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We all love vacations but they can be hard to organize when you are a single mother. Not only do you have the stress of finances but you also have to pack, plan, and think about all the dangers in between. My daughter and I love to travel. I’m not always able to travel the way I want but we figure out ways to get out and about especially during the summer when she’s out of school.
I love to go to places that we have never been before because it helps to expand her horizons and broadens her knowledge of the world. A couple of years ago we decided to do a trip around the US. We started in Michigan and drove south. Here are some things I’ve learned along the way!
First, have a plan for your budget, places you want to visit, and packed items that you will need. I looked at my budget and made sure that I was able to do what I wanted to do. Then I looked at a map and decided where I wanted to go. This was important later because then we could go back and see all the places that we had traveled. Then I made a list of all the things that I needed to pack for my trip. This part can be exhausting but it’s so important because you want to capture everything you might forget.
Second, book your air travel or like me have your car checked over before you leave. It’s important that however you travel that you get there safely. For me, it’s so important that you get AAA. The reason you need this is you never know what will happen along the way and you need to be able to get help quickly and safely. If you are flying I recommend you don’t book without being able to get your money back if something arises. You never know if your kiddo could get sick last minute or something may come up.
Third, is accommodations. I love this website and app for all my hotel needs. I usually just check in with the app and it’s super easy to book and have access to all the information. With our trip around the US, I made sure we had a schedule and made sure we had a place to stay at the end of each night. Luckily we had some friends along the way so it worked out really well.
Fourth, find historic, or famous places to visit along the way! I love visiting all the historic sites we can. We never really stayed in one place too long but it was enough to snap a photo along the way. This helps to put all the things my daughter is learning in the classroom into effect. She got to see the Mississippi, the Grand Canyon, and the Rocky Mountains! I love road tripping because you can see so much of the country along the way. The United States has a lot of different terrains and we got to see the vegetation of the deep south and the deserts of the west. On some of the days, we found back roads through little towns in America and got to see some farmers with their long-horned cattle!
Fifth, and for me most important is finding the food along the way. What’s so fun about a road trip is that you can experience different food stops along the way that are typical to that area. My daughter and I are foodies so we love to go exploring little holes in the wall. Here’s a blog that lists the 100 best restaurants in the US according to Yelp. You can also do your own research to discover what particular restaurant or cafe is good in the area you are visiting. Here’s a guide to the best things to do in each state.
The most important thing that you need to do on a road trip is to have fun! Enjoy your road trip with important moments of connection with your child. Get lots of road trip snacks and take tons of pictures. These are the moments you will never forget for the rest of your life!
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