Yes, we are going on vacation. =)
We will be staying in a cabin we rented on the lake for 4 days, and we will be visiting a waterpark, museum, etc one day. What kinds of things can you think of that will make our lives easier and we will be so glad we brought but didn't think of on our own?
I will of course pack all of the "basics" such as clothing, sunscreen, bug spray, snacks, etc. For outside the box packing, I am thinking some sort of lights for outside after the sun goes down, as I am not sure the cabin will have those. Maybe some walkie-talkies or other outdoor toys for the two older kids. Also I need suggestions on some sort of backpack or otherwise to carry items for 3 kiddos and us - diapers, money, etc. When headed to a waterpark or museum, what is easiest? I have never traveled like this with all 3 kids! Any other suggestions are welcomed. Thanks!
Nylon rope and clothes pins to hang up swimsuits/towels, sunglasses strap, duct tape, frisbee. Have a great vacation!
Do you happen to have a bike rack for your car? My parents always brought our bikes with when we went camping and we loved riding.
If the cabin isn't equipped a small set of household cleaners/ or an all purpose cleaner, like a pinesol. i.e. dish soap, hand soap, laundry detergent, a sponge and a dishrag.
fishing supplies
jars for catching fireflies
inflatable floatie toys
water pistols (if you allow that sort of thing)
sun hats
aloe vera, bactine, yogurt
(all of these are good on the skin after sunburn or bug bites).
oranges/ bananas. these are really good really healthy, and really easy to carry (have on hand).
matching conspicuous t-shirts. have all three in bright green, orange, or tie die. that way they are easy to track wherever you go. plus it makes for good vacation pics.
a favorite box of cereal, some pretzels, a box of mac & cheese. Anything you can count on your kids eating, never fail, in case, they decide to be ornery about eating.
To carry your stuff-
1. go to the waterpark already wearing swimsuits, water shoes with an oversized t-shirt as a cover up. I would take 1 towel and use it among all five of you. bring diapers for baby. i would tote a credit card, keys and a drivers license and that's about it. If you need clothes for afterwards, stow them in the car. One parent can fetch them at the end of your day. if you intend on bringing lunch or snacks, again, stow them in the car, or rent a locker. don't lug stuff around unnecessarily.
2. same is true for the museum, all you really need is a credit card, keys and a drivers license, and some diapers. snacks, lunch, and an extra set of clothes can stay in the car, or be stored in bag check.
If you haven't shared the extent of your plans with your kids already, might I recommend that you peel back. 4 days at the lake should probably be plenty of excitement. A waterpark and a museum as well might prove exhausting.
Good luck to you and yours,
F. B.
Waterproof disposable camera. The kids will get a kick out of taking pictures of each other in the lake or coming off a water slide, and then they get the old-fashioned anticipation of waiting for their film to be developed (even if you take it to a one-hour place, that's still more waiting than they're probably used to, for pictures!).
For museums, I just carry a regular backpack (the same one I carried in college - it was a higher end backpack, and one of the best investments I've ever made! - it's traveled EVERYWHERE). It can hold diapers and wipes, water bottles and snacks, and I would get a very small "wallet" to take, too - the kind that holds just a little cash and maybe one credit card and your ID - that way, if it's lost or stolen, you've lost the minimum, and it takes up less space in the bag. You might want a tote for the waterpark - something big enough for all of the above, plus towels. Put your clothes in gallon baggies, to keep everyone's things together, but easily separated by person - underwear, tops and bottoms - and then the wet swimsuits can go back in. You might think of tossing one of those re-useable, grocery bags, too (something you can fold up, to not take up much space) - that way, the girls take one bag into their changing room, and the boys can take the other...
Also, for the museum, my husband and I have found it is helpful for both of us to have our cell phones on us. Inevitably, one of the kids wants to go look at one exhibit, and one wants to see another, and phones just make it easier for us to wander and find each other again.
Take LOTS of wipes.
Trash bags. Your cabin may not have them, or very many of them, but you might find yourself with fast food wrappers or snack containers, and it's a lot easier to make one trip with a big bag to the trashbins, than lots of little ones.
I am excited for you! Have fun!
Bedding. Many cabins don't have any.
Benadryl for bee bites or any kind of allergic reaction. Have a fabulous time.
Our kids love glow sticks/bracelets. You can usually find them in the $1 section at Target in a tube that comes with 15. We are going on vacation tomorrow and we stocked up on glow sticks for the nights.
Water bottles with lids! A lot of water parks sell drinks and stuff, but in cups with straws. It's really a pain to try to keep track of drinks while swimming or going on slides and rides. You can pour the drinks into the bottles, and stash them in your backpack.
Citronella candles or other mosquito repellant... If you will be by a lake, they will be a problem.
Water shoes might be a good idea too. If you haven't thought of that.
Flash lights for playing outside after dark or glow sticks. (may be what you meant by outside lights after the sun goes down).
Sunglasses for the kids.
Extra suits for the kids if you have them.
Ball (softball, blow up, etc).
Stuff to make smores!
Ziplock bags and some grocery bags and some candy. Also go to dollar store and get some fun cheap treats to bring out each day or in the event of rain. Colors and crayons and puzzles. Take a stroller for sure, you can put the backpack and miscellaneous stuff on it even if the kids wont ride in it. Have a great vacation!
Playing cards (whatever are age appropriate from matching dinosaur cards, Go Fish cards to real ones)
Board games and/or Yahtzee - as kids we spent a lot of very wet vacation days playing cards and board games.
Puzzles (yes - it rained whenever we went on vacation)
Most museums will make you coat check a back pack and often a diaper size bag.
Mesh bag for wet towels and bathing suits.
First aid kit.
Have fun!
Beach chairs. You can use them on the deck at the cabin, on the beach, at the waterpark. My kids like water cannons and body boards at the beach and water guns for around the cabin. I bring sparklers for the kids at the campfire. Books, puzzles, movies and card games in case it rains. I would let each kid carry their own backpack with their own stuff.
