One of the best things about North Florida is that we are within driving distance of so many fun travel spots. We’re only a handful of hours (or less) away from the Kennedy Space Center, the theme parks in Orlando, historic Savannah, Charleston, Atlanta and Stone Mountain, and so much more.
Traveling with kids is easier by car than by plane or train. It would be much easier if my daughter did not get motion sickness in cars. Her car sick record is a 2 hour road trip we took to Disney World. She’s why I bring so much stuff everywhere I go.
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Packing that stuff into a car is a bit easier than trying to pack it into a restricted number of suitcases. Well, relatively easier.
Related: Make one of these homemade car fresheners this weekend!
She threw up an epic 6 times, with the last time being right as we were pulling up to the parking lot attendant at Magic Kingdom.
Thank goodness for the laundry facilities in hotels. She got to wear her entire vacation wardrobe in those two hours.
I’m a little different from your average suburban SAHM. I don’t drive a minivan or an SUV. Our “family vehicle” is my Toyota Tundra. I love it because I feel safe in it. I was once hit by a car from behind on the highway. The car that hit me was a stolen vehicle filled with guys who were driving recklessly and intoxicated. I got hit while I was driving 65 mph!
I thought I ran over something on the highway.
I didn’t realize I was hit by another car until it swerved around me and passed. The entire front end of the sedan was damaged and smooshed in.
I barely felt the impact.
It’s like I drive a tank. A high, bouncy tank that sometimes makes my kid projectile vomit. You gotta take the good with the bad, right?
Each summer, I prepare my truck for fun with the family by doing these three things.
Ensure preventative maintenance is up to date
Get your oil changed and your tires checked. One easy thing that you can do yourself (and save money) is to change your engine’s air filter.
A clean air filter prevents dirt and debris from getting into your car’s engine and reducing overall performance. A smooth ride goes a long way in helping kids that get queasy in the car.
Pack a motion sickness kit
I like to keep a bag of essentials in my car for my daughter. It’s a handy little carsick kit.
I always have a gallon sized plastic storage bag with an extra set of clothes–normally just a dress and underwear to make changing her easy. I also have a pack of wipes, chewable motion sickness pills (check with your pediatrician for dosage and type), and extra plastic bags for clean up and as “barf bags.”
Use your essential oils to make a natural air freshener
Have you ever taken a long sniff from the steam rising up from a soothing cup of ginger tea, or used a lavender scented pillow spray? Have you noticed how the smell and taste of minty chewing gum makes you feel refreshed? I used those experiences to make my own blend of essential oil scent for my truck.
It’s simple and effective.
Related: All natural car freshener
Materials:
- small muslin bag
- small clothes pin
- approx 1.5 oz of aroma beads (small polymer beads that absorb oils)
- a mason jar
- 4 drops lavender essential oil {get them here}
- 4 drops ginger essential oil {get them here}
- 2 drops spearmint essential oil {get them here}
- 2 drops peppermint essential oil {get them here}
- 4 drops sweet almond oil
Directions:
blend oils in small bottle
shake well
put aroma beads in the mason jar
pour oil blend over it.
shake well
give the beads a few hours to absorb the blend, shaking the jar every so often.
Once beads are dry, pour into the muslin bag.
I like to use iron on transfers to make my bags pretty.
Use the clothespin to clip onto car ac vent.
The ac will distribute the scent throughout the vehicle.
Please note: DO NOT leave air freshener lying on a hot dashboard as the beads may melt. I leave mine clipped to the vent which does not get as hot.
The beauty of this air freshener is that it can be “recharged” with oil when it starts to lose scent!
How do you prepare for summer roadtrips with kids that don’t do so well in the car?
Wow great tips! i need to make that air freshener too!
I hear so many great things about essential oils that I’ve been interested in trying them! Great to see they’re helpful with summer road trips! And it looks so easy to change your filter! I can’t wait to do mine! 🙂 #client