We started our summer with a getaway to see family in Utah. It was so refreshing to be somewhere different, see someone different, and enjoy some hot, sunny weather. This pandemic has been hard on my kids especially. My girls were so excited for this trip that they packed their bags two weeks before we left! The break from our normal routine and getting to play with cousins was a big boost to our moods and mental health.

We have the 12 hour drive travel routine down pat. We used to break it into two days when our youngest was still a baby, but there really is nowhere decent to stay mid-way between here and Utah. Now we can make do with four brief stops, two at a gas station and two rest stops. We also used to stop for meals, but now we just pack a whole variety of snacks and don’t buy anything on the road. For the healthier options, I pack easy to munch on things like berries, grapes, sliced bell peppers, cucumbers and apples, grape tomatoes, turkey and string cheese. All of these can be prepped the night before, which means a quicker exit in the morning. I also pack lots of other snacks, some salty, some sweet, and plenty of water. Bags of white cheddar and regular popcorn were popular this trip, as well as whole wheat Ritz crackers and crunchy seasoned peas. And of course we always have a variety of sweets on hand, Swedish Fish and Sour Patch Kids are a must for our family.

We made one stop in each direction that allowed us to stretch our legs a bit more and take a few photos (there was no need for social distancing as we were the only ones). Teapot Dome Gas Station was a charming quick stop, and the Malad Gorge was beautiful. Usually we just drive though and don’t make any stops for sight seeing, but the pandemic has reminded us to pause and enjoy the journey a bit more.