My family loves to travel together. I really think exploring new places with my kids is one of my absolute favorite parts of parenting. None of the distractions of home, we’re having fun, and always learning something new. On our bucket list is to take the kids to Yellowstone so I was excited to have the opportunity to partner with Fodor’s and Penguin Random House to share these must-haves for a family road trip out west!
Fodor’s The Complete Guide to National Parks of the West
When you’re planning your summer vacation with the kids, Fodor’s Travel is the go-to for making the most of your trip. I was just looking at some of their books on Amazon (all very highly rated) and they are lifesavers when you’re trying to discover the important landmarks in a new place.
For 80 years Fodor’s has been a trusted resource offering expert travel advice and in celebration of the National Park Service Centennial in 2016, their experts unveiled a new suite of online tools and updated guidebooks to help travelers plan an unforgettable family trip to America’s incredible natural wonders. Throughout 2016, all parks, including the venerable Yellowstone and Yosemite, will celebrate the centennial with activities and initiatives that allow visitors to revel in their natural, historical, and cultural splendor.
There are so many amazing parks in the western part of the USA, and since we are not familiar with any of it we definitely need some help planning a road trip. It’s seriously overwhelming to think about doing that on our own. Thankfully Fodor’s National Park Road Trip Itineraries include the most road-trip worthy adventures to parks across various states. Hallelujah! Let’s just be real here: traveling is so much fun but it can add up in terms of $$, and you want to make the most of your time and see the important stuff while you’re there. Fodor’s makes doing that EASY.
On May 10, Fodor’s The Complete Guide to The National Parks of the West will be available to buy. This edition includes completely updated coverage of the best sites, dining, and lodging in and around each park. I feel the best summer road trip ever coming on!
Penguin Random House Listening Library
While road tripping can be serious fun, it can also lead to cries of ‘Are we there yet?’ from the back seat. Parents, I know you know EXACTLY what I’m talking about here. The solution? Audiobooks!
With an audiobook, you can completely lose yourself in the journey, enjoying the scenery while listening to a great narrator tell you a story. Ideal listening with kids in the car, audiobooks expand vocabulary, teach pronunciation and improve reading comprehension. In fact, 85% of what we learn, we learn by listening.
Penguin Random House sent us these three audiobooks and we have been loving them. My son, who is only 7, is actually listening to Jennifer L. Holm’s The Fourteenth Goldfish, and he is really enjoing it. A brain-teasing mystery like Chris Grabenstein’s Escape From Mr. Lemoncello’s Library, is perfect for a road trip, and so is Jack London’s classic The Call of the Wild read by Emmy Award winner Jeff Daniels. Love it when a voice I recognize is the narrator!
I was trying to save these audiobooks for our summer travels but these two couldn’t wait that long! A little quiet time with your pup and a good story is just what we all need once in a while.
The Giveaway
The folks at Penguin Random House are generously offering one of my readers a #FodorsOnTheGo Travel Prize Pack to plan the perfect summer road trip west!
One (1) winner receives:
- Fodor’s The Complete Guide to the National Parks of the West;
- 3 audiobooks to listen to on the drive: The Fourteenth Goldfish, Escape from Mr Lemoncello’s Library, and Call of the Wild;
- PLUS a $25 Visa gift card to put towards filling up the tank!
This giveaway is open to US residents ages 18+ only and will end at 11:59pm ET on May 16, 2016. Good luck!
Lisa Brown says
They listen to music, do activities on their tablets, snack a bit and sing along 🙂
Vicky D says
DVDs are our friends on long trips! Lots of books and snacks too!
Ashley says
Put on DVDS and listen to music
Mami2jcn says
The play their Nintendo DS.
Jessica To says
My son likes to use his iPod on trips.
Cheryl says
We watch movies.
Betsy Barnes says
When my son was growing up, we had a DVD player in the car and watched movies to keep him occupied on long road trips. There were no tablets or smartphones. 🙂
Lisa Ahlstedt says
An “activity box” with lots of different things in it to pull out from time to time!
