Memphis: The Road Trip

Did I mention that we drove to Memphis?

I think it may have qualified as our first successful road trip.

We left after school let out on Thursday, drove to Shreveport, and spent the night. We got up the next morning and drove to Little Rock, where we picked up Gramma and had lunch. Then we drove into Memphis Friday afternoon.

On the way back, we left Sunday afternoon and drove to Little Rock, where we all stayed the night. Charlie and Joe left Little Rock Monday morning with Gramma, because they were spending a week in Oklahoma with her. Will, Helen, Cort, and I drove from Little Rock to Houston on Monday. And made it home before 5pm. Over 1100 miles in 4 days of driving, with only one full day in between.

Now that we've actually had a successful road trip, here's what we learned:

• The number one rule in hotel selection is to get a hotel with a swimming pool. The kids look forward to it so much that they are actually excited to be driving to their destination. And it tires them out so they sleep well.
• If possible, do not stop to eat. Eating is a valuable activity that takes up time and keeps kids happy in the car. Use driving time to eat. Pack meals and snacks beforehand so you don't have to stop at all.
• Instead of taking breaks during the drive, go as hard as you can until you get there. Then use the extra time for the fun in the pool and hotel.
• If someone has to go to the bathroom, everyone gets out and goes unless they've gone within the last hour.
  
• Stay at a hotel that has free breakfast. Kids love buffets, and even a picky eater will like most of the options on a breakfast buffet. However, if you've got a long trip ahead, consider putting the buffet contents in the to-go cups provided for coffee and eating on the road, consistent with the above point.
  
• If you must stop for meals, stop at a fast food restaurant, let the kids run around ,and use the restroom while you order and wait for the food. Then take the food in the car and eat it while driving.
• If you have kids, like ours, who aren't necessarily placated by the DVD player, improvise. Download something to an ipod that they will like. We almost forgot Charlie and Joe were with us on the leg from Little Rock to Memphis, because they were watching an Astros game on their ipods.
  
• I never thought I would be one of those parents who rides in the back with their kids while their spouse sits up front alone and drives the car. (I used to make fun of moms who did that with their infants, and my kids are 4 and 7!) But truly, it makes all the difference.
  
• Having different sized decorative glass containers with candy like M&Ms, Skittles, etc. is a cute idea at a wedding reception. Taking bags of those with us and doling a single one out every 10 minutes that our kids were good in the car? Brilliant.
• Never underestimate the effectiveness of actually pulling the car over and dealing with a situation, usually a whining child. One whiner infects the whole bunch. But something about actually stopping a car--and then following through with taking a kid outside despite protests that now they'll straighten up--that sets the tone for the rest of the trip.
• Japanese restaurants where they cook in front of you--not sure whether we can manage to find one of those next to our hotel on every road trip, but it sure was the icing on the cake for the kids.

Really, it was such a great trip. Gives me hope for the Great American Road Trip With The Family one day.