I was really excited to be able to get a couple of press tickets – we had an extra one, so my little brother, Michael, was able to come. What did he think?

Well, he said dreams came true that day, and it would be practically his dream job to work there.

I’d say it was pretty much a success.

Leading up to our visit, we all were getting SO excited. We drove up from Anaheim in horrible traffic (but isn’t that always the case in California?), and it was pretty hot outside, but none of that mattered when we first entered the gates. It was so magical from the moment we got there. It’s about 1/3 the size of the Wizarding World in Orlando, but it was still incredible.

If you are a Harry Potter fan, this is a must-visit location. It was a bit out of our way, but I’m so glad we went. Since it’s a new place, I thought I would write a few tips and tricks for navigating the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Hollywood’s Universal Studios!

First off, if you are going to buy tickets, buy them from Get Away Today! You can buy them just for Universal Studios, OR you can buy a bundle with tickets to Disney, which is awesome. I think they have the best prices on tickets (especially when you bundle with Disney), and their prices on hotels are pretty unbeatable as well. If you book your tickets and a hotel through Get Away Today, you can get $10 off using the code ClarksCondensed!

Plus, you can use their awesome layaway plans so you don’t have to pay for the entire trip until two weeks before you leave. We planned most of our California trip through Get Away Today, and they made it so easy.

Now, on to the good stuff!

When to Go

We went in the middle of the day, and it was quite busy! Everything I’ve heard and read has said that you should either go first thing in the morning or wait until later afternoon.

With that said, the longest line I saw as for the Ollivander’s Wand choosing ceremony. The other two main attractions really didn’t have the longest waits at all. We went right in the middle of the afternoon even!

What to do First

There is a lot to look at inside the Wizarding World, so I recommend taking your time. However, the two places that had the longest lines were Ollivander’s Wand Shop and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. I will talk about these more in a bit, but they definitely had the longest lines.

I recommend grabbing a big cup of butterbeer while you wait in the line – if it’s out outside, it will definitely help make the wait a little less long.

The Three Broomsticks

We didn’t get a chance to eat here, but I wish we would have. It sounds amazing, and if you go, I think you should definitely make an effort to eat there. It sounds like it has a lot of traditional British fare.

One of the employees at Honeydukes told us that if you have a party of four or more, the cook will bring the meal out to you personally. I thought that was kind of cool!

Even if you don’t want to eat there, you can take a tour. We didn’t get the opportunity to do this, but I wish we had.

Butterbeer 

You can’t visit without getting Butterbeer. Not gonna lie – this is what I was looking forward to most! They have two stands throughout the Wizarding World, and you can also get it in the Three Broomsticks and at Hogshead.

They have two versions – the frozen kind and the regular kind. Forrest and I opted to try out the frozen version, and it was SO good. I wanted to go back for another one! We also bought it in the collectors mug, just because we could. My brother, Michael, got the non-frozen kind, and he said he preferred it over the sip he had of ours.

My friend, Brittany, said her favorite thing to do is mix the two kinds together. That sounds pretty amazing to me!

We also really enjoyed the pumpkin juice, which was another option available at the drink cart!

Rider Switch

This isn’t just in the Wizarding World (it’s available throughout all of Universal Studios), but it’s worth mentioning. I think they have one of the best rider switch programs in all of the theme parks I’ve been to. I was especially impressed with how it was set up in the “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey” ride. There was a big room setup where you can go and sit with your kids and can switch with the other adult after they ride. I like that you could take your kids all the way through Hogwarts, because it’s seriously the most amazing place! I don’t think kids should have to miss out on it just because they are too short for the ride.

Ollivander’s Makers of Fine Wands

We didn’t buy wands, but you can buy them in Ollivanders. I believe they ranged from about $30 to $50, depending on what kind of wand you purchased. They have interactive wands for purchase, which are really cool. They are set up to work at different spots throughout the Wizarding World (I believe there is a map included to show you where.) It really can make your visit that much more magical.

