Two families on the road in Norway, loads of planning ahead for mini-adventures by car. Just follow along!

 

Part 1: Notes from the road

(And how to road trip with kids the right way)

The more the merrier, right! Travelling with another family is so much fun and actually much easier for everybody. Our experience is less squabbling and more play (that goes for both the grown-ups and the kids), win, win!

Before we left we made sure to fill up on coffee/smoothies and buns, oh, and cuddles of course…

Pointing us in the right direction!

Show and tell with Dad on the ferry! Everybody was pretty excited that the trip started on the water. So much to look at and so great to get some fresh air before we head off in the car!

A little bit of in-car-fun, soft toys and tiny Pixie books. We also had audio books for the car which everybody loved. We left the iPad at home but you could bring it as long as you have one of those great iPad covers so the kids are protected in case of an accident!

To be able to stop whenever and wherever you want is such a great feeling! We drove by this café and just had to stop, the fact that they served hot waffles was, of course, a bonus.

We made some new friends along the way too… as you might imagine this was one of the highlights of our trip. We got to pet the lamb and the kids fed them grass and flowers.

Stop and smell the flowers (and have an ice cream).

Another stop we made was at this cute beach with the most amazing views. The kids, of course, were more interested in catching crabs and finding seashells, but everybody enjoyed themselves. Some of us even went for a swim.

We had brought a few small things with us to play with while on the road. Nothing big, just things we knew the kids would find fun, like their fishing gear and small wooden boats for the beach.

Ferry rides

On our way again, next stop the ferry and then our home for the night.

The ferry rides almost became our favourites, it really breaks up the journey. Remember to take regular breaks throughout the trip, especially if you are travelling with a small baby, just to make sure your little one get’s all the fresh air he or she can!

After a long day, it was so great to get a good night’s sleep (and especially with this view). Day two started early with a lot of coffee and a big breakfast. We also made some sandwiches for the road since we knew there would not be anywhere to get food for a few hours.

Some of us took a nap and some of us played, I think both were equally good…

We just had to stop here and go for a little exploring, I mean, snow in the middle of summer? We weren’t able to climb the mountain, but we went for a little adventure. The best times are really made up as you go.

It’s all about contrast

It’s all about contrast, right!? One great tip (that you probably do anyway) is to do a lot of research before the trip about where you are going and the history of the area. So if the kids are tired of the audiobooks or the music you can entertain them with stories from where we had been and where we were headed.

Buckle up, we are driving back home. This road trip has been so great in every way, a real adventure for everyone actually. So easy and to have the freedom to stop wherever you feel like has been pretty amazing. I know, we didn’t drive to the end of the world but we figured that a great adventure could also be small.

Follow along: Part 2

Two families on the road in Norway, loads of planning ahead for mini-adventures by car. Just follow along!

Part 2: A Blank Page

(and how to ruin it. In a good way.)

Planning a trip can actually be just as fun as the trip itself (well, almost). I for one love that part, the start, a blank page, when nothing really is decided and you have the whole adventure in front of you! I guess I could do without the packing bit, but somebody has to do it, right? 

So we know there is a road trip in Norway coming up and we have agreed on the destination and the route (the kids are ecstatic as it happens to include both cars and ferries). We just need to plan all the little adventures on the way and that we do together as a family.

A great tip is to really let the kids go crazy with ideas on what the trip should include. We had everything from fishing, climbing mountains, staying up late (like really, really late) and/or catching monkeys. Even though you might not do everything on that list, the kids get really excited and feel they are part of an adventure. This is pretty much is all you want, right!?

Ready to leave!

All the bags are in the car, tightly packed in the trunk, the car seats are in and are screaming the kid’s names (oh, remember to double check that everything is correctly in place). We are ready to leave!

But everybody knows the kids need to work off some energy before the trip can start, that’s one of the perks of travelling with another family with kids!

Also, make sure you cuddle enough with the smallest member of the family to get them settled in before you leave!

…and we are finally off on our road trip!

The BeSafe checklist:

• Check that your car seat is correctly installed according to its user manual and that all indicators show green! If your child is not sleeping, keep your child car seat as upright as possible, yet as reclined as necessary based on your car conditions.
• Before starting your journey, check that the car seat is correctly adjusted to your child. If you’re using the BeSafe iZi Flex FIX i-Size booster seat, remember the shoulder belt and lap belt guiders for optimal belt positioning. The headrest should be at the right height for the child and the PAD+ should be in the right position.
• It is extremely important that the the internal harness is securely tightened and placed near the child’s body. To check if the harness is tight enough, try to make a fold in the shoulder belts. If this is still possible, the harness is not tightened enough yet.

Go back: Part 1

Follow along: Part 3

Two families on the road in Norway, loads of planning ahead for mini-adventures by car. Just follow along!

Part 3: Packing Smart for a Road trip

(and what not to wear in the car )

– Did you remember to pack a blanket for the car, oh and don’t forget the extra rain jackets for the kids, just in case? And the sun hat…and the kids should have some soft toys to cuddle in the car, don’t forget those… Yup, the list is always too long. We wanted to share a few tips and tricks on what to pack, and what to leave behind for a road trip. 

When it comes to clothes and what to pack we always think in layers, and for this particular trip we knew the weather was going to be unpredictable so we packed everything from swimsuits to wool sweaters. For the car it’s great to have a few blankets or scarves for the kids (actually for us grown-ups too). We had a long drive so the kids actually slept for a few hours which was great, and so the blankets came in handy.

It’s also better safety-wise for kids not to have too many clothes on when they are in their car seat. So leave the thicker jackets in the trunk.

Our families go-to outfits on any trip has to be a tee with a sweatshirt on top, followed by loose pants. We always keep shorts or a skirt in a separate bag with us, just in case. This road trip of ours included both cars and ferry rides, so a lot of in-and-out of the car checking out the scenery…

In other words, warm one second, chilly the next.

For the smallest members of the family, it’s great to layer with wool, it’s warm yet breathable and oh so soft. A hat and a cardigan are perfect to start out with, just take them off when you feel the need.

The BeSafe checklist:

• When choosing a child car seat, check that the car seat has ventilation holes in the back for optimal ventilation.
• If you’re going on longer car journeys, choose a child car seat that has great padding that provides comfort for long journeys.
• Check regularly to ensure that child is not too warm.

Go back: Part 2

Follow along: Part 4