Travelling with Teenagers – PART TWO

Look out New York…here we come! 4 days of glorious exploring, shopping, eating, viewing, walking, more eating and more shopping!

So, what have we learned from our past travels with teenagers?

2 main things… keep them fed (full tummies means happier travels) and separate hotel rooms (for happier parents)!

We have done our research of things to see – ensuring that there is something of interest for everyone. We will visit the location of the twin towers (something Lia wants to do). We will see a fabulous broadway musical (something Becca wants to do). We will go to the 5 story Forever 21 store (something Chrissy wants to do). As for hubby – well, that is where the food comes in. He wants the best cheese cake, the best corned beef sandwich, the best bagel, and the list goes on. So what about me? Well, I want to see Rockafeller Plaza and maybe be seen on The Today Show, as well as check out Times Square and Central Park.

Being that I am in Marketing and love digital apps, I have downloaded some great ones: NYC Way, Urbanspoon, and New York Times the scoop.

So as Frank would say (or sing)…Start Spreading the News…cause we are leaving on Friday for New York, New York!!

10 Tips for Travelling with Teenagers

When I told my husband the topic of my next blog “10 Tips for Travelling with Teenagers”, he had one piece of advice, “don’t do it!”. Over the last five years, we have gone on several family road trips: Florida (twice), Canadian East Coast and even a 2 week road trip through France, Switzerland and Italy. We truly are “the Griswold’s”‘ as these trips entail piling 3 kids into a Grand Caravan and driving 5,000 km. Not everyone’s idea of fun. I should probably start calling my husband Clark, as he even has a passion for huge Christmas trees, but i digress (more on that topic in December).

Here is my top 10 traveling with teenagers tips:

1. Keep their blood sugar levels up to avoid bickering – feed them regularly!

2. Portable electronics are your friend:  DVD players with a variety of DVDs, iPods, Nintendo DS, etc. Not needed all the time, but a great way to pass some time when boredom sets in.

3.  Start driving early in the morning (by 8am), breakfast in the car…then let them nap.