Road Trips – My Travel Stamps

March 6, 2021February 8, 2022

6 Socially distanced Spring Break ideas for families

It’s almost time for spring break. Are you frantically trying to find socially distanced spring break ideas for a much-needed getaway? Those routine visits to the supermarket, doctor’s office, gas station or drug store get old kinda fast, huh? While attitudes about travel still vary widely right now, there are ways to lower your risk if you decide to break free from the monotony to preserve your mental health this year.

Rent a remote cabin

Itching to swap your concrete jungle for more enticing scenery that’s free from smog, loud neighbors and honking horns? Drop off the Wi-Fi grid and rent a remote cabin in the mountain or woods to totally unplug for a few days. You can read and play games to your heart’s content or explore nature trails on foot or by bike.

Visit a national or state park

Being outdoors creates fantastic opportunities for families to relax, bond and have a great time, so please add an RV, van or tent camping family vacation consideration to the mix. Not only will it get you immersed and interacting with nature, but you’ll be able to benefit from the reported health benefits of increased Vitamin D intake, more peaceful sleep, and improved moods.

Go camping

Reserve a beach cottage

Sandy toes, freckled nose. Is there really anything about a sun-drenched beach vacation to oppose? Of course not! A beach cottage is the perfect temporary home base for going swimming or snorkeling, building sandcastles, planning picnics by the shore, or launching kayaks. And even if paddleboarding or island hopping is more your thing, you can do that too. When you’re by a beach, your relaxation choices are easy.

Take day trips from home

After the year we’ve all had, nearcations or day trips have quickly become a means to obliterating those pesky lockdown blues. There is no denying that the appeal of acquiring a new passport stamp is always tempting, but sometimes cool adventures can be found right outside your front door or city border. All you have to do is purposefully look for fun, local experiences.

Hop on the houseboat trend

Still undecided? Why not rent a houseboat and get the best of both worlds? With a houseboat you get your very own private suite (kitchen, bathrooms, living room, and sleeping quarters) plus a sweet ride! It allows you to live on the water, enjoy unlimited watersports and dock wherever and whenever you want.

Before I share some of my socially distanced spring break ideas, let me first encourage you to:

Follow established mask wearing and social distancing guidelines.
Get tested before and after your trip.
Stick to road trips as driving offers the most controlled means of transportation.
Plan outdoor adventures.

November 20, 2020November 21, 2020

33 Great trip activities you can do with your family and friends

raid trip activity packet for the entire family

Psssst… guess what? I did a thing!

With the help and support of my loving ~~exasperated at my many rounds of edits~~ family, I hunkered down for a few months earlier this year and created JURNEAZEE [pronounced Jurn – easy], my first-ever digital product.

It’s a boredom-buster combination of 33 great trip activities you can do with your family and friends. The full activity pack includes coloring pages, crossword puzzles, word-finds, scrambled words and bingo cards to keep everyone engaged and entertained at home or on long trips.

Why now?

With more people than ever traveling by car and many others choosing to stay home due to safety concerns during a global pandemic, it’s timely.

What does it do?

Jurneazee makes journeys easy by taking the stress out of long trips and transporting users on a virtual expedition around the world.

How does it do that?

The trip activities highlight interesting tidbits about multiple destinations and point out special nuggets on signature events, cool places of interest, local lingo and food. Jurneazee not only relieves boredom – it appeals to the culturally curious traveler inspires wanderlust as well.

Where can you find it?

Right here on my brand new My Travel Stamps SHOP!

For only $16 (less than 50 cents per page), the Jurneazee Trip Activity Packet includes:
– 5 coloring pages
– 5 crossword puzzles
– 5 bingo cards
– 8 scrambled word puzzle sets (7 words in each category)
– 10 word-finds
– Answer sheets

Plus, persons have the option to buy the complete packet or individual sections.

When can you get it?

Now, just in time for the holidays.

