Journal · Kelly · July 9, 2026
Family Travel Without the Duffel Explosion
Kelly on packing for family trips with packing cubes, snack systems, and a car that does not look like a locker room.
Hey everyone, it’s Kelly!
Wendy has written about travel systems for years, and I am here as the mom-in-the-minivan addendum. Family travel is just organizing with a cooler.
Cubes by person, not by type
Each kid gets a cube. They can see their shirts. You are not unpacking the entire duffel to find one swimsuit.
A snack station that is not the whole pantry
A small bin in the car or the tote: fruit, nuts, the crackers that prevent a meltdown. Nutrition on the road is mostly about not arriving feral.
A dirty bag from day one
Sandy towels and wet suits need a home that is not the clean clothes. A mesh bag hanging on a hook in the hotel bathroom is a whole personality.
If you have a trip on the books, we can do a packing session and a “re-entry” plan for when you get home. Coming back is where systems usually collapse.
Written by Kelly of Room to Grow. Next month another sister picks up the pen.
