Off-roading with your kids: Make a full day of it

Off-road driving can be an exciting vacation activity. The entire crew can enjoy the outdoors and sunshine. An off-road adventure can be extended to a full day of fun. Thoughtful preparation can make it a fun-filled day. The first order of business is to ensure that the off-road vehicle is properly maintained and ready to go. This maintenance includes checking the air pressure of the off road tires and beadlock wheels. The same routine maintenance should be performed on your bush bus as on your family car, such as the oil change. A trip through the car wash might be a good idea and a thorough interior cleaning.

For a daylong trip, you need to plan food for the day. Since it is vacation time, fun foods are allowed. You can eat healthy foods when everyone gets home and back into the routine. To store the cold food and drinks, get a large sized cooler. Of course, the first thing to go in the cooler is the beverages. Select some well-loved brands of pop and also some that are out of the ordinary. The pop bottles go in first so that they do not squash the softer foods. There are many excellent options for cool snacks and lunch. Although it takes some preparation ahead of time, fried chicken makes an excellent picnic entree. Purchased fried chicken is acceptable but not as yummy as homemade. Many people would rather have sandwiches, but chicken is much more festive. I know I said healthy foods did not have to come on vacation, but fruit is an exception. On a hot summer day, a cool piece of juicy fruit can be delicious and refreshing. If you bring chips and cookies it can stay out of the cooler. Keep them close at hand for munching.

Riding through the country side makes a fun day for the family, but if you want to give the kids even better memories, take your vacation near the water and take the kids to the beach. For a fun visit to the beach you need additional gear. Each person should have a beach bag containing a bathing suit, towel, beach shoes, and a comb. Also be sure you have enough beach toys to keep everyone occupied. Kids love inflatable water toys so that they can float in the shallow water. (Be sure to keep a close watch on the kids while they are in the water, particularly if they have floater toys.) Have enough beach towels or blankets to spread on the sand for relaxing in the sun and playing in the sand. And, speaking of sand, have sand pails and shovels for making sand castles.

Do not forget the first aid kit and other important safety items. Everyone should have a hat to keep the sun off their ears and noses and an old tee shirt to don at the beach after some time in the sun. A large bottle of sunscreen will also prevent dangerous and painful sunburns. If you will be out when the sun goes down, insect repellent is another requirement. As it gets dark, the mosquitoes come out.

With good preparation, the whole family will have fun and will store up enough memories to get them through the long, cold winter.