Check out these tips before you pack the van for your family vacation

As the oldest of five children, I remember fondly the times Mom and Dad loaded us all into the Plymouth station wagon and set out on a family vacation.

Vacation?

You've got to be kidding!

Five kids stuffed in among suitcases, diaper bags, toys, and empty pop bottles. Bathroom stops every half-hour. Falling asleep slumped over onto the person sandwiched in next to you.

So desperate for something, anything to do that we started counting chickens -- yes, chickens; my brother usually won, but he cheated. Cramped to the point that it took two days just to walk straight again.

Okay, it wasn't really that bad. But having recently returned from such an expedition, and with only two children, I am reminded of just how much work goes into a family vacation.

To help you make such trips a bit more manageable, I'd like to offer some family travel tips that I've picked up over the years. These aren't foolproof, but they will help.

• Think through your expectations of the trip. Are they reasonable in light of the ages of your children? Twenty-hour all-night drives in a subcompact car are too much for anyone. Ten hours may be too much for a 10-year-old. A teenager might enjoy the Smithsonian museums; a toddler will not.

You need, then, to plan trips that are appropriate to the age of family members. That means thinking about total distance, daily travel time, frequency of stops, types of activities or sight-seeing planned. Generally, younger children do better with shorter drives or flights and resort type vacations.

• Get into a travel rhythm for meals and rest stops. Stop at regular intervals; encourage everyone to get out of the car and stretch, use the bathroom, get a drink.

• Take along plenty of travel activities: coloring books, games and story tapes. I even saw one family bring Play Dough along on an airplane. Make sure these are age appropriate. If you have to skimp on packing anything, take fewer clothes and more activities.

• Pack non-sugar snacks. Most of the food available at roadside stops is high in sugar and low in nutrition. That makes for cranky, restless and over-active kids. Take along plenty of fruit, juices and veggies. They are better for you and a whole lot cheaper.

• When traveling with children, take at least one afternoon or evening, hire a sitter and get away on your own. It won't hurt the kids and it will do wonders for you.

• Last, but not least, schedule some non-family vacations. Once a year, more often if you can, get away without your children. As I've said before, one of the best gifts you can give to your children is healthy and happy parents. Reward yourself regularly, then, with a vacation for you. You've earned it.

This list is just for starters. I'm sure you can expand on my list. If you come up with some new ideas during your summer travels, pass them on to me and we'll print a "new and improved" list next year. In the meantime, have a good vacation!