Win a Honda Odyssey For a Day plus $500 To Spoil Your Family!
by PlanningQueen on May 11, 2010 in AsidesEntries have now closed and winner will be announced shortly at Nuffnang
The Planning With Kids family was given a Honda Odyssey to test drive for a few days. They asked us to give it a good work out doing all the usual activities that occur in a family with five kids. Here is just some of the things we did:
To Market – Mr I makes the short trip to Richmond early every Saturday morning to Gleadell St Market (highly recommend it for good quality, well priced fruit and veg.)
Running around to two games of football on Sunday.
As regular readers will know, I am in the process of ridding my house of unnecessary stuff, so there was also a trip to the local Vinnies bin.
While our people mover is great, the thing I noticed and really loved about the Odyssey is that it feels just like driving a family car – not a minibus! It is a spacious and well fitted out car, which fits seven people easily. The two back seats are not just an after thought and a tight squeeze as you find in some seven seaters. My growing boys with their gangly legs, had plenty of space sitting up the back, as Mr I did when he took his turn sitting up the back.
The Odyssey is lower to the ground than traditional seven seaters, which for me is not just an aesthetic thing, it is also an important safety issue. A lower based car is much less likely to roll over in an accident. And on the topic of safety, the Honda Odyssey has that well covered with both front, side and full length curtain airbags and Vehicle Stability Assist (helps to minimize a loss of control when braking).
The Honda Odyssey is a perfect car for families with school aged kids. It gives you the space of a people mover but is far more stylish, has greater safety and powerful to drive. We still have three little ones in car seats, but once they are no longer required, the Odyssey is certainly the car I can see my family in.
Win a Honda Odyssey For a Day plus $500 To Spoil Your Family!
Honda is giving readers a chance to win a Honda Odyssey for 24 hours and rather than just run your usual daily errands, they will also give you $500 to spoil the family! To enter:
- Leave a comment answering the question “What’s your perfect family day?”
- This competition will be running concurrently across 8 blogs. The most creative and practical response across all 8 blogs will win the car for 24 hrs and $500 to spoil the family.
- The winner will be announced shortly after the competition closing date, 30 May 2010.
- Winner to be determined by Nuffnang and Honda so check out the Nuffnang blog after the closing date for the announcement.
- Entry is limited to Australian residents (Tas and NT excluded sorry!) only and you can only enter once.
- For a full list of terms and conditions see the Nuffnang post on the Honda competition, which also lists the other blogs participating.
Good luck!
75 comments...read them below or add one
Our perfect day would be making our children smile, a day at Soverign Hill would be had and friend each could come for a ride
Our perfect family day in winter or summer is to head out to Point Cook for a day at the beach. My girls love to play in the sand and paddle in the water for hours on end. They have a couple of fantastic playgrounds and BBQ areas with sheltered eating spots.
Watching the joy in my childrens faces as they relax away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life makes the long drive and vacuuming sand out of the car so very worthwhile
After a leisurely lie in where the whole family decides 9am is a perfect time to rise, we all gather Brady bunch style, around the kitchen table, telling ridiculously funny jokes, whilst Dad cooks pancakes and laughs along.
Then we would all hop in the car, with no meltdowns over who reached the fence first and therefore has the right to open the gate, nor any offhanded elbows to the ribs by the 3 year old.
Once all settled, we would put Kumbaya on the car stereo and all sing along. Amazingly, there are no requests to “Turn it up” or arguments over who “owns the song” (Yes, this is a constant source of fights in the Morley car).
We then pile out of the car, have an overpriced drink each at Max Brenners and buy our tickets for the latest Kid/Adult friendly movie. Note, there will be no Chipmunk or Sqeuakquel in any of these titles we choose to see.
After we have 2 hours of uninterrupted viewing pleasure with zero toilet breaks and/or loud demands of more Violet Crumble, we will all blissfully hop back into the car, once again, with soothing tones of whale music which sends the kids off into slumber.
At home, they will all play outdoors for a couple of hours, before declaring they are tired and want their parents to have “some alone time” anyway.
They shower and go to bed with not one protest. Without one attempt at toileting themselves and leaving skid marks in places I can’t even reach unless I’ve got a rubber glove and broom handle.
That pretty much sums it up. Mind you, I’d be happy with swap bacon and eggs for the pancakes in this scenario too.
.-= Bern Morley´s last blog ..COME ON OVER =-.
Oooh you got to drive the honda!!! Way cool!
I so wanted an odessy but we couldn’t afford any we saw so ended up with the Tarago which I don’t like much at all. Did you have issues fitting the car seats in?
So my perfect family day out….
