Traveling with a family requires a lot of preparation and patience. For a fun, safe, and stress-free trip it can be beneficial to follow some helpful tips from some veteran parent travelers. The number one tip is to pack light. Making an individual and family list before packing helps to stay organized and prevents over packing. A wardrobe itinerary avoids extra and heavier luggage. Secondly, do your research and ask for recommendations. Guide books and the Internet are great starting off research tools, but asking for real-life experiences from people who have either visited your destination or live there is the best research for your trip. Thirdly, avoiding tourist traps with a large group can reduce stress, eliminate wasted time, and possible safety concerns. More often then not, the real hidden treasures of a trip are the locations off the beaten path. A simple 5-10 minute walk can lead to something better. Having relaxation days are essential. While exploring new cities is exciting, sometimes the group needs a day of rest to recharge the batteries. All in all, things will go wrong traveling with families. The thing to remember is to smile, live in the moment, and embrace the adventure. And if all fails, gelato cheers anyone up!