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Looking to take a road trip but not sure where to go? Want a different sort of vacation this year? Need some inspiration for your next family vacation? Well, you’ve come to the right place! Here are 7 creative ideas for family road trips to help you get started planning your next family adventure.
Trip Idea #1: Diners, Drive-in’s, & Dives Road Trip
If you have a family of foodies, or if you are fans of Food Network’s Diners, Drive-in’s and Dives, then this is the perfect road trip for your family! Research some of the restaurants that have been featured on the show and then plot your road trip around those restaurants. This road trip idea can easily be customized to your family’s preferences for food, time, and location. You can drive as far or as little as you want during this one. If you want to stay in one city or area and try a different restaurant for each meal, you can. Or if you prefer, you can stretch it into a multistate trip, eating at a different restaurant each day.
Trip Idea #2: Road Trip Without Plans
Of all the road trips we have ever taken, this is my favorite! Basically, it is a completely spontaneous road trip. When you start, you have no idea where you will end up! Many years ago, my husband and I did this, and it was a blast! We started out in Texas heading north towards Oklahoma and Kansas. At the end of the week, we found ourselves in Phoenix, Arizona. If you want to take a road trip without plans, just get in your car and pick a direction. Then start driving and see where the day takes you. When you get tired, find a place to stop for the night. When we did this, we picked a new direction each day by flipping a coin.
This is such a great way to allow yourself to enjoy the journey. It also gives you the freedom to just explore. Plus, it means you don’t have to spend time planning prior to your trip!
Trip Idea #3: Historical Road Trip
If you have some history buffs in the family. then consider taking a historical road trip for your next family vacation. You could plot out a route that follows Lewis & Clark’s expedition or visit the various Civil War battle grounds, for instance. Another option would be to road trip to Boston and Philadelphia to learn more about our country’s beginnings. I have actually promised my son that we would do a Civil War road trip sometime in the next year or two.
Trip Idea #4: Family & Friends Tour
Another one of our creative ideas for family road trips is to do a family & friends tour. If you have family or friends that live far away, plan a road trip to go visit them. You can either plan the whole trip around a visit to one location or you can go see someone new in a different location every day or two. Not only is this a great road trip to take, but it also gives you a chance to visit some of your favorite people!
Trip Idea #5: Route 66
To really get in the spirit of an all-American road trip, then try getting your kicks on Route 66. This traditional route was once a very trendy road trip for families. Not only can you learn about a fun part of our history on this vacation, but you can also see some amusing roadside attractions from days gone by. A Route 66 road trip will definitely give your kids a new perspective on traveling! And your younger kids will appreciate looking for Lightning McQueen and Mater from the movie Cars along the way.
Trip Idea #6: Sports Trip
Another creative road trip idea is to take a sports trip. If your family is anything like mine, they love their sports! So, indulge them with a road trip focused on their favorite sport. You could visit several Nascar tracks or professional baseball stadiums. Another option would be to take a road trip to see your favorite team play in an away game or two. You could also take a trip to visit your favorite sport’s hall of fame. We take lots of road trips in the fall to see college football games across the country.
Trip Idea #7: Musical Road Trip
Lastly, if you have some music fans in the family. perhaps they would enjoy a musical road trip. Like the other ideas above, there are several ways to take a music focused vacation. Head to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland or visit Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture. Alternatively, you could take a trip to see your favorite musical artist in concert in a different city than you live in.
Conclusion
Road trips are a lot of fun. But, sometimes it can be challenging to decide where to go or find a way to spice them up for your family. To add a twist to your next family vacation, try one of these 7 creative ideas for family road trips. I bet your family will love them! Do you have other creative ideas for road trips? Leave your ideas in the comments. For more road trip tips and ideas, see our day trip ideas, tips to save time on road trips, how to pack for road trips like a pro, and tips for successful road trips with kids. Happy travels!
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