As a kid, our family vacations consisted of spending a lot of time in the car driving across Canada and the States. The running family joke was that as soon as we started to drive, I would fall asleep and happily wake up at all of our stops. While I might have missed out on seeing the scenery along the way, I always saw the main attractions. When I became a parent with young kids, one of our first road trips was heading up to cottage country, a two and a half hour drive from our house. We started doing this drive when our oldest son Kyle was only three weeks old. We have done several road trips since then including Ottawa and Mont Tremblant, Quebec. But almost every weekend in the summer we drive up to the cottage. While driving in the car with little kids has its challenges, the destination is always worth it. And for those who are finding it hard to do road trips with their little ones, I will say this: It does get easier with age. Most importantly, pack lots of snacks and have technology available for desperate times.
July is the perfect time to take a family road trip! The possibilities are endless whether you want to take a short trip out to a local “beach” or drive across the country. While we are sticking to cottage-only road trips at the moment, we have plans to rent an RV in the near future and drive to the East Coast.
If you’re looking for some road trip inspirations, here are three great adventure ideas from my friends at Church & Dwight. They include Quebec City, Haliburton and Tofino. Here is what each location has to offer:
ROAD TRIPS DESTINATIONS
- Tofino, British Columbia. Looking for something truly picturesque? Head to Canada’s surf capital – Tofino. Get your family on a ferry from Vancouver to Nanaimo and drive along the Pacific Rim Highway for a truly breathtaking view of mountains and lakes, along with rainforest. The area is also known for its trees, which grow in spectacular sizes. Some trees are believed to be 1000 years old.
- Haliburton, Ontario. Truly the quintessential summer escape from the big city, you’ll practically feel the stress lifting as you start driving into cottage country. There are several scenic route options, dotted with great ice cream parlours along the way, which all lead to good times ahead. Whether you stay for the day or rent a cottage, you’ll want to make sure you stop at Webers in Orillia, a Canadian burger landmark since 1963.
- Quebec City, Quebec. Whatever direction you’re coming in from, stop in a few francophone villages on your way into the old city to soak up the culture, food and French! Making your way through the beautiful and lush countryside, you’ll be thrilled to arrive at your final destination: old Quebec City, a city full of history, architecture, cobble stone streets and endless charm.
Before you head out on a great adventure, make sure you’re well prepared, especially when kids are involved – we’re hoping for less “are we there yet?” and more “wow, this is amazing!” You’ll always want to pack things like a GPS system, snacks, sunscreen, and sun protection, first aid supplies and good music! You can click site for more first aid supplies.
GIVEAWAY
To get you ready for your family adventure this summer, here are some very practical products to put in your travel toolkit.
- GRAVOL Natural Source Ginger Lozenges – curb motion sickness for you and your kids (over the age of six) with these chewable lozenges – convenient, portable and no water required! GRAVOLTM Kids Quick Dissolve Chewables are a great option for your little ones two years and over! (GRAVOLTM Kids Quick Dissolve Chewables are not included in giveaway).
- OxiClean Foam Pretreat – spills and stains are bound to happen on road trips, treat them the day they happen and then throw the item in the wash a few days later when you make it to your destination!
- ORAJEL Anticavity Fluoride Toothpaste, in either Super Mario or The Ultimate Spider-Man or My Little Pony – with road trips come snacks and fast food so ensuring your little ones are brushing is of the upmost importance.
- Vitafusion Women’s and Men’s Complete Multivitamins – are geared towards providing essential nutrients specifically needed by men and women to maintain their health, in a tasty gummy that you can take without water, perfect for on-the-go!
Enter to win these products, approximate retail value of $50, to help with your upcoming road trip! Enter the giveaway via Rafflecopter (please give it a few seconds to load). Contest is open to all residents of Canada. Contest ends Friday August 5, 2016.
Disclosure: I received compensation as part of my participation in this campaign. However, the opinions and stories are my own!
I’m so ready for my summer family adventure! And wouldn’t mind the help of these products!
We are excited for family summer road trips too! We are heading to beautiful Prince Edward Island!
The best road trip was going from BC to Alberta through the Rockies..the Icefield hwy from Banff to Jasper was my favourite! So beautiful!
Not a big deal for some, but since I am from a small town and never leave, I loved going to Oshawa with my husband when he had to tow a truck there, it was so different and seeing the city was a big wow for me!!
one of the best was from new brunswick to british columbia, i would love to do it again, but take my time.
Best road trip ever was to Tillamook, Oregon. It was so much fun driving through the country side and then hitting the Tillamook cheese factory!
The best would be Halifax Nova Scotia.
