1. ABC Game

   This is a fun easy game and everyone can play it. All that you do is find the alphabet. You start with finding an A then B then C, and so forth. First person who finds the whole alphabet wins. The alphabet has to go in order and all the letters have to be outside the car.

2. I Spy Game

   This is probably the easiest game ever invented. One person finds an object inside or outside the car, and then he starts to describe it. One or more people will start guessing what the object is. The person who guessed the object right first wins, and then he becomes the person who describes the objects.

3. Categories

   For this game you need at least 3 people to play. The group of people who are playing choose a category like animals, cars, or foods. Then they choose a letter and you have to say something in that category that starts with the letter. You go around in a circle saying something in the category and if someone says something that has been said before, say something that starts with the wrong letter, or takes a lot of time is out. The last person who is still in the game won.

4. Rock, Paper, Scissors

   Everyone knows how to play this game. Its simple paper beat rock. Scissors beat paper. Rock beats scissors.

5. Singing

   Choose your favorite song turn it on the radio, and sing along with it. Everyone likes to sing along with some good tunes.

All of these games are fun and easy to play. So next time you go on a long car ride try some of these games, and it will make the car ride go by so much faster! Go and give it a try.

Heading out to the campground with friends and family can be loads of fun. You have time to just habg out with out worrying about work, chores, or anything else. Your biggest concern will be, who will light the fire tonight and what's for dinner? Take the horseshoes, the badminton set, and any other out door games you might enjoy. Plan on taking a hike around the area or if you're into it, go rafting or kayaking.

Camping is also a great way to make new friends. It's amazing how many new people you will meet, and how helpful your fellow campers are. So what are you waiting for? Pack the tent and the camping supplies and get out there!

Coopers Hill Cheese Rolling and Wake

The event take place every May in Gloucestershire, England. The tradition is at least two hundred years old and some claim may go back as far as roman times or beyond. The rules are simple - you arrive, someone throws a huge Double Gloucester cheese down the steepest hill you have ever seen and you then attempt to run down the hill after it (I say attempt because mostly people just fall or bounce after it), and the first one to the bottom the hill gets the cheese!

The Running of the Bull

The event takes place in Pamplona in Spain and is world famous and absolutely deadly. 15 people have been killed since 1910, most recently an American tourist in 1995. The event is simple; a herd of bulls are released into the narrow streets of the Pamplona while the competitors (given a head start) run for their lives. There is no winner as such, just those happy to still be alive.

Orange Throwing at the Ivrea Carnival

The event takes place in Ivrea in Turin, Italy. Dating to the middle of the 19th Century (before which people used to throw beans). Anybody can enter by joining one of the participating teams. Then it is simply a case of being pulled around in a large cart and being pummelled with oranges while you feebly attempt to throw some back.

Tar Barrel Carrying

Takes place in the village of Ottery St Mary in Devon, England. Always held on Guy Fawkes night (the 5th of November) and is believed to have first occurred in 1688. The event involves people carrying huge burning barrels of tar on their backs. They run with the burning barrel until the heat and weight become too much and then pass it on to someone else, this continues until the barrels break up.

Man Versus Horse

The event takes place in Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales every year. The event dates from only 1980 when a local pub landlord overheard a boastful conversation about how a man could beat a horse over a long distance. Now every year a race takes place between a man and horse over 22 miles. In 2004 a man called Huw Lobb became the first ever man to beat the horse.

Royal Shrovetide Football

Takes place in Ashbourne, Derbyshire, England. An ancient ball game, which is the ancestor of soccer and its derivatives, where the inhabitants of the town split into two teams, and then by any means get a ball into the opposing teams goal (the goals are three miles apart). The rules are - get the ball into the opponent's goal and knock the hell out of people on your way.

La Tomatina

Takes place in Bunol in Valencia, Spain and is basically a big tomato fight where more than 100 metric tons of tomatoes are thrown and anyone can join in. Why? Well why not!

