“Over the river, and through the woods, to Grandmother’s house we go.” Holiday road-tripping even has its own carol! During the holiday season, many of us will pack up the car and hit the road. We’ll head to family gatherings, our trunk laden with brightly wrapped presents, and our stereo playing classic holiday tunes. It really IS the most wonderful time of the year.

To get you ready for your upcoming holiday road trips, I have compiled a list of road-trip essentials Christmas style.

1. Mobile device jam-packed with Christmas music!

  • If you’re a Pandora fan, I recommend “Indie Holidays” or “Jazzy Holidays” for a station choice!
  • My favorite Christmas cd’s are ANY of Harry Connick Jr.’s,  She and Him (A Very She and Him Christmas) or any of the Glee Christmas albums

2. Hot Beverage

  • Swing by your favorite coffee shop on your way out of town and grab a grande peppermint mocha or eggnog latte! A festive and warm drink (and caffeine!) will make the sibling bickering going on in the backseat much more bearable.

3. Mom’s Bag of Gifts

  • Just like Santa, have a bag full of small wrapped gifts for your kids. Every hour (adjust the time based on how long your trip is!) give each child one of the wrapped presents.
  • Use the gifts as an incentive….”You can have another one at 3:00 if you get along until then.” etc.
  • Choose gifts that will entertain your kids in the car! Activity books, story books or chapter books, seek and find books, flashcards, coloring books and crayons, sudoku, a new DVD for the car player, etc.

4. Lovies

  • Kids will be much more inclined to have those sugar-plum visions dance in their heads if they’re comfortable (and can slightly forget they’re in the car with their siblings!) Bring their favorite blankets, pillows, and small stuffed friends to keep kids cozy and happy (and asleep.)

5. Planned Stops

  • Whether you’re traveling with kids or not, everyone in the car will need to get up and stretch their legs every so often. Plan some “fun” stops into your trip. Do a little research ahead of time and see if there are any great light displays, tree farms (many sport reindeer or other animals), parks, or cute little sweet shops. A holiday pit stop will keep everyone’s spirit bright. =)

Chasing Supermom and Kia wish you the merriest of holidays. May all your road trips be bright, and may all your Christmases be white.
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*This post was sponsored by Kia. I received a gift card in exchange for this post. No other compensation was received. All opinions are my own.