How to Have Fun with Family Day Trips

Start Small: Stay Local

Traveling doesn’t need to be stressful or include faraway places.  If you want to travel, but are nervous about how you or your kiddos will do, start small.  Plan a day trip that’s less than an hour away to test the waters.  You may find that your kids end up napping while you’re driving, giving you some peace and quiet. Or you could find out that your kids cry or get sick.  The good thing is—you’re not far from home so you can figure out a solution before you plan that long trip! 

My niece gets carsick so she takes a Dramamine before they leave and is fine for the drive.  Everyone is different—my mom is ok if she is in the front seat, but gets sick when she is in the back or tries to read.  My sister-in-law does best when she is driving.  If you get carsick, knowing what triggers you in advance and finding remedies will help ease your stress before you travel again!

Day Trips

We live about an hour away from both Cleveland, Ohio and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania so we often find ourselves heading to those cities for day trips.  We love the Pittsburgh Zoo and have been members for a few years. This gives us something to do during any season when there is a nice day.  Ohio weather is unpredictable so we’ve had some nice weather in the winter and have been able to take advantage of a quick trip to see the animals.

We also love science centers and have been members of both the Carnegie Science Center (Pittsburgh) and the Great Lakes Science Center (Cleveland).  Both have a ton of activities for the kids (and us adults too) and makes for a perfect day trip!  Check out our posts highlighted above to see how purchasing a family membership can really save you money! 

Sometimes we’ll turn our day trips into an overnighter and find other things in that area that we can do.  My kids are always up for a hotel stay–just give them a pool and free breakfast and they are happy!

We’ve enjoyed hiking at local parks, checking out arboretums, enjoying shopping at outdoor malls or having a picnic at a local beach.  Need something to do when it’s cold or rainy?  My kids love heading to our local Barnes & Noble for a treat at the café and time to browse.  Take a nice “Sunday Drive” and go check out a town you haven’t been to before

The possibilities are endless, but you really don’t have to go far to have fun exploring!  I encourage you to search Pinterest for “things to do with kids in XXX” and see what pops up.  Or check the website www.onlyinyourstate.com for unique ideas on where you can go in your own state.

Need Some Inspiration?

Check out our Family Fun Bucket List! Did we miss anything? Tell us what you do to have fun!