A long road trip with the family can be fun! Yes, even for the difficult tweens and teenagers. It just requires planning and flexability. No matter how far the road trip is, there is always something to see on the way. Remember, it's the journey, not the destination.

Growing up, we used to take many road trips as a family. We never flew anywhere. I had never been in a plane until I was 23 years old. We drove to Florida, South Dakota, all over the place, and my parents always made the drive to where ever we were going part of the vacation, not just the way to get there. There are a few things to remember when planning a family road trip; some easy steps to keep things inexpensive and fun.

First of all, you need planning. Where are you going? What route are you going to take to get there? Plot out your course, and then find things along the way. There are many great books that offer information on great little tourist attractions that range from natural sites, museums, historical sites, to the outright strange. In our travels, we have seen everything from Mamouth Cave, the St. Louis Arch, and historic battlegrounds to a strange little hotel where the buildings looked like tee-pees and the world's largest six pack of beer. Use what you know of your children to tailor the experiences to what they are interested in. There is a lot to see of this great country that so many people don't even know about.

Now, there are times when there is nothing for miles; those long stretches of road between one interesting thing and another. To avoid the complaining and the question of "Are we there yet?" you need to remember to take along things to keep the kids occupied in the car. Not every minute of the entire drive will be a fun filled experience. Pack some travel games, a DVD player and some movies, a portable video game system and some coloring books for the younger ones. Make up travel games of your own. We always had fun playing the license plate game. As you are driving along, have the kids look out the window and see how many different state license plates they can find. I still find myself calling out, "Montana, I'm winning!" when I am in the car. You can play the same sort of game with a variety of things. Be creative. Make the ride more enjoyable.

Don't forget to stop every now and then and stretch your legs. Taking in some local tourist sites, or a nature walk is a great alternative to a boring rest area. Stopping in a tourist area can offer a variety of options. Usually there are pamphlets about many things to see in the area. Though, those are often found at the rest areas, as well. So if you are unsure what to do, stop and track down some pamphlets for an area, and see what you can find. And don't forget to take pictures. Make the ride to where you are going as much a part of the vacation as what you do when you get there.

A long road trip requires food. A well stocked cooler with snacks and drinks saves a ton of money over stopping for fast food, or junk from a gas station. Keep it simple. Don't go overboard making sure everyone has there exact favorite foods and drinks. Find a few things that everyone can agree on, but offer a variety so no one gets bored eating the same things over and over again. Bring a loaf of bread, some lunchmeat and cheese for an easy lunch on the road.

And, when you finally get where you are going, you will be that much more relaxed, having had a pleasant drive. I won't say that the drive will be perfect. Children will argue, there will undoubtedly be traffic and road construction at some point, but it will be a far more pleasant experience.