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When my daughter was in elementary school, she loved our family road trips. She was so excited that she would start packing weeks before the trip.

Summer for many of us is synonymous with travel – whether it is for vacation or industry conferences. If you're getting ready to attend NASFAA in late June or looking forward to a family trip to the beach or lake, here are some tips to prepare:

• Create a packing list – not unlike the one we created for college students.
• Get your suitcase out early and pack a little at a time. When you come across something that you need for your trip, throw it the suitcase. It will save time later and keep you from that night-before-leaving panic.
• Re-use plastic bedding bags for packing items in your suitcase. The bag for sheets is the perfect size for shoes, and it will keep the inside of your suitcase clean.
• Pick up the local newspaper when you arrive. You might learn about a special exhibit or play that you wouldn't have known about otherwise.
• Make copies of all your travel documents and store them in a secure place where you or a family member or friend can access, if needed.

My daughter is now a teenager, and she still loves to travel. She may not start packing as early, but she still knows part of the fun of travel is to anticipate the journey.

–By Catherine Mueller