Hit The Road: Summer Road Trip Favorites

This is one of my favorite guides to do every year–right up there with stocking stuffers. Because road trips excite me like Christmas, and half of our summer adventure fun is getting there. For us, it’s a 26-hour trip to Northern Michigan, spread out over several days and including many sight-seeing stops along the way. Yes, there are lots of Are We There Yet?’s. Yes, it’s a lot of work. And why yes, there are moments when everyone in the backseat is losing it, and I’m a hair’s breadth from pulling over, handing the keys to the first person who stops to help and telling them “You can have it. The van, the kids–take it all.” But for the most part, it’s pure fun and adventure, and the memories made are some of the most special ones in our entire family archives. Kind of like the Core Memories in Inside Out.

I’ve driven the route now several times and have stashed away tips and tricks that make the trip so much more manageable and enjoyable. That moment when we pull out of the driveway to start the adventure (and–er, turn back around to pick up something we forgot)? It’s pure magic. Pillows tucked in the backseat, games and art supplies stashed in the seat pockets, snacks and drinks ready to go, and the anticipation of what awaits. If your summer promises hours trapped in a moving vehicle with your kids, here are some of our favorite things to make the adventure more fun and meaningful.

Do we use iPads and movies? HELL YES. Lots of them. But we cushion that with some good old-fashioned family interaction–car games, art and journaling. You can see our 2015 Road Trip Guide for more ideas (and read the comments–lots of fun tips from other road-trippers).

1. Geo Adventure Journal and Travel Case. Keeping a travel journal is one of our favorite ways to preserve our trip memories. It challenges Lainey to write throughout the summer, and gives her some great creative opportunities–a place to store photos she’s taken, tape post cards and ticket stubs and keep track of favorite sites and moments. And this travel journal is extra special–definitely something to save and look back at for years to come. Made by my friend Nici at Dig & Co, it’s hand-appliqued with the place of your choice and tucked in the cutest wool travel case.

2. Polaroid Zip Mobile Printer with Zip Zero Ink Printing Technology. We’ve tested a few instant cameras and kid-friendly choices, and while they’re fun and convenient, I can’t find a camera that takes pics that compare with the quality of an iPhone or iPad–plus the other cameras don’t allow you to edit. This tiny printer is MAGIC. It connects through Bluetooth to your phone and requires Zero Ink–the chemicals are all in the paper. Plus, the paper is less expensive than Instax film and has a peel-off back so you can turn your little photos into stickers, perfect for travel journals. Lainey can use her iPad to take the photos, edit them in an app if she likes and send them directly through the Polaroid Zip app to this printer. Within seconds, a photo prints that looks exactly like the one on your screen. I printed this photo from last year’s Michigan trip with the Polaroid printer this morning–look at the colors! The printer is smaller than an iPhone and is tucked in a case and stored in my purse. We can’t wait to use it over our summer trip!

3. Melissa & Doug License Plate Game. I’ve included this game in a road trip guide before, but we really love it and it’s a fun on-going game for the entire trip. The goal? Spot license plates from as many states as possible. My favorite part? You can’t lose any of the pieces to the game! The wood license plates are secured with elastic to the board, and all you have to do is flip one over when you spot the plate.

4. U.S. Watercolor Scratch-off Map. A fun way to keep track of which states you’ve visited, this poster map can be displayed in a child’s room or playroom. Simply scratch off a state that you’ve visited, and underneath–beautiful watercolor art.

5. Paint by Sticker. Lainey’s new favorite (mine too!), this no-mess paint by sticker book includes several drawings with sticker guides and stickers to create beautiful mosaic works of art. They take a little while to finish, so it keeps ’em busy and quiet in the backseat for a nice long time.

6. Melissa & Doug Travel Bingo. Another fun Melissa and Doug no-mess game, these easy-to-use-and-reuse bingo boards include different sheets to trade out–spot vehicles, road signs, buildings and more to win the game.

7. Family Road Trip Box of Questions Engage everyone in the car with these fun conversation starters, quizzes and car games, made just to entertain the family on long trips.

8. Games on the Go Throw it in your glove box. This little key chain includes 50 different memory challenges, guessing and word games to make the time fly.

9. Crayola Pip-Squeaks Kit. We pack a lot of art stuff for Lainey, but this little Pip-Squeak kit is perfect for the little ones. Markers clip into place so they’re not falling through the seat cracks, and paper stays tucked in the case which provides a sturdy surface for drawing.

10. Brush Tip Markers. These brush tip markers stroke the paper like paintbrushes–no-mess for the car.

11. Klutz Lettering Book. We have several drawing books, but this lettering book includes stencils, blank pages and several alphabet guides to teach fun lettering from bubble letters to block. The kids can use them to make signs and posters to hang all over your tent/cabin/hotel room this summer. And one inch closer to the perfect “TTFN” and “BFF” in next year’s yearbook.

And I have to mention a favorite from last year–the Car Scavenger Hunt. Such a fun way to keep everyone alert and entertained–score points for spotting a bald man in a car, a school bus, a dog in a backseat and more. It includes points for other senses too like hearing a siren or smelling a skunk smell. Winner can receive rights to pick a restaurant for dinner or have the best spot in the backseat.

Adventure on, folks.

Summer reads for moms and kids, coming next week. I just started a book yesterday that might be my favorite book I’ve read in ages. Plus fun incentives to keep kids reading through the summer…stay tuned.