How to Survive a Road Trip With Your Kids

Going on a road trip with your husband? Sounds like fun...but when you have a handful of kids at the back of the car too...well there must be about a million other things you'd rather do instead. Root canal anyone???

Friends, take comfort - it doesn't have to be so bad! With just a bit of advance planning even the longest journey's can become fun filled experiences for everyone - you included. So read on for some tips on how to survive (and even enjoy) a road trip with your kids!

1.Music - musical accompaniment is always successful. If. you kids have their own mp players they can choose their own music and go into their own world and enjoy themselves. If however, you have a communal car CD player, I recommend avoiding fights right at the beginning of the trip by choosing a method for deciding what music to play. Perhaps each person will have a turn choosing the CD (including parents), or you can use the "even handedness in randomness approach" by sticking your hand into the CD pile and pull one out without checking which CD it is. With us this is what works best and everyone seems very happy with the method.

2.Stories - you don't need to just listen to music, take a break from the sweet sounds, and download some classic stories from the internet that the family can listen to together. You will find on the web stories that you can download for a couple of dollars as well as free story resources.

3.Travel bag - Help each kid pack their own travel bag which is just for the car. You can buy or download loads of activities like coloring in, crosswords, Sudoku puzzles etc. You can get sticker books for the kids, and of course make sure that they have a pencil case in the bag. Help them choose snacks for the road and tell how long these snacks must last for.

4.Let them navigate - give you older children a map and let them navigate for you. Even if you don't want them to navigate they will really enjoy following where you are on the map, and its a great educational experience for them as well. They can mark off the towns, junctions and attractions as you pass them.

5.Keep a journal - encourage them to keep a journal of the trip, which they can write while in the car. Encourage them to keep souvenirs of the trip - napkins from the gas station, entrance tickets to the sites you have seen, brochures etc which they can stick in the journal. Either they can keep personal journals or they can each take turns in writing entries in the family journal.

6.The budding photographer - if you have a few phones and a camera, let them illustrate their journals with photos that they took themselves while in the car, or encourage them to take pictures along the way for a gallery display project that they can prepare after your trip.

7.Games - There are so many fun games you can play in the car which are appropriate for kids of all ages. Like count how many red cars you see, play the alphabet game, and many many more. Check out http://www.gameskidsplay.net/GAMES/MENTAL_GAMES/CAR_GAMES.HTM for more ideas.

8.Prepare in advance a road trip Scavenger Hunt which will be made up of about 20 missions which they will have to accomplish on the trip. This includes spotting specific signs or attractions that you expect to pass along the way, it can include counting cars, interviewing tourists, collecting information etc

8. Scavenger Hunt - Prepare in advance a road trip Scavenger Hunt which will be made up of about 20 missions which they will have to accomplish on the trip. This includes spotting specific signs or attractions that you expect to pass along the way, it can include counting cars, interviewing tourists, collecting information etc

9.Take a break! - Make sure you take regular breaks and make sure that your kids stretch their legs, eat some food, use the facilities and use up a bit of energy while you are out of the car.

10. Bribery and corruption! - Never underestimate the benefits of prizes and incentives for fantastic behavior in the car and full cooperation at all times. These can take the form of treats during your breaks, extra special activities when you have reached your destination, or a fantastic reward when you return home.

So folks, with just a bit of forethought and planning, your upcoming road trip can truly be loads of fun and a bonding experience for the whole family. Enjoy!

Finding an Effective Escape From Stress

Retreats refer a temporary getaway from ones usual environment to escape into another for pursuing a cause. Often it might be because of dealing with day-to-day problems like stress, health, lifestyle issues, social or ecological concerns. The concept of health and spa retreats have been gaining popularity in today's world with increasing ills from work related pressure and stress resulting from odd lifestyle. The health and spa retreats are excellent places to unwind and relax and thus find time for one self.

The health retreats reinforce healthy habits through exercise, yoga techniques and use of Ayurveda. Often the ancient techniques of Yoga and Hathyoga are used to combat stress or lifestyle related disorders. Ayurvedic medicines are used on the other hand as medication for diseases of the likes of blood sugar, blood pressure, arthritis, rheumatism and heart diseases. The medical practitioners at such retreats adopt a holistic treatment policy based on multidisciplinary approach. Few of the biggest health retreats are found in India and Australia. Some of the most well known retreats, amongst others, are:

Zamorins Health Retreat, Kerala, India
Hopewood Health Retreat, Wallacia, Australia
Grail Springs Health Spa and Wellness Retreat, Bancroft, Ontario, Canada
Ayurveda Yoga Retreat, Coonor, India
Kerala Ayurvedic Research and Rejuvination Establishment, Pune, India

The spa retreats are also similar places as retreats for health, just that the focus lies just on relaxation from stress instead of medication, exercise and yoga. The word spa brings images of mud baths, spa cuisines, meditation classes directed at attaining an extreme stage of mental and physical relaxation. It is definitely all this and some more. These days' spa retreats have become an essential part of travel to some tourists who plan their holidays to land up in such retreats to be pampered and spoilt n the lap of luxury.

The range of services differs from hydrotherapy sessions, manicure and facial to holistic therapies such as SReiki and crystal healing. Thus it is important to choose the correct type of spa to get the apt treatment. There are several types of spas like:

Day spa
Destination spa
Resort spa
Medical spa
Mineral springs spa
Club spa
Cruise ship spa
Airport spa

Health retreats in Victoria are also very popular and has been picking up pace with changing times. The pristine seascapes offer more than a health retreat, detox retreat and even a weight loss retreat to the weary travelers. It promises a new way of life, a haven of tranquility from the unfit and unhealthy life one leads on a day-to-day basis. It tells you that it is time to start afresh. Some retreats in Victoria are listed as under:

1. Seascape Ocean Grove Health Retreat: Specializing in an exclusive five day cleanse and rejuvenation program.
2. Gawler Foundation: Committed to an integrative medicine approach to health and healing.
3. Samadhi Spa and Heat Retreat: For enjoying a rejuvenation retreat.
4. Healing Health Retreats: Offering panic healing workshops.

With lifestyle changes and stress related diseases becoming the order of the day, these alternative treatment platforms have proven to be effective beyond doubt. Tough a little cost prohibitive, the retreats have become life saver for many who believe in spending that extra little dough for securing a stress free and relaxed life.