Where would we be without technology for road trips? With fall here and the kids back to school, weekend getaways and day trips replace vacations. Kids, squished together in the back seat, scream, “OOOOOhhhhh…. MOMMYYYYYYY…. he touched me!!!!” We’re tempted to roll down the window and jump to freedom. Or at least to stuff our ears with cotton!
But there is a solution! Three, actually!
Pandora! For more than 10 years, Pandora has been working on the Music Genome Project to create unique “radio” stations based on songs and artists you select. Pandora offers hours of music with few commercial interruptions, including kids music, classical, Broadway/musicals and everything else. It’s simple to use, just follow the directions on the app.
Beyond simply listening, use Pandora to challenge the family to a musical “game.” As each new song begins, the first person to guess artist or title wins a point. Name artist AND title and get three points. First person to ten points wins!
Books on Audio! Cracker Barrel restaurants offer a large selection of books on audio to use during travel. Especially helpful when traveling through rural areas and mountains where internet and radio signals are spotty, listening to books on audio can entertain the entire family for hours. Get lost in the story, but please… don’t get lost on the road!
Here’s how it works:
- Buy a book-on-audio CD at any Cracker Barrel location (tuck the receipt inside the case!)
- When done with the book, return it to any Cracker Barrel location for a full refund minus $3.49 for each week you kept it.
- Do it again!
Lisa,
My mother in law rents the books all the time. She starts a book on a road trip and then finishes it up at home before returning the book to Cracker Barrel. It's a great alternative to music stations that fade in and out and include way too many commercials!
Karen
My daughter will read the Kindle start to finish on a trip. I love it!
Electronics can enhance trips by not making them seem so long.
I agree, Rosey. The key is to use electronics that help kids get through it rather than numb them. My kids do great with an ebook or audio book. Five straight hours of video games make for awful stops, though. Grumpy!
Oh these are so great, especially the Redbox idea. I am a big audio book fan, always have been and hopefully my kids appreciate them too!
We also check out kids audio books at the library to use on road trips. Sometimes, there's not enough room to carry them — Cracker Barrel sure makes that easy!
love these ideas! especially the audio books. I actually think that would be a great idea for me to listen to in the house too. I just don't read as much as I used to.
I loved audio books even as a child. I'm trying to get my son to enjoy the audio book experience, too. 🙂
audio books are a life saver on trips!!!
I like podcasts too. If you have a smartphone you can download a podcast on just about any subject before you leave for the trip.
Brian, great idea! Podcasts about a local area or interest might even enrich the vacation. Our sons studied China's history and culture before we traveled and they truly loved seein the places they had read so much about.
Brian, great idea! Podcasts about a local area or interest might even enrich the vacation. Our sons studied China's history and culture before we traveled and they truly loved seein the places they had read so much about.
These are all great ideas– especially Pandora and audio books!
We love audio books