judith

Just got back from driving 4,000 from Michigan to southern Utah and back. Never bored. Scenery wonderful, especially if you read your history books. Also looked up NPR radio stations on internet before leaving for each state I drove through and listened to Dianne Rehm, All Things Considered, etc. all through the trip. Drove 600 miles first and last day. No problemo on interstates. It's all in the mind.

thelma

There are many great suggestions here,and an obnoxious one!!
Just enjoy each other's company, and make sure you are patient gentle and kind with each other. Enjoy this wonderful country and your FREEDOM!

Becky

This past summer my boyfriend and I drove from central florida to west virginia/ohio for a wedding. He had to work until wednesday, so we left thursday (rehersal was on friday, and wedding on sat). The rest of the family in the fl area had left before us, and had already arrived. We left before six am and beat all morning rush hour traffic out of Florida. Our original plan was to drive until virginia, then drive the rest of the way friday morning, but we did so well on time we drove right through, arriving around 9:30 in the evening, much to the amazement of the rest of the family (slow pokes). My advise is to bring an ice chest full of sodas, bottled water, snack foods, and most of all, bring cold cuts, cheeses, bread, condiments, and chips and stop at a rest area for your own picnic lunch. It was better for us than greasy fast food, saved time, and gave us a great break. Some rest areas are in beautiful places. The combination of fresh air and scenic beauty does wonders to repump you.

lisa

Trivial Pursuit for sure! We also try to listen to talk radio, usually on the AM dials, which can lead to some interesting conversations. Also try to come up with certain games. One favorite is this: Name the 10 NCAA division one football teams who's mascot name DOES NOT end in an "s". (One example - Notre Dame Fighting Irish). This one can take forever.

I think there are some websites that have ideas too.

Emmy

N.C. State Wolfpack
Mass. Minutemen
Tulane Green Wave
Stanford Cardinal
St. John Red Men/Red Storm
Tulsa Golden Hurricane (I think it's singular)
Syracuse Orangemen

Though not division I and is plural favorite school nickname is the Guilford College (NC) fighting Quakers. When the football team did something great defensively the crowd would cheer "Kill 'em Quakers! Kill 'em."

listen

Books on tape. Borrow as many as you can at your local library.

Borrow 10 or 12. If one doesn't strike your fancy, try another. Don't just borrow 2 or 3.

When that gets too much, plan stops in advance. Roadside America can fill your days with really stupid things to see along the highways.. but that will give some focus.

Pat

Cass: I have a question for you, as we just returned from a 2,000 mile round-trip car drive - how do you find decent restaurants when travelling on a major highway? All we came across were the same horrible chain restaurants. We were also on a time restriction, so we would just pull off the highway & eat at the closest place. (I am embarrassed for anyone visiting our country by car to have to experience that food - it's terrible!!!)

Becky

Pat- if you don't mind my answering that...get the book The Next Exit 10th edition or higher. It is a listing of gas, food, lodging, med. services, and retail stores at every interstate highway exit. I found it at walmart in the checkout lane. About $12. Found it to be very helpful when deciding what exit to get off of for lunch, dinner etc..

Pat

Becky: Thanks!!! I should have posted a couple of weeks ago, before we left - I will buy that book now, as we realized how much we enjoyed travelling by car.

DeEtte

I always get several books on tape to listen to. It really passes the time.

lisa

Emmy, good start. St. Johns football team is not Division 1 tho. To be honest with you, I can't remember them all. If I think of them, will let you know! 3 to go... So far:
N.C. State Wolfpack
Mass. Minutemen
Tulane Green Wave
Stanford Cardinal
Tulsa Golden Hurricane
Syracuse Orangemen
ND Fighting Irish

lisa

Emmy, one more... Alabama (you figure out the name...)

2 to go...

Mr. Killjoy

Play "The Doctor Laura Game"TM, brought to you by Killjoy Enterprises ® ©. Here's how you play:

1) In mid-late morning am radio, listen to the "wonderful" talk show on the 90+ stations in ONE market you're driving through.

