Episode 53: Road Trip - Creating the Plan

Road trips are a big enriching way to educate your child. It's immersive learning at its best! Planning your road trip plays a huge role in creating the educational experience you want - so we dive into the logistics that you may want to consider in your initial planning stages. We also discuss a California unit study and various ways to practice multiplication in addition to your curriculum. (Check out our helpful 10 tips for road trips blog post!)

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Show Notes

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An epic homeschooling road trip takes time and lots of planning. Creating the plan with weather, destinations, and the interests of your young travelers in mind can be a daunting task. Consider our checklist of seven steps below when planning your trip. We dive into each of these steps with our best tips!

Step 1: Choosing a Destination(s)

  • Time of Year - weather, road conditions, and crowds all affect your young travelers’ happiness

  • Length - the needs of your travelers sometimes means longer or shorter stays at various destinations

Step 2: Build an Itinerary

  • Ask friends/internet - there are hidden gems, advice for families,

  • Research the route

    • Plan for pull-outs, cool sites & sights - giant dinosaurs, mega milkshakes, and beautiful lookout points

    • Research gas stations and pit stops - they are not always operational and some places are more fun

  • Consider apps/websites for tracking the trip: google maps, mapquest, roadtrippers

  • Resources

    • Fodor’s/Lonely Planet Guides

    • Blogs

    • Websites: Campendium, Drivin & Vibin or location specific

    • YouTube

Step 3: Reserve Accommodations

  • Camping - inexpensive and fully immersive

  • Glamping or Unique Stays (tree houses, boats, wagons, etc)

  • Hotels, AirBnB - some even have laundry facilities!

  • Friends/Family - always bring a hostess gift and thank you card to set the right tone

Step 4: Plan Recreation

  • Tickets - many places sell-out or have limited capacity, so get your tickets before planning your stop

  • Reservations - some national parks and special spots require reservations

Step 5: Prepare for Travel

  • Car Maintenance - let your mechanic know about your road trip to ensure your car is in tip top shape

  • Comforts & Tools - you can soup up your car with extra head rests, seat organizers, and more

  • Foods & Snacks - a small cooler will keep fresh food at your fingertips

Step 6: Confirm Confirmations

  • Confirm all reservations, including calling hotels and confirming addresses

  • Print tickets and receipts with confirmation numbers

Step 7: Check-In with Travel Partners

  • Get their buy in - It’s important that your travelers are excited about the sites

  • Plan together - others have great ideas too

  • Provide Itinerary and Route - kick off the trip with a photo montage tour of all your stops!

Check out Episode 56: Road Trips - Part 2 for the educational planning component!

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