Winter is a season full of fun bucket list activities for the entire family. Adventure out into the snowy weather or savor the smells of warm, freshly baked bread. Get inspired to create magical moments during the chilliest months of the year with these 40 winter bucket list ideas.

Go on a Winter Hike

Bundle up to witness a vividly different world by taking a winter hike. Frozen waterfalls, the crunch of freshly fallen snow paired with dynamic ice displays, makes venturing out on a nature hike during the winter months a must-do bucket list item. Hiking in the winter requires a little more preparation than in warm weather. These Winter Hiking Tips are bound to keep you out on the trail and away from the television this season.

Make Homemade Hot Chocolate

Nothing screams wintertime more than a warm cup of hot chocolate. Whether it is instant hot cocoa full of marshmallows or a gourmet homemade hot chocolate, this is winter’s official drink. It is best enjoyed next to a cozy fire with a warm blanket after a snowball fight.

Build A Snowman: A Winter Bucket List Must!

“Do you want to build a snowman?” YES!!! This timeless winter bucket list activity is perfect for all ages. Get out the old hat and scarf, then find a carrot nose to complete your masterpiece. Snowmen come in all shapes and sizes; even if it is a little one on a balcony or picnic table, they always spark joy.

Make Snow Angels

Another wintertime classic is plopping down in the middle of a snow-filled yard to create a snow angel or two. Getting a little wet from the snow is entirely worth it.

Start A Journal

Fight seasonal depression by starting a journal. Documenting your feelings, stories, travels, and life events are an excellent form of expression. You don’t have to be good at writing to experience the benefits of journaling. It is a great way to learn more about yourself and grow.

Plan A Winter Escape

Beat the wintertime blues by planning an escape to a remote cabin or treehouse for the weekend. Enjoy a relaxing dip in a hot tub, find great hiking options, and delicious local eateries—jazz things up by finding unique lodging options within a few hours from home.

If traveling is out of the question, plan a fun dream vacation complete with activities and food!

Need some inspiration? Try these great cozy winter weekend getaways!

Have a Snowball Fight

Nothing quite beats the thrill of throwing snowballs at unsuspecting family members and friends. Be prepared to engage in snowy combat as not many will take the hit without returning fire. Take your snowball fight to the next level by building snow forts for shelter.

Binge Watch A TV Series

With winter winds knocking on your front door, now is the perfect time to catch up on your favorite shows or finally watch the ones you have been saying you will watch one day. With fewer daylight hours, winter is a better time to binge than on a beautiful spring day.

Tip: I have started binging series while walking on my treadmill to try to reach my step goal.

Buy A New Pair of Cozy Socks or Slippers

Treat yourself this season to a great new pair of house slippers or cozy socks. While many have their favorites plagued with holes and wear, it is time to break in that new pair. One of my personal favorites is the Ugg Slippers.

Learn A New Language

Are you dreaming of that trip to a foreign country? Why not get started on learning the language? Winter is the ideal time to take on learning a new language. With less daylight, that means there will be more opportunities to spend indoors with your language lessons. Free apps like Duolingo make picking up phrases and common words in a new language a breeze!

Even More Winter Bucket List Ideas

Make A Pinecone Wreath

During a nature hike, gather a bucket of pinecones to create a stunning pinecone wreath from your door. Don’t know where to start? This tutorial is terrific for making a quick and easy Pinecone Wreath.

Go Stargazing On A Clear Night

The crisp, chilly air on a winter’s night seems to make the stars glow even brighter. Grab that telescope to discover the starry world that is unfolding above. Even though winter may be cold, it offers prime sky gazing at state and national parks as crowds have dissipated.

Take A Bubble Bath

The speed and convenience of a shower often take priority over a nice soak in the tub. Treat yourself this winter to a relaxing bubble bath. Grab a glass of wine, turn on classical music, light some candles, and feel the stresses of this world melt away. Splurge on a Lush Bath Bomb or your favorite scented bubble bath.

Sit By The Window and Watch The Snow Fall

One of my favorite things to do during the wintertime is to take a moment to enjoy the falling snow. The peacefulness of watching the snowflakes flutter to the ground while cozied up inside is something I love doing every snowfall.

Learn A New Skill

Imagine what could be learned with all the time spent binging Netflix? Instead of settling in for the next season, take that time to tackle a new skill, whether it be crochet, cooking, sewing, or web design; set aside a little time each evening to practice your designated skill. YouTube can be an excellent teacher, with educational videos found on everything under the sun. Just don’t get sucked in and spend all your free time watching videos!

Clean Out Your Closet

Organizing a closet or two can do wonders for the soul. Take time to clean out unwanted items, clothing that doesn’t fit, and items that will never be worn again. Donate them to local charities. Coats, hats, scarves, and mittens are always in need during this season, so add the coat closet to your cleanout.

Have Antarctica Day

Dedicate a day to learning about one of the coldest places on earth. Make homemade ice cream, watch a documentary, and discover the animals that live in these extreme conditions. For more ideas on how to host an Antarctica Day, visit Travel Around The World At Home.

Write Thinking Of You Cards

Spread kindness by sending five people thinking of you cards. Imagine their surprise to get a handwritten note, letting them know that someone cares.

Try A New Coffee Drink

Boldly order the coffee drink you have always wanted, or try something completely new! It could wind up being a new favorite!

Organize Old Photos

Does anyone else have shoeboxes full of old photos? Organize them this winter into albums or download them to the computer. Not only is this a fantastic way to reminisce, but it can be a fun family night.

Tip: Organizing photos on the computer is another excellent wintertime activity. Label and place it into the designated folders.

Build an Indoor Fort

When the weather takes a turn for the worse, build an indoor fort! Whether it is for a sleepover, movie night, or merely a way to pass the time, an indoor fort is bound to be a success. Add flair to any fort by adding twinkling lights.

Fondue Night: A Foodie Winter Bucket List Idea

It’s time for a throwback dinner by busting out the fondue pot! Fondue is one of the most fun at-home date-night ideas, since it is done at a leisurely pace. Kick off your evening with delicious cheese fondue, then cap off your evening by savoring a decadent chocolate fondue.

Perfect the Chili Recipe

Everyone has a famous chili recipe that they guard closely. Experiment with new chili flavorings or create an entirely new recipe this winter: Tackle White Chicken Chili or the Vegetarian Chili recipe. Most people will agree that nothing quite beats a warm bowl of chili on a cold day!

Go Sledding: The Ultimate Winter Bucket List Item

Grab your sled and run for the nearest sledding hill. While sledding can be dangerous, it can also be an incredible time filled with lifelong memories. Come prepared with plenty of warm weather clothes, proper footwear, and snacks.

Try Skiing or Tubing

Skiing is a popular winter sport that many enjoy year after year. Newbies to the sport can opt to take a beginner’s lesson while more experienced skiers hit the slopes running. Skiing, not an option? Consider another fun winter sport, snow tubing!

Have A Wine Tasting

Envision the rolling hills of Napa Valley while sipping a variety of wines from the region. Select two or three wines to sample and take notes on different flavors, aroma characteristics, and characteristics of the wines. Pair it with a charcuterie board for a perfect evening.

Cook Your Way Through A Cookbook

Do you have an old cookbook lying around? Make a point to try to cook through the entire thing this winter. There are bound to be a few new recipes in there that will be keepers! A few popular ones to cook through are the Joy of Cooking and Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking.

Try A New Restaurant Every Week In Winter

As you are cooking your way through a cookbook, be sure to give yourself a break by trying a new restaurant each week. Support local businesses while sampling various cuisines—carry out for a quick, easy meal at home.

Get Cozy With A Book By The Fire

Put on those new slippers, grab that blanket, and settle in for a peaceful evening of reading accompanied by the glow of the fireplace.

Ice Skating

Lace-up your skates and hit the nearest rink for an entertaining afternoon on the ice. It is a fun way to get exercise during the cold winter months.

