Tips for surviving family trips

"Are we there yet?"

Those four little words can fast become the bane of any family road trip. Honorary mention goes to "Stop fighting with your brother/sister" and "Quit kicking my seat."

If you've ever packed the family into the car for a road trip you're probably already familiar with this dialogue.

Children have short attention spans and will do anything to pass time, even if it means picking fights with siblings or throwing tantrums.

Here are some family road tripping tips.

+Don't just plan for the destination- plan the trip, too. Children can get antsy very easily. Before hitting the road, find rest stops, restaurants or parks along the route. Find some neat sites to see along the way as well. Whether it is a national park or the world's biggest yarn ball, it helps keep the vacation fun and allows some time out of the car.

+Stretching, exercise and bathroom breaks can keep everyone in shape for the drive. Take time to stretch outside of the car with the children, but make sure to stop in a safe place.

+Limit sweets. Keep candy and soda away from children as it makes them hyper.

+Keep everyone busy with fun car activities. Some children will curl up and devour a book during a trip, but many can't read because of carsickness or age. One way to keep children entertained is by creating games involving everyone in the car, such as finding something outside for every letter of the alphabet or trying to find as many license plates as possible from different states. Make a CD or cassette of family songs to sing or listen to for the ride.

+Bring along a goodie bag filled with little presents like small puzzles, packages of nuts, window stickers and small toys. When the children start getting bored, pick out a little present for each.

+Sneak in some education. Give the road map to older children and ask them to find your location on the map. It's great practice for when they become drivers.

+Compromise on portable DVD players or video games. Electronic baby sitters can keep everyone quiet, but children may miss the scenery. Set ground rules, such as turning them off in beautiful or interesting places. Remember to pack extra batteries.

+Don't forget the grandparents. Older people may need to get out and walk more, because many get stiff easily.