Break for the 4th: Amanda's Road Trip Advice for Teacher Parents [S7 EP. 265]

Listen to the full episode below:

If you’ve ever tried to conquer the open road with a car full of kids (or maybe just your inner teacher-brain in charge of logistics), you know there’s an art to nailing the perfect summer road trip. In this episode, I’m rolling solo (it’s me, Amanda!) and spilling all my secrets for stress-free, memory-packed travel…teacher-parent style. We’re talking about everything from my beloved Kia Telluride setup to the magic of separating hotel essentials from destination luggage, so you never have to dig through suitcases at 11pm. 

Of course, it wouldn’t be a true Brave New Teaching episode without digging into the nerdier (and totally fun) layers you can add to your travels. I walk you through our go-to museum memberships that stretch across the country, letting us pop in and out of science and children’s museums for free or big discounts. You’ll also get my lowdown on the must-have apps for booking hotels on the fly, finding the nearest playground, and exploring national parks like a pro. 

And what would a road trip episode be without a long list of “stuff” that actually makes the ride smoother? From snackle boxes and vertical pencil bags to car-friendly games and car clean-up hacks, I’ve rounded up everything that’s saved my sanity. Whether you need portable laundry solutions, audiobooks, or simply better ways to wrangle snacks, I’ve rounded up all my favorites here. Here’s to happier, smoother, and way more fun teacher-road-tripping this summer!

topics discussed:

  • My detailed road trip advice for teacher-parents, including car setup, packing strategies, and handling unexpected challenges (like rooftop carrier mishaps!)

  • Maximizing memberships and reciprocal museum networks for savings and enriching travel experiences, especially with kids

  • Must-have travel apps for road trips (hotel rewards, National Park Service, AllTrails, IExit) and flexible hotel booking strategies

  • Entertaining and organizing kids in the car—including tips for screen time, gamified rewards, interactive activities, and efficient snack/storage systems

resources:

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More about Brave New Teaching:

Join hosts Amanda Cardenas (Mud & Ink Teaching) and Marie Morris (The Caffeinated Classroom) in discussions about being brave, trying new things, and all things teaching! As seasoned classroom teachers, Amanda and Marie bring their experience, insight, energy, and oh, so many opinions and ideas... It's time for all teachers to take their classroom and teaching practice into their own hands!

Tune in on your favorite podcast apps like Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify.

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