Getting There is Half the Fun Part 2

For part 1 of “Getting There is Half the Fun,” please scroll down to the previous entry.

Now that everyone is entertained, time to concentrate on keeping everyone’s stomach happy. After all, you don’t want to be so hungry that you could eat a sandwich from a gas station, do you?

Snacks that work well for kids are; granola bars, fruit snacks, crackers, raisins, and popcorn. The best items are the ones that don’t need refrigerated and can be stored in a Ziploc bag. Adults may prefer chips, pretzels, Hostess fruit pies, and other items. For drinks, a cooler will do wonders. We bring two small portable coolers with ice packs. One in back by the kids for milk and juice and one in between the driver and passenger seats with soft drinks for the adults.

As for the actual driving, nothing is more exciting than passing through the major cities on the way. Forget about the bypass (unless traffic is extremely backed up). On our way down to Florida we drive through Chicago, Indianapolis, Louisville, Nashville, and Atlanta. Seeing the skyscrapers and billboards of the major cities breaks up the monotony of grass, trees, and pavement. It also breaks the trip down into smaller goals, which gives the driver something to shoot for. It’s easier and more fun to set a goal of reaching Chicago in 3 hours than it is to dwell on the fact that you have 22 hours until you reach WDW.  The next goal is then three hours to Indianapolis, two hours to Louisville and so on. 

Also, be sure to stop at the State Welcoming Centers. This is a great opportunity to get out, stretch, and take bathroom breaks while learning about what each state has to offer. Pick up any brochures or coupon books of area attractions to page through while you drive to the next state. The Florida Welcoming Center is a must do. Visitors can sample freshly squeezed Florida orange juice and pick up some WDW and other Florida attractions brochures.

If you choose to drive straight through, a great idea is to have one person drive through the night while the other sleeps. In the morning find a suitable place to stop for breakfast, then switch drivers before heading out. If you decide to break up the trip over two days, I highly recommend travelling beyond the halfway point the first day. Traffic can get congested the closer you get to Central Florida. The extra time spent driving the day before will help even out the amount of time spent in the car between the two days. After an hour and a half of driving beyond the Florida Welcoming Center it would be a great idea to take a quick restroom break before you hit the Central Florida traffic. The last thing you want to do is try to fight your way through the traffic to find an exit, then have to fight your way back in several minutes later.

A Global Positioning System (GPS) is also highly recommended. They come in handy locating the nearest McDonalds or Target for those occasions when the kids want to eat lunch or when you suddenly remember a must have item you forgot. They also do a fantastic job keeping the driver on the right course. If you do not have a GPS, a United States Road Atlas is a nice option. You never know when you may miss an exit or merge on to the wrong freeway. Who knows, you could end up in a different state, like the time we ended up in Michigan when my brother and I were discussing fantasy football instead of paying attention to the road signs.

No matter who goes along for the ride, or how long the drive takes, just remember that a happy family makes for a happy vacation.

To coin a phrase from Clark W. Griswold, “Getting there is half the fun, you know that!"