My kids are FINALLY on summer break, and I couldn’t be more excited to have them home. Our summer bucket list has been made, and we are more than ready for a summer full of nature walks, trips to the park, s’mores by the fire, and lazy afternoons. This year, the biggest item on our bucket list includes a big cross-country road trip as a family!!
As a mother of four, I have to say that one of the most important things you can do to have a successful road trip is PREPARE! Preparation and planning are key to having a smooth and enjoyable road trip – especially if you are traveling with young children. Here are my Top Five Road Trip Essentials:
1. Road Trip Play List – Make sure to load up your device with family-friendly tunes that won’t have you wanting to rip off your ears by mile 50! Some of our go-to’s include movie soundtracks and our Disneyland cd!
2. Frequent “Fun” Stops – Everyone knows that you’ll need to make regular bathroom breaks, but I think a key to a great road trip are what I like to call “Sanity Stops!” Stop at a park and let the kids play on the playground for thirty minutes. Grab an ice cream from the local road-stand. Stop at the scenic viewpoints. ENJOY the whole trip, and don’t focus solely on the destination!
3. Activity Bags – Before you go, fill a quality canvas bag with a variety of NEW books, notebooks, activity pads, reusable sticker pads, and more. Every few hours (or whenever the kids start to get antsy!), let them grab a new activity to keep them busy. (My trick – the bags were kept in the front by me – so I could make sure they didn’t go through all the new activities in the first hour!!)
4. Camera – (And I don’t just mean your iPhone!) Stop and take pictures. Capture moments. Take pictures of things that are gorgeous and things that are altogether regular. Snap that pic of your four year old snoozing in the backseat and your 8 year old’s face when he sees the Grand Canyon for the first time. Relish the beauty of the journey and the ups and downs that happen when you pile a family in the car. You are going to want to remember the trip, as road trips are often some of the BEST times to make memories (both good and bad!) as a family!
5. Snacks!! – Let’s get real here for a minute…being “hangry” ain’t pretty! While I recommend scheduling fun stops, it’s not always feasible to stop at a restaurant or mini-mart every time someone in the car gets hungry! Pack up a cooler with drinks and snacks, so that whenever you get the munchies, you’ll be covered!
Speaking of tasty snacks, Fisher® Nuts (which I’m sure you already know and love) have come out with an all-new snack food that is unlike anything on the market. These snack bites combine (are you ready for this…) roasted nuts, whole-grain popcorn, and amazing toppings like chocolate, peanut butter, and salted caramel!! AND, at only 15 calories a bite, you can indulge your craving for something just a little bit sweet and a little bit salty without a lot of guilt!  You can get Fisher Nut Exactly at retailers like Walmart and Costco nationwide. (And trust me, you’ll want to!)
Not going on a road trip this summer? No problem! I’ve been enjoying Fisher Nut Exactly in the evenings too! These are the perfect bedtime snack, providing that sweetness I find myself craving in the evenings.
Fisher Nut Exactly snack bites are available in the following DELICIOUS flavors:
o  Almond Popcorn Dipped in Milk Chocolate
o  Almond Popcorn Dipped in Dark Chocolate
o  Pecan Popcorn Dipped in Salted Caramel
o  Peanut Popcorn Dipped in Peanut Butter
(The Almond Popcorn Dipped in Dark Chocolate is my personal favorite, but I can honestly tell you that they are ALL delicious!)
Pick up a bag (or six) the next time you’re at the grocery store, and have your family snacking happy all summer long!
Stay Connected on Social Media:Â
o  Fisher on Facebook
o  Fisher on Twitter
#FisherNutExactly
For more information about where to buy Fisher Nut Exactly, visit www.FisherNutExactly.com
One of my very lucky readers is going to get to sample these delicious snack bites from Fisher® AND win some money to help them have some fun this summer!! (I love my job!)
Prize package includes a suite of the new Fisher NUT EXACTLY snack bites and a $50 Visa Gift Card!! This is the PERFECT prize for families who are getting ready to get away this summer! Get those entries in and good luck!
