Traveling with Kids: Embrace the Chaos, Enjoy the Trip

"Traveling with Kids: Embrace the Chaos, Enjoy the Trip"

Episode Summary:

In this episode of Clear & On Purpose, I'm getting real about what it’s actually like to travel with kids. Spoiler alert: it's not a relaxing vacation—it's a trip. And once you shift your mindset, it gets so much easier (and way more fun). I’m sharing my favorite tips and mindset shifts that have made family travel smoother, more memorable, and less stressful—even when someone is puking or bleeding (because yep, that happens).

From packing lighter to creating flexible itineraries, this is your no-fluff, real-mom guide to traveling with kids while still enjoying yourself. Whether you're road-tripping, flying, or planning your next big family adventure, this episode is packed with encouragement and practical strategies.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why reframing “vacation” as a “trip” changes everything
• How to pack smart without bringing the whole house
• Why snacks are the unsung heroes of travel
• The magic of early flights with little kids (even if they don’t sleep)
• How to build a flexible, family-friendly itinerary
• Tips for incorporating different “types” of days: activity vs. food days
• Why most destinations can be kid-friendly—even if it’s not made for kids
• How travel with littles builds resilience, flexibility, and a sense of adventure
• Budget-friendly travel tips using points, off-season travel, and more
• How to embrace the inevitable chaos and turn it into connection

Links & Resources:

• Southwest Companion Pass Info

Resources Mentioned:

• Join The Village: Click here to connect with our community.
• Sign up for the Momentum Challenge: Click here to get started.

Resources & Links

• Follow Christina @christinaslaback
• Email us at hello@christinaslaback.com
• www.christinaslaback.com

Transcript

Traveling with Kids

Christina: [00:00:00] let's just be real. Traveling with kids is not the same as a relaxing vacation. You are not going on vacation. You're taking a trip and there's a big difference. A vacation implies that you're coming back rested and relaxed. Everyone's having a great time, and you might even get a chance to sip a margarita on the beach a trip that's you doing all of your normal parenting responsibilities, but in a brand new location, the kids are still being kids.

You're still managing moods and snacks and screen time, but you're doing it with a better view.

Welcome to Clear and On Purpose, the podcast design to help you cut through the noise and get back to what matters most. If you're feeling stuck, but needs to take intentional action, you are in the right place. I'm Christina Slayback, homeschooling mom of two and life and business coach, helping you drop in and align with your values and [00:01:00] create more space.

Each week I'll be sharing practical insights and simple. Actionable steps to help you find clarity, boost your energy, and design a life that balances ambition with mates. Let's dive in and get clear on purpose.

Welcome back to Clear and On Purpose. I'm Christina, and today I wanna talk about one of my favorite things to do. You even when it's not easy traveling with kids, and as kids are off for the summer and schools are closing down, many of you are probably thinking about and trying to plan your family vacation.

But let's just be real. Traveling with kids is not the same as a relaxing vacation. You are not going on vacation. You're taking a trip and there's a big difference. A vacation implies that you're coming back rested and relaxed. Everyone's having a great [00:02:00] time, and you might even get a chance to sip a margarita on the beach a trip that's you doing all of your normal parenting responsibilities, but in a brand new location, the kids are still being kids.

You're still managing moods and snacks and screen time, but you're doing it with a better view. The best thing you can do is set that expectation upfront. This is a trip, not a break. And that mindset shift can save you so much frustration because when we hold onto the fantasy that it's going to be all joy and relaxation and connection 24 7, the kids should be grateful that we're doing this.

We end up fighting against what's actually happening instead of enjoying it for what it is. That being said, I do love traveling with my kids. It's one of my absolute favorite things to do. So I wanted to share a few of the things that have made our trips go a little smoother over the years. [00:03:00] Pack Lighter.

I know it's tempting to bring all of the what if items, but hauling a ton of luggage while also managing overtired, crying Children is not the vibe. They're not going to play with all those toys. They don't need 12 outfits, and honestly, you can always run to a drugstore when you get there if you forget something.

Snacks always. This is one area where I never skip, especially for road trips or for renting a car. I pack a solid stash of snacks. It helps with those tough in-between moments when we're trying to find our reservation. The inevitable delays, hangry meltdowns, or just long stretches between meals. Also, bring empty water bottles to the airport.

Fill them up once you get through security, and then you're not stuck buying a bunch of overpriced water bottles early flights. Yes. Even with littles, unless you have teenagers who are really into sleeping [00:04:00] in early flights, can actually be a win. We used to just scoop up the kids from bed in the car.

