How Much Did I Spend on Winter “Vacation”!+ tips for traveling with kids Ⅰ Mom of 4

[@TheRealLydiaSenn]

Leave me your best tips for traveling with kids.

[@granitemoss1451]

Can we just pause a moment to celebrate that your air fryer is so loved, she has a name and is well-traveled? Love it!

[@TheRealLydiaSenn]

She's out there seeing the world.

[@heididahl439]

You go, girl! 😂

[@nehashroff-marfatia2186]

Carrying your own food is convenient, economical and also time saving. I am an Indian living in Atlanta, GA for 16yrs and I always carry snacks and food anytime I travel. Airbnbs are great because they usually come with a kitchen and are so much more comfortable to stay in. I think it's very resourceful of you to plan your trips so meticulously, especially meals for your vacations.

[@tenthousanddaysofgratitude]

We had road food. Sandwiches, boiled eggs, cut up cheese, cucumbers, carrots, celery and various fruits. We had pop and water and occasional potato chips. We ate well and had regular rest stops. I have no idea what we ate at restaurants but I vividly remember our blue cooler and the road food it contained. 💖

[@catherineh2630]

Not just your family, Lydia! We also ate from coolers in our mini van when I was little!! 😂When i travel with my teenage kids now, they hate going to restaurants because they do not like fancy stuff with the fancy sauces! It’s just easier to eat in! Everyone is happy! Your get away sounded lovely!

[@mirandatitus8115]

I love your channel. My kids are older now, but I did a lot of the things you talk about with my kids when they were smaller!! 😊

[@findingaway5512]

Air BNB s for vacations are my favorite. I have loud energetic kids with food sensitivities so it helps so much!!! Also my husband is introverted and likes down time so finding a place with some built in stuff to make hanging out better and fun. It has been wonderful!

[@TheRealLydiaSenn]

Love it!!

[@juliek2196]

Thank you for your video. ❤ My family was all about Spam sandwiches at rest stops! Sweet memories, for real. 🥹

[@tanyafulton583]

I don't know the history of Ft. Payne but I've been there just to drive past Randy Owen's home and to go to the Alabama museum. Greatest music ever:)

[@heythere2364]

You have the greatest tips. Your vacation sounded blissful.

[@TheRealLydiaSenn]

Thank you!

[@NOVAFrugalFamily]

We have the food bag that goes in the middle seat right next to my son with special travel snacks. I pack plastic bowls and cups for each of us to eat our snacks out of. We have a cooler and we always pack lunch and we have a car picnic. It isn’t a trip without my husband saying that that all my stuff isn’t going to fit in the car but he is always happy to wipe his hands with wipes and eat his yummy lunch and have all his meals planned. We almost always stay in a place with a kitchen and one night is takeout pizza because it is my son’s favorite but almost every other meal is home cooked or prepared food. It helps with the change in routine with mine a lot! Sounds like a great trip!

[@TheRealLydiaSenn]

You’re so prepared

[@sophianachtigall3598]

I was considering mini air fryer for the road, and now seeing your Shyla- well I have to do it now 😂😂 We love nature trips and we love cooking too. We are in a season of life when we can afford nice hotels, but our toddler is a picky eater. It is easiest to make our own food, alternately he will order French fries whenever we dine. I can’t let him live of fries for days. My tip: I have mini blender “to go” to make cream soups. This is the only way he will eat veggies, so soup it is .

[@TheRealLydiaSenn]

Do it!

[@clittle1807]

We do snacks and sandwiches in the car, and always stay with a kitchen , buy groceries and eat out once or twice if we decide to... we are an original family of 7 that has expanded to 13 as the kids have gotten older and some married with kids. We vacation once a year and the only reason we can do this is because we vacation off season and eat in.

