Are We There Yet?
Fun and Games for the Open Road
The next time you take the family on a road trip, keep boredom away with some of these classic car-trip activities courtesy of Matthews:
Slug Bug (Without the Slugging!)
Keep an eye out for Volkswagen Beetles. When you see one you must yell, “Slug Bug!” and point it out to the other passengers. Each bug that is spotted earns the observer one point. At the end of the day, the passenger with the highest point total gets to choose where to stop for dinner. (You may want to award two points for spotting a rare “classic” Bug—those made before 1998.)
I’m Going on a Trip
- I’m going on a trip and I’m going to pack an armadillo...
- I’m going on a trip and I’m going to pack a bicycle and an armadillo...
- I’m going on a trip and I’m going to pack a candy bar, a bicycle and an armadillo...
- I’m going on a trip and I’m going to pack a dog, a candy bar, a bicycle and an armadillo...
Well, you get the idea—it’s the ultimate travel memory game. Take turns choosing items to pack for an imaginary trip. Make sure your items follow alphabetical order to make the game a bit easier for young players. The last person to get through their turn without an error wins!
1-2-3 Count Whatever You See
Boats on trailers, red vans, convertibles, police cars, water towers, etc... The list goes on and on. A counting contest is a great way to pass the time for young kids.
Imagination Interpretation
Boats on trailers, red vans, convertibles, police cars, water towers, etc... The list goes on and on. A counting contest is a great way to pass the time for young kids.
Palm “Reading”
One child closes their eyes and holds out a hand. The other child “writes” on the hand with a finger. The first child has to guess what the second person is writing. Start with just letters, then move to two- or three-letter words. Make sure to pause between letters to give the reader a chance.
The License Plate Game
This is a fun activity for the whole family to work on together. Everyone keeps an eye out for new out-of-state plates, and a young child is put in charge of coloring in the states.
Scavenger Hunt
Give each passenger a list of things to hunt for while on the road or making a stop. The list can be made up before you leave home. Here are a few sample lists:
Coloring Pages
Print the linked pages for some auto-themed coloring fun.