I have so much to do, yet here I am on the computer,lol. We are taking a 6 hour drive to the ocean tomorrow and we've never done anything like that before with the kids. The few trips we took before kids were disasterous. I'm worried we'll forget something important or the kids will get sucked away by a rip tide. I'm nervous going so far from home and being the grown up. Dh is going to, but he's no help for packing. Three hours away from the beach in the direction toward home is Kings Dominion so we're going there as well.

Dh and I went to Ocean City one day when we first moved in together and got lost in D.C. on the way home. (we shouldn't have ended up in d.c. at all)We went back a few weeks later for a little weekend trip for our honeymoon with $400 in cash being all we had in the world. Dh lost his wallet or it was stolen before we actually did anything. His dad had to wire us gas money to get home and we got lost in D.C. again! Years later with credit cards in our possession and some responsible planning we headed out on a 14 hr trip to Knoxville to see my husbands grandmother. We took ds with us. Five hours into it our car broke down on the side of the highway in the freezing cold. One of my worst nightmares come true. We got our car repaired and ten minutes back on the road we got 2 flat tires. We got them fixed and turned around to go back home.

So I am worried about this adventure! We are renting a car for sure! Anyone else worry before a trip? I don't travel much, does worry come with the territory?

By Kaye on Thursday, July 26, 2007 - 12:00 pm:

Worry comes with lack of experience, and quite honestly lack of cash. the older you car the more likely it is to break, the tighter the budget the bigger deal it is to rebuy something left behind.

However that being said, you are renting a car, if there is an issue, you call the rental company and they will take care of you.

For packing, you don't NEED a lot of things. Have to have shoes (a couple of pair), you need swimsuits, you need a few changes of clothes. Toiletry items, if you miss something most hotels have stuff they will give complimentary. But really besides deoderant, toothpaste and toothbrush, you can live without everything else (a hairbrush is nice though..lol).

The other strange thing I do, we always travel with a blanket and pillow for the kids and I pack a box of granola bars and several bottles of water. The water is actually always in the car now. I feel like if the worst happened we could make it for a few days with that stuff.

Don't sweat the small stuff, get good directions and pay attention. Roads are marked well, if you have a good plan (keep a map also as a back up plan). Enjoy this, it will be fun.

But if you want a more detailed beach list...these are things I take (i found the more I take though the more miserable my hubby is..LOL)

buckets and shovels
ziplock bags for shells
plastic grocery sacks for wet clothes, etc
towels, plenty of towels
an umbrella and chairs (i often rent these because i am lazy to carry them)
Kick board/boogie board/floats, etc, they love to hang on and go out in the water. I also makes me feel like they are safer.
sunscreen and lip balm
vinegar for after sun..LOL also some aloe type spray
I like to take a small cooler with us to the beach, so something you can refill and carry with you
shoes that can get wet and sandy

Anyway, you will be fine...have fun!

By Colette on Thursday, July 26, 2007 - 01:31 pm:

baby powder or corn starch - rub it on sandy body parts (dry sand not wet) and the sand comes right off. Have fun! I love the beach!