It's time for a family adventure

With four children under age 10, Linda Kramer is not exaggerating when she calls her family's frequent field trips "adventures."Although the stroller and the diaper bag are long gone, there is still some organization required to get Benjamin, 10, Jonah, 8, Emma Grace, 7, and Anna, 5, road-ready since many of the Kramers' adventures take place in the Twin Cities, about 2 hours from the family's farm in Gibbon, Minn.

"We probably go into the Cities more than other people out here," said Kramer, who often brings the kids in by herself, due to husband Peter's farming schedule. "We are not a DVD family when we are in the car. We play a lot of 'I Spy' and 'I'm Thinking of Something.' The kids bring books. We talk to each other -- we always have the best conversations in the car."

After logging not only a lot of miles, but also a lot of time at museums and other attractions, from "Hermann the German" in New Ulm to the Mill City Museum in Minneapolis, Kramer has assembled a variety of tips and suggestions for parents and grandparents looking for some great and affordable family adventures. These appear on her Travels With Children website (www.minnemom.com).

"There are some days where I'll realize we have a free day coming up, so I'll go online and see what's going on in the Cities," said Kramer, who also suggests signing up on the Facebook pages for your family's favorite places. "The worst thing is finding out about some cool thing after it has already happened."

One of her favorite websites is GoCityKids; she also regularly checks listings from the Minnesota Historical Society (for metro and non-metro historical sites), Minnesota Children's Museum and the Science Museum of Minnesota.

Kramer is always on the lookout for good deals. She regularly visits Groupon and Goldstar, where she has found discounts on admission to Water Park of America and touring shows such as "Madagascar Live." She has found that museum memberships frequently pay for themselves within a few visits.

Have both Plan A and B

Solicit ideas from the kids, but don't hesitate to keep them out of the loop. Kramer occasionally plans a "surprise day" where she tells the kids they will be going to two or three different places, but doesn't tell them where.

"The most important thing is to find something that everyone will enjoy. Take the back roads and stop at the historical markers," Kramer said. "No matter how the experience turns out, it's a chance to bond and make memories that your kids will always have."

Be flexible about the weather, Kramer says. A recent planned trip to the Science Museum was postponed on a lovely spring day when the family switched gears and opted to attend a kite festival in Bloomington. Same is true for the rainy days -- if the weather looks bad, have a backup.

And if an activity just isn't working, don't be afraid to switch things up: Head to a tried-and-true favorite instead.

Keep everyone happy

When things go sour on a field trip, it's often because of hunger or fatigue. Kramer always keeps her car stocked with bottled water and snacks. The family occasionally packs lunches, but most often they hit kid-friendly restaurants such as Applebee's and Famous Dave's.

"If we are going to eat dinner, we'll go around 4 o'clock to beat the crowds," Kramer said.

When kids are younger, tampering with nap times can be perilous. If you are planning to do a morning activity, try to arrive as early as possible, so the kids can have fun, have a snack or lunch and then be ready for a nap in the car on the way home.