Road trip boredom blasters

6. Wheel fun
Not all trucks are born equal when it comes to the number of wheels. See who can find the truck with the most wheels. Large trucks often pull more than one trailer -- so the wheel count can be quite high. While looking for the truck with the most wheels, check out the license plates. These truckers are often on long hauls running across Canada or into the U.S. See who can find the license plate that indicates the driver has driven the longest distance.

7. Stock the ark
This is a great game for younger children or groups of kids. One or two children form a team and they try to find two of every kind of animal. Mum or dad -- whoever is not driving -- can keep track with pen and paper. Find two dogs, two cats, two crows, two horses, two cows, or two sheep.

8. Create your own tapes or CDs -- Mum and dad need to get some books from the library but this is great fun. Research some of the highlights of your route and pick out interesting facts. Read some of the history and points of interest from the books onto tapes or a CD using a recorder. (Visit the city web sites and include information such as the local radio station's call numbers, and addresses of the tourist information offices). As you approach the city, pop in the tape or CD and listen. By the time you reach the city everyone will be ready to explore. Label the tapes and have them ready to go. Pass the tapes along to other families who might be planning the same trip.

9. Crazy sign stories -- Kids and parents will hoot with laughter. The game starts with one person -- child or adult -- who begins the crazy story using a road sign passed. For example, the sign might warn of a train crossing ahead. The first person begins the story -- "Well, I was just skate-boarding along, when this sign warning of a crossing ahead, jumped right out, and whacked me on my head. I picked myself up and asked the sign, "Hey, dude, what's with you? The sign glared at me and said, "I was crossing a head. Can't you read the sign?" One shouldn't make a crossing sign even more cross (that's a double cross) so I grabbed my skateboard and ran until I saw a sign saying 'fresh eggs for sale.'"

At this point, the first person hands the story over to someone else who has to carry on with the ridiculous story line, for example, "Now, that sign made me wonder if a fresh egg is full of wise-cracks?" The egg story goes until another sign is spotted.

10. There are numerous web sites that offer entertainment advice for travelling with children and games to play. Simply search "travel games." However, most offer toys or games to sell. Some have ready-to-print "connect the dots" games. But one of the best -- hands down -- is www.momsminivan.com. It has suggestions for children of all ages and great games, too.