Whether you are driving an hour to Grandma’s house for the holidays or long hours to a vacation destination, boredom can set in quickly with kids (and adults) of all ages.

With young children, bring something old and something new. It’s fun to surprise them with a new book or toy when the trip starts. Together, pick out audio books or CDs before travelling as something to look forward to. Download games and apps for smart phones or tablets ahead of time. Remember to bring headphones and chargers.

Fun and interactive family games

License Plate Acronyms

Look at license plates and let everyone make a phrase with the letters. An example, “EMP,” eat more pizza.

Pick a topic

For younger kids pick topics like “colors” and take turns naming colors until you run out. For older kids, choose topics like “classic rock bands” or “state capitals.”

Spell it

Spell out a word in its correct order by finding letters on license plates, signs, or billboards. It could be their name, street, city, favorite food… anything.

Memory game

Start with a phrase like “For our vacation, we need to bring…” The first person names an item that begins with the letter A like "apples," the next person says what the first person is bringing and adds something that begins with the letter B. Keep going until you can't remember all the items.

Mad Libs

Mad Lib games are always good for laughs and helps teach grammar as a bonus.

20 Questions

One passenger thinks of a person, place or thing. The other passengers ask questions to try and guess the answer. Be sure to make pit stops along the way. Find a spot that everyone can get out and stretch. If possible, let the kids run around. Create a spontaneous picnic by serving snacks and beverages outside at a park or rest stop; it can be easier and cleaner than inside the car. As you travel from place to place, remember to enjoy the journey as well as the destination.