We love to go ‘pioneering’ – that is, we head off for a drive in a general direction but don’t really know where we are going. Everyone on in the car (well those who are old enough) get to choose a direction to turn or a road to take and we just see where we end up.
Hopefully we find a great picnic spot or a yummy bakery to stop at along the way, as well as some photo opportunities and new places to explore!
Last time we did this we found an old apple tree covered in fruit and came home with 20kgs of apples!
Our perfect Family day would be having alittle lie in bed with Emily playing “cubby” under the bed sheets. Then hop up and enjoy a cooked breakfast created by Dad. After we are all cleaned up after our monster feed we would head out for the morning to the beach for a play in the sand and a swim. After all we live in the “Sunshine State” so we have to make the most of it. After our playdate Em will have a snooze in the car on the way home and we can spend the arvo hanging out a home, playing in the yard and Emily will help Dad around the yard doing gardening and yard work. For dinner we will all create a huge mess together and after Emily goes to bed we will kick back with a nice glass of wine
Our perfect family day would begin with a trip to the flemington market for coffee and bacon and egg rolls, well just bacon for the kids…. Then pile back into the car and pop on some Hairy maclary story’s on CD to keep the kids happy while Mum & Dad have some quite to enjoy and take in a delux model Honda… and off we go with a picnic in toe to Wombat Bend Park, where the kids run, climb, dig and swing like mad before enjoying a home made packed with love picnic. After a quick nap, we’d be off again showing off pimped ride for a day and fillinf all the seats to shout afternoon ice creams!!
I agree with Marita, some completely fabulous ideas listed. Will definitely have to give pioneering a go.
Kate – With regards to the car seats, we only actually put one in the Honda, as we had so many things on over the week end, that we ran both cars around. We have 3 in a row in our car at the moment, but I’t think it would have been difficult to that with the Odyssey.
Piling the crew into our Honda enjoying the neighbours’envy, packing a big picnic and wine for the grownups we’ll head to Auburn Botanical Gardens. It’s very attractive cheap to go in and there’s lots for the kids to see and do and learn plenty of energy burning play areas and equipment and peaceful adult rest spots too!!
Our perfect family day would be strawberry picking in the Yarra Valley. Stopping at markets and shops along the way for all the fresh, local produce. Then loading up the troops and having a quiet and comfortable trip home as the kids would be separated between the two rows of seats! We would top the day off with pancakes and fresh strawberries for dinner. Heaven in a day!
all there kids in one car, singing along to our favorite cd,even room for hubby and dog as well as me, going for a picinic, bushwalking afterwards toped by bautiful sunny day.
A perfectly organized trip to ANYWHERE! As long as the Journey is comfortable, a trip to even the grocery store is fantastic with our Family of 6.5! BUT A perfect trip would be to Taronga Zoo and Wildlife world! Somewhere in there a Picnic at the Botanical Gardens with Fish and Chips! By late afternoon (or as the sun goes down) we would let the kids run around after dinner at the park on Darling harbor while me and hubby watch the sun set. We would then load them up in the car and leave for the long relaxing QUIET trip home (as they all fall asleep)
Our kids are 5 and under and we have 4 of them. I am also expecting #5. Not a whole lot we can do with such young children but they are wonderful! We’re actually shopping for a larger car and the Honda Odyssey is at the very TOP of our list!! (Though we would only be able to get the older model as expenses are stretched with this lot).. But I was SOOOO excited to see this comp! I’d LOVE a 24 hour test drive of one of these beautiful machines!
Our perfect day would start early so we get to places before the crowds, we would head down towards Sandy Point or Ocean Grove our two favorite places. We would look in rock pools, walk on the beach in both winter or summer.
We would drive into town for Brunch favoring the local bakery and an early ice cream somewhere. We love to hunt for a great chicken pie or best vanilla slice.
We would visit every park we pass much to the kids delight.
Hopefully come accross a market of some sort to please mumma.
A garage sale with some old records would please dad.
Another ice cream treat late afternoon would bring joy to the kidlets and then mums surprise to everyone would be the bag of pjamas, fresh clothes, towels i packed in the boot without anyone seeing and then bringing up the idea that we find ourselves some lovely cabin in a caravan park probably a big 4 and spontaneously stay overnight. This suggestion has bought the best weekend to our family before and i am hoping to do it again soon.
We would give mum the night off cooking with chicken and chips or a lovely dinner at a local RSL if one comes our way.
I could fit all our buckets, clothes, towels, scooters, food and other family of 5 essentials nicely in the boot of a Odyssey to make this wonderful day a success.
Thanks for the opportunity to enter such an exciting competition.
Our perfect day out would be a day at the beach – but given we live 4 hours from the beach and wouldn’t want to spend 8 of our 24 hours travelling…. that’s not very practical.
