Making the most of a family day trip

Author

Jenna Kelly
March 19, 2025

A curated family travel newsletter

Hello beautiful people, this week we’ve got for you:

  •  Making the Most of Family Day Trips – How to plan stress-free, memorable outings with kids.

  • Quick Tips for Easy Day Trips – Packing light, avoiding meltdowns, and making the most of your time.

  • Across Canada Hidden Gems – Lesser-known spots perfect for a family day trip!

Let’s go!

— Jenna Kelly

Experience Great Moments

5 Ways to Maximize Family Day Trips

Day trips offer a fantastic opportunity to explore new places without the hassle of overnight packing (or the dreaded "who forgot their toothbrush" saga). Here are some tips to make your outings seamless and memorable:

1️⃣ Plan with Flexibility – Create a loose itinerary but leave room for unexpected adventures and impromptu stops. After all, detours often lead to the best stories—like finding the Big Apple when you were just looking for a restroom!

2️⃣ Pack Smart – Prioritize essentials such as snacks, water, spare clothes, and a compact first-aid kit. Remember, less is more—you’re prepping for a one-day adventure, not a cross-country migration with a wagon full of jerky!

3️⃣ Choose the Right Time – Beat the crowds by setting out early or heading out in the late afternoon. Bonus: fewer people means fewer witnesses to your epic family sing-alongs in the car.

4️⃣ Keep It Engaging – Make travel time fun with road trip games, scavenger hunts, or family-friendly podcasts. Nothing bonds a family like arguing over who really won the "I Spy" championship.

5️⃣ Enjoy the Moments – Snap a few photos to remember the day, but don’t forget to unplug and fully embrace the experience. Just make sure you don’t end up with 300 blurry pictures of your thumb instead of the scenery!

Tag @momentsmadeincanada to share your moment.

Tiny Quick Tips


✨ Pack a “Go Bag” with essentials so you’re always ready for an impromptu trip.
🚗 Pick destinations within a 1-2 hour drive to maximize fun and minimize car fatigue.
🗺️ Check for free or low-cost activities like local parks, museums, and farmers' markets that are close by.
🍏 Bring high-protein snacks to keep energy levels steady throughout the day.
🎟️ Book tickets in advance for popular attractions to avoid long waits.

Do your kids have a review, experience or drawing to share? Contact us or tag us on Instagram or X 

Across Canada

Hidden Gems Family Day Trips

Upcoming Events

Have a great family moment to share? Contact our team or tag us on Instagram or X

Eh-mazing laughs

Here’s the joke of the day:

Why did the artist bring his paintbrush to the museum?

So tell us…

Last we asked readers “If you could only camp in one Canadian National park, which would it be? Why?” Here are our favourite responses:

  • “Banff has such stunning views, around every bend. Nothing else I’ve found like it!”

  • “The way I can take a relatively short hike or paddle in Prince Albert National Park and find myself somewhere that truly feels remote and like wilderness is a pretty special feeling.”

  • “Long Beach, in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve on Vancouver Island. Nine miles (16) km of sand and surf, tons of tide pools and wave-carved overhangs, and some absolutely stunning forest walks.”

  • “Riding Mountain National Park in Manitoba is spectacular. An underrated park, and the park town of Wasagaming has lots of interesting things going on. Back country camping and canoeing is easy to get to and still away from it all there.”

Question of the week: What’s your family’s funniest travel mishap?

Joke answer: He wanted to brush up on his history.

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