Bake A Pie

Let the aroma of a fresh-baked pie fill the house on a dreary cold day. Think of Thanksgiving as the kick-off for pie season instead of the end. Winter fruit pies, chocolate mousse, pecan pie, the list is endless.

Try A New Workout

Get moving this winter by trying out a new workout program. It can be challenging to get motivated during grey days but try various exercises and workouts to break out of sloth mode. Try a morning yoga session, or commit to a running group!

Make Homemade Soup

Homemade soups are a fantastic way to warm your tummy and comfort your family this winter. Pair it with freshly made bread for a winter bucket list favorite.

Sample A Variety Of Teas

Get to know the different types of teas by having a tea sampling. Tea can be paired with foods to create an Afternoon or High Tea. Utilize this tasting guide to know how to taste the tea properly. In addition to online, Homegoods and TJMax are great spots to pick up tea sampling sets.

Random Acts of Kindness

Inspire kindness by performing random acts of kindness. This is doing something nice for someone without asking and without you doing it for anything in return. Whether it is buying the meal for the person behind you, leaving money in a vending machine, or writing a positive comment on a blog or website, each little act of kindness does not go unnoticed.

Work a puzzle

Winter is the perfect time to strengthen the mind with a puzzle. Choose a tropical-themed puzzle for a mini escape! As kids, we would often have puzzle races to see who could finish their puzzles first.

Serve At A Homeless Shelter or Soup Kitchen

This is a need that the community has every season, not just winter. Call your local shelter to find out how you can help today.

Coloring Contest

Let your inner artist shine by creating a masterpiece. Get others in your family to compete, then display the finished colorings along a wall like an art gallery.

Create A Special Holiday Bucket List

The holidays bring about many unique traditions, recipes, and activities. Create your own custom holiday bucket list. Popular holiday bucket list items include making a gingerbread house, adopting a family, go caroling, and sending holiday cards.

Have A Yeti Day: A Unique Winter Bucket List Activity

Learn all about the legendary Yeti by dedicating a day to this mysterious creature. Eat snow cones, watch light-hearted Yeti movies such as Smallfoot, and even make fake snow.

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40 Winter Bucket List Ideas

Creating the perfect caption to accompany a picturesque vacation photo on Instagram can be challenging at times. After all, did your vacation even happen if it didn’t post on Instagram?! That is why we have rounded up the best inspiring vacation quotes for your next Instagram caption.

You have spent endless hours planning the perfect vacation. Whether it is a bucket list adventure to a far-off place or a weekend getaway to explore a small town, your bags are packed, and it’s time to go. Naturally, your friends and family are anxiously awaiting your next post to see where your journey is leading and to ensure you are having a good time. After finding a gorgeous photo of your vacation, it is easy to draw a blank or find the words to capture the moment accurately.

Don’t waste any more of your vacation time struggling to create the ideal Instagram caption. Often a single quote can best articulate the feelings that surround a photograph. We have rounded up some of the best travel quotes to help you create the perfect vacation Instagram caption.

The Best Travel Captions

“If we were meant to stay in one place, we’d have roots instead of feet.” – Rachel Wolchin

“Once a year, go somewhere you have never before.” – Dalai Lama

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” – Lao Tzu

“It’s not the destination, it’s the journey” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life — and travel — leaves marks on you.” – Anthony Bourdain

“Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world” – Gustave Flaubert

“Sometimes you never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” Dr. Seuss

“To travel is to live.” – Hans Christian Andersen

 “Better to see something once than hear about it a thousand times”

“All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.” -Martin Buber

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” -Agustine of Hippo

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”― Mark Twain

The Greatest Adventure Captions

“Adventure is out there.” – Up

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” – Helen Keller

“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm, and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.” – Jawaharial Nehru

“We travel, some of us forever, to seek other states, other lives, other souls.” – Anaïs Nin

“The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams.” – Oprah Winfrey

“I do believe it’s time for another adventure.”

“I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.” Susan Sontag

“Travel is about the gorgeous feeling of teetering in the unknown.” Anthony Bourdain

“Travel sparks our imagination, feeds our curiosity, and reminds us how much we all have in common.” – Deborah Lloyd

“Say yes to a new adventure.”

“People don’t take trips; trips take people.” – John Steinbeck

“Wherever you go becomes a part of you somehow” – Anita Desai

“My favorite thing to do is to go where I’ve never been.” – Diane Arbus

“Trains are wonderful…To Travel by train is to see nature and human beings, towns and churches, and rivers, in fact, to see life.” – Agatha Christie

” It feels good to revisit old places.”

“There’s a first time for everything.”

“I would gladly live out of a backpack if it meant I could see the world. “

“Travel is never a matter of money but of courage.”- Paulo Coelho

“I travel not to go anywhere but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.” – Robert Louis Stevenson

Friends On Vacation Quotes for Instagram

“Just grab a friend and take a ride together upon the open road”- A Goofy Movie

“A journey is best measured in friends, not in miles.” Tim Cahill

“We all have that one friend who is either on a road trip or planning a road trip or thinking about a road trip or talking to people who are on road-trip or posting quotes about road-trip.” – Crestless Wave. I am fairly confident that I am this friend. 

“No road is long with good company.” – Turkish Proverb

“A good friend listens to your adventures. Your best friend makes them with you.” – Unknown

“Life was meant for good friends and great adventures.” – Unknown

“Friends that travel together, stay together.” – Unknown

“Sometimes all you need is a great friend and a tank of gas.” – Thelma and Louise

“Sometimes all you need is a great friend and thirst for adventure.” – Unknown

“Good friends follow you anywhere.” – Winnie the Pooh

“If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” – African proverb

 “Everyone needs this friend that calls and says, “Get dressed, we’re going on an adventure.” – Unknown

“You can pack for every occasion, but a good friend will always be the best thing you could bring!” – Unknown

Going on a new adventure with friends is always more fun with road trip games! Check out these fun travel games to try out on your next trip.

The Beauty Of Travel Captions

“Surely, of all the wonders of the world, the horizon is the greatest.” – Freya Stark

“Constantly searching for views that take my breath away.”- Unknown

“Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller” – Ibn Battuta

“If there is magic on the planet, it is contained in the water!” – Loran Eisley

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.”

Helen Keller

“The real voyage of discovery consists, not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” – Marcel Proust

“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” – Henry Miller

“Some people look for a beautiful place, others make a place beautiful.”

“I am not the same, having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world” – Mary Anne Radmacher

“We take photos as a return ticket to a moment otherwise gone” – Katie Thurmes

“There’s a sunrise and a sunset every single day, and they’re absolutely free. Don’t miss so many of them” – Jo Walton

“Take only memories, leave only footprints ” – Chief Seattle

“The most beautiful thing in the world is, of course, the world itself” – Wallace Stevens

“Like all great travelers, I have seen more than I remember, and remember more than I have seen.” -Benjamin Disraeli

Fun Flying Captions

I follow my heart … and it usually leads me to the airport.

Maybe you can’t buy happiness, but you can buy plane tickets.

I’m a travel addict on the road to recovery. Just kidding, I’m headed to the airport.

“I heard an airplane passing overhead. I wished I was on it.” – Charles Bukowski

“Airplane travel is nature’s way of making you look like your passport photo.” – Al Gore

“I feel about airplanes the way I feel about diets. It seems to me that they are wonderful things for other people to go on.” – Jean Kerr

“Catch flights, not feelings.”

“Jet lag is for amateurs.” – Dick Clark

“When all’s said and done, all roads lead to the same end. So it’s not so much which road you take, as to how you take it.” – Charles de Lint

Vacation Quotes For Instagram

“Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves.” – Henry David Thoreau

“Sometimes you find yourself in the middle of nowhere, and sometimes in the middle of nowhere, you find yourself.”- Stacy Westfall

“Map out your future – but do it in pencil. The road ahead is as long as you make it. Make it worth the trip.” – Jon Bon Jovi

Oh The Places You’ll Go.” – Dr. Seuss

“Our happiest moments as tourists always seem to come when we stumble upon one thing while in pursuit of something else.” -Lawrence Block

“Once you have traveled, the voyage never ends but is played out over and over again in the quietest chambers. The mind can never break off from the journey.” – Pat Conroy

“Always take the scenic route.”

“Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Are you struggling to try to capture the perfect vacation photo on your phone? We highlight tips and tricks to taking better family photos on your phone.

“All is well in my happy place.”

“Vacation Vibes.”

Motivational Travel Captions

“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore” – Andre Gide

“I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read in the train.” — Oscar Wilde

“Travel far enough; you meet yourself.”- David Mitchell

“Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire.” – Jennifer Lee

“Until you step into the unknown, you don’t know what you’re made of.”

“A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.”

“Because in the end, you won’t remember the time you spent working in the office or mowing your lawn. Climb that goddamn mountain.”― Jack Kerouac

“If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.”

” Travel is not a reward for working, it is education for living.”

“I have wandered all my life, and I have traveled; the difference between the two being this, that we wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment.” – Hilaire Belloc

“All Your dreams come true if you have the courage to pursue them.” – Walt Disney

“Not how long, but how well you have lived is the main thing.” Seneca

“I am in the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing.” Louise Hay

“It seems that the more places I see and experience, the bigger I realize the world to be. The more I become aware of, the more I realize how relatively little I know of it, how many places I have still to go, how much more there is to learn.”- Anthony Bourdain

 “When you think positive, good things happen.” Matt Kemp

“The life you have led doesn’t need to be the only life you have.” – Anna Quindlen

Funny Vacation Captions

“Are We There Yet” – Every child on every road trip

“Sometimes, the road less traveled is less traveled for a reason.” – Jerry Seinfeld

“I have found out that there ain’t no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them.”- Mark Twain

“All I need is a three-month vacation four times a year. That’s really not asking for much.”

“It’s bad manners to keep a vacation waiting.”.

“Vacation calories don’t count.”

“Work, Travel, Save, Repeat”

“Happiness is not having to set the alarm for the next day.”

“Leave a little sparkle wherever you go.”

“People will travel anywhere for good food.”

“Drink heavily with locals whenever possible.” – Anthony Bourdain

“Forever wandering where the WiFi is weak.”

“All I want is someone to look at me the way I look at a travel brochure.”

 “The only thing I love more than traveling is eating. So why not do both at the same time?”

“Some beach, somewhere. There’s a big umbrella casting shade over an empty chair. Palm trees are growin’ and a warm breeze a blowing. I picture myself right there, on some beach, somewhere.” – Blake Shelton

” A vacation is having nothing to do and all day to do it in.” Robert Orben

Road Trip Captions

“Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and enjoy the journey.” -Babs Hoffman

“Because the greatest part of a road trip isn’t arriving at your destination. It’s all the wild stuff that happens along the way.”- Emma Chase

“Sometimes, the most scenic roads in life are the detours you didn’t mean to take.” – Angela N. Blount

“It’s a road trip! It’s about adventure! It is not like we have somewhere to go.” – John Green

“Never underestimate the therapeutic power of driving and listening to very loud music.”-Unknown

“Road trips require a couple of things: A well-balanced diet of caffeine, salt and sugar and an excellent selection of tunes-oh, and directions.”- Jenn McKinlay.

“God made the world round so we would never be able to see too far down the road.” – Isak Dinesen

“Please understand, I have been waiting to leave ever since I figured out that there were roads willing to take me anywhere I wanted to go.” – Unknown

“Still, round the corner, there may wait, A new road or a secret gate.” – J. R. R. Tolkien

“Kilometres are shorter than miles. Save gas, take your next trip in kilometres.” – George Carlin

“And just like that, we’re on our way to everywhere” – Emery Lord

“The freedom of the open road is seductive, serendipitous, and absolutely liberating.” – Aaron Lauritsen

“That’s why I love road trips, dude. It’s like doing something without actually doing anything.” – John Green

“I take to the open road. Healthy, free, the world before me.”- Walt Whitman

Traveling with a toddler? Be sure to check out our guide for tips on taking a road trip with a toddler.

Family Trip Quotes

“The best gift you could have given your child/ren is a lifetime of adventures.” – Lewis Carroll

“The road is there. It will always be there. You just have to decide when to take it.”— Chris Humphrey

“It is better to travel well than to arrive.” – Buddha

“Road were made for journeys, not destinations.” – Confucius

“You can be writing every day. When you go on a road trip, the trip itself becomes part of the story.” – Steve Rushin

“Look at life through the windshield, not the rearview mirror.”- Byrd Baggett

“Road trips aren’t measured by mile markers, but by moments.”- Unknown 

“We had no idea we were creating memories. We thought we were just having fun!”

“If you open the car door and an entire Target snack aisle falls out, it was a good road trip.” – Consistently Curious 

“Some roads aren’t meant to be traveled alone” – Unknown

“It doesn’t matter how old you are, buying snacks for a road trip should always look like an unsupervised nine-year-old, given $100.”-Unknown

“We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.” – Native American Proverb

“A road trip is a way for the whole family to spend time together and annoy each other in interesting new places.” – Tom Lichtenheld.

“According to the map, we’ve only gone four inches.”- Dumb & Dumber

“No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow.” – Lin Yutang

Are you looking for more vacation quotes for Instagram? We have rounded up even more road trip quotes.

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Best Vacation Quotes For Your Next Instagram Caption

Majestic mountains, sun-bleached beaches, and vibrant cultures are places many have been yearning to visit over the years. Creating a travel vision board is ideal for fueling that wanderlust while optimistically planning future travels.

A new year vision board is a great way to plan for upcoming vacations and attain your travel dreams. Involve each family member to enhance the excitement about forthcoming vacations, bucket list destinations, and travel dreams. This article will walk you through how to make an inspiring Travel Vision Board to help you attain your travel goals.

What Is A Travel Vision Board

A travel vision board highlights your travel dreams and travel goals. The biggest goal of a vision travel board is to inspire you. The board should inspire you to create changes in your life to help you reach your goals. Whether it is to encourage saving more money by cracking down on a budget, pursuing a new hobby, or insisting that you use those PTO days. 

The vision board should uplift you with motivational quotes and help provide a positive boost. It should constantly reinforce that determination to reach those dreams.

A travel vision board can be utilized in many ways. The first is that it can be constructed for a single vacation by highlighting attractions, experiences, and places you wish to visit. Not only is it helpful in vacation planning, but it ignites a spark of excitement for the upcoming trip each time you see it.

Travel vision boards can be places you wish to visit within a year or five years. There is no right or wrong way to create a vision board; you have to pick one that is right for you! While some people like to shoot for stars with their travel dreams, I want to keep things a little more down to earth with attainable destinations.

Nothing says you can’t have more than one travel vision board, either. I often create one for each trip we go on, in addition to having a bucket list board.

While you may feel like your travel vision boards look like the one below, don’t let the year slip by without creating one to spark your sense of adventure.

Why Put Together A Vision Travel Board

There are many purposes for creating a travel vision board. While it may seem pointless or not worth the effort, it is quite the motivator. Don’t underestimate the power of a vision board.

Take into consideration the law of attraction. The law of attraction suggests that positive thoughts bring positive results into a person’s life, while negative thoughts bring adverse outcomes. Therefore, having a positive outlook on travel makes it more likely to have positive results.

By putting together a travel bucket list, you prioritize destinations that are a must to visit. This way, if an opportunity arises to take a trip of a lifetime, you have a starting point of where you want to go.

Vision boards for travel come in handy for travel planning. Here is a perfect example; while planning a vacation, it was too early to make reservations for a particular attraction. A few months passed, and glancing at my travel vision board reminded me to make those reservations. It gave me a quick adrenaline boost knowing that my vacation was inching closer and closer.

Another purpose is to provoke mindfulness in spending habits. Saving for a dream vacation often takes months or even years to accomplish.Your board will act as a visualization tool that will constantly remind you of your goals.

Vision Board Supplies

Crafting the ideal vision board can be simple or more entailed depending on the type of board you want. While some may rush off to the craft store, others search online vision boards to find digital versions and templates.

