Day 10 The big 4

Today was absolutely an Amazing Day! Gavin turned 4. Avilene turned 7 months. Jake turend 26 months!!  Usually we celebrate with the ground littered in balloons and streamers hanging from doorways. But due to our tiny home, we had to make some adjustments.  We decided to spend the day roaming the city. Gavin really wanted to do the duck boats, but after getting pricing we decided against it.  On our way downtown the kids fell asleep in the car so we decided to take the long route and drove up to La Jolla.  Um, I felt like we were in Cannes France or Monaco. The houses and cars were definitely the “California” you see in movies.  Eventually we made it back downtown and had a late picnic at Waterfront Park and played for awhile.  We found Lofty Coffee and the boys had slurpees  We went to the Firehouse Museum where Gavin became a fireman and saved Avilene! We went back to the park next to the US Midway and saw a bubbleologist (yes it is a real thing) He made some incredible bubbles for the kids.  We saw the infamous statue and all I could think of was my Papa. He had a picture of this in his garage and used to say it was him kissing my Grandma.  We walked over to the Bob Hope dedication and then sat by the waterfront and watched the ships and boats and airplanes go by.  As a special treat, we had a bike peddler bring us back to our car.  Once we were back at the tiny house I made dinner, but we must have burnt out a circuit between the electric stove, charging our phones, doing laundry and running the air. So, we sat outside for an hour or so and the boys knocked on the window looking for our neighbors Susie and Jesse. Unfortunately they had checked out and the boys abruptly introcudef themselves to our new Australian neighbors.  We finished the day cuddling and passed out by 9. 
What is the best way to road trip with young kids?

Plan for roughly half the driving you think you can do. Kids need movement breaks every 1.5 to 2 hours. The best stops are not the ones on the itinerary but the ones you find by pulling over. Pack snacks that avoid crumbs. And accept that the trip will go differently than planned and that is usually better.

How do you keep kids entertained on a road trip?

Audiobooks and podcasts for kids work better than screens for longer stretches. Window games. Music everyone can agree on. Letting older kids navigate. And giving them meaningful jobs rather than just asking them to sit quietly for hours.

What should you pack for a family road trip?

A car trash bag. A cooler for drinks and snacks. A first aid kit. One bag per person that lives accessible in the car. Entertainment that works without wifi. A physical map as backup. And less than you think you need of everything else.

How far should you drive per day with kids?

Four to five hours of actual driving is comfortable for most families with young children. More than that and the last hour tends to make everyone miserable. Factor in stops and add at least 50 percent to driving times.

What are the best US attractions to visit with kids on a road trip?

The national parks are extraordinary and widely underused by families. Zoos in major cities. Interactive children’s museums. Sea World, Legoland, and similar theme parks for dedicated days. And the unexpected stops that were not planned that end up being everyone’s favorite memory.


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