Oktoberfest Festival

Ok maybe not that bizarre, but still very quirky in its way and well worth a mention. The well-known German beer festival takes place every year in Munich, Germany in late September. Turn up eat drink and be very very merry. Not much more to say really.

Batalla Del Vino

A good old-fashioned wine fight! Occurs annually on St Pedros Day (29th of June) in the Spanish Town of Haro. The event consists of the town folk walking to the chapel for a religious service carrying all the wine they can, once the mass is over the wine throwing begins. The aim is to cover everybody with as much wine as possible using buckets, water guns and any other implement you can think of to fire liquid around the place.

The Farther Ted Festival

Yes that's right a festival to celebrate the Irish TV sitcom Father Ted. Held in Inish Mor an island off Galway in the west of Ireland, which is supposed to be the official Craggy Island from the show. The festival goes on for a few days and involves a number of events linked to the show such as - the priests and nuns five a side soccer tournament, the Lovely Girls beauty pageant, a song for Europe and lots more ridiculous events reminiscent of the show.

1. License Plate Game:

   This is best geared towards very long out of state trips. What you do is you take a sheet of paper and write every state in the United States on it. As you are driving you cross out the different states as you see their license plates. This will quite possibly take you all of your vacation and return trip to spot every state. As it gets closer to the end of the vacation you can add a little extra incentive for spotting these by putting a dollar amount on each remaining state.

2. Alphabet Game:

   This game won't work too well when you are driving on the freeway, but it works excellent when you are driving through cities. You play against at least one other person. You start at "A" and try to find every letter in the alphabet between "A" and "Z". They have to be in order. There are a few tricky letters that are best spotted on license plates.

3. Compound Words:

   This game is probably not something anybody over 10 would play, but when I was younger, it was rather entertaining. You simply go back and forth amongst everybody who is playing and start listing off compound words. If you repeat a previously used word, you're out. If you cannot think of a new word within a certain time frame that you can decide, you're out. After a while it gets a bit tricky remembering all the previously used words, as well as thinking of new words. All pronouns are prohibited.

4. Bingo:

   This isn't your traditional bingo game. This requires either a pre-designed board, or purchasing a few boards. The boards have different stop signs, stores, landmarks, and many other things you would expect to see while driving through a town or on the highway. You can play either black out or plain bingos. To make it more fun, make sure the boards you pick actually have items that you can expect to see. A few boards I've used before have a light house. That's basically a dead square unless you're near the coast.

5. Alphabet Memory Game:

   You may have played different versions of this; however some people may not have. What you do is before each turn you state, “I'm going on vacation, and I'm taking…” Each turn you get the next letter in line. So you may start of saying apples, and then your partner says baseballs, and the last person says cake. Every turn you would say, “I'm going on vacation, and I'm bring apples, baseballs, cake…” You lose once you forget one of the letters. When you get to "Z" and you still haven't determined a winner, try going through again going "A" through "Z", and then start over starting each turn with the next letter of the second alphabet.

These games are not really meant for the teenage crowd as I realize that you would much prefer listening to your Ipod or playing a PSP. This was meant to provide some free, unique game ideas that anybody could provide to entertain each other with on those long, painstaking drives across America. Any other games you have played that you suggest that would fit it with this, leave a comment describing it.

The starting person says the first initial of every letter in a movie title. For instance, if the movie is “The Incredibles,” you would say, “T,I.” The first person to guess gets to go next. In most cases you will have to ask for clues after a couple of wrong guesses. This game could go on for hours in my family and my four year old always says, “E” for “ET” which we all get quite a laugh out of.

Play an Alphabet Game

Pretend you are going on a trip and each person says what they will bring in alphabetical order till you reach Z. Say, “I'm going on a trip and I'm bringing an Animal.” The next person would say, “I'm going on a trip and I'm bringing a Book” etc.

For older kids make it harder and have what they're bringing go with the theme of a trip. For instance you would bring an Antenna (to hear the radio), a Book (to read since there's no TV) and a Canoe etc.

Count the Cars

Pick a color and every one can count how many cars of that color they see. Make it a competition. Assign each child a different color and the child who has seen the most cars of their color wins.

