Tips for Driving to Vermont with a Child

[liquidzyklon]

Planning drive down to Vermont in early June, more specifically Norwich University from Toronto. I will have a 5 year old girl with me for my trip so here are some questions:


Advice for keeping the 5 year old entertained for the trip?
So far I got are frequent stretch/bathroom breaks (~ 1.5 hr between stops)
DVDs of her favourite show
paper + pen/color pencils
Best route with pit-stops?
Pit stops are highway pit-stops or exits to towns/cities for washroom breaks, food/drinks. Prefer healthier food choice instead of fast food since the little one has poor digestion
How would I look for planned pit stops on the route I choose?
Recommended bridge to cross?
1000 Island Bridge and drive US Highway 11 since it's more scenic but probably less pit-stops.
Stay on 401 until Quebec and cross at Highgate Springs / St Armand as per Google maps?

[n00bMeiSter]

Honestly, give her a sip of nyquil and she'll be out for the whole trip.

I'm not sure what you mean by "how do I look for planned pit stops?". But if you've planned them out ahead of time, you would/should know what exit to look for (ie you should have a list of them written down or programmed into your GPS / SatNav). If not there's always signs along the highways / freeways.

[S.F.W.]

Bring snacks, music in car(age appropriate). DVD's - TV shows yes, movies as well.

[Unoriginalusername]

Just drove back from Mrytle Beach with a 10 month old and an almost 5 year old. Stopped 3 times over the 1463 km(each way) there and again 3 times on the way back. Left at 4am so we got a few hours of them sleeping

[The Wolf]

Chloroform?

[n00bMeiSter]

Chloroform?
:like

[ace_master]

iPod would be good if she's responsible.

I agree that leaving early in the morning will provide a nice quiet start to the trip while she sleeps.

If you're into mountain biking (and have time and room to spare), take your bike. I hear they have epic mountain bike trails at Kingdom Trails, about 1 hr north of the University

[09ms3]

cant say much for the young child. however I have driven this route a many times,

had a family cottage in north hero VT (at the top of lake Champlain)

for the routes, the easiest and the quickest would be though Cornwall, once you cross over take the 37 towards Malone, however don't go all the way there, take the 122 junction and that will take you across the top to the 11, once there you drive another 40 miles to the border of new york/VT, then you will get into some very beautiful country, going through the islands of lake Champlain. this will lead you to the 89 which will lead you right to the university.

if you want you can cross over at Prescott and drive along the st. Lawrence on the south side (37 which leads you right past the Cornwall crossing anyways), pretty much 60-80km/hr on those roads, some small towns to go through, but will take you a bit longer (but nice to be off the 401 for that long of a stretch)

if you have any more questions please feel free to ask

[Default User]

- Teach her the "I Spy" game
It'll help you stay awake

- Leave late at night / early in the morning so that she's sleeping for 80% of the trip

- Get a travel (or better yet) a seatbelt pillow for when she is sleeping so they don't look like this...

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/04/30/a3esu4yn.jpg


Also - if it's just you and the child - make sure you have all her snacks and toys within arms reach. Cooler on the front passenger seat floor, toys and DVD's on the passenger seat, etc.

[Unoriginalusername]

Chloroform?


http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AF_nfazQaek

[n00bMeiSter]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=AF_nfazQaek

I bought this for use around the house when my nieces and nephews are over. It's amazing.

[liquidzyklon]

Honestly, give her a sip of nyquil and she'll be out for the whole trip.

I'm not sure what you mean by "how do I look for planned pit stops?". But if you've planned them out ahead of time, you would/should know what exit to look for (ie you should have a list of them written down or programmed into your GPS / SatNav). If not there's always signs along the highways / freeways.
Yes, I am trying to plan them ahead of time by figuring out the route first and then searching for Exit numbers with certain functions (i.e. washroom, snacks, etc.) Do I just rely on Google for searching or drive and wing it when I see any exits that I need at the time.


cant say much for the young child. however I have driven this route a many times,

had a family cottage in north hero VT (at the top of lake Champlain)

for the routes, the easiest and the quickest would be though Cornwall, once you cross over take the 37 towards Malone, however don't go all the way there, take the 122 junction and that will take you across the top to the 11, once there you drive another 40 miles to the border of new york/VT, then you will get into some very beautiful country, going through the islands of lake Champlain. this will lead you to the 89 which will lead you right to the university.

if you want you can cross over at Prescott and drive along the st. Lawrence on the south side (37 which leads you right past the Cornwall crossing anyways), pretty much 60-80km/hr on those roads, some small towns to go through, but will take you a bit longer (but nice to be off the 401 for that long of a stretch)

if you have any more questions please feel free to askThanks for the route suggestion. The first route suggested, I am assuming these are the standard USA highways at 55 MPH? Just curious how does route 1 compare to to trekking Canada 401 to Quebec and then head south?


iPod would be good if she's responsible.

I agree that leaving early in the morning will provide a nice quiet start to the trip while she sleeps.

If you're into mountain biking (and have time and room to spare), take your bike. I hear they have epic mountain bike trails at Kingdom Trails, about 1 hr north of the University
Good suggestion with the iPod. She already has her own iPad so that's another form of entertainment.



- Teach her the "I Spy" game
It'll help you stay awake

- Leave late at night / early in the morning so that she's sleeping for 80% of the trip

- Get a travel (or better yet) a seatbelt pillow for when she is sleeping so they don't look like this...
Good suggestion with "I Spy" game and the travel / seatbelt pillow. I've had her fall asleep like that without the pillows. Looks like a great way to end up with stiff neck.

Any more suggestions are welcomed. I am a little nervous traveling such long distance with the little one and I haven't driven longer than 5 hour trips before. Thanks!

[UN1203]

Crossing at 1000 islands mwana you avoid Quebec :FYI smiley

[09ms3]

as for the crossing at Cornwall

I am pretty sure the roads are all 45-55 MPH, other then a few small towns where it will be reduced. overall it will save a lot of time/distance compared to driving into Quebec as you have to drive quite far north and then come back (40-50km), actually when you go from New York into Vermont you are about 1km south of the border, your options are north or east, north is Canada, East is Vermont.

[UN1203]

nonetheless Quebec roads are the WORST for potholes

[Simon99]

nonetheless Quebec roads are the WORST for potholes

Tell me about it ...

[sudz]

Buy a bag of pipecleaners. We did roadtrips down to flordia every year from when I was 5-12 years old. The second year (when I was just turned 6) My mom went to michaels and spent 10 bucks in pipe cleaners. I was slient the entire trip. Making spiders, Webs, Bridges. A "wall" to protect me from my brother.

I'm not sure I actually remember the time in flordia -the highlight was the drive. lol.

Edit: (It might have been lewiscraft, as I'm pretty sure michaels wasn't around back then) But you get the idea.

Edit Edit: ... I may have just been a weird kid - But its worth a shot. lol.

[r4BBiT]

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AF_nfazQaek

I laughed so hard at work :D

[Unoriginalusername]

I laughed so hard at work :D
Those dream sacks come in handy :)