The supplies you need for your vision board will depend on the type of vision board your wish to create. While some will opt for the corkboard with their travel photos push pinned in, others may opt for a more scrapbook look by creating a posterboard vision board with craft supplies.

Vision Board Supplies List

• Poster Board
• Glue sticks or tape
• Travel magazines or printed pictures for your board
• A pair of scissors
• Motivational quotes
• Construction paper

Digital Vision Board

For those not looking to get out the magazine clippings and glue, there are many great digital options to download. Many downloads make it easy to plug in your favorite visuals and quotes to create a stunning vision board in a matter of minutes.

The digital versions vision board templates in this post are from CANVA.

How To Choose What To Put On Your Travel Vision Board

Before constructing your vision board, consider what specific goals you wish to accomplish. Is it a travel bucket list full of dream destinations or a goal board highlighting a dream vacation?

While a travel vision board can be a beautiful digital collage of travel images, the reality is it will never manifest to anything unless you have the right mindset. The biggest motivation has to come from within, telling yourself that you will travel, you will save, you will experience this. Then map out how you are going to make that happen.

For instance, if money is tight, maybe your board will consist of budget-friendly destinations with one or two bucket list experiences you will save up to do. Add in one or two powerful inspirational quotes throughout your vision board that will prompt you to save and plan.

Where To Gather Photos

The best part of creating your own vision board is finding the stunning images that inspire you. Choose photographs that are powerful images reflecting the type of travel your desire. If a retreat with friends is part of your travel plans, include group travel photos.

I often include a bigger picture that represents my top priority. For example, if your vacation vision board is a trip to the Northern Lights in Iceland, the most prominent photo should be a clear picture of the night sky with northern lights shining brightly. Then pair it with images of people doing other activities such as swimming in the Blue Lagoon, glacier hiking, or maybe a photo of a particular food you would like to sample.

Adding real-world photos such as placing money in a piggy bank or vacation planning will help give a visual cue that these things need to happen first before reaching that vacation goal.

Inspirational images can be found on social media, travel websites, travel blogs, and travel magazines. For free high-quality stock photos and travel visuals, check out the following:

Unsplash

Canva

Pixabay

Pexels

Gathering Travel Quotes 

An important thing on every board is finding travel quotes that will be a source of inspiration. Quotes are a great tool to give you that brief kick in the pants needed to create change.

One of my all-time favorite quotes is, “The trouble is, you think you have time.” Buddha

This quote strikes a chord with me because I will often put off going big trips and opt for shorter weekend trips to keep my travel urges at bay. I constantly tell myself I will go there in a few years when my daughter is older or when I am in better shape. However, the reality is none of us are guaranteed tomorrow. Why put off what you could be doing now in hopes of doing it tomorrow.

Here are a few of our favorite inspiring Road Trip Quotes.

Where Should I Place My Travel Vision Board 

For your vision board to fulfill its purpose, it needs to be where you will see it consistently. Depending on the type of board you created, there are various places to have your board.

If your board is digital, consider making it your computer screen or phone background. Digital versions can be printed and placed in planners, on the fridge, or practically anywhere.

For a poster board or corkboard, a great place to hang it is in your home office or workspace. By the bed or nightstand is another popular spot, as you see it when you wake up in the morning and before bed.

Frame your vision board to place in your living room. By placing it in such a prominent place in my home, I often opt not to watch television and do vacation planning or research.

A unique place to put it is in the laundry room since you will be in there multiple times a week.

Plan A Vision Board Party

Uplift your friends and family with a goal-setting vision board party. These parties work best for those making a physical travel board. Sharing our goals with others is a perfect way to help them manifest, creating a sense of accountability.

Consider utilizing these vision board ideas to help you reach your next trip’s travel goals. They are a powerful tool to help you reach your personal goals. With proper planning, positive energy, and goal setting, the world is your oyster!

Need travel inspiration? Check out these related posts to incredible travel destinations and vacations that are bound to spark your interest.

24 Hours In Venice, Italy: The Perfect Itinerary

15 Reasons To Visit Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana

I Took My Two Year Old On A Disney Cruise, and It Was Amazing

Pin It For Later

Capturing memorable moments in time has never been easier than with the convenience of the powerful cameras built into our phones. These tips will help you snap better family photos on your phone, whether it be fun vacation memories or a cherished moment at home.

With expert insight from a professional photographer, Hannah Smith, founder of Little Bug Photography, embrace these travel and family photography tips for beginners.

About Hannah of Little Bug Photography

Hannah Smith is passionate about capturing moments and preserving memories for families. Experiences are the best investment we can make for our families, and she founded Little Bug Photography to give mothers a boutique photography experience. 

At each session, she focuses on capturing what makes your family unique and what makes your love beautiful. As a memory preserver, she is all about getting images off of screens and onto your walls, with print credits included in every session, so your family can treasure them for generations to come.

Family Travel Photography Tips For Beginners

Utilizing a professional photographer to capture professional family photos is wonderful a few times a year, but how about all the other days. This is where learning a few phone photography tips can help you create stunning images while capturing the beautiful moments of everyday life.

Try To Use Natural Lighting When Possible

Often when a photo turns out blurry, it is not an issue with the camera but rather the lighting. The camera on your phone senses when there isn’t enough light, so it keeps the shutter open longer to let more light in. This results in a blur. The camera will also automatically increase a setting called ISO, which results in “noise” or “grain.”

Natural light (sunlight) is always the first preference. Outdoor photos are more vivid and brighter because of the natural light. If taking pictures indoors, try to capture your image in a room with more sunlight or open a few window coverings before turning on lamps.

The Golden Hour

Remember that when taking photos that the outdoor light is most dramatic just after sunrise and just before sunset. If photographing family, remember to try to pick a time that the sun won’t be shining directly in their faces. This can result in squinting and tense faces.

Enjoy The Moment

As parents, we often get caught up trying to capture the perfect moment from a vacation, experience or event. It can leave us with a camera full of photos, but we have missed the opportunity to participate and enjoy the actual moment with our children. Here are a few ideas to help break that cycle:

• Establish a set time on how long you will take photos, then put the camera down. There may be times that you don’t capture any great images; there are other times you will capture gold.
• Hand the camera off. As a mom, I often get left out of photos because I am the one taking them! If there is another family member or friend around, hand the phone to them for a few minutes to capture photos of the whole family.
• Don’t delete photos that you don’t love. WHY?! Because in a few months, you and your children will go back and treasure those moments that were captured. Children want photos of their parents, whether you think you look good or not. To them, you are perfect the way you are.
• It’s okay to stage photos. There is nothing wrong with telling your family what you want to capture, so everyone is on the same page.

Utilize Portrait Mode

Hannah of Little Bug Photography gives the best description of how to add magic to a picture with your kiddos by using Portrait Mode. A “blurry” background (this is also called bokeh) can be achieved and enhanced by using portrait mode on your phone.

Portrait Mode Works Best When:

• You have one or two subjects, and they’re all in the same place (not spread out over the room).
• Your subjects are about three to eight feet away from you.
• Your subjects are sitting still or not moving rapidly.

She dives into more details and reveals more tips on taking stunning photos with your phone in this free downloadable GUIDE FOR BETTER FAMILY PHOTOS WITH YOUR PHONE.

Photo Prompts For Kids To Capture Better Family Photos

Children never seem to want to cooperate for a picture, especially toddlers who seem to be going running away in the opposite direction quicker than you can snap a photo. That is why candid images always turn out the best. They capture the emotion behind the experience. For active photos, try using burst mode, which captures the moment over multiple frames.

Here are a few photos prompts for kids to try out:

• Have children interact with each other or with a parent. “Can you tickle your sister’s toes?” or “Go scare daddy!” These are all ways to capture fun memories.
• Find something for them to look at. “Can you see what is out of that window?” This will result in a photo of all the kids together, standing somewhat still.
• Pique their curiosity. Capture moments of your kids exploring. “Can you go see what is over there?” Or ” What is over the bridge?” It gets your kids on a trail, walkway, or by whatever background you wish.
• Give them a prop. For those beach photos, grab a bucket and shovel. For a hiking photo, have them get walking sticks to pose with.

