Traveling with kids is glorious, full of learning and laughing and happiness. It can also be full of "are we there yet?" questions that can put a damper on your trip. What do to? I've found a great resource for traveling with kids - a website aptly named Pit Stops for Kids. Founded by Amy Whitley, Pit Stops for Kids is exactly what you need for travel planning, happy trips, and even happier families. It's full of inspiration - and the joys of Getting There.

We talked with Amy about her site, making travel easier, travel tips, and more. Here's what she had to say...

WE: Please tell us about Pit Stops for Kids...

AW: Pit Stops for Kids is a travel resource for families on the road. In addition to ‘real parent reviews’ of roadside pit stops in 40 states and counting, we feature travel product and experience advice, city and road trip series, pre-planned itineraries, National Park guides, and family resort and attraction reviews as parents who have been there, done that throughout the U.S. and internationally. 

WE: What was the genesis of your site?

AW: We travel quite extensively, especially road trip style, and on one memorable drive down I-5 in 2008, we absolutely couldn’t find a decent place to pull over and play with our kids (then preschoolers and toddlers) while passing through Sacramento, CA. We knew great stops existed; this was a large city, after all, but we weren’t looking for the big attractions listed in guidebooks. We simply wanted to know where the best park with clean, safe facilities was located in relation to the freeway (preferably with a tasty kid-friendly restaurant nearby). Someone out there knew…just not us. Frustrated, we asked ourselves why a resource listing such basic information didn’t exist…and decided to remedy that. In the years since, Pit Stops for Kids has expanded to include resort stays, full road trip itineraries, and general travel advice in addition to practical pit stop information.

WE: How can families with kids make travel easier?

AW: Preparation, preparation, preparation! Many families consider travel with kids to be too difficult or inconvenient to attempt, but it doesn’t have to be that way! With a little research, family travel becomes much more manageable. If you pull out of your driveway (or into the airport long-term parking) armed with a plan based on solid advice, you’ll feel far less stressed, and your vacation time will be better spent having fun, exploring, and relaxing. Prepare your kids too; if they know what to expect, they’ll be more excited to see the attractions and places you want to introduce them to. Lastly, make sure you’re armed for both expected and unexpected hiccups: stock the kids’ backpacks with ways to pass the time en route, bring a cooler and groceries to enjoy picnic lunches instead of fast food meals, and pad your itinerary with enough extra or free time to take a detour, slow down, or make alterations.

WE: Travel is so important, especially to kids! What do you say to parents that are just thinking about traveling with kids?

AW: I tell them to just get out there and GO. Travel always seems more overwhelming before you’ve tried it (and seen what your kids are capable of). Children are adaptable, making them wonderful travel companions. They’re curious, adventurous, and naturally cheerful. Who wouldn’t want to travel with them?!

Of course, the younger set can be challenging, and I hear often from parents who can’t believe we’ve embarked on so many long road trips and flights with babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. While traveling with this set can be difficult at times (trust me, I have my battle stories), I firmly believe that traveling with young children teaches them to be lifelong explorers of their world. My children are now all school-aged, and are flexible, happy, willing travelers…most of the time!

WE: How can families best dig deeply into a culture/new place?

AW: Wasn’t it Woody Allen who said ‘90% of life is just showing up?’ This is a rule we live by while traveling. It’s important to get out into a city or destination and get to know it. Take public transportation in cities. Stop at visitor centers in national parks and sign up for the kids’ programs they offer. Talk to locals; ask them questions and their advice on what to see and do. Pick up local publications and scan them for free community activities going on at the time of your visit. On a recent trip to New York City, my son (age 10) jumped into a pick-up game of soccer on a lawn in Central Park without missing a beat…and I spent the next twenty minutes chatting with other (local) parents while watching our kids play the game. I received a great recommendation for dessert in the process (Dylan’s Candy Bar), which my kids thanked me for!

WE:  What are your top family travel tips?

AW: Again, do your research. Know ahead of time what you want to do and see so you don’t waste time wandering aimlessly with young children in tow. Nothing wears kids out or frustrates them (and you) faster. Utilize online resources for snagging resort and airfare deals (the more flexible you can be, the better), and consider renting a vacation home instead of staying in a hotel. You often save money, have more room for your family, and get to know local culture better.

Pit Stops for kids frequently reviews travel entertainment, books, and electronics on the site, which I believe is a great resource for packing the car or backpacks for the road or air travel. There’s going to be dead time while traveling; be prepared to fill it!

WE: What makes a Pit Stop great?

AW: A great pit stop is any pit stop that’s just what you need, when you need it, which is why I strive to cover a great range of types of pit stops in a variety of locations across the U.S. and abroad. Depending on the type of travel you’re doing--where you are, or how long a day it’s been--your family may need a quick outdoor pit stop where the kids can run around, an indoor museum where everyone can decompress, or an overnight pit stop at anything from a luxury resort to a camp site. We try to provide for all contingencies!

WE: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us?

AW: Some of my favorite reviews on Pit Stops for Kids are the outdoor adventure travel destinations we’ve been fortunate enough to cover. We’ve zip-lined in Oregon, balanced on a high ropes course in Montana, ridden horseback in Wyoming, and rafted through whitewater in Massachusetts. We’ve hiked the sides of cliffs in Utah and discovered ancient culture in Colorado. Some of it, we weren’t sure we could do until we tried, and all of it strengthened us as a family and my children as siblings. Pit Stops for Kids is designed as a resource any type of family can use for any type of travel, but no matter where you’re going, I hope you’ll take the opportunity to push your travel limits!

Rafting in the Berkshires

WE: Thanks so very much, Amy! We love Pit Stops for Kids and highly recommend it to our Wandering Educators.

For more information, please see:

http://pitstopsforkids.com/