Weekend Worthy Driving Trip

Flying with four young kids can be such a pain. So road trips are the way we mostly go these days. On our most recent excursion, we found a great destination for kids and adults so naturally I want to share!

While searching online for a destination within 10 hours of Chicago, since we only had a long weekend off of school to make the trip, we figured out we could drive to Nashville, Tennessee in about nine hours. Perfect.

My husband quickly found a townhome for 5o percent off because of the last minute booking and next thing I knew we were packing our bags and headed south. I wasn’t able to take time off from work because I'm working on some big projects, so Internet access was key for our vacation. I tried the new portable internet offered by Clear. It was pretty cool; I was worried at first because it didn't come with any directions but it's very simple to use. The 4g speed transformed my car into my new virtual office. I was able to surf the Internet, kids were able to visit the math website we frequently make them spend time on, and we did this while driving through multiple states. Everyone was content.

When we arrived, it dawned on us that we faced a new challenge. The place we rented was great, but it wasn’t exactly a resort with a pool, a playground or much to do without getting in the car and finding it. Which is what we did: our YMCA membership worked in other states so we quickly checked out the outdoor pool at the state-of-the-art YMCA. YMCA’s in the Midwest tend to get a bad rap, but the three in Nashville are located within 20 minutes of each other. All are different, but feature mini-waterparks, nurseries for toddlers and bigger kids, and could be compared to some of the nicest workout facilities in Chicago.

For such a last minute trip I wanted to share the things we found that were incredible and didn’t cost much.

1. Library storytime: This was a mini-theater production. Real actors put on a one hour performance that delighted kids of all ages. And best of all, it was free.

2. Swimming: Hanging out at the YMCA was a great addition to our trip. We made it a daily trip so the kids would hang while we worked out and then we would all swim for a few hours.

3. Listening to music at area establishments along the strip downtown. They are all kid friendly -- in the early evening anyway. We enjoyed having our girls with us listening to country music and they met some excellent singer/songwriters.

4. Going to Memphis: this was a highlight of our trip and not a far drive at all! It was our first visit to Graceland. Make sure you see the planes and tour the inside. When we were leaving, our kids were fascinated by Elvis. Beale Street is fine for kids in the afternoon and early evening, but it’s not a kid-friendly place later on.

5. Imaginarium Children’s Adventure Museum. Our four kids of all ages were all satisfied playing here. We stayed for hours and found some great ice cream nearby.

We also took in a minor league baseball game, where our three oldest talked the players into giving them each a ball. I'd say our trip was a huge success and the cost was minimal, compared to others where we fly and visit theme parks. It’s hard to be spontaneous with kids, but when you head out with an open mind you might surprise yourself.

Best of luck on your trips!

Tagged as: children, vacation, travel and family

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Christine Garcia is founder and president of Plan It PR, a public relations and marketing firm. She dishes tips and survival stories in “Play Dates and Power Lunches.” Ms. Garcia started working public relations after a long career in broadcast journalism, which included work as a television anchor, reporter and producer.