No doubt it’s been a tough year, and your vacation budget has seen better days. But, the holidays are meant to be spent with family. So, I talked with Carol White, co-author of the award-winning book “Live Your Road Trip Dream”, the ultimate road trip planning guide for extended road trips, about how to save money for your holiday road trip this year.

Let’s face it. There’s not a parent on the planet that doesn’t get a little panicked at the thought of 20 hours in the car with their offspring. So, how do you plan for a more successful road trip? I talked to Dr. Scott Haltzman, author of “Secrets of Happy Families” for some expert advice.

It was 40 years ago that someone from earth first set foot on another planet. We spent only about 2 1/2 hours on that planet (please don’t ask me what planet it was!!), but but they changed history forever. Our children have grown up with space travel as part of their lives. And, they should look back at how it began.

Back in they day, parents just took the car they had. Now, there are lots of options, so I talked to Ford executive and mom, Amy Marentic, about the 2010 line of cars from Ford, and their great features for road trippers.

One of the top questions I’m asked when I do an interview goes something like: “How do I keep the kids entertained in the car?” So, for expert advice on the gadgets, I talked to Jody Halsted at Have Kid Will Travel.

They are jokingly referred to as Wisconsin/Minnesota/Your State Here’s National Bird. They bite, carry disease and the red welts itch for days after you’re bitten. You resort to DEET just to keep them off your kids. Yep, mosquitoes.

You’re desperate for a vacation but the budget is stretched to its max. The folks along International Drive, home to SeaWorld Orlando, Discovery Cove, Aquatica Sea World’s Park, Wet ‘n Wild, Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, have put together 12 tips to help you stretch your dollar this summer.

You love sports. And, before the kids you used to travel to sporting events at will. Now, it takes more planning, sure, but there are things your kids should see with you, before they get too old to want to be seen with you.

As if you needed an excuse, July is National Ice Cream Month. There’s something beyond sweet about the combination of ice cream, summer and a road trip. Nostalgia. Indulgence. No one crying or whining about sitting in the car. Chocolate. You get the idea.