‘Tis the season for car road trips, whether you’re visiting family for the holidays or taking a much-needed vacation within driving distance. And because “99 Bottles of Beer” is unbearable by bottle number 98, you’re probably wondering how to fill the hours with car entertainment so your passengers don’t drive you nuts. Here are some of the best ideas to ensure long road trips fly by in a flash!
Family road trip games
Road trips can be unique bonding experiences for families with kids of all ages, and even the parent who’s driving can get in on the fun. Bring along a box of Trivial Pursuit questions for some friendly competition—kids will do well with Disney’s version of the game, which can be extra fun if your road trip is heading to Disneyland. Other car games everyone can participate in include karaoke, “name that song,” and matching other people on the road with celebrities they resemble.
Car activities for kids
Sometimes parents just want to relax with some soothing music during a long road trip, leaving the kids to entertain themselves in the backseat. That’s why coloring books and crayons are essential road trip supplies, along with travel-size versions of popular board games like Sorry, Trouble, and Checkers. Another fun idea, which is a hit with toddlers, is to give each kid a metal cookie sheet and a variety of magnets to play with.
Car activities for adults
If your road trip crew consists of adults only, you can bring along “mature” games like Cards Against Humanity or versions of Trivial Pursuit that cater to grown-up entertainment tastes. Another hilarious game that thrives on grown-up imagination is to make up fictional backstories for the occupants of other cars on the road based on how they’re dressed, what kind of car they drive, or even their facial expressions.
Best road trip movies
Of course, one of the easiest ways to pass the time during a long road trip is watching movies in the car. And what better movie to watch than one about a road trip? Adult passengers will love classic road trip movies like Vacation, Thelma and Louise, Easy Rider, Dumb and Dumber, and Blues Brothers. Meanwhile, kids will enjoy The Muppet Movie, Cars, A Goofy Movie, or Milo and Otis.
Best way to watch movies on the move
Car video systems are increasingly popular, especially in newly manufactured “family” cars. But if your car doesn’t have one, there are plenty of aftermarket video systems to choose from. You have the option of large flip down monitors that entertain all backseat passengers at once, headrest monitors that allow each passenger to watch what they want, or dashboard monitors that double as car navigation screens—although drivers must be sure to keep their eyes on the road if the front seat passenger is watching something. Best of all, your mobile entertainment doesn’t have to be limited to movies. Many video systems can play DVDs, video games, or even let you watch Netflix in the car.
Beat road trip boredom this holiday season
Whether you’re hitting the road to Grandma’s house, taking your family to Disneyland, or just taking a scenic cruise up the coast this holiday season, stop passenger boredom before it starts with a car video system. At Audio Shack in El Cajon, we can help you select the video system that’s right for your needs and budget, and we also offer professional installation to ensure the job’s done right. Give us a call at (619) 749-5750 or stop in today.
