Fun family road trip

Packing

1. Clothes: a) Collect everything you think you and your children will need. b) Pack half - or less. There'll be lots of coin laundries along the way and you'll
be stopping anyway.

2. Absolutely essential supplies:
• Sunblock (SPF 30)
• Hats for everyone, especially kids
• Insect repellent
• First-aid kit
• Prescription medications
• Car seats or booster seats for small children

3. Toys and amusements for on the road: a) For each child, pack as much as will fit into one small duffel bag. Essentials: books, activity books, paper, markers and crayons, favourite CDs or tapes, a couple of favourite toys (plus a few new ones) and a scrapbook. Additional options: disposable camera, etc. b) Apportion as much as you can from your travel budget to the purchase of additional amusements on the trip.

4. A good guidebook, such as Fodor's Canada (Fodor's, 2004, softcover, $33), Frommer's Canada (Frommer's, 2004, softcover, $32.99) by Shawn Blore and Herbert Bailey Livesey and Lonely Planet Canada (Sleeping Bear, 2002, softcover, $34.95) by Mark Lightbody

5. Other (optional, but I'd suggest you seriously consider):
• A cooler stocked with drinks and snacks to save you stops, time and money
• Pillows and a small blanket or two for the car; a sunshade for a back window
• For a small child, a familiar pillowcase, cuddly toy and night-light from home – something she associates with bedtime in her
own bed
• An aluminum, fold-up camp cot (we bought one for our daughter to give her a familiar place to sleep every night and it worked)
• For a child under two, a lightweight umbrella stroller (about $20)