This souvenir road trip box was created as part of a sponsored post for NACS. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Do you road trip with your family during the holiday season? Do you pack the kids into the car, load the luggage to the roof, and hit the road with Christmas songs playing and kids squabbling in the back seat? If a holiday road trip is one of your family’s traditions, make the kids a souvenir road trip box to collect some memorabilia along the way … and make the whole experience easier with convenience store stops!
To make a souvenir road trip box, you’ll need a small plastic box with compartments {you can find these at your local craft store or dollar store}. Depending on what you think the kids will collect, you may want some compartments to vary in size.
You’ll also need coordinating scrapbook paper, a paper trimmer, adhesive dots, and vinyl.
Cut the paper to fit into the bottom of each compartment …
… and use adhesive dots or a glue gun to adhere them in place.
Using a cutting machine, personalize the top with vinyl. If you don’t have a cutting machine, you could also use letter stickers to customize the souvenir box and help the kids tell their boxes apart.
As the road trip progresses, let the kids collect memorabilia from each stop, placing the items into the individual compartments for safe keeping.
Some of the things my kids love to collect include bits of nature like leaves, pinecones, or rocks with interesting shapes, ticket stubs or receipts, pressed pennies, colorful bottlecaps, random coins, tourist pamphlets, magnets, and keychains.
And while you’re trekking along the freeway, collecting souvenirs, stop for gas and make a pit stop at the convenience stores to see what’s new!
While we all know that we can get our favorite road trip snacks at convenience stores, did you know that convenience stores have jumped on the merging flavors trend? Whether you want sweet and spicy, sweet and sour, or sweet and salty, you’ll find just the thing on the shelves of your local convenience store.
But there are healthy snacks too. Convenience stores offer healthy options like yogurt, fresh fruits and vegetables, and nuts and dried fruit, thanks in part to a program with Partnership for a Healthier America. You can also find alternative snacks like protein- and energy-rich items that’ll keep your mind and your body moving …
… and many convenience stores offer a foodservice counter where you can get fresh bakery items, sandwiches, and pizza.
Looking for drinks instead? Convenience stores sell approximately 50% of the country’s single-serve bottled water but you can also find functional beverages that quench thirst while packing protein, vitamins, or other nutrients. Nothing’s worse than traveling with a sick kiddo but c-stores can help out, even carrying Pedialyte Powder Packets to help prevent dehydration.
They’ve even jumped on the cold brew coffee trend {which gets a big thumbs up from me!} …
… and hit the gourmet market with gourmet snacks for those customers seeking a little indulgence. And who doesn’t need a little indulgence on hour three of that full-day road trip {wink}?
Convenience stores are so much more than just a gas station. Check them out on your next road trip and let me know some of your favorite road trip snacks!
Stacie says
That is such a super cute idea! Little kids always find little rocks and other items that somehow get tagged in their minds as part of the trip. I love being able to store them in an adorable little box like this!
robin rue says
That is SUCH a fun idea. We travel a lot and I think my kids would love their own boxes.
Jeanette says
I love this idea! My kiddo is always picking up all sorts of different things as we travel. He has a book shuffle of different kinds of rocks or whatever he could find where we were. This would be a fun way to display it and to tote it along.
Vera Sweeny says
What a really fun idea to take the boredom out of lengthy road trips! Our kids would like to do this!
Dawn Lopez says
My son would have loved to do a project like this on our travels. I think I might even try this out for myself the next time we go on vacation. It’s a great memory maker.
Autumn Reo says
I did not think about convenience stores carrying Pedialyte and other such items! It seems that every trip we go on one of our littles picks up a new bug! Great to know I don’t have to buy a giant-sized item and then throw it all away at the airport.
Kathy says
I think this is such a great idea. I always pack something like this when traveling. It’s great to have things handy.
reesa says
THis is so perfect for my kids! They are big time collectors and I like the idea of having some place to put it all.
TColeman says
This is such a great idea for when you go on a trip. I know we are always looking for ways to store things we collect when we travel.
Liz Mays says
The road trip box is a clever idea! We do like to stop at convenience stores for some quick snacks and drinks while traveling.
Becky Willis says
I love your idea! I never thought of doing something like this when we used to take the kids on trips. I also like how you personalized it. This has to keep it easy so the kids know whose is whose. Such a great post. Thank you for sharing.
kristin says
Oh I totally love this!!! what a fun idea for keeping memories!
Claudia Krusch says
I love the idea of a souvenir road trip box. My Son loves to collect little things he finds along the way. I will have to make one this weekend. We have a trip coming up soon.
brianne says
This is such a great idea! We collect sea shells each time we head to the beach and I have a similar box where we keep them and write down the date and from where they were from!
Sinisa says
What cool ideas. I am definitely having my kids read this.
Ranesha says
Wow sounds like an awesome idea I can’t wait to try it with my nephews during our upcoming family trip. I missed out as a kid lol.
Stacie says
Having a souvenir box is such a cute idea. Having a place to store them is much more convenient.
Tara says
I wish I had done this when my daughter was younger. It is so easy to lose souvenirs when they are loose.
Chelley @ A is For Adelaide says
This is awesome! We always choose something from a place- like pressed pennies, or collector’s spoons (a tradition my dad started 40 years ago). It’s so fun to have something and be able to recall the memory of finding it!
Jessica T says
This is super cool! I love the idea of unique things like this.
Rebecca says
What a great idea! We would love for you to come link up for Wall to Wall DIY Wednesday over at R&R at home!
Roseann Hampton says
Thanks for sharing your souvenir box with us at the Snickerdoodle Create, Make and Bake Party! I chose this as one of my features for this Saturday’s party! Stop by to check it out! It will also be pinned to our party Pinterest board! Roseann from This Autoimmune Life