| If money is tight this summer but you still want | | | | observing your kids lately, just check out the |
| to have a few nice family outings, maybe it's time | | | | headlines: |
| to rediscover an American classic getaway: road | | | | "Tech Use Up In Kids, Parents Losing Ground" |
| trips. | | | | "More Teens Obsessed with Texting" |
| Imagine the endless possibilities presented by all | | | | "Kids Spend 8 Hours a Day on TV, Internet, |
| those roads stretching out in every direction from | | | | Texting" |
| your home; scenic drives so beautiful they | | | | Yes, going cold turkey will cause withdrawal |
| rekindle your love of the land; cute little towns | | | | symptoms (pouting, whining, unconscious twitching |
| and oddball road side attractions; missed exit | | | | of the thumbs). But as compensation... |
| ramps; spilled drinks on the cloth seats; cranky | | | | Give them a low-tech challenge. Get a small digital |
| young'uns who just want to go home to their | | | | voice recorder and turn the kids into reporters. |
| computer. | | | | Invite them to ask things about their parents and |
| Is it possible to take the whole family on a car | | | | each other that your family has never talked |
| trip without tears or tantrums? | | | | about. Assign them a "story" to cover about each |
| After many hundreds of road trips across this | | | | person during the drive. Spin some ancient family |
| great land, I'd like to share with you some tips for | | | | yarns that your parents told you. You'll all learn |
| increasing the fun and reducing the frazzle on | | | | something about each other and have a great |
| family trips. | | | | souvenir to share with grandparents and friends |
| Tips for Better Road Trips | | | | back home. |
| Keep it short and sweet. Make a list of | | | | Spark their creativity. Hold a photography contest |
| destinations within 100 miles of home where your | | | | on family trips. Create enough categories so |
| family has never been. Get the kids involved in | | | | everyone can be a winner. Categories like: |
| whittling it down to their favorites and plan to | | | | Tackiest Roadside Attraction. Best Morning Bed |
| tackle one or two every weekend. If you run out | | | | Head. Ugliest Bug Splat on the Windshield. If your |
| of ideas, pick up some brochures at the local | | | | kids have to be rivals, the friendly rivalry of |
| tourist information center. Maybe you'll discover | | | | competition may help keep the peace. |
| there's a river offering tubing adventures just a | | | | Eat al fresco. Ah, the lingering smell of fried |
| few towns over. Or a pioneer fort that lets | | | | onions... it just seems to cling to car upholstery, |
| visitors participate in "olden days" activities. | | | | doesn't it? So why not drive past those |
| Perhaps a scenic drive through a state park | | | | drive-throughs and have picnics along the way. |
| you've been meaning to show the kids for years. | | | | Pack a cooler and top it up at a local grocery |
| Family outings close to home can be fresh and | | | | store with enough fixings for a simple but yummy |
| fun if you experience them with your favorite | | | | lunch. Even if you have to resort to fast food, |
| people. The upside to these short jaunts is you | | | | take it somewhere nice, spread out a blanket, and |
| won't be stuck in the car together long enough to | | | | pretend you're the smiling all-American family in |
| pick fights. | | | | one of those postcards from the '50s. Sure it's |
| Leave the mobile media at home. Yes, this will | | | | sappy. But fun. Plus your gang will eat better and |
| spark World War III but if the kids drive you | | | | experience a quaint old tradition: having family |
| crazy with their video games and obsessive | | | | meals together. And that may be one of the best |
| texting at home, imagine how annoying it will be in | | | | memories you bring home from your family |
| the back seat of the car. And if you haven't been | | | | outings on the open road. |