As a child, I once spent 19 hours in a ’82 Fairmont. My family had decided that we were going to take a trip from Tallahassee to Tulsa. It was July, it was hot, we had no A/C and I had NOTHING to do. That trip sucked stuck in the back of my brain for a long time. When I became a parent, I decided that I would…
- Come up with fun stuff to do in the car when my family and I went on road trips.
- Ride in style my friends. Ride in style!
For all the parents planning summer family vacations, here is a fun road trip hack for family travel.
“Never go on trips with anyone you do not love.”
– Ernest Hemingway
My wife and daughter have dragged me into the digital age over the last couple of years. They think of me as a tech dinosaur whose short, little arms keep grasping at all the things that are still inside my comfort zone. The biggest point of contention has been my DVD collection. My wife has been switching us over to digitally downloaded movies and my DVD’s have become archaic. I found out quickly that the value of DVD’s are about the same as my NKOTB cassette tapes – Although I am always “Hanging Tough”, they are worth zip, nada, nothing! So, we came up with a great way to upcycle them.
DVD Cover Up:
- Take your old DVD’s and slide out the cover.
- Pick a movie and have everyone (Who is not driving!) create their own cover with paper, colored pencils, markers and other crafty things that you’ve packed in the car.
- Have everybody share their cover and say something that they liked about the movie.
Even the adults can get in on this game! My friend Patrick drew a wonderful version of The Godfather. It’s easy, fun and passes the time pretty quickly.
Now that you’ve got the passengers in a fun mood and ready for a road trip. Let’s talk about getting the driver into their happy place. If you have to spend hours and hours in a vehicle, don’t you want one that is going to make the trip fun and comfortable?
Check out the 2017 KIA Sportage.
The fourth-generation KIA Sportage compact CUV boasts sophisticated design, a refined premium interior and significant ride and handling improvements.Â
- Stiffer structure, new suspension, advanced driver assistance systems, and premium materials take Sportage to the head of the class
- Cutting-edge design, engaging driving dynamics and intelligent packaging stand out in a staid compact CUV segment
- First Kia to offer UVO3, featuring Android Auto, Apple CarPlay (April availability), 14 telematics services, and 8 GB of music storage, all free of charge
The all-new Sportage’s roomier, more luxurious cabin features an impressive level of craftsmanship, with high-quality, soft-touch materials and a range of technologies improving overall comfort, convenience, and connectivity.  Updates to the drivetrain provide enhanced efficiency and performance, while changes to the suspension deliver a better ride and tighter handling.
When you’re planning your family’s summer vacation, don’t forget to include my fun road trip hack and the 2017 KIA Sportage. It’ll be the best summer vacay ever!
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I have partnered with Life of Dad and Kia for this promotion.