Entertaining kids on road trips is tough. These go-to products add fun to the trip! We have must-haves for fun on the road, tasty treats, and creature comforts!
Toys & Games
Puffy Sticker Playhouse
Puffy Sticker 3D Playhouse Decorate your playhouse and freestanding foam characters with puffy stickers. Wipe them off if they get dusty– the stickers never lose their cling! Choose from Unicorn, Mushroom, and Around the Barn.
Magic Reveal Discovery Mat
Magic Reveal Discovery Mat Classic activity with beautiful artwork to reveal, over and over again. Wet the mat and the vibrant color appears. When it dries, the mat becomes white again. This is great for hotel rooms and trips to visit relatives. For ages 3+.
Art on the Go
Art on the Go A fun kid’s art station in a travel format by iHeartArt. The art supplies for kids 3-5 years will release their creative side with activities, stickers, and stencils. Clean up is easy with snap-close crayon storage and a folder in the back to store your completed art!
PLUS PLUS Super Tubes
My girls LOVE Plus-Plus Tubes. These are perfect to pack for roadtrips and a great hotel toy. Recently they tried the Plus-Plus Puzzle by Number from Plus Plus. Plus-Plus Puzzle By Number® combines the artistry of a paint-by-number with the satisfaction of a puzzle into a unique creative experience. Using the enclosed pattern, fill in the design by matching each number with the corresponding color. When you are done, display it on a table or hang it up as room décor - no glue or ironing required! The new Peacock features two new colors in a dazzling display of plumage, including one single feather that can be used as a coaster or desk decoration. PLUS, all Plus-Plus sets encourage open-ended, creative play, are made using food-grade materials and are manufactured in Denmark using 100% wind energy. Available at plusplususa.com & Amazon
We also tried the Inspired Tubes from Plus Plus. Observe, admire, and create with the open-ended Plus Plus Inspired series. With Plus Plus Inspired, the only instruction is to exercise your imagination. Each tube doubles as a displayable container, filled with Plus Plus colors drawn from the color palette of iconic works of art. Inside each Inspired item you’ll find an educational flyer, where you’ll discover more about each artist, their style, and their life and work. Available at plusplususa.com & Amazon
Spy Labs
Spy Labs Incorporated sells super fun detective gear for kids. These kits are about the size of a small wallet, making them ideal for a car trip bag. This line of forensic science activity kits and equipment includes everything you need to become an effective detective, from a tracking device that helps you mark treasures and secret hiding places, to essential spy walkie-talkies that keep you in contact with your fellow detectives, and even a fully-fledged investigation lab, complete with all the tools and equipment to analyze evidence and solve makebelieve mysteries and crimes. Explore the science behind detective work as you become a first-class secret agent, unraveling mysteries one tough case at a time. We tried the SECRET MESSAGE TOOLS KIT a fun way to exchange confidential messages with your fellow agent using disappearing and reappearing ink that only the two of you can read! Using either of the two secret pens, you can write a message that, once dry, becomes invisible. The other pen will not only reveal the information, but you can also use it to send your reply. Available with Thames & Kosmos.
Journal
Bright Stripes Therapeutic Art Journal Color Harmony Bright Stripes designs beautiful, innovative products for kids of all stripes. The All-inclusive portfolio with expressive art activities, including a fold-up binder with elastic closure, includes oil pastels, markers, stencils, colored papers, drawing paper, 5 guided activity pages, and a comprehensive art guide. Learn all about color while having fun making an affirmation rainbow, creating and naming your own colors, and more. Available on Amazon.
Yummy Treats
Snacks are a must for road trips. Choose these healthy, tasty options to keep hunger at bay.
