We here at RealFamilyTrips.com hope to provide you with all the information we can in one place, to make family travel as exciting and accessible as possible. Part of being the best resource we can be is identifying other places where you can find information that will be worthwhile in planning your next vacation.

Here we have compiled some amazing sources of information, to further enhance your family travel experience.

A SPECIAL NOTE: We would like to thank Jasmine Dyoco of EducatorLabs.org for sharing some of these great sources with us. Educator Labs is a volunteer-based organization that conducts free research for educators. One of their missions is to share the unique and informative resources that they encounter, as they believe promoting education is one of the most valuable gifts that can be shared with others.

7 Top References and Resources for Travelling Families:

Traveler’s Checklist

Provided by the State Department, this handy guide covers issues related to health, safety, documentation, packing and more – to serve as a go-to final prep checklist for families before leaving on vacation. All the excitement of getting away can lead to forgetting that one important thing you need. This list will help you go beyond just packing everything, to remind you to make preparations for emergencies, as well as medical conditions and more.

The Traveler’s Guide to Preparing, Maintaining and Securing Your Home

Leaving the home for any length of time means certain preparations need to be made. This next resource is another checklist, and an invaluable one for making sure your home is at its safest and most efficient while you are away. Make sure you have everything covered so that a great vacation isn’t soured by returning home to realize you forgot something that will cost you time, money or leave you scrambling to catch up.

Travel and Health: General Precautions

The World Health Organization has prepared a comprehensive guide to things you should know before setting off on vacation. This page is packed with great information, some of which you likely already know, and other facts that may surprise you. There is no excuse for not being informed when great resources like this lay it out simply and succinctly.

Your Survival Guide to Safe and Healthy Travel

The CDC is another organization that has put together a wonderful and comprehensive guide to protecting your family’s health while travelling. Besides a great checklist and links to relevant articles, for the busy pre-traveller, they also have a podcast you can listen to while on your next commute that will provide great tips to being proactive about keeping you and yours healthy while vacationing.

The Adventure Road Trip Planner

Actively planning, or at least considering, a road trip for your next family vacation? This great guide from the folks at National Geographic suggests some fantastic routes, has tips on how to find cheaper gas and delicious food, as well as a number of other great resources for getting the most out of this exciting type of family vacation.

U.S. National Park Service: Park Locator

National Parks make for exciting, educational and affordable family trips. There are more than you may be aware of, and a great park may be closer than you think – or on your way to another great destination. We love National Parks so much we did a series on the best to visit in winter in our Travel Tips section. Find a park near you and get started on an unforgettable family vacation!

Find Free Wireless While Traveling

In the digital age, WiFi access can be important while travelling. Whether it is to stay in touch, upload photos or plan your next day’s adventure – staying connected is more important than ever. While more locations are offering installed tablet access, and more hotels are making their WiFi freely available, there is still a lot to be desired in finding connectivity away from home. This handy resource will help you stay online when you need to, without coughing up a lot of dough.

Enjoy these great family travel resources. We will continue to share with you great information that comes our way, and if you have a great page that didn’t make our list – feel free to share it in the comments!