It’s an old joke in my family that every time we venture an hour outside our house, we are going to get lost. We are the epidemy of the Griswolds, often ending up turned around, on back roads, and missing exits.
It’s fun. Right? RIGHT?!
Or it used to be when it was just Chris and I.
Now getting from point A to point B is only a good idea if we can get there in the quickest time available.
This is why:
The baby is about as fond of the car as I am on a dentist visit.
Now we have tried navigation systems. My husband actually had one stolen out of his car, so that idea went out the window pretty quickly. I guess someone was super lost and needed a nav pronto. In any case I didn’t replace it because I found that it was bulky and always needed software to update it. Who has time to unhook, bring in the house, hook up the computer and go through updating it? And while your holiday travel may be slow going now that December is over, it’s time to start thinking of what family vacations you are taking this year!
Last year we went on a cruise. My packing list went something like this:
- bottles
- formula for 5 days, which really means 6 days
- enough diapers for 6 days..which as much as he pees, I have narrowed down to about 90
- gas drops
- teething tablets
- Tylenol
- Advil
- motion sickness pills
- shampoo/conditioner
- clothes for P
- clothes for C
- C’s special blankie
- toys for P
- coloring items/in room items for C
- jar food
- spoons
- bibs
- clothes for mom
- clothes for dad
- swimwear
- coats for everyone (just in case its chilly on deck, etc)
- suntan lotion
- baby cereal
- diaper bag
- stroller
- car seat
- blankets for P
- sleepsack
- itouch, ipad
- cameras, lenses
- books to read
- swim diapers
- baby floaties
- baby wash
This year I think we are looking to head back to Mexico for an all inclusive with the kids and also a quick trip to Orlando.
Btw, “Quick Trip” is actually my attempt at a joke. Orlando is anything but that. An hour from one side to the other, sometimes getting around (well, ALL TIMES getting around) you could use some help. Which brings me back to navigation. Recently I was introduced to VZ Navigator. VZ Navigator is an app that is used by millions, has spoken turn by turn traffic updates, 3D city views, speed limit info and more!
About VZ Navigator
Use real-time, turn-by-turn spoken directions with street names and true-to-life images of highway and exit signs, many in 3D. Advanced navigation instructions include landmarks such as traffic lights and number of streets.
- Choose your preferred route with Route Selector
- Beat the gridlock with our real-time traffic
- Take advantage of safety features with school zone notifications and customizable speed limit warnings
- See which lane(s) to take for highway maneuvers and exits, complex street turns and intersections
How to get VZ Navigator
You can try it for free for 30 days and thereafter its only $2 a month! If you do not like to be committed for that long, you can do a case by case usage at only .99 cents a day! That way if you are only traveling at certain ties of the year, you can pick those times to enact it. OR, if you are a Griswold like us, you can keep it handy on your phone all year long.
You can find out more info about this fantastic app here.
Now let me ask you…are you planning any family road trips this year?
~Trisha
*post brought to you by VZ Navigator
I have Verizon and still have not tried this! I use some other app, but I like the look of this one!
I am still old fashioned and use Google Maps and my printer ha! I think this app sounds neat and like that you can choose your route. We don’t take many road trips but would be useful for our local day trips to places we aren’t familiar with.
I can’t drive any more so all of the navigation is up to the hubby. He’s one of those types with an inherent sense of where he is. Drives me crazy!
Sounds like a neat app. I have an old GPS in my car that I use often, but it can get me lost if I am looking for an area that is new because my GPS is outdated and I don’t want to go buy another one!
We are planning one trip yo the Tampa area, but since we just moved to our new home in a town we have never lived in before going anywhere requires some type of navigation aid. Thank you for the info.
Since we have moved to a new state, we’re definitely going to be exploring this summer when the weather is warmer! We’re thinking about checking out Canada
I am definitely getting this. I use my phone all the time but the regular google maps preloaded on my iPhone just doesn’t cut it! Thanks for sharing
We just got back from a road trip that lead up from Florida to Colorado AND BACK with 2 little ones…OMG! I downloaded 2 different “map/nav” apps and didn’t like either one, I will definitely have to check this out! Thanks.
I can relate to getting lost and the use of my phone and navigation apps has definitely helped me.
The VZ Navigator looks like something I could use! My husband says I am a horrible co-pilot (what does that say about me as a PILOT?!). I love that I can try it free for 30 days before committing!!
I get lost in Chicago every single time I’m there, this would come in handy.
This app looks great. I will have to take a look at it to help me navigate the city. The garmond I have its road ways are out of date with construction projects that are now completed.
This app sounds awesome!
I have this on my phone, but have never used it! Maybe I’ll try it out for our trip this Spring.
Oh this is awesome! We have a TON of road trips this year, and I am on the road quite a bit w/ my three kids and my work schedule. This would make things so much easier and fun.
My GPS was stolen from my car a year or so ago. I got part of it back. Yes, part. The company wanted more to replace the missing parts then it would cost me to get a whole new unit so I said the hell with it.
Is it $0.99 per day or per set of directions in a day (meaning if you went 3 places in 1 day it would be $3)?
my husband has a navigation system built in his car and I LOVE it. Has detours if there is traffic, where to find gas, restaurants. all that.
That sounds awesome! I hated my Garmin….because it always took me to BFE (like Cat said) or couldn’t even figure out where we were in the first place.
I always wanted the one with Snoop Dogs voice…does this do fun voices? Maybe Darth Vadar telling you which way to go??
I use VZ Navigator every time I go somewhere. It’s the best nav app I’ve found and it’s totally worth the $2/month to have it!
We’ve used VZ Navigator before. Actually, it was the go to GPS when ours stopped working from Iowa to Florida.
How neat, I have to tell my sister about this, she is forever lost.
That is very cool. One thing I hate about my dashboard navigation system is the thing takes us to BFE before we reach out destination. I sometimes think the navigator itself is lost half the time.
I like the pricing system for this too.
That sounds handy! Even though I have lived here my whole life, sometimes I need help with directions on the opposite side of town. Plus, with all the new neighborhoods popping up it’s like an adventure to make a delivery!
What an awesome app! This will really come in handy during our road trips!