September 14, 2020February 28, 2021

Are RV road trips the next big thing? Here’s what you need to know

Motorhome parked by the sea showing a palm tree at sunrise

Are the past months of confinement starting to get to you? Yup, me too. Tons of other people seem to feel the same way, and that’s why RV road trips are a growing vacation trend, one which is expected to hold steady at least until until we get a vaccine)

But can cross-country road trips be done safely?

The plain truth is, ?? ? ???????? ??????? ?? ??????????! But if you follow CDC/WHO guidelines, make wise choices, and act responsibly, you may be able to get away for a bit.

So, we all know cars are an option. But have you ever thought about going the bigger, “all-inclusive” route and renting an RV? I have. I’ve been doing a lot of research about them, so I thought I’d share some of the things I learned with you.

Let’s start with the basics

What is an RV?

An RV is a recreational vehicle. They have always been popular with people looking for freedom and a simpler life, but recently there has been a spike in demand for them from travelers looking to have more control over their health and safety during the pandemic.

Are there different types of RVs?

Yes, RVs come in different sizes!

Class A Motorhomes are big bus-sized vehicles, suitable for large families or groups. A Class B Motorhome is smaller and usually shaped like a van. They are great for couples and people travelling solo. Class C Motorhomes offer mid-size family comfort and convenience, often similar in size to a U-Haul truck.

There are also tow behind trailers, pop up trailers and truck campers.

What type should I rent?

The type of vehicle you rent will depend on how many people are going on the trip, how much you want to spend, how much advance planning you want to do, and the type of adventure you want to have.

For example, bigger vehicles give you more space and better amenities, but they cost more in terms of gas and campground/RV park fees. On the flip side, camper vans are easier to drive and park, but you won’t be able to pack as many clothes into them or have as much room to cook elaborate family meals.

Now, let’s talk about more specifics.

Tips for planning

Map out your route (i.e. pay attention to things like height restrictions for bridges and tunnels, stops for gas, and terrain that may be tricky to navigate).

Research parking ahead of time. This is super important and can make or break your trip. I’ll list apps that can help with this later in this post.

Book your campsite way in advance. As I previously mentioned, the demand for camping has exploded due to COVID-19, so availability is limited.

Allow for differences in travel times because everything takes longer than when driving in a car.

RV Parking 101

Parking can add up, so planning for it depends on your budget and how long you intend to be on the road. If your vehicle has solar panels and its own generator, you can go off the grid and avoid pricey campgrounds or RV Parks.

But if you’re hoping to save money, you can try to secure an overnight spot in a state park, rest area, truck stop, casino or Walmart. Always check on rules and local ordinances first though as they vary by state, city and business.

Handy apps and websites

HipCamp: They allow you to tap into their database of nearly 400,000 camp-friendly sites that range from national parks to blueberry farms.

iOverlander: This is a crowd-sourced app that shows you locations you can park for free, as well as get tips on mechanics, clean water sources, where to get propane, and more.

US Public Lands: Available from the US Government, this app lists their public lands. One user said, “It’s a great way to research an area and find some hidden gems that aren’t in the directories.”

Websites

Campendium.com: This site gives you reviews and information on nearly 27,000 campsites in the United States, Canada, and Baja Mexico.

Freecampsites.net: They are a simple, map-based search engine that helps you find free and/or cost-effective campgrounds.

HarvestHosts.com: Harvest Host is a paid membership network that allows you to stay at breweries, vineyards, and even some farms for free.

Companies that rent RVs

There are many RV rental companies to choose from, but the following five kept coming up in my research:

Outdoorsy
CruiseAmerica
RV Share
Escape Capervans
Jucy RV Rentals

Disclaimer: This is not an endorsement of any company. These tips are meant to be starting points only. Please conduct your own research on anything you’ve read in these slides before making final decisions on your RV Road Trip.

Now, before you hit get behind the wheel, be sure to check out some of my other resources here for road trip game ideas and useful road trip checklists.

Do you have any great trips for RV road trips you’d like to share?

