When I say the word "family," what comes to mind? Maybe it's when you got your first glimpse of your wife as she walked down the aisle. Maybe it's the moment your child burst onto the scene and your life changed forever. Maybe it's when you and your siblings secretly spied on your parents while they hurriedly wrapped your presents on Christmas Eve. Or maybe it's one those rare times where you met a new friend for the first time and you instantly started finishing each other's sentences. Which is it for you?

I had an experience recently that reminded me about how that family feel can come in numerous shapes, sizes, forms, and functions. Basically, if you're looking to keep your definition of the term "family" locked in a small box, then you're likely to miss out on some of extremely meaningful relationships. I don't normally write about anything outside of food and family, and while this might seem like it's about travel and cars, I would say this post most assuredly falls smack dab into the family side of things, just not in the traditional sense.

3 Tips For a Small Town Trip With Your Kids

This is a sponsored post in partnership with Merrell shoes. All opinions are my own.

Maybe you need a change of scenery or maybe you just need to prevent your kids from destroying the house again. Every parent gets the feeling once in awhile that you need to get out of town. You want to get away, but there is no way you can take that extra long trip. It's too much time and too much money. But you still have the motivation to gather up your kids, pack up the car, and go on a day trip. One of the easiest, and most cost effective, adventures you can take with your family is a day trip to a small town near you. This might sound cheesy, boring, or cliche, but believe me when I say that your kids will love it! When you promote it to them as a time to explore mysterious places, discover fun food, and climb over new obstacles, you can usually get them excited to go.

The thing about day trips is that you need to be a little bit prepared. You don't have to spend hours doing homework about the town you are traveling to, but it does help to spend a few minutes looking up local eatery ratings, getting some good shoes on your kids' feet, and making sure you have an extra hoodie in the trunk. Here are three more tips that will make your time together a huge success!

Win a Free Vacation and Learn 7 Tips to Easily Find the Best Online Deals For Your Family Vacation

This is a sponsored post in partnership with Homewood Suites. All opinions are my own.

So you've decided that you and your family are going to take the plunge and experience a family vacation this year. Maybe this is even the first year that you have taken your kids with you on family trip. Trust me, this upcoming trek can produce some lifelong memories for everyone. However, one of the first things that probably comes to mind, when you are planning, is the budget. Don't worry if you don't have the bank account of a Kardashian, that doesn't have to stop you from enjoying your vacation. Just follow my tips below to save money and also one lucky Lunchbox Dad reader will win a free vacation from Homewood Suites!

8 Secrets to Make Traveling With Kids A Snap

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post in partnership with Homewood Suites. I received compensation but all opinions are my own.

There isn't much that strikes more fear into the heart of a parent than traveling with kids. It's pretty much seen as a nightmare situation that many parents consider a hilarious joke when it's suggested. Go ahead, try to suggest a vacation with kids to the next parent you come across. The good news is that traveling with children doesn't have to be terrible. In fact, if you are prepared, a parent can handle anything. Think about it. On a regular basis you handle vomit, lost homework, a shaved dog, multiple meltdowns, and a naked toddler who just tried to make a break for it out the front door...and that's all before your first cup of coffee.

A prepared parent cannot only endure family travel, but they can make it the trip of a lifetime. Whether you are a dad or a mom, you have have it in you to plan a trip that you and your kids will talk about for years to come. As a dad who loves this stuff, I like to call it being a #TravelMANager. Here are a few tips that every dad and mom must know to pull off that incredible trip with their kids.

1. Pack a carry-on for each kid.
Every ticketed passenger can bring a free carry-on so take advantage of that. With many airlines charging for each checked bag, space can be tight and expensive. Not only can you put toys for your kids in their carryon, but you can also put a few extra light clothing items (shirts, shorts, etc.) in the bottom to help clear out space in your checked suitcases.

2. Load two-to-three sealable plastic baggies filled with toys, activities, and snacks.
A good #TravelMANager rule is to fill one zipper type plastic baggie per hour that you will travel. Fill it with toys, small puzzles, coloring books, etc. You can also put some special snacks in there. Every hour, take out another bag for your child to open and entertain themselves with. This way they don't get bored with their toys before the plane leaves the ground, or your car leaves the driveway. Another plus is that they don't have to spend the whole trip staring at a screen.

3. Bring a sealable baggie for garbage and wet wipes.
You can either bring some extra baggies or use ones that you empty out using the tip above. Have you

How to Be a Dad at a Distance

Being a parent is hard. In fact being a dad is one of the most difficult things that I have ever done in my life. If you're a parent, you can probably relate and this comes as no surprise. If you can't relate you aren't doing this parenting thing right. Recently I have discovered something that takes the parenting difficulty level up to 11. It's something I have never had to deal with before. It's being a dad while living a great distance away. My wife and I didn't get a divorce, but I did take a job halfway across the country. My family is living back in California while I get life ready for all of us here in Oklahoma.

This distance is only temporary, but I am smack in the middle of being separated from my family for five out of six weeks. For some of you that might not be a big deal, but for me it is heart wrenching. I feel like half of me is still in California with them. Some of these feelings might come from my parents divorce when I was twelve. My dad moved out and all of a sudden my world was turned upside down. There are some lessons that I am learning though. Some of these come from my current experience and some I learned through my parents' divorce. Here is what I am discovering while being a dad from a distance.