Kelly D says
My kids bring their tablets and we have snacks for them too.
Lauren says
We like to play the license plate game.
Julie Wood says
We bring puzzle books, video games with their handheld gaming system. Small DVD player, and plenty of drinks and snacks.
Heather Hayes Panjon says
Listen To Music, Watch Movies, Books, Games Are Ways I Keep The Kids Occupied On Road Trips.
Elena says
I let them play video games on their tablets
HS kraftmaking says
They watch DVDs.
Natalie says
We bring portable DVDs, coloring books, card games, snacks and books!
Janet W. says
To keep my grandsons occupied I let them play educational games on their iPads and play movies in the DVD player in the car.
Jean Segina says
We play the usual car games, and also tell funny stores about another sibling. it gets everyone laughing and remembering good times which puts them into a great mood for the trip.
Thomas Murphy says
My son plays games.
Mary W says
We like to play games using things we see out the window, sing to songs and have some iPad time with headphones.
Bo Simms says
To keep kids occupied during a long trip, we read books, play games, sing songs and in advance I print out geography and trivia information for learning along the route. It also helps to bring snacks and drinks for the ride!
shelly peterson says
They bring books, their iPod, and their Nintendo DS and lots of snacks.
DEBIJOT says
They usually play games on their tablets.
Nicole Sender says
DVD’s and car games are what we do to make a car trip fun!
Susan P. says
We play car games and sing along to songs. They each bring a backpack with things to do.
janetfaye says
They watch a movie or they play car games.
Amanda Sakovitz says
They play with my ipad
Laurajj says
We usually get a new movie they have not seen to play, and they love to play on the Ipad. We love playing eye spy games in the car too!
Gloria Marquez says
I would take movies to watch, games, books and snacks
Elle says
They listen to music and play games on tablets.
Courtenay Degnon says
Our family keeps a bucket of fun items in the middle of the backseat on a long road trip. My kids are old enough to color in the car, play travel games, and read on their own. We keep a bucket between the searts to hold the items. All I need is music and a good book… oh, and happy kids! : )
Cheryl B says
We take DVD’s and listen to music to pass the time.
amanda whitley says
we print and put together our own travel activity packets.
heather says
We keep the kids occupied with DVDs on a road trip.
Ellie Wright says
It’s much easier these days with ipads and phones for the kids to play games on. when my boys were little in the 80’s we played games and sang silly songs on road trips.
Peggy Rydzewski says
Lots of word games
Sue Walters says
We bring movies, books and music! I love this prize package, thank you!
Kristen says
We talk, play games, sing songs and look at the scenery.
Adrienne Gordon says
We usually let them read books on trips.
Cynthia C says
We played games like finding states license plates or I Spy.
Maralea says
Playing car games keeps the little ones busy.
Ann Fantom says
My daughter’s DVD player, Nintendo DS and books keep her VERY busy during long car rides.
Ashley C says
We let them watch movies and we try to have some car games to play!
Debbi Wellenstein says
They have books, play games, and watch their favorite movies.
Sandy Klocinski says
Buy a bunch of toys from the dollar store, wrap them in colorful wrapping paper, and hand one over every 30-60 minutes. Works like a charm!
Kim Henrichs says
Movies and games on the ipad are always a hit plus coloring books!
Melissa Cunningham says
Usually some fun car games like count how many red cars we see or we sing songs or turn the eve player on. Frequent and regular stops help too
Julia Barnes says
we play the alphabet game on road trips.
Susan Christy says
Play games, sing and talk about school, friends, family.
Sarah Hayes says
we play games and play with toys
Crystal F says
We pack snacks, paper and pencils and electronics to keep the girls busy. We also play the alphabet game and we like to find certain vehicles and scream them out. Thank you!
Jen Reed says
Luckily my kids love watching movies and sleeping on long car trips because they are preteen now.
nickie says
We play games and watch movies
Rosanne says
Electronics-ipad for movies or video games. Yes people don’t want their kids spending too much screen time but it’s the only thing that works and keeps them quiet for long road trips.