Even if you don’t want to buy a wand, definitely visit Ollivanders. It’s really pretty cool. We enjoyed looking at all the wands for different characters for Harry Potter.

If you do choose to buy one, you can either choose a wand from one of the Harry Potter characters, or you can select one based on personality types. There’s one for everyone!

Attached to Ollivander’s is a place where you can watch a wand choose a wizard. There was a super long line for this. About 10 people are taken into a room at a time, and one or two people in the group are chosen to be a part of a wand choosing ceremony. It’s pretty fun to watch!

I wasn’t entirely sure if you had to buy the wand if you were chosen, but from my research you do. Some people say that if you are a chosen you can get a discount, but others said they didn’t. So I don’t really know! What I did find out is that if you have a AAA membership, you can get a discount.

There is also a cart outside of the Flight of the Hippogriff where you can purchase wands.

Performances

On the center stage in the middle of the Wizarding World, there are different performances throughout the day. Don’t just pass these by – there are so fun to watch. I believe they have the Frog Choir and a TriWizard Spirit Rally. It really felt like we were right in the middle of Hogwarts attending school. I loved it!

Harry potter and the Forbidden journey

This is seriously the coolest ride I have ever been on. I can’t even explain how amazing it was! We had front of the line passes, but I would have been more than willing to stand in line for awhile for it. It’s a virtual reality ride that moves around. I loved how long it was, and how real everything seemed in it.

The line for this ride goes through Hogwarts, which is an amazing attraction in and of itself. It really feels like you are walking through the corridors of Hogwarts as a student. I wish we hadn’t have rushed through it so quickly!

Owl post 

There is an Owl Post in the middle of the Wizarding World where you can go and buy different products (including stuff owls). It’s kind of a fun place! You actually can send a letter to someone here, which would be a nice surprise for any Harry Potter fan. I do recommend bringing your own stamps, though!

Flight of the Hippogriff

This was a fairly fast ride, and the line was pretty short. Most of the time, it said the wait was about five minutes. It was fun, but it wasn’t really anything special. So if the line is super long, don’t feel like you are going to be missing out on anything magical. It’s a little rollercoaster, and it made me feel like I got a little bit of whiplash afterward. It was still fun, though!

Honeydukes

You have to go to Honeydukes! It’s every bit as amazing as I imagined it to be. They had tons of different kinds of wizarding treats. Jack was in heaven (even though he didn’t end up getting anything.)

I do recommend hitting Honeydukes on your way out, though. They have lots of delicious candy and treats, but I’d be worried about them melting as you walk through the park. Also, it’s a good way to get your kids to behave if you bribe them with a trip to the candy store 🙂

Shopping

There is a lot of shopping all around the Wizarding World. They have Ollivander’s and The Owl Post, as I already mentioned,

Photos

You can take most of your own photos inside the park. We loved being able to take pictures in front of Hogwarts and other places throughout the area. However, there is one place where you can get a professional collectible photo taken as if you are inside the Hogwarts Express. We opted not to do this and instead took one on our phones in front of it with the conductor. But if you want a nice memorable one, you can definitely go this route!

Take time to  look around

Finally, just take enough to walk around and soak everything up. So much attention to details were put into creating the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. You can see mandrakes, quidditch equipment, wanted signs, the Hogwarts Express…everything just feels so magical. It really reminds of exactly what I thought living in Harry Potter’s shoes would feel like. I wish we had more time (and it hadn’t been so hot) so I could have looked at everything!

Don’t forget to the get BEST ticket prices and vacation packages in Southern California through Get Away Today, including $10 off vacation packages booked with the code MFTG.

The post 10 Secrets, Tips, and Tricks for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Hollywood appeared first on Magical Family Travel Guide.

Is Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland worth the price? Here are the pros and cons to help you decide if this not-so-scary adventure is right for you!
In just a few short weeks, we are going to be heading to Disneyland!

We just got back from Disneyland a few days ago, and it was so much fun! Despite having a few ups and downs (such as losing Jack), we have so many wonderful memories.

