Family travel by car is very popular this year in view of the economy. When it comes to “getting away from it all,” many Americans are skipping the pricey trips abroad and opting to enjoy the many amazing, closer-to-home sights from the comfort of their own vehicles.

Before you make decisions on your family travel car vacation  there are some things you should think about.

How much time do you have?
How far do you want to go?
Will this be point A to point B trip or will you make stops along the way?

Do you have a specific destination in mind or is this a road trip to enjoy the scenery and attractions along the way? If this is a scenic road trip, be sure to allow plenty of time for unexpected stops along the way.  Sometimes there are attractions that are not popular enough to rate a listing in the guide books.

Expect the unexpected on your travel trip with children.  Sometimes you will get lost.  As parents, stay calm.  Don’t argue and scream at each other as any tension that is in the air will transfer to your children and cause them to cry and become afraid.  Try to treat this as an adventure not a disaster.  By showing that you are flexible in unexpected situations, you are teaching your children to be calm when things don’t go just the way you planned.  This is a great lesson for them and will stand them in good stead as they go through life.

In addition to this, some of our greatest adventures and discoveries happened while we were trying to find a bypass or shortcut to get back on our travel plan.

If you’re planning a getaway, remember that road trips can be tough on cars, and few things turn a vacation into a nightmare quicker than breaking down in the middle of nowhere. So, before you load the car and take off, have your mechanic do an overall check of  your vehicle to make sure that your car is in top condition for your trip.