Cynthia W says
I usually have a couple of their favorite movies and we play them on a portable DVD player.
Christina G. says
I keep the kids occupied on a long road trip by giving them car games and Kindles. Thanks for the giveaway!
Brittney House says
We bring the portable movie player. They love watching movies, so it works.
Emily Morelli says
We never do a family road trip without an audio book. Listening to a good story really makes the time go by fast.
Elizabeth J. says
We listen to music and sing songs. We also play games!
Kate F. says
We give them books to read and movies to watch.
Jennifer W says
I usually put on some Disney music during the trip.
Richard Hicks says
They usually watch their favorite movies
Carol says
We watch movies.
Cindy Peterson says
We play license plate bingo, watch movies, singalongs, and make our own travel journals.
Erika W. says
My kids usually watch movies or play games on their Kindle and Ipad.
LaTanya says
games and video games
Sara A says
Books, videos, and games for the car.
Dawn Monroe says
I like to give them books, snacks, puzzle books and iPad/phone. One time a (before camera phones) I gave my kids disposable one time use cameras to take pictures. It gave them something to do and I got some great photos. I hope to take my grandkids on a road trip this summer .
Jessica Massaway says
For long road trips I pack snacks and they all watch movies or play on their tablets.
Steve Weber says
They usually listen to music with headphones or play on a tablet
Emily Benzing says
We get lots of snacks for road trips, coloring books, activity books, music & tablet games! They love it
Alejandra Carreno says
We play games like “I Spy” & trivia games of the current state we’re driving through. We also bring DVD’s to watch on the DVD player & play music on radio
Elizabeth E says
I pack an envelope with activities for each day of road travel. Puzzles, jokes, math problems, etc.
James Doyle says
IPAD 🙂 Games mostly! Well educational games lol
aubrey says
My kids listen to music on their phones.
Ashley Shippy says
Books, conversation and games
Tiffany S says
A portable dvd player keeps them busy.
HilLesha says
Movies and books always help them stay occupied. Thanks for the giveaway!
Pamela Dugan says
we listen and sing along to the radio, and play “the alphabet game” or memory games (“I’m going on vacation and I’m takng…”)
laura says
I bring the portable DVD player and books and video games ha
Debbie F says
Play games! license plate, I spy, twenty questions etc.
(and if all else fails, tablets!)
😀
thanks!
heather s says
Movies and games help on long trips
kendra Noble says
We play a lot of singing games and i-spy also car bingo.
Dwayne Berry says
We have a DVD player in the back seat so my daughter can watch movies on long trips. When she’s not watching movies, my wife plays her music through the USB port on my stero.
Megan L says
Playing games like bingo using landmarks or having to spot objects that begin with each letter of the alphabet.
patricia caradonna says
I encourage the kids to bring a book to read, we listen to music and play a few games in the car.
Patricia says
Playing games such as “The Alphabet” or “Yellow Car” helps to pass the time and keep kids socially involved with family while traveling. Reading material is useful if the child is a reader. Favorite music time is always a hit when everyone in the vehicle receives a turn to pick a favorite song to play and/or sing along.
Gina M says
We bring tablets loaded with games and favorite videos!
Thanks for the chance to win!
wildorchid985 at gmail dot com
Kris I. says
we watch movies and play games!
GB says
They watch movies and shows.
Tabathia B says
My youngest has a portable dvd player, arts and crafts and books to read and the older ones have electronic devices such as tablets and ereaders.
Erin Koiso says
We always do an occupy bag! Puzzle books, books to read, travel games! We also started buying the Weird books – Like Weird Pennsylvania – so we can see the weird and wonderdul stuff on any trip!
Sarah L says
No kids, but when I was growing up we had books & coloring books & games. (way before computers).
Thanks for the contest.
Katie K says
They watch a movie
Evie B. says
They play games or watch movies on a tablet.
