by Anita Brown

Created on: August 24, 2008   Last Updated: November 24, 2008

Our station wagon packed,seven children loaded in the car,off we went. We were heading to Calgary Alberta from Nova Scotia. Crazy....thats what all of our friends said to us.Traveling across Canada with that many kids in one car. However, I seen it as an adventure. Hopefully something the children would remember with happiness. The prospect of seeing their eyes fill with excitement at each new place we would see filled me with anticipation.

It was mid August so the weather was fantastic. First money saving tip. At luchtimes we stopped at grocerery stores. I would buy a loaf of bread and sliced meats,small bottle of mayonaise and a carton of milk. We would the proceed to a picnic park, which are located at various places along Canada highways, and make lunch while the children ran around and played. This was a perfect opportunity for them to run off energy from being cramped in the car. Also, I payed only ten dollars instead of one hundred that a restaurant would have cost. The ninety dollar saving would allow us to get a hotel room that night.

At supper times we would stop at a restaurant.I felt it best for the children to have atleast one hot meal perday while on our adventure. We discovered that most restaurants will add a few freebies once they know you are travelling. Especially with that size family. Well mannered,pleasant children was a blessing as well. One restaurant actually ran out of milk and the waitress ran to the store next door and purchased a carton for our kids
She would not except the money for it, she said the kids were so well behaved it made her day to serve them.Wherever we ate, waitresses went well above the call of duty for our family. We always chose healthy meals, knowing that we would have an easier time in the car if no one had a sugar rush. Also it was very important for me to feed my family properly while they were growing up and five days in a car would be no exception. Snacks consisted of bags of fruit and cheese. Healthier and so much cheaper that chips, bars and sodas.
Hotels want your buisness and are most complying when you travel with children. They all were more than helpful by bringing in extra cots and blankets,so one room was all we ever needed. Two double beds, one sofa and a couple of cots. A family of nine sleeping arrangments taken care of. All at the price of around eighty dollars per night. Remember, picnic luches saved us enough money to pay for the hotels each night. A place to shower and rest for the next

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