Going to Disneyland with people of all different ages is a different experience than when you go as a teenager or with other adults. It’s still a magical time, but you really have to adjust your expectations for how things will go.

As my mom put it, you have to realize the trip isn’t just about you. It’s about making sure everyone has a good time!

Jack was just about 1/4-1/2″ too short for a lot of the rides. I was disappointed about this at first, but I realized that they have those height limits for a reason. I mean, I would have been so afraid of him flying out on some of those rides!

Fortunately, Disneyland was built with families in mind. I love this quote that is underneath the Walt Disney statue in the center of Disneyland:

I think most of all, what I want Disneyland to be is a happy place . . . where parents and children can have fun, together.

And I think that’s exactly what Disneyland is. There’s really something for everyone between the two parks in California. With that said, I do think it’s important to know realistically what you are going to be able to do before you go.

So, Forrest and I thought we would share some tips for fun for children under 40″ at Disneyland, which may also be helpful for people who may be over 40″ and a little bit scared. I also have put together a kid Disney survival kit to make the day a little more enjoyable.

Rides with Height Limits

Here are the rides with height limits 40″ or taller. I think it would be a good idea to know about these beforehand so you don’t hype up a ride, only to tell your kid they can’t ride them!

Indiana Jones – 46″
**Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – 40″
**Matterhorn Bobsleds – 40″
Autotopia – 54″ to drive alone (32″ to ride at all)
**Space Mountain – 40″
Splash Mountain – 40″
Star Tours – 40″

Grizzly River Run – 42″
Soarin’ Over California – 40″
**Twilight Zone Tower of Terror – 40″
California Screamin’ 48″
Goofy’s Sky School – 40″
Silly Symphony Swings – 40″
Radiator Springs Racers – 40″

**Even if your child is 40″, exercise caution with these. They can be dark, loud, or somewhat scary. Jack is short for his age, so there are plenty of four-year-olds that would be tall enough. However, even if Jack was tall enough, there’s no way he would have wanted to go on them.

Best Rides

There are a ton of rides for people under 40″, but to be honest, some of them are totally lame or kind of scary. Jack was TERRIFIED of some of the “kiddie” rides, such as the Pinocchio’s Daring Adventure,, Snow White’s Scary Adventures, and the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. He thought they were too loud, dark, and scary. So we avoided anything like that after the first few rides. Similar rides to those would be Alice in Wonderland and Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride.

These are the rides or attractions Jack really enjoyed. I liked a lot of these, too:

Dumbo – LOVE this ride. It’s so relaxing and fun!

It’s a Small World – Jack thought this was scary at first…but then he took off his sunglasses and loved it. I liked the air conditioning!
Mad Tea Party
Jungle Cruise
Roger Rabbit’s Toon Spin
Gadget’s Go Coaster (35″ minimum)
Autotopia
Buzz Lightyear’s Astroblasters
Finding Nemo’s Submarine – I really don’t like this ride. I get claustrophobic. But it’s fun for others, I think! You basically watch a condensed version of Finding Nemo.
Haunted Mansion – Be careful with this one. I actually think it’s kind of scary, but Jack surprisingly loved it.
Frontier Land’s Shootin’ Exposition
Tarzan Treehouse

We didn’t go on these ones, but I think they are great for kids:
Storybook Land Canal Boats
Casey Jr’s Circus Train
King Arthur Carousel
Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island
Monorail
Disneyland Railroad
Davey Crockett’s Explorer Canoes
Pirate’s of the Carribean – might be a little dark/scary, but it’s not that bad. Anyone can go on it, and it’s a great way to cool off!

In California Adventure, we loved:

Flik’s Flyers
Francis’ Ladybug Boogie (this was weird because they made me take Oliver out of my carrier and put him beside me…pretty sure that was not safer than being my carrier.)
Heimlich’s Chew Chew Train
Jumpin’ Jelly Fish
Mickey’s Fun Wheel – I actually do not like this ride. It freaks me out. But Jack said it was his favorite ride, so I thought I would put it on here. If your kids don’t want to go on something that moves fast, you can go in the stationary carts!

Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree (32″ minimum)

We didn’t ride this time but have heard great things about:

Toy STory Mania
Ariel’s Undersea Adventure
Monster’s Inc Mike and Sully to the Rescue
Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters (32″ minimum)

Shows and Entertainment

There are so many family friendly shows and parades around Disneyland and California Adventure. They certainly know how to put on a good show!

We happened to be walking around in California Adventure when their Pixar Parade started. I think it was around 5:00? This is a must-see. The streets weren’t crowded at all – Jack was right up to the street and interacted a lot with the performers. THey had characters from a lot of Pixar movies that we love, and it was so fun to watch Jack. I think this is a great one that is not crowded.

I absolutely loved the Disneyland Paint the Night Parade. This one you really have to get there early to get a good seat. We showed up an hour early, and we could hardly see! It’s really magical though, and I highly recommend seeing it one night.

Afterwards, you can see the nightly fireworks which are incredible. I do recommend getting some kind of ear protection for your children though. Jack really loved it, but he was covering his ears the whole time.

We didn’t see it, but during the day in Disneyland, they have Mickey’s Soundsational Parade. It sounds like fun! We saw a similar one when I went when I was 19, and I remember loving it!

We also didn’t get to see the World of Color in California Adventure, but I wish I had! It goes on at night, and from what I’ve heard, it’s pretty fantastic.

There are a lot of other types of entertainment in both parks. Here are a few we enjoyed or that we’ve heard are good for children:

Hyperion Theater: We were SO sad that they didn’t have any shows going on. They just stopped the Aladin show we saw last time we went, and the new Frozen show doesn’t start until the summer. But these performances are incredible and everyone can enjoy them.

It’s Tough Being a Bug: This 4D show goes on all day long, and it’s a lot of fun. There is one part that scared Jack, but he enjoyed it for the most part. You do get a little wet and poked, so if your child has sensory problems or anything like that, it might better to avoid. But we really liked it!

Jedi Show: I’m not exactly sure what this is called, but around noon in Tomorrowland, they had some kind of Star War’s Jedi Show. You can sign up your kids ahead of time to participate, and we were sad we didn’t do this with Jack!

On Main Street of Disneyland, there is often a barbershop quartet singing, which is really fun to sit and listen to. When I went with  my parents and brother when I was 19, they sang to me!

In California Adventure, there are Newsies that sing on the trolley throughout the day. It was awesome!

There are probably others, but we really enjoyed all of these!

Character Breakfast

I wasn’t sure if we wanted to do a character breakfast, but I’m so glad we splurged on it. It was one of the coolest experiences, and Jack LOVED it. We got an early reservation at 7:45 AM for the Surf’s Up! Mickey’s breakfast, but I was so glad we did. We got there before a lot of people, so our kids got more attention. You should have seen Jack’s face light up when the characters came to our table.

The breakfast was amazing, too! I couldn’t get enough of it. The banana’s foster french toast was to die for, and they had everything you could possibly think of. I highly recommend doing one of these breakfasts. The best deal I’ve found on it is from Get Away Today. The vouchers include breakfast, tip, and tax. Make sure you order them several weeks ahead of time, and then make your reservation online, because times do fill up. There were no openings for the Minnie one three weeks before! If you book a breakfast and decide to book the rest of your trip through Get Away Today (which I highly recommend), you can get $10 off using the code Clarks2015.

Finding Characters

Children love seeing the characters. I think one of the best ways to see them (especially princesses) is by doing a character breakfast, as you can avoid long lines. However, you can definitely see them throughout the park.

We found that California Adventure had more characters just wandering around, and they often had less lines there. The Disney characters are dressed up in more “Hollywood” type clothes, so classic characters are better to look for in Disneyland.

We found that the best time to get short lines was right after the character goes on break. It’s kind of annoying when you get there, and the character is going for a break, but if you wait for a few minutes for them to come back, you can get right to the front of the line.

