It’s no secret travel can be as stressful as it is rewarding — from planning and packing to navigating and adapting, you learn to expect the unexpected.

However, traveling with kids can involve a lot more moving parts to the process of getting to your destination. When traveling, making sure your kids stay safe and healthy during your trip is a top priority. Gathered from fellow parents, get a head start on your next adventure with this list of the top 10 best tips for traveling with kids.

1. Pack extra clothing in your carry-on

Accidents can happen with kids of all ages. Parent Nubia Duvall Wilson recalls how she wishes she remembered this packing tip, “Our potty-trained toddler son had an accident right before boarding a plane. We had to clean him up in the bathroom, and he ended up without underwear. He was a good sport, but I felt terrible for not having a spare pair.”

Always keep an extra outfit and underwear in your carry-on for an easy change that will keep your child clean and comfortable.

2. Protect against germs on public transport

Airplanes, trains, buses and boats, whatever the mode of public transport — it probably has a lot of germs, especially on tray tables, arm rests and windows. Wilson also recommends wiping down these surfaces thoroughly, as your child is likely to touch and press against them often. A quick but thorough cleaning can help prevent the spread of bacteria and keep your child healthy for the remainder of the vacation. Frequent hand-washing or hand sanitizer is a good idea as well.

3. Remember hydration, snacks and sleep items

Ensuring your kids stay hydrated, well-fed and well-rested is crucial during travel. Always have reusable water bottles handy to refill and grab a bunch of healthy, packable snacks to avoid overly sugary options on the go. Comfort is key for better sleep — bring familiar items such as their car seat for the plane, an extended seat cushion or travel pillow for head support. Noise-canceling headphones or a soft eye mask can block out ambient noise and light. Additionally, a favorite blanket, stuffed animal or even a cozy set of pajamas can provide a sense of security, making it easier for your child to settle down and rest.

4. Opt for grocery delivery

Vacation rentals often offer the convenience of grocery delivery. This can be a lifesaver, especially when traveling with toddlers. Wilson shares, “We chose vacation rentals over hotels to have groceries delivered in advance. It saved us from the hassle of shopping with cranky kids who just wanted to get to the pool or beach.” This also allows you the ability to customize your order, so you’ll have your kids favorite foods easily available and will be able to feed them balanced meals throughout the trip, rather than relying solely on limited restaurant kids menu options. You’ll likely save money too!

5. Use digital devices for safety

When visiting crowded places like Disney, consider equipping your kids with digital devices to maximize travel safety. These allow for convenient tracking and communication in case you get separated. Wilson told us, “Our kids, aged 7 and 8, had their Gabb watches on during our Disney trip, giving us peace of mind knowing we could contact them if necessary.” If your kids are too young to use devices, parent Daniel Clarke suggests waterproof silicone bracelets or clothing tags with your contact information and any medical details to help you feel more assured.

6. Be consistent with sun protection

Traveling, especially during summer, means constant sun exposure — and nothing ruins the fun on vacation like a bad sunburn. You can protect your kids by frequently applying sunscreen, using sun shades in the car and encouraging them to wear hats and sunglasses. Parent Amy Johnson mentioned, “Our car has sun shades, which help our kids nap and stay cool during long drives. I always keep sunscreen sticks handy to avoid getting my hands dirty.” Of course, sunburns do happen, so adding aloe or cooling lotion to your bag is a smart choice too.

7. Prioritize time management and regular breaks

Traveling can require a lot of waiting in lines and sitting still in a seat. With kids, it’s best to give yourself an extra time buffer whenever possible in case of unexpected challenges or delays. Plus, not rushing will protect your peace of mind and mood. On long trips, Johnson also recommends frequent stops to prevent your kids from getting too hot, overstimulated or uncomfortable. Whenever possible, encourage them to get up and move around to burn some energy.

8. Try out portable potty solutions

For those potty training or dealing with unfamiliar public restrooms, Johnson says that portable potty training chairs and folding travel potty seats have been super helpful for her family. These items not only make bathroom breaks more manageable but also help keep your kids safe from bacteria in public restrooms.

Frequently asking your children if they need to go to the restroom can prevent urgent situations and can also help them get used to the idea of going in new and unfamiliar settings.

9. Bring travel a first-aid kit and important documents

A well-stocked first-aid kit is a travel essential. Beyond the basics like Tylenol, Advil and bandages, consider including motion sickness medication, antihistamines, anti-itch cream, and stool softeners. “These items have saved us from emergency visits,” says parent Richard Campbell. You might also want to bring copies of any important medical documents or consider investing in travel health insurance for your kids, as it provides coverage for unexpected medical expenses and emergencies. Dr. Preeti Parikh, executive medical director at GoodRx, said it’s important to “make sure your children’s vaccines are up to date to prevent infections from diseases like measles, mumps and polio. Keep an eye on how your kids are feeling during travel and consult a medical provider if something feels off.”