Count the Animals

If you live in a rural area, count the animals you see en route.

Tell a Story One Sentence at a Time

Taking turns, each person tells one sentence of a story. For instance, you could start with, “Once upon a time there was a dog on a roof.” Then the next person would tell what happens next. Your kids won't be able to wait till it's their turn to contribute and will be thinking of what to say next.

Be Creative

Make up a new game with your own rules. Better yet, let your kids take turns making up new car games.

Playing car games will not only get you all there in peace, it will provide some quality and fun rides.

Does this sound like your family trip? If so, here are a few solutions to turn your bored and fighting children into entertained and peaceful little blessings.

Proper Planning

During the initial planning, be sure to consider the length of time you will be on the road and allot for frequent stops. Anyone locked up in a closed space is bound to become grouchy, so route your trip (if possible) to pass scenic resting areas or public rest stops.

Activities

There are many activities to do while taking a long road trip. If room permits, allow each family member to bring one backpack of their favorite toys, books, or video games. This will ensure that they will have a sufficient way of occupying a majority of their time.

If space is a problem, consider traveling games such as, the “License Plate” game, where each person spells out their entire name. On the other hand, perhaps, counting a particular color of vehicle (this is especially entertaining for younger children) and rewarding the winning child with a treat at the end of the trip.

Food

Another way to make traveling fun is by scheduling a special place to stop for lunch along the way. Ideas to consider are favorite restaurants, picnics at a national park, touristy orchards or historical landmarks. This will add new excitement to what would usually be a dull trip.

Mobile Electronics

Today's electronic age offers many solutions for traveling. DVD players offer a peaceful and fun solution for all ages of passengers in the rear seats. Hand-held video games allow for individual entertainment. With the wireless modem dominating the world of communication, bring along the mobile laptop to stay connected to the online world.

Finally, you look at the speedometer and see that the last few miles remain of your road trip; you look in the rear-view mirror and joyously find smiles and laughter in the eyes of your loving children. With a sigh, you continue driving, knowing that the vacation began only 300 miles ago.

Only one toy, the Button Yo-Yo has to be prepared in advance. Take advantage any opportunity to discuss the trip with the kids, and use these activities to emotionally prepare the kids for the trip.

Here are 10 simply taught games, appropriate for back seat drivers who would otherwise drive you crazy, and for when-are-we-gonna-get-there passengers. These games will enhance their hand to eye coordination, and allow you to concentrate on the road ahead.

The Smoking Guns

This takes a minute to teach, and a-round-trip drive to master. That's the beauty of it.

One hand forms a fist with the thumb outside.

The other hand clenches the thumb and extends the index finger, with all other fingers closed.

All at once you switch.

I suggest you try this sober at first. After you get out of the car, and are safely at your destination, you may try it after a few drinks. See how you do then. This is fun for the whole family.

Knees-Nose-Shoulder

1. Place both hands on the lap. 2.The right hand reaches for the nose, and the left one goes for the shoulder. 3.The two hands return to the lap, then, 4. The left hand goes for the nose, and the right tries to reach the shoulder.

It sounds easier than it is, but that's the idea.

For a photo example of this, go to Picable.com in the People/Kids category.

The Brain Mix-Up

Part One:

1. Cross one hand over the other, palm to palm with thumbs down.
2. Place the palms of your hand together
3. Interlace your fingers together.
4. Pull both hands inwards toward your body, holding them together and below your head so you can look at your fingers from above.

Part Two:

If you are alone in the back seat, look at your fingers and decide which one you want to try to pick up. If you are with another person, have them point to the finger they want you to pick up. If they physically touch it, your brain will be able to locate the finger is, so don't be a wimp, tell them to point only. Without the touch, you will have to practice to be able to easily locate and raise the finger. This is because you crossed you hands twice, and your brain has to get used to the change.

This is a good activity to do when you stop for a stretch.

