Road Trip! A survival guide

The words "Road Trip" either stir your wanderlust ... or strike fear into your heart. If you're a parent, the latter is more likely to be true, especially if you've driven endless miles with kiddos kicking the back of your seat and asking the infamous "Are we there yet?" question every 5 miles.

Not to worry ... a little preparation will go a long way toward making your family road trip much more tolerable, if not enjoyable.

• Entertainment for the kids. This is a big one. Many parents choose in-car DVD players or even gaming consoles, handheld video games, or other gadgets. The available options are increasing every year, and the one thing to be said for these electronic toys is that they do a good job of distracting the kids. If you prefer, there are also the time-tested car games. There's always I-spy and license plate bingo, but you can also find books and blog posts with hundreds of ideas. Momsminivan has a good list here. You can also put together your own travel entertainment pack with a lap desk, some storage for craft supplies, coloring pages, quiet toys, activity books, etc. 
• Snacks. Having your own snacks and drinks along will save money and time, helping to curb all those frequent stops. It's a good idea to pack some simple snacks that will help with car sickness, if that's a factor with your kids. Good choices include ginger ale (especially the real thing), saltines, and ginger snap cookies. Bottled water is not only healthier for your kids, but will be less likely to promote nausea. Sugary snacks cause many kids to become very restless, as do foods with lots of food coloring, so your trip can be a lot more enjoyable with healthier snacks. Granola, nuts, trail mix, cheese, pretzels, raisins, and the like can make for a much better trip. 
• A change of clothes. Not only for little ones, but older ones as well. And it's much better if they are handy, rather than packed into a suitcase under 3 other suitcases in the trunk. If anyone slips in the mud, gets splashed, spills food, or has to deal with vomiting, you'll want fresh clothing on hand. 
• Clean-ups. A case of baby wipes is helpful, and it's a good idea to include paper towels, sponges, and cleaning supplies for the upholstery in case of spills or accidents. The sooner they are dealt with, the better. I always keep a container with these things in the trunk of my car. Don't forget to include plastic bags. They are handy for garbage, soiled paper towels, dirtied clothing, muddied shoes, and more. 
• Navigation tools. GPS or a cellphone equipped with navigation, or maps. It's a very good idea to check out the route along the way and plan for interesting stops along the way. Which brings us to ...
• Side trips. It may make your travel time longer, but it can make the whole trip much more enjoyable. Stops along the way can be a lot of fun, let everyone stretch their legs, soothe frazzled nerves, and sometimes prove to be an unexpected highlight of your trip. It's a good idea to scope out the whole route in advance and plan for stops every two hours or so, and if it turns out everyone can wait, you can always skip some along the way.

Another alternative? Just get a lot of rest during the day before your trip and load the kiddos in their PJs into the car at night, and drive while they sleep. You'll have to make sure you stay alert (a talking buddy, spicy snacks, a wet cloth applied to your face, and frequent stops will all help) and be safe. But you can bypass all the drama and arrive a lot faster if you don't mind having to sleep the day before, and probably needing a nap the first day at your destination.