road trips

Nothing says Labor Day like a car full of loved ones headed for an end of Summer getaway or celebration. Before you brave the road with your precious cargo, check out these little-known safety tips! I spoke with Becky Michalkiewicz, the statewide child safety seat coordinator of the California Highway Patrol, who offered up this expert advice.

• Watch out for anything in your car that's loose, like toys. "It is important to make sure the environment of your car is the safest possible," says Michalkiewicz. "Make sure there is nothing that isn't strapped down because that becomes a projectile" in an accident.
• Don't clip items on your car seat, even something like a toy mobile.  Attaching items that didn't come with your car seat voids the manufacturer's liability if you are in an accident and the car seat malfunctions.
• It may sound simple, but make sure you know how a car seat looks and sounds when it is installed correctly. Michalkiewicz said the CHP commonly sees car seats that are not attached at all.

If you need help, contact your local highway patrol. The CHP, for example, will schedule an appointment with a trained technician to check your car seat and how it fits your child.

This week, reality TV star Kendra Wilkinson has been road trippin' with her family and tweeting all about it. When you're visiting a small town or limited to roadside food, it can be hard to stay on track. Kendra's solution: cheat, cheat, cheat. Instead of staying on track while on the road, Kendra has decided to embrace her surroundings and is eating local Missouri fare like chili dogs and chocolate. This is definitely not normal eating for Kendra — after giving birth to her baby in December, she dropped 25 pounds in just two months through diet and exercise.

Like Kendra, I definitely give myself license to cheat a little — especially on vacation. I never pass up a plate lunch in Hawaii, and even though I rarely eat pizza, I always sneak in a slice when I'm in NYC. I've even been known to stop at In-N-Out Burger after driving home from a strenuous climbing trip. It's not how I normally eat, but when I'm on vacation I give myself license to indulge just a bit.

How about you — what's your favorite cheat food?

Summer usually is the time for family road trips and, for most, this includes your four-legged family members as well. I hate to put this out there, but if by chance you get into an accident with your pet in the car (knock on wood, this hasn't happened), first responders can have a heck of a time trying to get you out of a mangled car safely, which can become even more difficult if they have a scared or injured pet on their hands.

First off, pets should always be belted in for their (and your) own good, but adding this Pet Safety Kit into the mix can help even more. Just by signing up and creating a free profile on Bark Buckle Up, you'll get an alert decal, a pet ID card, a subscription to their helpful newsletter, as well as full access to their website.

What to do then? Find out when you read more

The key to keeping backseat harmony is being prepared. Aside from parents mapping out their course and packing snacks for the kiddos, stocking up on the drive-time activities is essential for a smooth ride. After downloading our road trip games, think up other items that will keep children occupied.

• A family sing-a-long is great if everyone knows the words. Ziggy Marley and Neil Sedaka both recently introduced new albums that will get the whole family bopping.
• Activity books, like Klutz's Suction Cup Critters and Mad Libs Summer Fun are fun timeless tablets.
• Books about being on the road like Road Trip Learning and Our 50 States keep youngsters learning about our country while passing through new areas.

For more of our road trip picks, check out the products below, and never underestimate the power of a 15 minute roadside stop to stretch the legs and jump up and down!