Thanksgiving is a uniquely American holiday, a very special time when families gather to share a meal and count their blessings. It’s one of the busiest travel times of the year and anyone with children knows that whether you go by plane, train or automobile, the trip goes much easier with planning. Five tips to make Thanksgiving travel with children a breeze:

1. Let each child fill a small carry-on or backpack with favorite toys, crayons and paper, puzzles, games. Pack a small surprise toy for each child in your own carry-on to pull out if a diversion is needed. Don’t forget important items like a special blanket or teddy bear.
2. Bring along a bag of trail mix for the children to nibble on. If traveling by air, you can’t carry bottled water through check-in, but you can bring an empty water bottle along and fill it inside the gate.
3. Plan to give everyone a good breakfast, either before you start out, or while on the road. If you’re time-crunched, some fresh fruit and whole-grained cereal is an option, or Carnation^® Breakfast Essentials^TM in ready-to-drink bottles are handy for the car or on the train. They’re delicious and nutritious, with 21 vitamins and minerals, twice the calcium of a 6oz cup of yogurt and a hefty 14 grams of protein! When you arrive at your destination, pick up a few bottles to have available in the hotel for those busy days.
4. Pack a change of clothing for each child, just in case of spills or other surprises on the road. That way, the kids can arrive at Grandma’s looking fresh!
5. Make it all a great adventure, even if your flight is delayed or you take a wrong turn. Make it fun – kids take their cues from their parents, so relax, don’t stress and laugh!

What are you planning to do to make turkey day special for your family?  Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, wherever you celebrate it!

Disclosure: Nestle is a client of mine.