WE did a road trip to Drumheller a few years ago that was absolutely amazing . Was great for family bonding <3
Best road trip was to Ottawa Ontario. So much fun and such a beautiful city
Our best road trip was our trip to Calgary.
Took a road trip to Vancouver from Manitoba, was a lot of fun, loved seeing the mountains.
I’ve only ever been on a few road trips in my entire life, most of which ended in Victoria BC which is a beautiful city
The best road tip that I have so far is to Jasper, Alberta
Best road trip would be the one we took from Ontario to Orlando to Disney – it was the best!
My best road trip would be the one to Surrey, BC and out on the island for the day. What a gorgeous country we live in!
I enjoyed one from Grand Prairie, AB to Penticton, BC and from there to Revstoke, BC and ended up Edmonton, AB.
My best road trip was with my dad and my son we left from northern Alberta and went to the Yukon then coming home we toured through BC then back through Jasper then headed north to home, was a nice vacation
TO DISNEY WORLD WITH THE FAM IN AN RV…SO MUCH FUN
We’ve only done one family road trip, from Vancouver to Palm Springs, last spring break, and it was awesome. Looking forward to doing Canada’s east coast in a couple of years – from Quebec to PEI is the plan!
We have been fortunate enough to road trip from coast to coast. It was so much fun!
My best road trip i’ve ever taken was across Newfoundland with my Mom and sisters.
The best road trip I have ever taken was to Vancouver.
we did a road trip to sturgis, south dakota – it was a blast
Took a trip with my dad and ended up in Victoria BC, he is now gone and I will never forget how much fun we had, and the memories.
We had a really fun family road trip in Alberta a couple of years ago.
When we headed to Niagra Falls…
Our best road trip was to New Brunswick.
Best road trip was driving to Cape Breton and spent a few days on the Cabot trail! Amazing experience!
My best road trip was before we have any kids. We went to Alaska.
The best road trip we took was when we took our trailer to Yellowstone National Park. It had it’s up and downs but, we loved it.
Florida
We have a road trip planned to drive out to the East Coast and to drive the
Cabot Trail.I am so excited to go and will love seeing and smelling the ocean.
I am hoping to get to PEI before the summer is out , for even a day or two , would love to see the red mud and have fresh seafood 🙂
My Honeymoon! We drove from Toronto to PEI. We stopped in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick on our way
One summer my family drove to Disneyland!
The best road trip I had with the family just happened. We took our boys to Great Wolf Lodge In Niagara Falls. They LOVED it. We can’t wait to go back.
I need a summer adventure!!!
My sister and I are planning a trip to the East coast (from Ontario) in September.
My best roadtrip was out to Alberta to visit family! 🙂
Driving up through Banff to Jasper was amazing!
The best road trip I’ve done is traveling from Calgary to Kelowna through the Rockies!
Driving through Banff
We drove around and camped in the Adirondacks in New York.
The best was this year when we drove right across Newfoundland!
I loved our roadtrip to Tofino – such a beautiful place!
I’d say my road trip to Buffalo to see a friend’s hockey game after she got a scholarship and moved to the United Stated.
My just went on the best road trip I’ve ever head…drove across the province to get lasik done on my eyes and just got home yesterday.
Best road trip I ever went on was when my family drove from Ontario to Vancouver when I was a kid.
When I graduated high school my parents bought me an old 150cc scooter which I rode from Montreal to Old Orchard beach (back when you didn’t need a passport to cross from Canada to U.S.). Time of my life, period.
The best road trip I ever went on was when my family and I drove to Montreal
Thank yo for this chance of winning.
The best road trip that i ever done was driving from Halifax To Syndey Nova Scotia in the fall . The beautiful leaves changing colors stunning view . Thanks for the chance
Driving across Australia…more fun than a barrel of monkeys
one of my most fave road trips was just me and the family dog crossing north america twice.
Buffalo – so much so my bff and I are doing it again next week! (Suzi)
The best road trip I’ve taken is to Michigan to do some cross-border shopping.
The best road trip is to Kelowna
My best road trip was when we went to Lumsden NL,and tented all night,was a lot of fun on the beach,.
We just got home from Cavendish PEI
This past October I took a weekend solo roadtrip to Raleigh, NC to go to a friend’s wedding. Just me, a rental car and my favourite tunes – it was so much fun! Love road tripping with the kiddos, but this was even better!
Our trip to St,Anthony a couple weeks ago we did a boat tour seen whales and ice bergs it was amazing to be so close
Prince Edward Island with my sisters.
My favorite road trip was one with a girlfriend to Calgary for the Stampede!
Favourite road trip was Vancouver to Whistler, with my daughter and husband