Road Trip Games
If getting from Point A to Point B on your family road trip with as little backseat moaning and groaning as possible is your goal, here’s what you need to do:
Fill a Backpack
School may be out for the summer, but a backpack in the car for each child goes a long way towards keeping the peace. Work with your kids to fill each backpack with travel games, coloring books, crayons and favorite snacks. For older kids, try including a travel journal so they can keep track of favorite places and activities along the way. Don’t forget comfort items too, like favorite blankets and teddy bears.
Bring Snacks (Lots of Snacks)
A recent survey from Choice Hotels and FamilyFun magazine found that 73% of families considered snacks to be the number one way to keep kids happy on a family road trip. So, pack a cooler full of snacks. Include a mix of healthy choices, like raisins, carrot sticks and grapes, as well as treats, like cookies and chocolate chip granola bars. Don’t forget water bottles and juices boxes, too.
Gather the Gadgets
You’ll probably bring several gadgets on your road trip, like smartphones, tablets, e-book readers and portable DVD players (don’t forget to rent DVDs at the library). So, gather them up and then power them up. There’s nothing worse than getting an hour into an all-day trip and having the iPod Touch in the backseat run out of juice. Well, it’s worse when it’s one of two that power down (let the backseat gadget tug-o-war begin!).
Get the Right Apps
We all love our smartphones, and fortunately, with the right apps, your smartphone will help you make it through any family road trip. A few must-have apps include Waze, which helps you navigate around traffic jams and construction delays; iExit, which gives you the scoop on gas stations, grocery stores and coffee shops to be found at upcoming exits; and GasBuddy, which finds the cheapest gas near you.