What To Do When My Child Hates Taking Pictures

While we want to respect our children’s wishes, we still want to capture memorable moments with them. Sometimes, the minute you walk into the room they stop doing the activity; other times it is a teenager refusing to be photographed. This is means you will have to take photos when they don’t know they are being captured.

We resort to sneaking around a corner, getting down on the floor, or merely pretending to look at our phone while taking a photo. Don’t worry if you take a picture with a doorframe or a bit of a wall. It can enhance the image by telling its story.

Additional Tips For Taking Better Family Photos While Traveling

Check Your Background

Don’t spoil your perfect vacation shot with an ugly trash can, big pole, or a large group of tourists in the background. Do a quick survey of the area to make sure there are no unsightly items that could take away from the photo.

Be sure to take few steps back to capture the destination in your photo along with the kiddos. That why you will remember where you were when the photo was taken.

We all have that one beach picture with random people walking in the background. Patience can sometimes pay off, especially on the beach, to capture photos without anyone in them.

Get Down To Their Level

For a unique angle, try getting down on your child’s level. It brings a new aspect to the photos while capturing life from their perspective.

Look For Inspiration Before Arriving At Your Destination

Before visiting a destination:

1. Check out popular spots for photographs.
2. Get inspired on Instagram, Google the destination, and the places you will be visiting.
3. Map out a plan of shots you “hope” to capture.

Use A Tripod or A Tree!

Don’t be afraid to bust out a tripod to take a family photo. Tripods get a bad rep for being time-consuming to set-up, but if it means you are going to get a full family photo in front of the Grand Canyon, do it. You may even encourage others.

Most phones have camera timers allowing these moments to be captured with ease. It is even better when it is synced to a smartwatch, so no one has to run to hit the timer.

No tripod, no worries. We have set our phone up in a tree, on rocks, or whatever seems to feel right to capture the moment.

Don’t Be Afraid Capture The Negative

One of the best things I have been capturing are negative aspects of our trip. While it isn’t always enjoyable in the moment, it has proven to be the funniest memories when we look back. Angry kids at the happiest place on earth? Or perhaps getting soaked in a downpour!

Discover more tips for traveling with kids.

Apps To Use For Editing Photos

After snapping the perfect image, it is common practice to use filters or overly edit the image to distort it. Keep in mind, when utilizing filters or editing tools, also keep the untouched original. The original is often what families come back to years later to enjoy.

Lightroom

Our favorite editing tool is the Lightroom app. It is the best free tool for editing your

photos. It can be quite overwhelming at first glance as there are many various adjustments you can make.

I recommend playing with each different one to know how they affect the photo. Then only use a few tools such as brightening, sharpening, or adding in contrast. Photos can be cropped as well. Lightroom also has an upgraded version that can be purchased.

PS Express

Another free editing tool that can help you enhance your photos. It is similar to Lightroom in its features and abilities.

For more tips on taking stunning photos with your phone, download the FREE GUIDE FOR BETTER FAMILY PHOTOS WITH YOUR PHONE.

Tips For Capturing Better Family Photos on Your Phone

Family travel stories are often filled with wonderful memories, experiences along with adventures. However, Traveling with young children isn’t always the puppies and sunshine portrayed on social media.

A pleasant trip can turn into scorched earth and hellfire within minutes of you kindly asking your child to take a dirty rock out of their mouth. We are huge advocates of traveling with little ones, but it is never without hardship.  While many have seen our great trips, experiences and vacation memories, the family travel stories you don’t see that is the hard reality when traveling with young children.

We are in no way immune to epic toddler meltdowns, spiking temperatures, and bedtime horrors while on the road. That is why we wanted to bring to you the first edition of our untold stories of traveling with a toddler.

Take Them To A Hotel They Said, It Will Be Fun They Said

You have never truly experienced the “joy” of traveling with a toddler until you try to get them to sleep in a tiny hotel room.  While every child is different, mine will not fall asleep if I am in the same room as her. This poses quite the debacle in small hotel rooms. Especially when the bathroom is too tiny to fit the pack-n-play in.

After a half-hour of rocking my cherub-faced daughter to sleep the second, her little body was put in the pack in play, the devil himself arrived.

She instantly popped up, saw I was in the room and the hysterical wailing began.  Like any good human, I immediately grabbed her to keep the crying at bay.  After numerous attempts, I finally resorted to staying awake with her because the hotel walls were paper thin.

That wouldn’t be fair to other guests to hear a crying baby all night. She eventually exhausted herself and slept for three hours, but my friends this was not fun.

After that trip, I immediately had to come up with a way to never let that happen again.  As much as that cute boutique hotel looks, be warned that they often are not family-friendly. You will miss amenities such as thicker walls, free breakfast, a pool, and a large room. Check out a few of my hotel tips for toddlers.  The newest hack I am trying out this upcoming trip is a pressure mounted shower rod with curtains to makeshift a wall.  Wish me luck!

For The Love Of All Things Holy, Can You Please Look At The Camera?!

I often times get asked how I manage to get great photos of my daughter on vacation. Quite honestly, it is a miracle. We have all been there, you see the ideal spot to take the perfect photo, but your children are having none of it.  For every hundred photos I take, I get one that is frame-worthy.

Distraction is key in how I manage to get the perfect photo.  Having her point out things in the direction I want her to face tends to help. We try all the usual things to get her to laugh, stuffed animals, etc. Honestly, it is us “accidentally” dropping something that will get her belly laughing.  After what feels like a thousand years and a million photos later I find the one that I love. The funny thing is, it is never the photo I am seeking that perfectly captures the moment.

You Have An Early Morning Flight? How about a 105 Degree Temperature

We have not eluded sickness during our travels, on the contrary, it loves to find us.  It will often hit when it is most inconvenient, like right before you have to be up for an early morning flight.

On the final evening of a wonderful beach vacation, my daughter woke up at midnight screaming in pain.  Her temperature was 105 degrees (yes, 105, not 100.5) and our flight was set to leave in eight hours.  We immediately got the medicine in her and started our long night of ensuring her temperature came down.

You never want to be home more than when your child is sick.  After pulling an all-nighter full of worry, we had to put our sick little love into the car to start the journey home.  Her fever had come down, but she was still under the weather.  This was hell on earth.  We went back and forth on whether to stay another day but after trying to find a hotel, reschedule flights, and all the logistics, we decided getting home as soon as possible was the best.

At The Airport With A Sick Child: A Sad Family Travel Story

Managing the airport with a sick child is no easy task. In the event, you have to fly with a sick child try to keep them as isolated as you can to keep others from getting sick.

Push fluids and keep them medicated if need be.  A stroller or carrier will work wonders as they will be in no mood to walk. I found that walking around with her in my arms was the best way to keep her distracted at the airport and we did screen time on the plane.

You go into survival mode and do what needs to be in done until you can get home. My only tidbit would be to make sure you taking care of yourself as well. Don’t pass out because you didn’t eat or get dehydrated.

Travel Tip: Always travel with a sick kit. This should include a thermometer,  children’s medicine, medicine for you and the first kit at a minimum.

Family Travel Stories: Montezuma’s Revenge Waits For No One

When this GI beast hits, it is merciless. Your entire travel plans come to an abrupt halt.  The family rushes to the nearest pharmacy to get medication and tons of disinfecting wipes.

The bad thing about getting sick as an adult is that we are often expected to power through because vacation is waiting. Many of us only get two precious weeks away from the stresses of everyday life a year and to spend them with a GI bug is disheartening.

The best advice I can give is to let the sick person stay behind to rest while the family ventures out for the day. If it is a child, then naturally a parent will have to stay behind as well.

This is threefold: It keeps your small child entertained, reduces the risk of sharing a GI bug and gives those sick time to rest so that they might be able to recover quicker.  Use disinfecting wipes, enforce excessive handwashing, and use clean towels/linens.