Arm Coordination:

1. Reach for the sky.
2. One arm goes down, the other extends to the side.
3. The arm that went down now goes up again, while the arm that was extended goes down.
4. The arm that was up goes down, while the arm that was down returns to it's extended position.
5. The arm that was down goes up, and the arm that was extended too, goes up.

Inside the car the kids can practice with their hands only. Tell them that they are penguins, and they can't spread their wings too wide.

For a photo example of this, go to Picable.com in the People/Kids category.

Paper Plate from a Flat Piece of Paper: (The Frame)

1. Fold two sides of a paper into the center.
2. Fold both sides of the internal fold out to the edges on both sides.
3. After folding those sides out close them again.
4. On the folded edges, fold four triangles on each corner making sure that they are folded straight on the lines. These are the supporting beams of the frame once it's opened.
5. Cover those triangles with the two rectangles. 6.This is the last step: While holding down the two rectangles with your spare fingers, grab the corners of one side of the folded page, push your thumbs into the corners of the paper while holding on to the triangles at the edge. Pull up and out. Like magic, the paper will pop up. Now you have to strengthen the sides, and make folds on the corners and the base of the plate. Repeat this process on the other side.

With this skill you can host a party without buying polluting plastic plates, make picture frames for gifts or memorabilia, and decorate the insides with artwork. If you want to make a box with a lid, all you do is repeat the process, but make the first folds a bit less tight.

Examples

Paper Cup from a Flat Piece of Paper: (The Fish)

1. Fold a piece of paper in half lengthwise.
2. Fold the two sides of the page into the center to create two triangles. This should look like a rocket.
3. Pull up and then push the center of each triangle to create two cones.
4. Turn the page over, then fold the two protruding triangles over.
5. Fold the bottom of the page up over the folded triangles. Turn over and do the same thing on the other side.
6. Put your longest finger in the point of the big cone, open and fold the whole thing in half.
7. The fins of the fish are now folded over. This can be decorated with shiny materials and made into a mobile a magnate can be glued on one side and decorate your refrigerator door. You can stick it on a car window to create a paper aquarium; the fish will be appreciated from both sides.

At parties have your guests make their own paper cup with this technique. They'll be able to drink at least once from this paper cup. If you use thicker paper, it's possible to drink from it a few times. Baking paper is even better. Have your guests write their name on it, and see whose cup lasts the longest.

The Button Yo-Yo:

This is something you're going to have to prepare in advance. The kids can make the button yo-yo interesting and with a permanent marker or colorful glittered nail polish, and decorate the button with swirls or any design they come up with.

The whole thing costs less than a bar of chocolate, and the sweetness will last a few thousand kilometers.

You'll need: A big button with two holes, 70-cm. of strong string to thread through the holes of the button. Both of the ends of the string are threaded through the holes and tied securely.

To start the spin of the yo-yo you hold the ends of the string with both hands, positioning the button in the middle. With a jump-rope movement swing the button in one direction until the string is twisted up tightly, and then start to pull your hands outwards so the button spins around and the string unwinds. You let it unwind, and wind up again. Before it stops, pull out again so that the perpetual motion continues.

I've played with this yo-yo as an indoor small area game, where the yo-yo is passed from one to another without losing the perpetual motion. This is a doable challenge, and you can have tournaments with a medal awarded to the champion yo-yo button player or team at the end of the ride. It is also good exercise for the arms.

Blind Man's Golf

Picture this: You are at a restaurant. The service is a bit on the slow side. You have paper place mats on the table. You have the standard colored markers, the ones I've that tend to dry up when the caps are left off. They are actually the best because they won't make permanent stains on clothing.

How to begin:

Draw the blind man's golf course on the paper place mat. It can have one sand pit, and one forest, and anything else that the players suggest as booby traps. Decide how many penalty points a player will receive if he or she stops in those areas. Five holes will probably be enough for the first time. For every dot and number on one side of the course, draw a hole with a corresponding number on the flag. That's where you have to end up “hitting the ball.”

