Why, you might ask, would we pile 10 Scoopers and friends into a van and drive 600 miles in 16 hours?
KidNews wanted to find out firsthand what it takes to survive a lonnnnnnng road trip. Save this page as you prepare to hit the road for summer fun with the fam.
TRIP TIP 1: CREATE YOUR OWN FUN!
We had no shortage of great games, thanks largely to Scoop Troop creativity. Caitlin made her own version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” and Matt started a “Simpsons” trivia contest that kept everyone busy for an hour!
More Top Picks Window Cleaners
Here are five of Matt’s questions to get you started with your own trivia contest:
1. What instrument does Lisa Simpson play? (saxophone)
2. What is Apu’s last name? (Nahasapeemapetilon)
3. Name a person that Lisa had a crush on. (Bad boy Nelson Muntz is one.)
4. At the intro of “The Simpsons,” what is Bart writing on? (a chalkboard)
5. Name the one person on “The Simpsons” who has a crush on Mr. Burns. (Waylon Smithers)
TRIP TIP 2: DON’T SKIP BATHROOM BREAKS!
You’re at a gas station. You’re wondering whether you should hit the bathroom or hold out. Stop debating. Make the restroom trip (especially if you’ve had a Big Gulp in the last hour).
Driving through rural Michigan taught us one thing: You never know how many exits you’ll pass before you see a clearly marked gas station or rest stop. The same logic applies in a strange city. When we asked Scoop Trooper Diana to wait for the next bathroom break, we thought we were only 20 minutes from Comerica Park. Turns out we were more like 25 minutes away. That might not sound like much, but when you really need to use the bathroom, those five minutes can seem a lot longer.
Take advantage of rest stops. Later on, your bladder will thank you. As Diana put it, “Always go to the bathroom every opportunity you get.”
TRIP TIP 3: HAVE KLUTZ, WILL TRAVEL!
The best car-game books we found were by our fave publishers, Klutz. And the best from Klutz are “Kids Travel: A Backseat Survival Guide” ($20) and the new “Glove Compartment Games” ($5).
Using them, we:
– Gave the driver a verbal driver’s test. (His score wasn’t in the “get out of the car” range, but there definitely was “some room for concern.”)
– Read each other riddles and mini-mysteries (though it was amazing how many riddles, mysteries and stories our Scoopers already knew!).
– Played cat’s cradle and made hair wraps with the string included.
– Used the markers included to write all over Scoop Trooper Zack’s face. (Actually, Danny, Zack’s friend, did that, and it was a nice touch.)
– Were inspired to play I Spy and say tongue-twisters while holding our tongues with our fingers.
TRIP TIP 4: BE PREPARED!
Here are a few instances where some preparation could’ve helped us:
– Jay and Matt brought some great tunes but forgot batteries for their CD player and an adapter to plug into the van stereo.
– On the ride home, some of our sleepy Scoopers were wishing that they had pillows to rest their heads on, instead of a rattling van window.
More Top Picks Epson Workforce Es 400
Before you pack, ask yourself: Do I have everything I need to comfortably survive the weather? The long car trip? Is there anything I need to buy or borrow?
Make your list and start packing!