Back in the 90s, kids and tweens went to Melissa Joan Hart for advice on school, fashion, and dealing with life in general. Her Nickelodeon show Clarissa Explains It All was a hit for a reason. As teen, she became a style icon and role model to tons of American girls who tuned in to the ABC show Sabrina the Teenage Witch.
Now, after 25 years, she proves to still be the go-to reliable source for advice. This time, for everything about motherhood and general parenting. In a recent partnership with Kelley Blue Book, the 42-year-old mother of three shares her best tips about traveling with kids.
Surviving Road Trips
Hart is married to musician Mark Wilkerson with whom she has three sons
As a family who travels, Hart says that she always has the automobile Bingo in their car. This, along with other ‘old-fashioned toys’, is her secret to keeping her three young boys entertained during long trips. Still, she brings headphones for her boys so they can sit back and watch movies quietly in the backseat.
She also emphasized the importance of having enough space for everyone in the car. As a relatively larger family, Hart says that traveling in an SUV-type vehicle is ideal for them. This way, they’ll have handy compartments like cupholders, a spacious trunk for luggage and breathing room for everyone (including the dogs), to get comfortable.
The actress and her husband Mark Wilkerson met at the Kentucky Derby back in 2002. They married a few months after the show wrapped up in 2003 in a ceremony held in Florence, Italy.
The pair currently has three sons: 13-year-old Mason, 11-year-old Braydon, and six-year-old Tucker. In comparison, the average American family typically has 1.86 kids as per 2016 stats.
Favorite Family Trips
Hart began her career as a teen star with her most notable role being Sabrina Spellman in Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Hart’s tips mostly apply to road trips because her family prefers driving over flying. One of her kids’ favorite routes is the Los Angeles to Lake Tahoe trips they often make. The drive takes about seven to eight hours one way.
Though they have their favorites, the family still ventures to other destinations. According to the actress, they’ve previously made a Connecticut to Vermont road trip and one to Yosemite where they went camping to celebrate Mother’s Day.
Another trip they often go on is one to San Diego where Hart’s sister and her baby live.
Best Family Cars
Hart’s top pick for the best family car is the 2019 Honda CR-V
Hart’s partnership with car dealer Kelley Blue Book involved her helping create a list of the 12 Best Family Cars for 2019.
Her top choice came out to be the latest version of the Honda CR-V. Said to be one of the best SUVs in its price point, the Honda model has often been hailed as the dealer’s Best Buy Award winner.
Despite its smaller form, the vehicle is said to be the complete package because of its reliability, safety, and practicality. What more, it’s got spacious interiors and technologically sophisticated features.
