Summer Road Trips
By Valene Ayar
It’s summer and the kids are out of school; now is the perfect time to hit the road and make some memories. What better way to do that than with a family road trip? There is no shortage of ideas when it comes to choosing a destination – whether staying within Michigan or traveling to other states. The only hiccup, however, is how passengers spend their time on those long car rides – especially the younger ones. As great as an iPad and some snacks are at keeping kids occupied, the whole point of a family trip is to bond and make memories. There is no reason that you must wait until you reach your destination to do so.
Here are some great ideas to keep your kids (and you) entertained during those long car rides.
Family-Friendly Audiobook
As a lifelong reader, this is my number one pick. But don’t worry, you don’t have to have your nose constantly in a book to enjoy reading— not when you have audiobooks.
Audiobooks are a great way to escape into another world and let a professional voice actor make you forget all your worries. One of my all-time favorite book series is Harry Potter, which appeals to kids of any age. While any version of that story would be top-notch, my favorite audio version is the one read by well-renowned actor, Stephen Fry. And the beauty of YouTube is, you don’t even need to pay for most audiobooks! Do a simple search for “Harry Potter audiobook - Stephen Fry” and you should have no problem finding it, along with many other titles.
Kids Travel Tray
Travel trays are great for kids of all ages. They have the perfect-sized cup holder for a sippy cup and serve as a little lap table/desk with tons of pockets and pouches to hold their favorite crayons and other knick-knacks. Why not go old-school with a coloring book and crayons, or even a large-piece puzzle? The possibilities are endless. Search “kid road trip activities” on Amazon and you will find the kids travel tray as well as other fun toys and games.
Turn Your Car into a Movie Theatre
If all else fails, and the kids still insist on watching something on a tablet, make it a fun shared experience. If you have a car with tv screens, play a show or movie you can all enjoy together. Fun Fact: The Harry Potter movie series is available on the HBO Max app! If you want to watch something else, the Disney+ app is a great alternative. My personal favorites on Disney+ are Boy Meets World and Once Upon A Time. With most streaming services, you can even sign up for a free month so don’t fret if you don’t have subscriptions to either platform. Just sign up for a trial account and enjoy!
Classic Car Games
“Classics” are called that for a reason—they are timeless and something you can always fall back on. This category offers a plethora of ideas. The best part is, with these, you can find a way to combine activities. For example, whoever wins the game gets to pick the next activity/show/movie/audiobook.
The Alphabet Game - Starting with the letter A, go clockwise, and each person takes turns naming things that start with the letters of the alphabet that they see in the car or on the road. If they get stumped for longer than 3 seconds, they are “out.” The last one left is the winner. (“Q” and “X” are tricky!)
Classic or Road Trip Bingo - You can go old-school here and play a basic Bingo game or get creative and make your own Bingo cards. Before you set out prepare sheets with things you may come across on your travels (e.g., a yellow car, a car with a dog, a car with an empty car-seat, etc.) and whoever gets “Bingo” first is the winner. Whether you go with regular or road trip Bingo, it will be a fun experience – especially if there is a fun prize at the end (a snack, or activity of the winner’s choice).
The License Plate Game - Set a timer and see who can spot the most out-of-state license plate games in the given time. Or go with the alphabet theme again and find the letters on license plates in alphabetical order.
I Spy – This is a classic road trip game for a reason. In an automobile, the scenery is always changing, and this game helps you notice details as you pass. Kids love to say, “I spy, with my little eye…”
Road trips are a great way to bring your whole family closer together. Use these ideas or create your own to make some lasting memories as a family, and you won’t ever have to threaten to turn the car around.