Surviving the family road trip

(NC) Looking to take the family on an exciting road trip this summer? Here are four easy tips from parenting expert Maureen Dennis to help you not just survive the trek, but also ensure everyone has a great time and makes incredible memories together. 
 
1. Plan perfect. Planning can be as simple or complicated as you like. Try a destination-based plan, meaning that each day you pick a target destination. On the first day, everyone is fresh, energized and very excited about getting away. Use this energy to get as far as you can on day one.  
 
2. Explore your own backyard. If you’ve never done a family road trip, start small. Choose a destination two to four hours away and give your family a chance to get used to being in the car for extended periods of time. This is especially important if you have young children.  
 
3. Give the whole family a heads up. Speak to your children ahead of your trip and let them know what to expect. You can talk about what you will see along the way, what they can do in the car to stay busy and about managing their liquids to limit the number of bathroom breaks.  

4. Fully charged fun. Though road trips are tons of fun, it can be challenging to keep the littlest members of the family entertained in the car between stops. With the new Hyundai Palisade, parents no longer need to mitigate arguments about device chargers. The SUV houses seven USB chargers so the whole family can be plugged in for the entire road trip. Plus, three rows of seating means that everyone can comfortably spread out and enjoy the ride.