I think the Disneyland app is an awesome app to download because it tells you where certain characters will be during the day. There always seems to be several characters right at the entrance of Disneyland.

There is a Princess area in Disneyland that is great if your child really wants to see the princesses. These lines can get REALLY long, but if it’s important to your child, I recommend waiting in it!

Other

Toon Town: This is a great place for children, though it felt pretty crowded. They have all sorts of fun houses (like Minnie, Mickey’s, Chip and Dale’s Treehouse, etc.) as well as a few rides. I remember going here as a child with  my mom because everyone else was going on Indiana Jones, and I loved it!

Main Street – Disneyland Main Street has a lot of fun things on it. You can see characters, get yummy treats like ice cream, and even get your child’s silhouette! They have a cinema that shows old Disney cartoons, which is a fun way to relax with tired or hot kids. There is a street trolley you can ride on to Fantasy land, and there is also a carriage! I recommend spending some time here.

Downtown Disney – I love Downtown Disney. It has shopping, restaurants, etc. Some of it might be a bit boring for kids, but there is a lego place that is pretty cool. There’s lot of yummy food!

Car’s Land – This is one of the coolest attractions in California Adventure. It wasn’t open when I went in 2008, but it was really cool. Jack loved it! We saw Mater, Red, and McQueen, which he thought was the coolest thing ever (it kind of was.) It really feels like you stepped into Radiator Springs. They have several rides that most kids over 32″ can ride. I do think it’s unfortunate they made the coolest ride – Radiator Springs Racers – for only 40″ and over, since a lot of Car’s fans that are under 40″. But it’s still a really cool place.

Disneyland App – I wrote a post awhile back about the best apps for a Disney vacation, and I think a lot of them are relevant. However, I LOVE the free Disney app! It gives you wait times, tells you how to get to places, where you can find certain foods (we used that a lot!), tells you if a ride is closed (even just temporarily), first aid, and height restrictions, and much  more. If you get the photo pass, it makes easier to add pictures throughout the day to your photo pass. It’s free, so you need to download it!

Rider Switch

Even if you are spending the majority of the time wanting to go on rides with your children, I do recommend making sure you can go on some “big kid” rides. Disneyland has a great Rider Switch program in place, where, if you have chidlren that can’t go on ride, you are given a voucher (for Fast Pass rides) to go to the front of the line and ride again. With the non-Fast Pass rides, you are able to ask for a Rider Switch and do the same.

Avoiding long lines

No one likes standing in line, especially for kids. You can bring entertainment for them, but I think it’s best if you try and avoid them.

If you go during peak times of the year, good luck. We went during a time that was supposedly not busy, but it was. So, make sure you use Fast Passes! This will definitely cut down the wait time. Unfortunately, most of the fast passes are for the bigger rides.

If you get a three or more day pass, you can take advantage of Magical Morning. You get access to the park an hour early, and the ride lines aren’t long at all.

If there is a ride you really want to go on, I recommend going straight there in the morning. When we got there a little after nine, the lines weren’t long. So if there’s something everyone really wants, do it right away.

Survival Kit

Here’s a few things that I think will help make your Disney trip a little easier. You can pack this in a little backpack for your child:

Ticket Holder: I’m still kicking myself for not getting these for us! It was such a pain to keep track of our tickets! We ended up losing Jack’s at one point and had to get a new one from customer service.
Fruit
My KidPod: We lost Jack while we were at Disneyland, and it was terrifying. I heard about this wearable bluetooth watch for kids that I wish I had! You can bet I’m going to have one of these the next time we go.
Water
Snacks
Disneyland Autograph Book: We purchased one at Target for like $5, but you can buy them in park for a lot more! I love this Disneyland autograph and activity book, which is great for young kids.
Sunglasses – we bought a pair for $1 at Target that worked great!
Hat – We got the cute Mickey hat that you see in pictures for $7 at Target!
Sunscreen

Bonus: 

The night before we went to Disneyland, we stopped at Target to try and find an autograph book because I forgot Jack’s in Colorado. We were thrilled to see that they had TONS of Disney memorabilia for way cheaper. I recommend coming here and buying some souvenieers to surprise your kids with. Jack loved whenever we pulled something out of my backpack!