[@markettabakke1187]

Two things that have worked for us: 1. Buy a cheap cookie sheet at Dollar Tree and use it as a lap tray. Kids can play with magnets on it and draw/color without crayons rolling off onto the floor! 2. During the trickiest part of the drive, hand out "new" toys every hour. You can just wrap little things that they already own, but it's something different to distract them... and something to look forward to. Also, it is TRUE what you said about vacations. We're in it for the memories and the bonding... not the relaxing!

[@BOOTZIE13]

Great 💡

[@TheImperfectReader]

I remember the sandwiches in the car. My husband does not understand why I pack so much food for the road.

[@amyquillen2506]

Our 3 generation household of 5 took a family vacation last year. I took food from home and we bought groceries to cook in our cabin. We ate out at 3 fabulous places that was 100% worth the money.

[@Caseyd1966]

I would totally do weird tourist things - the Rock Zoo sounds right up my alley lol

[@alishajennings2013]

We have 7 children ages 13 down to 2. It should take 8 hours to get to Panama but we stop for bathroom breaks and a picnic so it takes us 10 hours.

[@tracywaring3769]

We always take food and snacks when we go away even if it’s for a day because everything is so expensive we take toast and cold Tomatoe sausages , sounds of I know. But it’s not a day out without them big flask of tea to have in the car , and juice for my daughter , it’s awful when you see pensioners twice your age wizzing past you on a long walk😂😂. Glad you had a great time xxx

[@joyganster4650]

Best comment ever...Wipes Are Your Friends! Just my hubby and I yet still have wipes always. Guess Adrian Monk and I could be good friends. Anyone remember that show 📺. We are 🥾 hikers always have wipes.

[@TheRealLydiaSenn]

Love it!!

[@kathleennewbern480]

I hope I never forget the time my family drove through Arizona. Dad made PB&J sandwiches, wrapped them in paper towels and put them on the back shelf of his El Camino. By the time we stopped for lunch, they had turned into bricks. 😂 Crayons might be fun, but do not forget them in a hot car. They will melt.

[@TheImperfectReader]

I never thought to bring the air fryer.

[@marykimble5214]

Such great tips! Thank you! I have a three year old that I want to start taking on experiences so these tips are so helpful!

[@TheRealLydiaSenn]

I'm so glad!

[@aleshiawheeler9590]

THaNK YOU were going from MI to SC I’m 4 weeks & driving ! Great tips !!!!!

[@TheRealLydiaSenn]

Glad it was helpful!

[@geenabeanscrochetandmore3533]

Oh my goodness we have a farm between fort Payne and Collinsville.

[@ligeiabaird1648]

I am from Scottsboro, AL. There are so many things to do in North Alabama.

[@LauraForest]

A baggie to put the pukey clothes in and only stay places that have a washer and dryer! Library kid CDs. Pete Seger's childrens concert is our personal favorite

[@TheRealLydiaSenn]

Always have backup clothes!

[@sarapohl742]

There was a running joke about the blue snack bag on the TV show The Middle.

[@JustFollowHim]

oh my gosh the loaf of bread in the car bahahaha yes! it was peanut butter jelly or bologna and American cheese. boom bang that was it for us, and some koolaid of course. blech! eating out was very rare and travel food is nothin like it is today lol we literally had cereal for breakfast and the sandwiches for lunch and dinner, maybe dinner would switch to hotdogs and chips, with the same bread though, there were no special "buns" slice of bread for everything.

[@Kittenmom2]

We went to the south on vacation last summer and I literally had to drag my husband out of unclaimed luggage after 5 hours. They did have a great book section

[@shelleyandtheother1060]

Love that lipstick color on you😊

[@TheRealLydiaSenn]

Thank you

[@kaleydc]

I've heard vacation with kids is not a vacation, it's a trip 😂

[@TheRealLydiaSenn]

Exactly

[@mariaolker]

Don't forget about your free national park pass that your fourth grader gets. Oops, I didn't get far enough. You already knew about it.

[@balboathedog]

Travel potty

[@TheRealLydiaSenn]

Smart!