Grant D says
Have them look for licence plates from all 50 states
Karen says
My daughter is so good on road trips! We let her pick out 6 DVDs, one of which is usually a season of an old Disney show like Duck Tales or TaleSpin. She has a portable DVD player that’s kept her occupied for years! When she was younger, she loved her Magnadoodle too!
Candace says
i play kids music on their ipad and we play games with each other!
Jackie says
When the kids were young, I’d make up a travel bag for each. I’d fill it with colored pencils, a notebook, small puzzles and games, and some snacks. They never knew what was in the bag until after we were in the car.
jeani b says
we sing. loudly! LOL we also play games, listen to audio books and have frequent stops planned. we also plan to stay up really late the night before so she will sleep in the car. she handles road trips pretty well nowadays. we love to road trip!
Leah Shumack says
As long as my daughter has her iPod and her tablet she is good to go (until the battery dies!)
Sandra Brazeau says
Read, color, and talk.
Birdiebee says
All of my grandkids have cell phones, so they listen to music or play games on their phones while traveling. I buy them ear buds so I don’t have to listen to all of the different types of music going on at the same time. I also pack paper, pens and travel games for them to use.
Dandi D says
We bring along lots of books for my son to read and play road games.
Breanna Pollard says
We play car games and watch movies.
Daniel M says
books music snacks
susan smoaks says
we let them use the electronics on road trips so they can stay occupied.
Erica B. says
We love to play games while driving.
Francine Anchondo says
We play road games, read books, and bring tablets.
Sarah Cool says
Activity books and watching movies on tablets
kjasus says
they have a DVD player and ipad to keep them occupied
kim h says
We play games and watch movies
Robin says
We listen to music and play games.
Barbara Montag says
Kids are a bit older now so they have their audio books to keep them entertained.
thank you
Stephanie Larison says
We make sure we bring lots of snacks and DVD’s for the kids to keep them busy.
Hollie Jahnke says
They usually watch lots of movies!
Gail Fernandez says
We listen to music, and they play games on their phones and tablets.
Barbara says
It’s easier now that everyone is older. They have their own music, books, tablets to watch movies or play games on and we almost always take frequent breaks.
When I was a kid, I just remember a lot of poking, fighting and being bored. 🙂
Carolyn Daley says
There are many activities you can do during road trips including listen to music, color, watch movies on a tablet, and read books.
Gwen Parmer says
We sing a long to the Ipod.
Betty C says
It all depends on the age of the children. Younger children are easily distracted by inexpensive new toys from the dollar store or toys they haven’t played with for a long time. Older children can be a part of our travel games such as looking for certain color cars or certain license plates. DVD’s are a last resort.
jaimeb says
Portable dvd player with hours of paw patrol dvds.
Danielle Magee says
My kids like to watch movies on long trips.
Mary Cloud says
We let them bring some of their favorite DVD’s along or they play on their cell phones on trips
sarah k says
Having music and books available are helpful and having short breaks to stretch your legs.
Katy says
We have a toddler daughter and snacks help a lot with her. Books (especially new ones) and singing songs with her keep her happy in the car, too.
Stephanie MacDonald says
Laptop and coloring books!
christina moore says
For my granddaughter we take books, games and snacks
melissaandkeith miller says
We play games. listen to music, and tell stories.
Trisha McKee says
I create music lists with their favorite songs and also have games prepared that we can play. It is a great time to have conversations and listen to whatever they want to tell you.
tiffany dayton says
Their tablets and snacks
Crystal Sell says
Road trip games, movies, and music, and snacks!
BRIAN E. says
We play games, and of course, make use of portable DVD players / iPads for them to watch cartoons & movies.
Laura Emerson says
They play games on their tablet or read books.
Michelle D says
My son watches movies, listens to audibooks and plays games on the Kindle on long road trips.
Cassandra Eastman says
For my 7 and 4 year old we play road games like i-spy, and listen to music or audio tapes. And for my 1 year old I bring a basket of his favorite toys.