10. Ask for help and split the work evenly

Traveling with kids can be overwhelming, so don’t hesitate to ask for help and split the work evenly among adults in your travel group. Discuss contingency plans, assign different responsibilities and share the load to reduce the mental burden. Above all, be patient with yourself — no travel experience will be perfect and that’s OK. If you’re traveling alone, check in with yourself often and remind yourself that you’re doing great. Be sure to set reasonable expectations and lean on others around you — you’ll often find kindness and support close by no matter where you are.

With summer vacations in most parts of the country, it’s the holiday season. Also, high temperatures in North India too makes many people plan for a small break in cooler areas. Gone are the days when people lugged big cameras to capture their memories. For most, mobiles do the job now. Also, with smartphone cameras improving by the day, many of them give almost DSLR-level photos. However, how your phone’s photographs come out also depends a lot on how you take them. Here are some simple tips to get the best out of your phone’s camera.

1. Understand your smartphone’s camera

The first step towards capturing good photos using smartphones is to understand the capabilities of your phone’s camera setup. Most modern phones come with multiple lens setup offering users a ultra-wide angle lens, telephoto lens, dedicated portrait lens, macro lens, etc. There are also a host of shooting modes.

2. Clean your lens

Now, this may seem like an obvious thing but, the smartphone’s camera lenses get dirtier than they may appear. Cleaning them thoroughly can help you get better and detailed photos.

3. Get some additional accessories, if possible

Like DSLR cameras, there are additional accessories available for phones too. Now, a tripod, a ring light and an additional lens can come in handy in a wide range of situations. A tripod can be used in low light situations as well as capturing a group photo with you being in the picture.

4. Can go for portable ring lights

Ring light can come in handy while recording videos or taking selfies. There are quite a few portable options available.

5. Focus on framing, experiment with the focal length and angles

Now that all the basic things are in place, framing is the next big thing. Irrespective of the location or type of photo you are trying to capture, if you’ve got the frame right, you’ve covered half the journey towards capturing a good photo. For this, try to eliminate unnecessary objects from the frame, also don’t be shy to experiment with the focal length and angles.

6. Try to keep your subject towards either ends of the frame

This trick is basically known as the rule of thirds. In this all you need to do is keep the subject towards the left or right end of the frame. This gives the photo a clear perspective and results in a pleasing photo. With this, you can also use the extra space to incorporate the surrounding to get a sense of the location.

7. Capture ultra-wide photos for an immersive view

Imagine you are typing to capture a lake or a mountain. Using the ultra-wide angle brings more area into the frame with a slightly distorted look. This adds to the perception and adds a creative angle.

8. Shoot early morning or late evening

Golden hour is the perfect time to capture landscape photos or portrait photos, So capture during early morning or late evening. Basically, you need to capture photos when the sun is rising or setting for better and goldenish-beautiful photos.

9. Beach photography

If you are travelling to a place with sea or lakes, then try capturing candid shots with the sea in the background. Get creative with the angles — low angle works really well around the beach. Also, try using the dedicated modes like slow motion shots for the waves, also use some built-in camera filters for some different styles of photos.

10. Hill station photography

Hill station photography is a lot like beach photography. All you need to keep in mind is that you are at a height and you are trying to capture something that’s far and really big. In this case, try to frame your shot with a part of the mountain and also some of the surroundings like buildings, people, etc. Also, compose the shots using the rule of thirds for better photos. Also, far away subjects tend to get a little hazy. Try to capture photos on a sunny day.

11. Creating timelapse videos of sunset and sunrise

While you can always record some videos, making timelapse videos can make things more interesting. For instance, you mount your phone on a tripod, switch to Timelapse or Hyperlapse mode on your phone and leave it to record the beautiful sunrise or sunset.

12. Use Astro mode for night sky photography

Smartphone brands have started offering dedicated Astro mode in their phones, You can use this mode to capture beautiful stars and star trails images.

13. Shoot Panorama for that wide-angle perspective

Panorama mode on your phone can capture the entire surrounding in one frame. These photos not only turn out to be extremely beautiful, but they can also be used as house decor pieces.

14. Edit your photos

No matter how good your phone’s camera is, making slight adjustments in the photos can make a lot of difference. For instance, you have captured some early morning shots at a hill station. In the edit, you can boost those golden colour to make it more prominent. You can add a little sharpness and also dehaze the photos to add some more details. Just make sure not to go overboard while doing so.

15. Keep a check on battery and storage

Make sure that your phone is fully charged and has enough storage space available. Carry a power bank and an external drive with Type-C OTG cable for just in case situations.