I guess the perfect day out for us would be a day trip over to one of the larger nearby towns where we could catch a movie or two, take the kids ten pin bowling, browse some book stores, then hit the department stores for all the bargains – all the things that we can’t do on a regular basis at home, things that people in larger centres take for granted.
.-= Mistress B´s last blog ..Got it in writing… =-.
My perfect family day would be going back to our home town that my fiance and I grew up in, and spending the day at the beach, swimming and making sandcastles.
.-= Hear Mum Roar´s last blog ..What can you do if your child has a public tantrum? =-.
driving for a whole day in a honda odyssey and enjoying spending $500.00
Ill tell you after we’ve had it! I can never predict a perfect day. They usually happen randomly when we arent expecting it. To my kids, some days sitting in the car going for a drive while reading a book is fantastic stuff, and others you just cant please them.
So in saying that, if we as a family can go out and nobody complains, sooks whinges or cries – then THAT is a great start!
A reliable car that doesn’t break down. No “are we there yet” one minute after leaving home. No getting lost. Just a day of fun, laughs, excitement and quality time together.
It is often the simple things that can make a perfect day, like that great find at a garage sale, not getting lost and traveling in comfort in an Odyssey!
It would be cooking with kids some cupcakes and muffins, and making sandwiches too. We would then have a picnic at the Botanical Gardens. Often the best things in life are free!
The perfect family day for me is “a FAMILY day”. My hubby works full time and studies part time so often weekends are his study/assignment time. We all long for a day when the three of us can just have some fun together with no other commitments.
A perfect day would be taking care of everyday things without my cell phone going off every 10 minutes (constantly adding one more thing to my “to do list”), no deadlines, meetings, rehearsals, and NO aggravating alarms! Just taking care of my daughter and our usual shopping, cooking, cleaning and visiting friends and family with no worries or rushing…and enjoying it all in a beautiful Honda Odyssey.
The cake topper would be being able to keep it!!!
Now that would be a PERFECT day!
Packing the car with the essentials and heading to the beach, where it’s fun for the whole family and nobody wants to leave
Our perfect day would be to get off the roundabout of our daily lives.
Contribtutions recieved from all family members ; Mum, dad, DS 7 and DS 5.
No lunches to pack
No school notes to fill out.
No homework
Off to the pool for a splash, appetities at the ready would see us drop into a cafe for lunch. Then off to the park to ride our bikes.
A evening trip to the Drive In
Story and a kiss gooodnight XX
The perfect day with my family would be,
to be altogether as one can you see.
Off to the park with a picnic in tow,
laughing and playing on the swing to and fro.
Into our picnic basket we shall share foods galore,
yummy in our tummies they ask “can we have some more?”.
The sun now growing dim the sunset almost here,
we’ve packed up our lovely picnic, the end is nearly here.
We’ve arrived home at last,
nodding heads we’ve had a blast.
Time now for sleep,
big hugs and kisses, sleep sweet.
[...] Planning with Kids – Win a Honda Odyssey for a day and $500 to spoil your family [...]
Our perfect family day out is one thats not planned.
A cruize in a Honda Odyssey, how grand.
A Sunday drive, destinations a surprize.
A picinic lunch, munch munch.
A stop at the park for a play,
then a chat about how much we enjoyed our day.
A PERFECT FAMILY DAY back home would be having mom and dad free off work and energized (rare occasion) driving the whole family of 6 for a whole day outing, whether it be visiting our grandparents, going to the beach, to the movies, the market or just eating out.
But being in Perth, away from home, MY FRIENDS ARE MY FAMILY.
The saying ” AT HOME YOU COUNT ON YOUR FAMILY, AWAY YOU COUNT ON YOUR FRIENDS” is without a doubt true for me.
I have to say I’m truly fortunate to have met and made this ‘FAMILY’ in Perth.
Acquainted for the 3RD YEAR now, we hardly succeed in getting everyone together mainly due to BUSY SCHEDULE AND TRANSPORTATION PROBLEMS.
It never helps planning ahead because something always turns up at the last minute and a few never make it.
So I guess for this winter, simply getting everyone together EFFORTLESSLY, driving out of the CBD for a FUN DAY OF PAINTBALL WAR would be epic.
Perfect day is a school day,
Six hours alone with just my wife,
A day with the kids can be good too,
But it shortens up my life!
A whole day without yelling at the kids!
One part relaxing, five parts fun,
Sprinkle with children – heat under sun,
Family picnic under shady tree,
Followed by afternoon soak in sparkling sea!
