"Planning the ultimate roadtrip lies within a balance of just enough structure to allow direction and more of the experiences that you seek, while not being too planned or structured to allow the spontaneity of what the open road brings." If you plan too little, the trip can be more stressful than enjoyable; yet, if you plan every fine detail, there is little room to enjoy the process and whatever comes your way. Too much structure makes everything too rigid while not enough makes chaos; balance is key. That is exactly the purpose of this book, to guide you with the roadtrip commandments and simplify the roadtrip planning process with this breakdown, allowing you to build a trip foundation in just minutes and then either build on it further or just take off and get going! 1.) First set your timeframe, from the time you leave until the time you have to return. 2.) Decide if the trip is destination focused such as driving to a location at a set day and time for a wedding or event, etc and then building a trip along the way, or Experiences based with no set destination and enjoying the journey in more equal parts. 3.) Break the trip up generally into 500 mile increments. This will provide a stopping point for each day. 4.) Determine the level of planning you want, if you want to define the stopping points or take it steps further and prebook. 5.) Give your trip a theme! Based on the reason, or interests-- for example if its a ski trip , make it winter themed with hot chocolate, winter activities, etc. Giving a theme helps you set up more of the experiences that you desire. 6.) Research each surrounding area to find activities that you want to see within each section.

List of Questions for Family These questions not only encourage children to look within and discover more about themselves, but they also strengthen relationships among all family members: 1. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? 2. What has happened recently that you will remember for years? 3. What is your favorite memory you have had with us as a family? 4. What is your favorite memory with each family member individually? 5. What would your perfect day look like? 6. If you could live anywhere for three months, where would it be? 7. What was the nicest thing you ever did for someone else? 8. What is your proudest accomplishment? 9. What makes you feel loved?  10. What makes you feel brave? 11. If your stuffed animals or toys could talk, what would they say? 12. Pretend you're a chef, what would you serve at your restaurant? 13. If you were outside for an entire day, what would you do? 14. What three strengths do you feel you have? 15. What is the craziest thing you have eaten? 16. If you gave everyone in the family new names, what would they be? 17. What is something I always say to you? 18. What car are you going to drive when you grow up? 19. What do you want to be when you grow up? FAMILY GAMES Would You Rather—A question game that involves asking comparison questions that require you to think differently. Feel free to come up with your own as these are just meant to get you going: -Would you rather have to sing every word you say or say out loud every word you read? -Would you rather be a famous director or famous actor? -Would you rather eat peanut butter and jelly or pizza if you were on a desert island and could only choose one of those two? -Would you rather live without internet or air conditioner and heat? -Would you rather only use search engines online or social media? -If you had to choose between being a lion or a monkey, which would you rather be and why? -Would you rather only use a fork or only use a spoon?

1. Use audible or audiobooks that will interest your kids. If you put on a Harry Potter series for one hour, it’s flown by before you know it. This is also a golden opportunity to share a childhood favorite of your own, something they have not been exposed to before.  2. Create kids’ playlists for songs that they like (I use “Spotify”) and you can resort back to this playlist in times of need. Rather than just including the same songs they listen to all the time, liberally sprinkle in roadtrip songs like “I’ve Been Everywhere” by Johnny Cash, “On the Road Again” by Willie Nelson, “Route 66” by Chuck Berry, or “Take it Easy” by the Eagles. By the end of the trip you may find yourself all singing together. 3. Movies: Of course you can resort to movies, but don’t let old familiar habits takeover on the unique opportunities of traveling together. Especially for older kids, skip the movies and encourage interactive games, question exchange and sing-alongs.  A movie can be a last resort and you can simply use your mobile device, strategically placed to make your car into a movie theater for the passengers.  An example block of a full day of roadtripping with your family might look like this: 500 miles or eight hours, and let’s say you're driving from Tampa, Florida, to Atlanta, Georgia, and spending the night there. I wouldn't set anything in a rigid schedule; rather, let the following happen naturally when everyone wants to participate in each activity, or plan general details before so you have stops set up. Eight hours broken down in two-hour blocks is only four driving blocks. If you have another driver with you, then switch after each two-hour driving block and you get to stay nice and refreshed. Keep in mind this is the maximum recommended driving distance in a day! Each of you will only drive two, two-hour blocks...easy! It really puts it in perspective to examine the time and distance relationship in this way. It's literally the equivalent of driving from Sarasota, Florida to Orlando, Florida, taking a break and then doing whatever you want for a couple of hours ( while the other person drives in this example) before you drive your last 2 hour block and then spend the final two hours relaxing and doing whatever you want and getting excited about your arrival—while enjoying each part of that easy process. You'll be surprised at how easily you can drive 500 miles with two people and not even feel fatigued.

