Day Trip Diaries
Two hours from home, a world away
Short on time but big on adventure — our favourite day trips that feel like a real getaway without the overnight bag.
Day trips are our secret weapon. No packing the night before, no airport stress, no jet lag — just load the car, drive an hour or two, and suddenly you're somewhere completely new. Edison gets the novelty of a real adventure and we're back in our own beds by 8pm. It's the sweet spot.
Places we've been
Our honest notes from every spot we've visited — name, city, Edison's rating, and what we'd tell a friend.
Add your day trip destination here
Add your notes — how far the drive was, what you did, the best snack stop, and whether it's worth repeating.
Add your second day trip here
Add your notes — the drive time, highlights, what Edison loved most, and any tips for the journey.
Add your third day trip here
Add your notes — what made this destination worth the trip, where you stopped to eat, and whether you'd go back.
Our tips
Leave during nap time
This is the single best day trip hack we know. Time your departure so the drive coincides with Edison's nap window — usually right after lunch. He sleeps the whole way there, wakes up refreshed and ready to explore, and you arrive without the car-ride chaos.
Pack the day bag the night before
Morning chaos with a toddler is real. Pack everything the night before: snacks, change of clothes, sunscreen, first aid kit, carrier or stroller, and any activity-specific gear. Morning-you will be very grateful.
Have a loose plan, not a tight itinerary
Day trips with toddlers require flexibility. We pick one or two anchor activities — a farm visit, a waterfall hike, a small town to explore — and leave the rest open. If Edison is loving something, we stay longer. If he's done, we move on. No pressure.
Find the good snack stop
Every great day trip has a snack stop worth the detour — a local bakery, a farm stand, a roadside taco truck. We research these in advance and build the route around them. Edison gets excited about the 'special treat stop' and it breaks up the drive perfectly.
Build in buffer time
Whatever you think the drive will take, add 30 minutes. Toddlers need bathroom stops, snack breaks, and the occasional 'I need to get out of this car seat RIGHT NOW' pause. Fighting the clock on a day trip ruins the whole thing.
Document the small moments
The best day trip photos are never the landmark shots — they're Edison eating an ice cream cone on a kerb, or pointing at a cow through a fence, or asleep in the carrier on the way back to the car. Keep your phone handy for the in-between moments.
Packing list
- Day bag packed the night before
- Snacks for the drive + destination
- Change of clothes
- Carrier or compact stroller
- Sunscreen + hat
- First aid kit
- Portable white noise (for car nap)
- Downloaded shows/music for the drive
- Cash for farm stands and local spots
- Reusable water bottles
- Wet wipes
- Small activity bag for the car