2) Pick to be a player: either Dr. Laura herself, or the caller.

3) Listen to what the OTHER person is saying on the radio. Reduce the volume controls when the character YOU are playing is talking. Then, go to town on the other character. Example: If you are to be the good doctor, besmirch and belittle the poor sunnuvabeeches.

HOURS of entertainment!

Cass

Thanks, Pat, for citing that book. There are actually some other "road-food" guides, and I will try to dig them up and post the titles. Sometimes you're lucky, and those signs with restaurant logos and names that they post before an exit may include some local places. There used to be a "Copper Kettle" chain that wasn't too bad -- not fast food. Sometimes AAA guides trip over an inn in a town along the way, almost by accident, so you have to be able to keep track of the towns that the Interstate runs through -- e.g., there are some WONDERFUL Mennonite restaurants on I-40 in western Maryland.

Emmy -- Just an aside: Swarthmore College had that Quaker cheer before it made it to Guilford, and I suspect Earlham College has used it as well: "Crash 'em, smash 'em, bash 'em, thrash 'em -- Kill, Quakers, Kill!"

Killjoy: AM Radio can be truly horrific, but what a great passtime! I've answered some of them back myself! Only trouble: you are usually not within range of a given station for more than about 20 minutes if you are whizzing through a state at speed limit + 7MPH.

My favorite game when all else fails: What would we do if we won the lottery? You have to tweak all the possibilities: 1. how many million would it take to change one's life? What if we won $10 million? What if we won $50 million? $100 million. 2. what would be the first thing you'd do BEFORE you get the check? 3. What would you buy for which special relatives or friends, or would you give them some of the money? How much? 4. What charitable enterprise would you fund? 5. what totally indulgent thing would you do? 6. Would you tell off your boss? Would you tell of your enemies?

Emmy

They call Alabama the Crimson tide (and these the Deacon Blues).

St. John's basketball has been in the NCAA tournament. Not a big football fan so I wouldn't know what division it's in. U. of Richmond (Spiders) may still play basketball as Div. 1 but everything else at a different division.


So the list so far:

N.C. State Wolfpack
Mass. Minutemen
Tulane Green Wave
Stanford Cardinal
St. John Red Men/Red Storm
Tulsa Golden Hurricane (I think it's singular)
Syracuse Orangemen
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Alabama Crimson Tide

So does anyone know how many Div. I schools are Tigers?
LSU
Clemson

Or Wildcats?
Kentucky
Arizona

rich

I have driven through Kansas several times driving from east coast to Rockies. I always looked forward to it because it gave me a chance to catch some sleep. I put on the cruise control and set the steering wheel straight and fell asleep for hours- nothing to hit and nothing I missed seeing.

sickowinter

Any suggestions for traveling from Wisconsin to Vegas by car? We are helping friends to move there in February....would love to hear from people that have done this trip. We will be driving a couple of vehicles including a moving truck...so we plan on taking thee "southern route".

Emmy

Wow, this came back. The list of 10 NCAA division one football teams who's mascot name DOES NOT end in an "s" was:

1. Alabama Crimson Tide
2. Mass. Minutemen
3. N.C. State Wolfpack
4. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
5. St. John Red Men/Red Storm
6. Stanford Cardinal
7. Syracuse Orangemen
8. Tulane Green Wave
9. Tulsa Golden Hurricane

Can add:

10. Marshall Thundering Herd
11. U.S. Naval Academy Midshipmen
12. William & Mary Tribe

woo-hoo! (not to be confused with Wahoos of UVa.)

Stephanie P.

Dontmakemestop:

Try the website: roadsideamerica.com. It's a fun place that might give you some ideas as to where there are mini sights to go to.

John

On a transcontinental trip a few years ago we took turn reading Dave Berry's history of the US to each other. I don't recall anything of Iowa because I was gasping for breath and crying from the laughter.