Outdoor recreation is in high demand as record numbers of visitors seek out national forests and grasslands for memorable adventures. Recreation.gov is your gateway to explore your national forests, and America’s outdoor and cultural destinations in your zip code and across the country. With more than 4,000 recreation areas and 110,000 individual sites and activities like camping, wilderness backpacking, whitewater rafting, ranger-led cave tours, and so much more, you will find plenty of opportunities for everyone in your group to enjoy.

Plan Ahead

This year many locations may now require reservations, and high demand locations can book up in minutes. Planning and setting a reminder to reserve a location in advance is key. Most campsites are available for booking six months in advance of your arrival date. Some are available two weeks or four days in advance of your intended arrival. For popular locations, try mid-week or non-peak seasons. To learn of the latest updates from your desired location, visit the agency website and search the location on Recreation.gov.

Know Before You Go

Every forest and grassland is unique and has specific guidelines, take a moment to review the Need to Know information on Recreation.gov or through Forest Service websites. Review and confirm the status of the location you plan to visit for alerts, including road closures, trail conditions, wildland fires and known animal dangers. Check weather and pack the appropriate clothing. Research if you need a permit for the activity you plan and carry your permit with you at all times. Pay close attention to reservation and confirmation emails from reserved sites and activities. Local managers may also communicate critical updates to help you prepare for your trip, or even cancellation details if the area is impacted by wildfires or other types of emergency situations.

Discover New Places and Experiences

We are hearing from visitors and land managers alike that many popular locations are booked and crowded. Take this opportunity to explore destinations new to you, or hidden gems just around the corner. Use the Trip Builder tool on Recreation.gov to map your travel route and then discover a variety of recreation sites and activities along the way.

Recreate Responsibly

Recreating responsibly is essential to maintain a sustainable outdoor space for all. Embracing diverse experiences will achieve and build an inclusive and equitable outdoors. Championing health and safety will ensure security across our national forests. The opportunity to become a steward for public lands is now.

Plenty of travelers will undertake a trip of a lifetime to Europe this year, spending weeks or months on the continent, hopping between countries and cities. Long trips can take their toll on mental and physical health but there are some precautions you can take and items you can pack to keep you feeling at the top of your vacation game. “The demands of constantly navigating different time zones, climates and destinations require us to be proactive in caring for our health and wellbeing while traveling,” says Jessica Sepel, founder of Australian wellness brand JSHealth Vitamins. Here are some tips for how to stay healthy while traveling around Europe.

Invest In A Refillable Water Bottle

Staying hydrated is key to feeling energetic and keeping your immune system healthy. It is also vital to avoid heatstroke when you’re spending hours under the hot sun sightseeing and can help combat jetlag. In Europe, tap water is generally safe to drink (although always double-check first) while many cities have public drinking fountains. This means it is convenient, eco-friendly and money-saving to invest in a refillable water bottle and bring it around with you instead of buying dozens of plastic single-use bottles. Sepel also warns travelers to be aware of alcohol intake on the plane. “Be sure to drink more water if you do choose to sip on a bubbly while in the skies,” she says,

Bring Nutritional Supplements

If you’re moving around a lot and sampling myriad cuisines, it’s natural for your dietary habits to go out the window. To avoid feeling sluggish or under the weather, bring a few key health supplements. Sepel recommends JSHealth’s Greens + Collagen as a convenient way to keep up nutrient intake when traveling as diets may look a little different with less home cooking. It contains green superfoods along with hydrolysed Marine Collagen. She adds a formula with a B vitamin complex for energy, stamina and recovery (it also helps with jetlag) and zinc to keep immunity strong. “If you experience bloating, a supplement with fennel seed is a great addition,” Sepel says. “I always have the Detox + Debloat tablets on hand when I travel to help relieve abdominal bloating while also supporting natural detoxification processes.”

Buy A Travel Pillow, Headphones And Eye Mask

If you are moving between locations in Europe, take advantage of flights and trains for some shuteye. Whether it’s a plump travel pillow, noise-cancelling headphones or velvet eye mask, bring whatever helps you drift off while on the move. A pair of earplugs isn’t a bad idea either and might come in handy in a thin-walled hotel room too. The help reset a sleep schedule disrupted by moving between time zones, Sepel recommends napping for about 3 hours on arrival, then trying to get up and carry on in the current time zone. “If you can then plan to go to bed at 7 pm, you should acclimate more easily and are then on track for the rest of your trip,” she says. Try taking a quality magnesium supplement at night to allow your nervous system to relax and wake up energised and refreshed.”

Pack A Medicine Bag

Traipsing around pharmacies is no way to spend a day on holiday, especially if a language barrier means struggling to find the medicine you need. Prior to your trip, pack a little bag of useful remedies including painkillers, anti-diarrhoea medication, antihistamines, plasters, decongestants, insect bite cream and motion sickness pills.