The post Fun for Under 40″ and ‘Fraidy Cats at Disneyland appeared first on Magical Family Travel Guide.

We’re getting ready to head on a road trip in a few weeks, so I’ve been busy making sure our family is prepped.

Road trips can create some wonderful memories – but they can also be really long and drag on…especially when you have children!

So, I thought I’d put together a list of the best road trip tips and hacks so your next road trip will be even better!

A special thank you to the following brands for collaborating with us on this post:

Audible / T-REX Tape / Cube-Tastic / IHOP / Chops Beef Jerky

Entertainment

Every good road trip will have some kind of entertainment – well, multiple forms of it! Make sure you are well-equipped for entertainment for all ages.

We personally LOVE audiobooks for road trips. Forrest and I have listened to many books over the years as we’ve driven across the country, and it’s something we look forward to doing. It’s so fun to find a book we haven’t read before so we can listen to it.

We like using Audible because of their great selection, and because it is super easy to use on our phone.

Even Jack loves audiobooks – here is a great list of audiobooks for kids of all ages (that are available on Audible). They have SO many books, and it’s so easy to use the mobile app to listen to your favorite ones while traveling. I think it’s a much better form of entertainment than staring at a table or phone all day! You can get a free one-month-trial from Audible, which is perfect for when you are leaving on a trip!

I recommend having plenty of non-electronic entertainment for everyone. Not only is it good to give the brain a rest from screen time (especially on a long trip), but it’s better to have things that don’t require a battery or electricity to run.

We have been loving the Cube-tastic! 3×3 Puzzle Cube. It’s really fun and challenging for all ages to figure out – and if you don’t have an electronic device, it even gives you step-by-step instructions on how to solve it. What kid doesn’t want to impress their friends after summer vacation with this?!

It helps with solving skills, improving memory, and develops hand-eye coordination. The design is always very sleek and durable, made with non-toxic and BPA free materials. Perfect for all ages.

You can get 15% off Cube-tastic using the code CUBETRIP at checkout!

Here are a few other entertainment ideas:

• Road Trip Games
• Bring CDs (just in case your phone runs out of battery!)
• Journals
• Road Trip Activity Chain

Food

Ah, food. What road trip is complete without food?!

I recommend loading up your car with high protein, high fiber snacks that will keep you satisfied. One of our favorite road trip snacks is beef jerky – our boys love it, too, so it’s a snack we can all enjoy and not feel about indulging in a little bit 🙂

We personally love Chops Snack Jerky – it’s not really tough like some beef jerky, and the flavor is spot on. They use USDA Choice & Select Beef Brisket and are 100% all natural. It’s the perfect salty snack to satisfy any salty cravings that are sure to surface during a road trip!

You can get 20% off your first order with Code 5CHN79Z7Q1BE on at www.chopssnacks.com.

I also recommend buying gift cards for nationwide restaurants. It makes for easy eating out and convenience, plus, it can help you from overspending!  While I love trying out local fare, sometimes it’s a good idea to just go somewhere that you know is trusted nation-wide.

We personally love IHOP – they have breakfast served all day, every day, and they are often open all hours of the day. They just turned 59 years old on July 18th, and they offered guest a 59 cent short stack of their classic buttermilk pancakes. I love when companies do things like that! You can find IHOP restaurants nationwide, and you can always expect the same great flavors and service at every store.