The Game:

As in seeing man's golf, the idea is to get the lowest score. Each player when his or her turn is up prepares to tee off. You can open and close your eyes as many times as you want before you move your colored marker towards the hole. Once you've started to move towards it, you have to keep your eyes closed. After you've made your move, you open you eyes. How close are you to the hole? Will it take another turn, or maybe two? If you stop in the sand pit or in the forest, you tally the additional penalty points to the number of times you moved with your eyes closed until the mark stops in the hole.

Star Wars

Here is something else you can do with the paper place mats. Fold one in half. Each of the two players decides on their alien design. They should be the size of a big button. Again, decide how long you think you'll be waiting, and draw that many aliens on either side.

The Game:

Each player has to knock out the enemy alien ship. Make sure that each player uses a different colored marker.

1. Make your guess mark with your colored marker, on your side of the space field.
2. Fold over the paper and go over that same mark again this time on the outside of the page, making sure that the ink seeps through the page in order to mark your opponents field.
3. If you “hit” the alien ship, in other words if the ink is in anyway touching your opponents ship, you cross it out. If not, better luck and skill next time. Now it's your opponent's turn.

Shoot, Go for Cover, Reload

This is for two players:

Both players have to have ammunition. They can get it by slapping on their knees twice at the same time, and at the same pace, and reaching over their heads and behind them. Now they both have ammo, but each time they use it, they'll need more. So, now they can protect themselves by crossing their arms across their chest. If they do that at the same time, the next time they slap their laps twice they can try to “kill” their opponent get more ammo, or protect themselves again. The rhythm is: Two slaps on the lap, and one of the three options. See you at High Noon, stranger.

Happy Trails to All of you Brave Travelers.

Now for the tongue twister:

One small boy, he felt smart
Two small boys, they both felt smart
Three small boys, they all felt smart.

Note: Don't forget to say the words “both” and “all,” it makes a difference.

Once you've learned it without a slip, you can pass it on.

Please be safe, don't drink and drive. Stay alive for the long and interesting road ahead.

1. Name that musical tune.

   Put your car radio on the "scan" feature. When a new song comes up, the first person to identify the singer gets a point. Tally up points and declare the grand prize winner when you reach your destination.

2. Count horses by the roadside.

   Divide your family into two teams. One team is assigned to one side of the road and the other team covers the other. The object of the game is to count the number of horses each team passes on its assigned side. A tally of horses passed for each side is kept. The team with the larges number of horses counted when you arrive at your destination is declared the winner.

3. Create a unique story.

   The first person starts telling a story by saying the first line. The next person in the car adds the next line and it goes around and around until the story reaches its climax. This game will bring out the creative story telling talents of your travel companions.

4. Play a rhyming game.

   The first person things of a word and announces it to the group. The next person has to come up with a legitimate word that rhymes with the first word. Each person takes turns coming up with a rhyming word. The first person who can't come up with a word that rhymes is eliminated. The game continues until everyone is eliminated except the winner.

5. Write a poem.

   The first person in the car starts by voicing a sentence of their choice. The next person follows up with a rhyming line. Each subsequent family member contributes a rhyming line. Pretty soon you'll have a unique poetic creation. This game is guaranteed to keep you laughing.

6. Play the alphabet game.

   Start with the letter "A". The first person to point out an object that starts with an "A" gets a point. Proceed through the alphabet to the letter "Z" (That's going to be tough unless you're in Africa and come upon a zebra). The person with the most points is declared the winner.

7. Have a spelling bee.

   Have someone bring along a dictionary or thesaurus. One designated person goes around the car asking how to spell certain words. When a participant is unable to spell the assigned word, he or she is eliminated. The last remaining person wins the spelling bee.

8. The license plate game.

   Make a list of all 50 states on a sheet of paper. As a car with a license plate from that states passes you, check it off the list. See how many boxes you can check off before reaching your destination.9. Name that capital.Have each family member monitor the license plates on the cars they pass. The first person to name the state capital for that particular state gets a point. Count up point totals when you reach your destination and declare a winner.

As you can see, there are a variety of fun things to do on the way to your travel destination. Why not give some of these ideas a try?