September 9, 2020September 20, 2020

12 Road trip games that will make your car ride easier

Black woman leaning against trunk of SUV packed or a long road trip

There’s no denying that spending multiple hours in a cross-country car ride can be challenging – no matter how much you love your fellow passengers. That’s why it’s always good to have interactive road trip games planned to overcome restlessness and boredom during the journey.

Already tripping over that upcoming road trip? Don’t worry. I got u. I’ve already hooked you up with 4 road trip checklists to ensure you don’t forget anything. Now, I’m sharing 12 road trip games that will make your car ride easier.

Games for Small Kids

I Spy

One passenger spots an object that will remain within everyone’s line of vision for a while and gives clues to help the kids guess what it is.

The Alphabet Game

Let your kids look around them (inside and outside the car) for objects that begin with letters of the alphabet, going in order from A to Z

What Color Is It?

Name a list of things that have the same color and challenge your kids to kids guess what the common color is. For example, you can say “strawberries, tomatoes and cherries” if you want then to come up with RED.

Sing-A-Long

Take turns choosing a song. Everyone in the car then sings along as loudly and animatedly as possible.

Games For Older Kids

Story Time

One person comes up with the opening line of a story then family members take turns to add one line until it comes to a natural end.

The License Plate Game

Have your tweens work together to spot all the out-of-town license plates they can find and make a note of the different states represented.

Hum That Tune

Start this game by asking one person to hum the chorus or opening line of a popular song. The first person to guess the tune correctly gets to go next.

The Movie Game

In this game you connect actors/actresses by the movies they have starred in. So, begin with naming an actor in one move and then family members must name other actors from the same movie without any repeats.

Games for Adults

The Hot Seat

This is your chance to find out things you wanted to know all along. For this game, each passenger has to answer five questions they normally wouldn’t.

Never Have I Ever

One family member lists something they have never done, while saying: “Never have I ever… “

The other players each get a point if they have done it. The player with the most points wins.

Two Truths and a Lie

One player makes three statements and others try to decipher which two are true and which one is false.

The Rhyming Game

Have the first player choose a word and then the other passengers must take turns coming up with a word that rhymes with it.

What other road trip games have worked for you and your friends or family? Please hare them below.

Plus, I’ve got something new coming! Stay tuned.

And if you found this post useful, don’t forget to save and share. Sharing is caring, okay?

August 23, 2020September 20, 2020

4 Road trip checklists for 2020 and beyond

Woman in convertible going on a road trip

It was estimated that 37 million Americans took a road trip over the 4th of July weekend this year, and the global number for summer travel was predicted to hit an all time high. Were you counted in those stats?

If not, I wouldn’t be surprised if you are desperate to get away from the quarantine confines of your home or neighborhood for the fall. Plus, I am willing to bet you are planning to get to your next destination via RV or car. Airlines haven’t stopped flying, but with so much still up in the air, road trips seem to give a greater sense of control over your personal space, which reduces the perceived risks to our health and safety. Wouldn’t you agree?

https://www.instagram.com/p/CDOTT6yhAjc/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Before I go any further though, let me just say that non-essential travel during a global health crisis is a sensitive subject and very much a personal choice. So, the decision to hit the road – whether in North America, Europe Africa or the Middle East, or another region of the globe – will be totally up to you. But if you do plan on revenge travel or that safecation, this post is designed to help you put together a thorough road trip checklist. One that’s especially right for you!

First. let’s break down everything you’ll need for your vehicle.

Next, with all that time on the road, let’s note all the gadgets that may come in handy.

Now, it’s safe to assume you’re going to need help with navigation, finding gas stations, parking, making last-minute bookings and other tricky stuff, right?

And last but not least, no road trip is really complete without a happy family. Yes, there may be tumultuous toddler meltdowns, testy temper tantrums among siblings, or missed exits because Dad didn’t check directions. But at the end of the day, those are the things that make vacations fun and memorable.