Games with Friends While You Were Sleeping —This one takes advantage of sleepy passengers because they should have followed the roadtrip commandments and gotten rest the night before! Within this game, the non-sleeping passengers let the drowsy passenger fall asleep...for a minimum of 5 minutes… Then you start creating a story of what the sleeping passenger missed, each taking a turn adding a section. Once the passenger wakes up you have to get them to believe the story! If they are passed out, feel free to wake them up by saying, “You missed it!” and then start with your story. If anyone breaks character they lose one point. If you succeed in convincing them you all get 3 points, but if the passenger catches on, they get 3 points. The most points at the destination wins! (I know someone who got snookered into believing they had missed seeing Madonna…not sure if they were ever told that it was a game!) 21 QUESTIONS —One roadtripper volunteers and the other passengers take turns asking the volunteer a question. You can't ask the same question twice and the volunteer can only pass on two questions. When the 21 are up, they pick who is next. Depending on the time before your next stop and other factors, you can play “10 Questions” vs. twenty-one. Fortunately/Unfortunately —This game puts things in perspective by allowing you to see theres always good in even perceived bad circumstances. ne person starts by saying something has happened that was fortunate. The next person in turn has to say something unfortunate about the same thing the last person said was fortunate. Keep going until someone stumbles with the wrong start or takes more than three seconds to come up with the next part of the story. Then they are “out.” Example: One person begins, “Fortunately, we brought plenty of food.” Next person: “Unfortunately, there's no more room in the cooler.” Next person: “Fortunately, we haven't gotten lost…” There is no limit to creative starts for this game. “Fortunately, I found a fifty-dollar bill on the sidewalk…” or, “Fortunately, my friend from elementary school found me on Facebook…” or, “Fortunately, I inherited my mother’s musical talent…”

Questions with Friends Start with the driver and then go clockwise throughout your vehicle, taking turns—each person should answer the same question before moving to the next to keep everyone engaged and not miss out on some good answers! 1. Describe your worst first date ever and take turns. 2. What food would you never eat under any circumstances? 3. If you could go back in time, what year would you travel to? 4. If you could have been a child prodigy, what skill would you choose to have? 5. What was your favorite toy or game growing up? 6. Favorite food growing up? 7. What is the worst job you have ever had and why? 8. If you could stay a certain age forever, what age would it be? 9. If you could meet anyone living or dead, who would it be? 10. Would you want to know the exact date of your death? Why or why not? 11. If you could breed two completely different animals, what would they be and what would the new species be called? 12. Do you believe in ghosts? Why or why not? 13. Do you believe in Bigfoot? Why or why not? 14. Do you believe in extraterrestrials? Why or why not? 15. If you could learn one new skill by snapping your fingers, what would it be? 16. If you were to start a blog, what would it be about? 17. What is the one thing that keeps you up at night? 18. What is the biggest mistake in your life and why? 19. What is the best purchase you have ever made in your life and why? Biggest? 20. When you think of success, what comes to mind? 21. What do you value in a friendship? 22. Have you ever ignored one of my texts? Why? 23. What did you learn growing up that sticks with you today? 24. What was your childhood like? 25. Who was your role model when you were young? 26. What was the most romantic thing anyone has ever done for you? 27. If you could quit your job and do anything, what would it be? 28. What do you wish more people knew about you? 29. What would you do if you had an entire weekend open? 30. Do you consider yourself an expert on anything? 31. What was your best memory with each of us?