Congo Tropicals
Congo Tropicals The healthy, yet delicious snack staple ideal for road trips! Congo Tropicals’ Plantain Chips are the perfect alternative to the crunchy potato chips you crave. Found in tropical regions, plantains are high in fiber, potassium, and energy, and low in cholesterol. We tried the plantain chips that come in a variety of flavors including Bombai, Lime, and Garlic - each member of our family chose a different favorite. Available on Amazon
Harvest Snaps
Healthy eating on road trips is ideal, but not always easy. Thanks to a new bag-in-bag offering from Harvest Snaps, moms can easily pack a nutritious, delicious, simple snack for the road. Our family loves this tasty treat! The bag-in-bag packs feature two of the brand’s top-selling baked veggie snacks, plus a new ring-shaped, red lentil snack, the super tasty and irresistibly crunchy lineup is crafted from farm-picked green peas or red lentils as the very first ingredient. The Mixed Snack Pack includes six bags, two of each of the following flavors: Harvest Snaps Lightly Salted: The snack that started it all, this flagship flavor pairs wholesome green peas with a touch of salt for a snappy snack that’s sure to satisfy cravings. Harvest Snaps Tomato Basil: Red lentils are the star in these boldly flavored snacks, which feature a tangy, zesty flavor that tangos on the tongue. Crunchy Loops Sour Cream & Onion: The buttery, chivey jive of creamy sour cream is paired with delicate onion in these fun-to-eat, ring-shaped snacks. Packed with plant protein and a good source of fiber, the flavorful products are made from the whole legume milled in-house to provide maximum nutrition. Delivering great taste without compromise, the snacks are always baked (this is a no-fry zone!) and contain no artificial flavors or preservatives. They’re also certified gluten free, vegetarian-friendly, and free of the common allergens wheat, soy, nuts, peanuts, and eggs. Now that’s something to smile about! Harvest Snaps’ Mixed Snack Pack is available for retailers nationwide to carry for an SRP of $6.99, plus sold at Sprouts Farmers Markets and direct to consumers through HarvestSnaps.com.
Keeping Comfy
Keep cozy in the car with these comfort items!
Magic Scrunch Pillow
The NEW Magic Scrunch Pillow by Bright Stripes is the summer activity that will get kids off screens and encourages hands-on DIY creativity. This new line just launched in July! This is a great project for a road trip and a fun toy to have in the car. It can be finished in under an hour, while it looks like it took many hours to make! Upon completion, kids have an adorable pillow to add to their room, camping gear, or travels. Educators will tell you that crafts, such as the Magic Scrunch Pillow, are a hands-on activity with numerous benefits, from developing fine motor skills to building resilience and critical thinking in our younger generation. Magic Scrunch Pillow ($24.99) is available in four cute and unique styles. Make a loopy, squooshy adorable pillow in no time!
Personalized Blankets
Kids love to take comfort items on trips. The Little Lemons Company is creating heartwarming moments through beautiful and personalized baby and kids’ essentials. Created by a mama for mamas everywhere, Little Lemons lets you add a personal touch to things like blankets, hats, and swaddles for your little ones. My girls LOVE custom-made personalized products, the plush blanket from Little Lemons Company is a snuggly favorite. TheLittleLemonsCompany.com
The Comfy Dream Jr
Our family has been known to travel to colder climates on vacation. The Comfy Dream Jr is a favorite for my girls for car rides and comfy warmth. This fluffy, warm, blanket hoody comes in a variety of colors and prints. The Comfy is here to support you during cool summer nights. With various prints and colors, your kiddos will never want to take it off! Available on Amazon.
Honeydew Sleep Scrumptious Travel Pillow
If you're like me, you want your own pillow on trips, but pillows take up space. Don’t sacrifice quality sleep just because you are on the go! The Honeydew Sleep Scrumptious Travel Pillow is the ultimate “luxury” for car trips. The pillow features a unique curve that supports your neck and shoulders, reducing strain on your upper body. Best of all the doughy yet soft and cooling fill is crafted in-house and 100% CertiPUR-US certified. You can add or remove filling to make it perfect for you! The pillow comes with a complimentary carrying bag and custom-fitted pillow case in the silver lining. Made in the USA. Available at HoneyDewSleep.com
Bellabu Bear Pajamas
Say goodbye to unsafe and harmful children’s clothing fabric and hello to Bellabu Bear’s organically grown and chemical-free bamboo clothing. My daughters LOVE the soft comfortable material and cute designs. Awarded the Seal of Acceptance from the National Eczema Association, Bellabu Bear has a mission to dress every child in a pajama that is safer and more comfortable for bedtime. They pass all the tests from having YKK zippers (choking-proof zippers) and Oeko-Tex Certification with pinch-free and worry-free garments. Each design is hand drawn and an original work of art that through much effort becomes the beautiful prints you see displayed. They offer designs for holidays, all seasons, favorite animals, and more. Available on Amazon.
Cucumber and aloe face mask for post-sun
Got a little too much sun? The hydrating cucumber and soothing aloe in these face masks are perfect for rejuvenating the skin post sun fun! Ready-to-use face masks will boost the skin’s collagen content and slow down its degradation. Available at SpaLife.