday travel weekend, primarily due to dead batteries, lockouts and flat tires. Before pulling out of your driveway, preventative car care can help insure against a roadside emergency, says Jack Lyon, owner of Lyon’s gas and service station in West Hartford.
“Have a car safety check,” says Lyon. “Be sure that your brakes, your battery and your tires are all in good working order. Check hoses and belts. And don’t forget your cooling system, which not only keeps people inside the car comfortable, but also keeps your engine from overheating.”
If you’ve got tires with factory-installed safety locks, be sure you have the tire key with you. And pay attention to your car’s “check engine” light.
“If the light comes on and stays on, it’s something you should have looked at when you can,” says Lyon. “But if it comes on and starts flashing, get off the road, stop driving and have it checked ASAP.”