Here are a few other tips for Road Trip Food Success:

• Pack a bag with utensils, plates, napkins, etc. If you are eating on the go (either with food you brought or bought from a fast food restaurant), it will make for a slightly less mess trip!
• Wet Wipes – you need these for more than just eating, but they are are very helpful, especially when you have little ones in the car!
• Flip top containers are excellent for storing snacks to prevent spillage
• Sort snacks into serving size sized bags – this can help prevent overeating.
• Licorice is great for preventing road trip/travel bloat
• Pack lots of fruits and vegetables for healthier snacking
• Keep small snacks in a tackle box/rainbow loom box

Apps

There are some great Road Trip apps everyone should know about:

• Gas Buddy – love this for finding the cheapest gas along your routes.
• Audible – Make sure you download your free trial!
• Sit or Squat – not a big fan of bathrooms on the side of the road? Download this app to find which bathrooms are the highest rated!
• Bank Account App – always download your bank’s mobile app. It can help monitor your account while you are gone more easily!
• Waze – this is a great map and traffic app. It is user reported, so it has the most up-to-date information on
• TollSmart – if you are driving across the country, you will inevitably encounter tolls. This app can help you plan ahead for how much they cost, and if they only accept cash!
• iExit – know what’s coming up at the next exit with this app!
• ParkMe or Park Mobile – these are both great apps to help you find the best parking spots and to know how much they cost before you get there!
• Priceline – This is a must-have for finding hotels on the go. Make sure you read my post about Priceline tips to get the most bang for your buck!
• Uber or Lyft – I learned the hard way a few months ago – you never know when you are going to need this.
• Urgent.ly – This is great for roadside assistance (though always check with your car insurance first to see if you have it through them!).
• Avenza Maps – these can be used without an Internet connection.

Preparedness

It’s always good to be prepared for emergencies. Here are a few things to keep on hand in the hand:

Emergency Kit  – for car

• T-Rex® Tape – this is the best utility tape you could have in your car (and everyone needs utility tape – it’s the universal fix-it-all solution). It’s an extremely strong tape that is thick, and it’s made with sun-resistant material. It is made of three layers:
  • Layer one: a tough, thick polythylene skin to help protect against the worst weather.
  • Layer two: this is a thick thread that has een wound tightly and securely as an inner cloth.
  • Layer Three: This uses a new technology called “co-extrusion.” It is a double-adhesive layer that is melted through the threads that bonds with the tape skin.
  • This tape can be purchased here.

• Jumper Cables
• Flares
• Tire gauge
• Fix-a-flat
• Foam Tire Sealant
• Gloves
• Rags

Emergency Kit – for People

• Blankets
• Emergency food (MREs, granola bars, etc.).
• Water bottles
• First aid
• Rain Poncho
• Utility Knife
• Crank Radio
• Wet Wipes
• External Battery Charger

Important Document Folder

• Insurance cards (car, health, etc.)
• Emergency contact information
• Passports, birth certificates, etc.
• Map for where you are going

Instructions for Common Car Repair

Make sure your have instructions (maybe even visual instructions) for common car repairs, such as changing a flat tire, changing oil, how to jump a car, etc.

Bring Cash

Always have cash when you are traveling! You never know when your debit/credit card might stop working or if you’ll encounter a situation (such as a toll road) that only accepts cash! This happened to us once, and we had to track down an ATM in the middle of the night in West Virginia because we literally could not get through any other way, and they only accepted cash.

Other Tips

• Take a screen shot of your smart phone GPS written directions in case your phone dies or loses service
• Use a shoe organizer for back-of-seat organization
• A shower caddy is a great place to store food while eating
• Use a binder clip to attach your smart phone to your air vent (for directions – not to watch movies while driving!)
• Bring frozen water bottles in your cooler – they can act as ice packs, and it’s also great for when you need a new water bottle to be able to pull out a cold one!
• Use a cereal container with a plastic grocery bag as a car trash can
• Pack a “useful item” kit for easy access – extra diapers and wipes, cash, a few first aid supplies, lotion, tissues, etc. If you have kids, it might be helpful to have one for each row!

Other Road Trip Posts You May Enjoy

• Dollar Tree Travel Hacks and Tips
• Road Trip Tips with a Baby
• Road Trip Tips with a Toddler
• Road Trip Survival Kit

The post The Best Road Trip Tips, Hacks, and Apps! appeared first on Magical Family Travel Guide.