I would like to take a trip to oregon, do some sight seeing, then head on up to washington state
As a resident of Washington state, I have to say that your choices are EXCELLENT. =) The Pacific NW really is beautiful! Good luck and thanks for entering!
Peanut butter popcorn dipped in peanut butter? Oh.my.gosh.
Alyssa, it’s amazing. Seriously.
I would like to go to Maine and stop in Vermont
Good ones! Two states I’ve never been to!
We just got back today from Walt Disney World. Traveling with 2 boys, ages 8 and 5, from Kentucky to Florida, lets just say I had my eye on the prize! We only stopped when necessary. I would love to take a long trip out west and stop everywhere!
Last year when we went to Disneyland, we didn’t stop often either. Next year when we go back, we plan to be much more interactive on the drive! WDW is still on my bucket list! Someday!
I would love to take a road trip from Wa to Indiana to see my Mom. I never really travel so not sure what stops I would make.
That’s almost exactly what we are doing in a few weeks!
I would love to take a road trip to Yellowstone with my kids. We took one when my oldest kids were really young. They don’t remember it though. There are so many fun things to see along the way from oregon.
I would love to take a road trip along Pacific Coast Highway and stop at the Hearst castle and Big Sur
I would go to the Outer Banks.
I’d like to take our kids on a road trip across the state to the Grand Rapids zoo. I’d stop at Michigan Adventures and some of the kids museums as well.
I would like to take a cross country road trip stopping along the way at some national parks and monuments and end up in Seattle to visit my son.
I’d like to take a road trip up the coast of California.
I’d like to take a drive up the sea coast of Maine, and try every lobster and clam shack, restaurant, and check out the sites!
I wouldn’t mind taking a road trip to Alaska, and taking a cruise from there.
I will like to visit Maine.
I would love to drive to Yellowstone National Park with my family. I would probably stop at any odd places just for fun. Thank you
I have always wanted to visit the grand canyon. We are going to do a couple of camping trips this summer.
I would love to go to Denver CO for a road trip.
and I would do the Rocky Mountains for sure!
thank you
We are going to Yellowstone and stopping in Salt Lake City.
If I could take a road trip this summer, I would drive cross-country and visit relatives all along the way.
I would love to travel through Alaska and take lots of photos.
I would like to drive up the PCH to San Francisco.
I would go to Michigan to visit my daughter and my new grandson.
I would go to San Francisco
I would take a road trip to Niagara Falls. I have always wanted to go there.
I would really like to go camping in the mountains in Colorado this summer.
I would go to the Outer Banks. We went about 8 years ago and had a blast. I would love to go back now that my girls are older and could enjoy it more. Thank you!
We are hoping to go to Niagara Falls and New York City. Both are on our lists.
I would love to take a road trip up to Washington D.C. and visit all of the sights!
I’ve always wanted to visit the West coast especially driving the 85 miles along the Big Sur coastline and spending time hiking Olympic National Park and the surrounding areas.
If I could take a road trip this summer it would be to northern Colorado. I would love to visit Boulder and Fort Collins and get to know those towns.
I honestly just want to go to the beach.. Any beach will do I’m not picky
I’d love to road trip to Disneyland!
I would like to drive to Nashville for a road trip. Bucket lists include CA, Oregon, and Vermont
I would love to go to North Carolina!
We are taking a road trip to pigeon forge tennessee, can’t wait!
Coastal New England Boston and Gloucester Massachusetts, New Haven and Mystic Connecticut, Newport Rhode Island
I would take a road trip to York beach, Maine.
I I would go to Cape San Blas, Florida because the beach there is quiet and gorgeous! I would stop at fresh produce stands along the way!
I would like to take a road trip to Washington DC. I have always wanted to see all the historical sights they have and to actually see the White House.
I would take a road trip to Las Vegas and stop at the Grand Canyon on the way there.