Often times medication can help tame the symptoms, but it really dampens your vacation experience when the only attraction you are visiting is the local restroom.  This we know from experience because it will always hit when you have an important meal or activity scheduled.

A Meltdown of Biblical Portions

As with all toddlers, ours is not without her award-winning drama tantrums. She really enjoys throwing them on dirty airport floors, in a bathroom stall or just about anywhere there is an audience. They are invoked by things like, don’t touch that piece of chewed up gum, don’t rip up the nice book I JUST bought you as a souvenir and my favorite, no you can’t run into the busy street.

Once the dreaded, “No” has been heard, cue meltdown.  She throws herself on the floor, there is lots of unnecessary screaming and she is nominated for an Emmy at the end.

However, tantrums can be stressful especially when they decide to go full donkey right as you need to board your aircraft or disrupt an entire restaurant full of patrons trying to enjoy their meals.  Yup, we have been there.

Overcoming the Tantrum

Depending on the situation parents need to do what needs to be done.  I oftentimes resort to the art of distraction when I need her to get out of meltdown mode quickly.

A few of my favorites are, “I am pretty sure I just saw a princess over there! (use the child’s favorite character) Let’s go see. ” “That little baby over there is watching you, he/she needs you to show them how to act like a big girl.”  I often have to get creative and utilize what is around me.  Unless she needs to be physically picked up and removed from the situation. One of the many joys of traveling with a toddler.

This is just a glance at the lovely family travel stories behind the scenes of traveling with a toddler in tow.  We still have lots to learn so any tips or advice are always welcome in the comments. We have many other great tales not included in our post.  Such as the great blowout of 2018, The Lost Lovie, and Name That Stain.

Don’t get discouraged, because watching them explore, discover and be amazed makes everything worth it.  If you are looking for a few more tips for traveling with a toddler, we have you covered!  Need more tips? Check out the latest Toddler Tips from Parents Magazine.

Looking for more great travel stories? We loved reading this collection of fun travel stories from The Magic of Traveling.

Pin It For Later:  Family Travel Stories

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc., Abreva, Emergen-C, Lipton, Robitussin and Theraflu. All opinions are mine alone. #SickDayTips #CollectiveBias

As any frequent traveler knows, a best practice and an unfortunate necessity is to pack a wellness kit when on the road! Don’t be caught in a hotel room coughing, sneezing without relief in sight. No one plans on catching a cold, but it is best to be prepared for all scenarios. There are many techniques and tips for preventing illness while traveling, however, it is inevitable that you or a member of your family will get sick. We will share a few of our sick tips while traveling and give you a peek inside our wellness kit bag.

Prepare A Wellness Kit
Whether you are at home or on the road having a wellness kit that is readily available in the event you or your family become ill is a necessity. Nothing is worse than being stranded with a sore throat, endless congestion or pounding headache. Preparing a wellness kit ahead of time eliminates the trip to the store when sick, and allows you to stay under the blankets for that much-needed rest. We make a trip to our local Kroger to stock up on our go-to cold and flu items before the sickness hits. Having a husband who is a pharmacist makes finding the right products to help during cold and flu season a breeze. Here are a few items in our wellness kit.

Our Go-To Products
Staples like tissues, hand sanitizers, saline nasal spray, pain-relieving medications, and stomach relief medications are mandatory items in our wellness kit. In addition, we always travel with a mini first aid kit. Here are a few other products recommended by the family pharmacist that are good to have in your wellness kit just in case. Head to your local Kroger and assemble you’re sick it today!

Theraflu Power Pods Daytime Severe Cold
Discover a new way to treat cold and flu symptoms. Try Theraflu Power Pods Daytime Severe Cold that provides powerful symptom relief in a single-serve coffee maker pod. Press. Sip. Relief and no prescription needed. They are also available in Theraflu Power Pods Nighttime Severe Cold.

These pods are great to take on the go and travel easily. Since most hotels have single serve coffee makers, this is an ideal wellness kit item. I would also recommend tossing a few in your desk at work.  (Remember, Theraflu Power Pods Daytime Severe Cold and Robitussin® Maximum Strength Honey Cough & Chest Congestion DM should not be used at the same time.)

Abreva® Pump Cold Sore and Fever Blister Treatment
If you suffer from cold sores our pharmacist recommends having Abreva® Pump Cold Sore and Fever Blister Treatment in your bag. It is the only FDA approved OTC medicine that is proven to heal cold sores and shorten the duration of pain, itching, burning, tingling. It’s important to note that Abreva is not for temporary symptom relief, but healing. It delivers the best results when used at the first sign of a cold sore (e.g. the tingle that one feels on his/her lip).

Robitussin® Maximum Strength Honey Cough & Chest Congestion
We were delighted to find the new Robitussin® Honey on the shelves of Kroger this trip! The addition of honey, a natural cough suppressant, aids even more in fighting your cough. Many families, including ours, will attest to the cough relief you receive with Robitussin Honey®. Not to mention, even though it’s non-drowsy,it can help keep everyone sleeping during the night since they won’t be up coughing all night.


Lipton Bedtime Bliss Tea
Lipton Bedtime Bliss Tea can be just what the doctor ordered when you feel under the weather or have difficulty sleeping. An herbal infusion that sings you to sleep, like a lullaby in a cup.* The Lipton Wellness range, made with carefully selected botanicals and blended with essential oils, helps make wellbeing a part of your everyday routine. I recommend sticking a few tea bags in your wellness kit to have on hand.  Starting Feb. 20th, 2019 save $1.00 off Lipton Tea Herbal Supplement Wellness at your local Kroger.


Preventing Illness During Travel
Traveling during cold and flu season can fill one with a sense of dread.  The mere thought of sitting in an airplane with ten people coughing brings shivers down your spine. Here are a few sick tips while traveling to help you avoid catching whatever illness the person sitting next to you on the plane may have.


Practice Good Hand Washing
It is proven that hand washing is the single most effective way to protect you and your family from getting sick. By washing your hands with soap you are removing all the germs that are unknowingly on your hands. In the next hour attempt to count how many times you touch your eyes, nose, and mouth. It becomes clear how easy it is to contract an infection without even knowing it. Washing your hands frequently, especially during traveling is your safest bet for escaping cold and flu season.

Stay Hydrated
Ensuring that you are hydrated will help to reduce headaches, reduce flu symptoms, and support the body’s immune response system. It is imperative to keep hydrated during air travel. High altitudes and low cabin humidity can lower your resistance to cold and flu germs. Dehydration during travel can make one more susceptible to catching these germs. Our advice is to pack a reusable water bottle. Once you pass security you can fill it up at the nearest water fountain.

Wear A Face Mask
Don’t assume that everyone who is wearing a face mask is sick. Often times they are wearing it in attempts to avoid any airborne illness that is floating around. It not only protects against germs but allergens, dust, and bacteria.  Add this as another step in preventative care during your travels.

Sanitize
It goes without saying that it is imperative to have hand sanitizer to help in aiding the fight against cold and flu germs.  After considering how many handrails, doorknobs, and restaurant menus that you touched that have passed through hundreds of people’s hands a little sanitizer will go a long way. Don’t forget to wipe down airline trays and any other common areas.

What To Do If You Get Sick

Rest
As painful as it may be to miss a day of vacation or an important business meeting it is necessary that you take a day to rest. This will give your body an opportunity to start healing. In addition, your fellow co-workers or other guests vacationing really don’t want to share your germs. Take time to sleep and care for yourself.

Use Your Wellness Kit
Hallelujah! Praise the good Lord for your wellness kit. Now you have relief for your symptoms right at your fingertips. In the event, you got sick prior to preparing your wellness kit, make a mad dash to your neighborhood Kroger to stock up on your cold and flu necessities. Kroger even has the option to click list your cold and flu items or have them delivered to your doorstep.