Having my 5 teens together is fun,
picnic by the bay in the sun,
enjoying a scenic ride in a new car,
we could travel near or far…
five hundred to spend would be a real plus,
spending it would not be a real fuss..
a wonderful time had by all,
an afternoon spending in the mall…
thanks to Honda Odyssey and planning with kids for this day,
our family says,”HIP HIP HOORAY!”
Just sunshine – then anything is possible!
Going anywhere and doing anything that puts a smile on their faces yet still leaves a smile on ours and creates another treasured memory to store within all our hearts.
A trip to the country with friends, lunch in a good restaurant, fine food, wine and then a leisurely trip home. Quiet night at home with some good music.
A day free from activities,
us all being apart,
pulled in different directions,
and those early morning starts.
A day free from children arguing,
about who touched who,
about who’s sitting where,
and who’s next on the loo.
A committment free day,
where all can just be,
whether at home or out,
hanging together and happy!
Any day where my kids aren’t arguing would be a FANTASTICALLY PERFECT family day!!
Our few family quality days in a month, are a great motivation in this life.
The day would start by loading the car with chairs blankets, reusable bags, ice chillers, hot water, cutlery and glasses. We would then make our way to the local farmers markets, road side produce vans , butchers, bric a brac markets and find every little bargain we could muster. If warm enough we’d pull up make fresh coffee eat till our tummys were full, then come home and try on all our little treasured bargains we gathered from the day shopping. Nothing would beat a big fancy feast at the end from the local butcher. All this in a car with space to talk freely & move for a family of 6. That’s my dream.
My idea of a great family day, is the open road, family, a good picnic lunch and Australia, that combination cant be beaten.
On any given Sunday, heading down to the foreshores with my family for a swim in crystal clear water a play in the sand, then a BBQ lunch and a stroll through the local Harbourside markets, finishing off with an icecream whilst checking out what the local fishing boats have brought in from the daily catch before watching the sunset and then heading home satisfied and happy.
Jump into the car
giggle and laugh
throw on a CD
and sing along with me
Drive to the park to go on some rides
have some lunch and fly some kites
Our perfect family day:
Get up to a beautiful sunny day and have a yummy breaky together at home. Get in the car and drive around our beautiful south west area visiting a family friendly venue such as animal farm or maze depending on what we find along the way. Cruise on to a winery with a playground so hubby and I can have some great food and Mr 3 can have a bit of fun too. Continue on to the beach for a nice swim and walk watch a glorious sunset and finish off with takeaway dinner so no one has to cook or clean-up!!
My perfect Family day does not revolve around the destination, but the journey.
Why plan to be somewhere when you have to deal with the kids saying “are we there yet?” when you can just stop driving and enjoy where you are? Then, when you are done there…move on.
Enjoying the drive.
omg…a competition where we can all actually fit in to the car that is the prize….how exciting!! There are so many things that we’d love to do on a spoil your family day…..
I am thinking maybe we would start with breakfast at a cafe….that’s be something unique for the girls because finances don’t allow 2 adults and 5 children such a luxury….so maybe ham and cheese croissants or bacon and eggs and hot chocolates all round! yum!
Since we have pay as you drive insurance hubby doesn’t let us drive anywhere that is not essential…..so I think a trip to the beach would be in order…..we’d pack up the cossies, bucket and spade and off we’d go….down south probably to Corrimal. Nothing beats beachside fish and chips for lunch so we’d throw that in as well.
Maybe a little shopping trip for the girls at a beachside market or fair….mummy loves her markets!
Then we’d make our way home, grab some ingredients for a quick dinner….stop off at the DVD store….go home and cook dinner together then settle back with some popcorn and watch the dvd….hopefully I can stay awake!!!!
The perfect family day is going out to the Swan Valley with the Grandparents the nominated driver for the day is Grandad. so mum and dad can enjoy a couple glasses of wine. The kids in the back, laughing at the 4 year old singing and the atmosphere is speechless. Alos getting to take photos of everyone to remember the special day they had together.
We recently spent a family day at Anakies Fairy Park
It was perfect apart from the fact we had to go in two cars
A Honda Odyssey would make our next trip much more of a family affair
$500 more than enough for a picnic beyond compare!
Fun, friviolity, in the sun at Wattamolla Royal National Park NSW with my family equals bliss and happy kids!!
I would like to drive to the beach and spend the day at the beach then going for dinner somewhere nice to spend the $500.
Travel South to the Karri Forrest in comfort.
Countless games of Eye Spy, Singing loudly (perhaps Badly) to a well designed Itunes playlist. Stopping to buy fresh fruit at roadside stalls and testing out every playground we see. Taking frequent photo opportunities to remember the day. It’s the “Being Together” that makes the day special, not the destination.