They could sleep on the way. Mine never did, but they could have. We'd pack up and we'd clean the night before. We'd grab breakfast to go, and we'd end up at our destination with daylight still ahead of us. It made the whole thing go so much smoother. Having a flexible itinerary. I like to do some research beforehand and then create a Google map with all of the potential items that I think might be interesting.

So I'll save a bunch of pins for restaurants, attractions, parks and playgrounds. And then we pick a couple of things that we are our must do items for the trip that we absolutely wanna do, and we leave the rest open. That way we can go with the flow. If the kids are doing great, we go out and explore. And if we're all feeling a little crabby, we slow it down.

We take our time, and sometimes the best thing is just finding a local playground and letting them run [00:05:00] around while we reset. Having this already mapped out, we can be driving around in the middle of the day, all of a sudden decide that we need a break or we need to find food, and I can just quickly pull up and find what's around that I've already tagged, makes the whole thing go so much easier.

And having that flexible mindset and really being able to cater to both the adults and the children, finding those opportunities for them to run off energy or just do kid things, just gives us all a chance to reset and be able to enjoy the rest of our day. Mixing up your days, we usually rotate between activity days and food days.

On activity days, we're hiking, sightseeing, packing snacks, and on-the-go meals. On food days, we're wandering around downtowns, eating out for most of our meals, grabbing ice cream, hitting splash pads, or just chilling at the beach. And that rhythm really helps keep everyone balanced and make space for both [00:06:00] adventure.

And rest. Most locations can be kid friendly. You don't have to only take trips for the kids. If you wanna go to Disney, awesome. But if you wanna go somewhere else, you can absolutely do that too. You may not be doing the Extreme Heights or hitting up every winery, but you can still soak up the destination and make beautiful memories with your family.

Remember to involve yourself, an interest that you want to do, you and your spouse as well as just the kids. You'll come back feeling so much more refreshed. You'll be much more excited about where you're going if you're not centering it all around The kids who are inevitably going to complain at some points anyway.

Take them when they're little. Yes, even if they won't remember it. Traveling with little kids isn't about whether they'll remember that specific trip. The zoo, the museum. It's about the experience. It's seeing new places. It's learning [00:07:00] to navigate uncertainty. It's tasting new foods and it's feeling wonder.

They get to be a part of what brings you joy, and that's really powerful. Don't wait until your CO or your kids are older and they'll remember, start when they're young. Start doing the things that you enjoy and you'll always have the memories. Use travel rewards and be flexible. If cost is a barrier, look into travel rewards.

We have gotten the Southwest Companion Pass. A number of times, and with that, your companion flies free with you on every flight that you take. So if both my husband and I have it, all we have to do is pay for our own flights, which honestly we're using rewards for most of the time. And then we each get to take one of the kids with us as our free companion.

We have gone to so many more places and done so many more things for the cost of taxes on our flights, looking into things like. travel [00:08:00] rewards could be a game changer for you, and most airlines don't charge for kids under twos. So if you have littles. Now's the time to travel. Take advantage of the opportunity or the chance to not have to pay for them.

Additionally, travel in the off season and be open to unexpected destinations. We had an amazing time in Indianapolis last year, and honestly, that was never on my must visit list. You can make anything fun if you just go in with an open attitude and a spirit of adventure, something will go wrong. And just expect it.

I am not sure that we have ever had a trip where someone wasn't puking or bleeding seriously. Things will go wrong. That's okay. Embrace the chaos, get lost, drive unquestionable roads, laugh about it, and it becomes part of the adventure. And this is where that trip mindset really shines. You're modeling resilience, [00:09:00] flexibility assessed for life.

And honestly, some of the best stories come from the misadventures. So traveling with kids might not be easy, but it can be really, really good. It's not about perfection, it's about presence. And with a little prep and a whole lot of flexibility, you can create trips that are meaningful, fun, and full of connection.

Thanks for listening, and if you've got a favorite tip or story from traveling with your family, send me a message. I'd love to hear it. Until next time, stay clear and on purpose.

Thank you for tuning in to clear and on purpose. If you're ready to take intentional steps toward a more fulfilling life and wanna customize the approach, I'd love to work with you. Visit www.christinaslayback.com to schedule a free consultation or explore current offers designed to help you gain clarity.

[00:10:00] And reclaim your energy. And don't forget to subscribe and share this episode with a friend if you found it helpful. It helps others find the show and grow our community.