Stay Hydrated
There is that pesky hydration word again. When you are sick, dehydration will only make symptoms worse.  We discovered that munching on cold watermelon not only aids in a sore throat but is also packed with water. Try adding lemon or cucumber to your water for a different taste, if you can taste that is.  Don’t forget to sip on Lipton Bedtime Bliss Tea at night, which will give you a caffeine-free fluid boost before you go to sleep.


We hope that you and your family are able to avoid cold and flu season, but in the event that illness strikes we hope that these tips will help.  



Theraflu-(c) 2019 the GSK group of companies or its licensor. Theraflu is for use in adults 12 years and older.
Use all products only as directed. Read the label and follow directions. Abreva, Emergen-C, Robitussin – Use only as directed. Read the label and follow directions.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, cure or prevent disease.

One of the things that we often forget to pack for a road trip is a bounty of snacks! Packing for a trip can be exhausting.  There is that constant nagging in the back of your mind that you have forgotten something, the puzzle of piecing the luggage into the car and then ensuring you don’t pull off without your children.

Without fail the minute your wheels touch the interstate someone is whining they are hungry or needs to go to the bathroom.  Finding a healthy and nutritious snack option at the 7/11 can be a difficult task.

Prevent hanger from attacking and put together a road trip snack basket to put hanger in its place. Here is a list of our favorite traveling snacks that you need to add to your cart.

Granola and Protein Bars

Granola bars are a staple in any road trip snack pack.  These bars are easy to stuff into a purse, diaper bag, or car console for a quick snack on the go.  With the huge variety available pick out a few of your favorite flavors and have an assortment.  We tend to learn towards RX bars or bars that have a protein punch to help curve hunger a little longer.

Fruit Cups

This particular snack is great for when you have a rest stop during your travels. Feeding a child a fruit cup in the car will likely result in a delicious, sticky, juicy, mess. As much as I like to think I will take out my knife and cut up the fresh fruit that we bring, the reality is that I won’t.

We prefer the ones with no sugar added or in coconut water.  Be sure to pack a spoon. Plastic spoons are easy to find at most gas stations and restaurants in the event it slips your mind.

Bananas and Cuties

Literally the golden children of fruit. The only fruit in my mind that travels well with a toddler. While all food inevitably ends up all over the car seat and in the car, the bananas and cuties you can portion out in small bites, feed it to them while driving, and won’t need a knife to cut up. They also don’t need to go in a cooler and be kept right up in the front of the car for easy accessibility.

Other Fruit

Each child is different and can handle certain fruit better than others. Peaches, grapes, blueberries, apples are all great traveling fruit. Don’t forget to pack a few pieces for yourself!

Bark Thins

Let’s face it when traveling you may need a little something sweet. Bark Thins are the ideal little chocolate bites I need to get me through the construction delays, aggressive drivers, and overall stresses of being on the road with kids.  With little pieces of almonds or pumpkin seeds, I deem this slightly healthier than a Kit-Kat Bar. This snack is for mommy only, and mommy doesn’t share. I will often transfer “mommy snacks” into a different, undesirable bag so little eyes have no idea what I’m noshing on.  “No children, these  are dried prunes.”

Traveling Snacks For Baby: Organic Gerber Lil Crunchies

Everyone gets a hankering for a little crunchy snack at times, which includes our toddlers.  Our daughter has fallen in love and will demand “Crunchies”.  There are many different flavors available.  We enjoy the green can, organic ones, as they are made out of navy beans rather than corn. These are easy to pour into a portable snack cup and let them graze at their own pace.  Naturally, I have tasted these and they are like Cheetos for babies.

Traveling with a little one? Be sure to check out these great articles before hitting the road.

Road Trip Tips For Traveling With A Baby

Road Trip Tips For Traveling With A Toddler 

Goldfish

The ultimate in travel snacking. Toddlers, kids, and adults can eat a whole bag in one sitting.  The beauty of goldfish is that they come in multiple flavors and types. Kids can have the multigrain cheddar while daddy slams X-Treme Pizza Fish! It is the perfect tiny food for little hands. Don’t be fooled though, you will find a whole sea of fish in your car when you arrive at your destination.

Don’t Forget To Bring Road Trip Snacks For Adults

Kid’s shouldn’t have all the fun snacking while on the road.  There are tons of great Road Trip Food Ideas to enchance your road trip experience.  Coming prepared with plenty of food, is going to ensure a more enjoyable road trip!

Bring Something Crunchy

Everyone has their favorite salty snack and this is mine. Pack a salty snack that you would enjoy. I don’t feel as shameful after eating Veggie Straw then I do after I eat Cheetos.  The cheesy fingers and remnants are a reminder of the devouring that happened hours earlier.

Nut Butter Pouches

Need a protein punch or something to hold little tummies for a more than a few minutes?  Your favorite nut butter in squeezable form, no jar! It squeezes into little and big mouths with ease or on other snacks.

A friend of mine gave me a few different packs of these nuts mixes for a road trip and I have been addicted ever since. The flavor is outstanding and they are trail mix options as well.  If you haven’t tried them yet, you are missing out. Grab a bag the next time you are in the snack aisle or just order them here!

Crunchmaster Multi-Seed Crackers

These gluten-free crackers will change the way you snack forever. The seeds and crunch will leave you coming back for more. Check out the Protein Snack Crackers for those looking for something a little more substantial.

After you have bombarded the snack aisle and stocked up be sure to have a little basket or bag to keep them in for easy access on the road.  If you don’t feel like bringing the entire box or package of a snack, consider using smaller plastic containers or Ziploc bags. That way you are only bringing what you need and it saves space.  Assemble them in the basket and voila! Instant road trip snack pack!

Make Muffins

An easy to transport snack is muffins. Make a batch at home before hitting the road and seal them up in baggies or reusable Tupperware. I often choose ] Tupperware because we will tend to utilize it again and again during our trip for other items. While I admire those who make their muffins from scratch I tend to go with the easy bran muffin mix from the store.

Road Trip Snacks Accompaniments

Don’t forget to bring hand sanitizer, napkins, baby wipes, a few Ziploc bags, plastic utensils, and a grocery bag with you. The grocery bag acts as a wonderful trashcan.

Drinks are also important. Be sure to keep a few bottles of water in your car.

We are always on the hunt for more great road trip snacks! Share what your go-to travel snack is below in the comments!

Road Trip  Snacks

We have put together a great list of  Traveling with an Infant Must Haves and Tips.  After  traveling with my 4-month-old daughter we had to share to help fellow travellers with infants. 

This article will focus mainly on air travel with an infant. We have dedicated an entire article to Road Trip Tips For Traveling With an Infant. 

While many parents have items they swear by, these are a few of our favorite traveling with infant must haves along with tips on how to utilize them during your travels. 

Invest In A Quality Baby Carrier 

I got the best advice from a friend when she told me to start wearing my baby early and often.  It is such a convenience and keeps my infant contained and right on me. It makes getting around the airport a breeze.

 I didn’t take a stroller because hauling that behemoth around was going to be a nightmare.  Once they can walk around, a stroller will be a great asset. 

Not to mention I didn’t have to check it at the gate and then wait to get it after the flight.  It was nice to be able to get off the plane and go straight to our next stop, which was likely the family bathroom. We have tried a number of high-end baby carriers, but our favorite is the .

Once my little one was finally old enough to face forward, she loved being able to take in all the sights and sounds of the airport.  In addition, wearing your infant tends to keep lovable strangers from touching your baby.

Not to sound rude, but the airport has enough germs and grossness around that the last thing I want is some strange person touching my baby.

Backpack Diaper Bag

I swore I would never be the parent with a backpack diaper bag, not when there are so many trendy and designer diaper bags out there. Wrong! I immediately went out and bought a backpack diaper bag after our first trip with Sophie.

Remember when you are traveling you tend to pack extra of everything which loads down your diaper bag.

Especially when flying, since you need to pack as if you could be stranded somewhere overnight without your luggage or be on the tarmac for an extended period of time.

The extra weight makes the side-saddle diaper bag a burden and tends to exhaust your shoulders quicker.

Not to mention you feel like a double-wide trailer trying to squeeze by people and bumping into things constantly. The backpack distributes the weight evenly and is easier to transport while also transporting an infant.

I fell in love with the .  A ton of compartments, a built-in cooler for milk, and the side wipe dispenser put me in mom euphoria. 

Don’t have the extra cash for a backpack diaper bag?  Most any backpack can work, bust out that old L.L. Bean backpack you still have stashed away from high school and use it for your travels.

Traveling With An Infant Must Haves and Tips For Airplane 

I remember the days of being that person who was able to board a plane, put on my headphones, and enjoy my communion cup of diet coke. All while reading that recent bestseller that I downloaded on my kindle.

  Let me tell you, my friend, flying with an infant makes you throw some serious shade on those “leisure” travelers as you settle in to become your child’s personal clown for the duration of the flight.

Tips For Changing Baby On The Plane 

 You best bet is to change your baby prior to boarding so they have a fresh clean diaper. However, we know that isn’t always possible. Therefore, wait to change them after the plane has boarded. 

My sweet precious cherub-faced daughter is notorious for blowing her pants out the minute we board the plane. I  made the mistake once of changing her the minute we got on the plane with only a diaper, some wipes, and an extra outfit, here is the problem with that.

 Most planes only have one infant changing area and are in the back of the plane.  If you opted to board early during the family boarding time then you will have to wait for the plane to fill from back to front before you will be able to make it back to your seat. 

My little girl loves to eat almost immediately after I change her because she has made some room! Therefore, she got real mad having to wait for almost 15 -20 minutes before she could eat, because silly me didn’t bring the milk to the bathroom.

DO NOT AND I MEAN DO NOT CHANGE YOUR BABY ON THE TRAY TABLE. 

As cute as you think your baby’s butt is, people, eat off of those. Not to mention not everyone enjoys the sights and smells of a diaper changing.  End of story.

Consider Upgrading If You Can 

Economy Plus was worth the extra money when traveling with a baby. Those precious six inches (I’m fairly confident it is less)  makes all the difference when feeding and shuffling a baby around. Not to mention a free cocktail on flights long enough! WORD!

Tips For Babies When Dealing With Pressure Changes In Airplane

The changing pressures can wreak havoc on infants’ ears. To avoid a meltdown try feeding your little one during takeoff and landing.

 Try a pacifier or give them a toy to num on if they won’t eat.  Anything to try to get them to swallow.  Sophie did quite well and only required a toy to num on.

Traveling With Milk? We have dedicated a whole article for the in’s and out’s of Traveling with Milk.

A quick shout out to one of my favorite traveling with an infant must-haves;  Similac ready to feed! This stuff is worth the little extra money while traveling to prevent having to make and heat up a bottle. 

Stick a nipple on that bad boy and voila! Quiet baby!

Be Friendly To The Flight Crew

 This should go unsaid, but I feel the need to say it anyway.  The flight crew already has to deal with over a dozen adult-size babies daily so when actually little babies come on board they are usually over accommodating to their smallest guests.

We flew Delta and the whole crew was great. They even stopped by to check on us a few extra times. When flying Delta be sure to ask for your child’s “wings” before landing. The wings are a signature pin Delta gives out on a child’s first flight. 

We asked for her wings and the stewardess was overjoyed to get them for her.  I am so glad I asked because it just so happened that because it was her first flight and the plane had an hour before the next flight, we were able to get photos in the cockpit and the captain even let her wear his hat! Unbelievable experience.

Thank goodness I asked for those wings because I almost didn’t and would have missed out on this incredible memory.  As my mantra goes, if you don’t ask the answer is always no.

 Noise-canceling headphones are not a must for the plane 

We were concerned that the plane would be too noisy for our little one, but instead, it acted as a sound machine. You will more than likely need them for yourself to block out the sound of loud passengers.  We always bring these for babies when we travel. .  

Traveling With An Infant Tip: Get A New Toy

Having something new and original for your little one to play with can keep them entertained for a while and give you a moment’s peace. Stewardess, I’ll have that mimosa now!

Be considerate of your fellow passengers, but not to considerate

Meaning, don’t worry about buying the people around you a drink or bringing bags of candy to make up for you flying with an infant. The majority of fliers have had children or been around them and know that you are doing the best you can even if they turn into a demon mid-flight.

Also, babies and children fly every day and once people get to their final destination they likely have forgotten about the crying infant on the plane. It is part of life and for the passengers that give you an evil side-eye be sure to point the screaming child in their direction.

Sanitize Your Area In The Plane

Planes and most people are straight-up gross and illness seeps from every seat. Naturally, your little one will want to touch and put their precious mouths on everything. 

We opted to used sanitizing wipes to wipe down all surfaces, don’t forget to wipe the window and walls, back of the seat, seatbelt, everything!

 If you are pumping we also bought Medela wipes to help sanitize pump supplies after pumping.

Are you traveling with a toddler? Be sure to check out these great Flying With A Toddler Tips.

FAMILY BATHROOMS ARE SANCTUARIES

We have all seen it. The frazzled parents dragging their small child through a filthy airport terminal praying they won’t contract some rare disease from licking the moving walkway.

Naturally, they need to go to the bathroom at the most inconvenient time, which leaves parents scrambling to fit everyone and everything into a tiny bathroom stall.

This is when finding a family bathroom is like accessing the Delta Sky Club. The room is big enough for your entire family and everyone can take care of their business at once.

Since corralling children is like herding cats having everyone confined to one room can be a relief.

Family bathrooms are usually located next to the restrooms.  Some airports even have nursing and pumping stations set up for moms who need to feed baby on the go!

PACK SNACKS FOR YOU!

Traveling with an infant must haves is snacks! We often overlook ourselves when traveling or in general to ensure that our family is taken care of. 

Be sure to shove an extra bag of chips or a few granola bars in your backpack.  Being hangry is a real issue and can overtake a person quickly!

Hell hath no fury like a person who is hangry and slightly inconvenienced, which will likely happen when traveling.

Snapping at your family or getting sick because you didn’t eat can all be avoided by packing a few extra things to nosh on. Don’t become a Betty White, pack that Snickers!

Be sure to pack an empty water bottle as well and fill it up after you get past security.  That way you always have water for all your weary travelers. If you have a self-feeder be sure to get some of these!

Getting Through Airport Security With An Infant 

Nothing is worse than having to drag an infant and all of your belongings through security.  I hated doing it without an infant! We got lucky on our flight out and got the Pre-Check.  I literally walked through the metal detector thingy which my shoes while carrying my baby in the baby carrier.

My milk was pulled aside and looked at and all our stuff was scanned as normal.  It took us less than five minutes.  Coming back was a shade different since we didn’t have the PreCheck.  The lines are long so be prepared to wait with the baby.  My child was fascinated with everything going on around her until she was hungry.

Time Your Feedings

Try to time the feedings so that your wee one doesn’t have a meltdown as you are trying to put on your shoes, get your carry on’s and balance a baby all at the same time.  Yes, they still have you remove shoes even though you have a baby.

However, they did not have me take the baby out of the carrier. They did pull my milk aside to test, but he indicated that since it was all in three-ounce portions he didn’t need to.

Overall it took us 15 minutes without the pre-check and the security line was not super long.  Here is what you should take away.

Consider PreCheck

PreCheck if you can. It is life changing when traveling with kids. I feel if you plan on traveling a few times a year it is worth the cost. 

If not, wear slip-on shoes, feed your baby prior to security, and if transporting milk portion it into 3-ounce bottles (be sure to tell them it is milk!).

We truly love to travel and having an infant should not stop folks from seeing the world. Traveling has taken on new meaning as I want my little one all the fun and exciting things that this world has to offer.  We hope that you have enjoyed our traveling with an infant must haves and tips 

Is this your first time flying in general? Here are a Few tips for first-time flyers.

Related Posts: 

Hotel Tips For Babies and Toddlers 

Tips For Traveling With A Young Toddler 

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Traveling with an Infant Must Haves and Tips