LOCAL FAVES IN EVERY STATE

YOUR TRAVEL CHECKLIST AND MORE

THE BEST BACKSEAT

GAMES

ROAD TRIP!

YOUR GUIDE TO FUN (AND SAFE) SUMMER

ADVENTURES

TIPS INSIDE

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summer road trips

About FamilyFunReaching an audience of more than 4 million, FamilyFun magazine gives parents the ideas and inspiration to create unforgettable family moments. Part of Meredith Corporation’s Parents Network of brands, FamilyFun is a trusted authority on family cooking, vacations, celebrations, play, creative projects, and learning—the full spectrum of fun that enriches the precious time families share. Written for parents with children ages 3 to 12, FamilyFun is unique in the marketplace, delivering real ideas for—and from—real families.

familyfunmag.com

The key to a successful road trip is proper planning. Make sure your car is up-to-date on all scheduled maintenance and take care of any necessary repairs before hitting the road.

Conduct regular maintenance: To keep your vehicle in top operating condition, get an oil change, check all fluids, test the car battery, keep your tires at normal pressure, change your air filter, and replace wiper blades.

Check all tires: At least once a month and before each road trip, check your tire pressure to ensure proper inflation. Tires should be rotated based on the manufacturer’s recommended schedule for the vehicle.

Test your battery: Car batteries typically last between three and five years, with reduced battery life in hotter climates. To avoid an unexpected battery failure, have your vehicle’s battery tested when it reaches three years of age. If your battery’s older than three, test it annually.

Pack an emergency kit: Stock your vehicle with an emergency kit that includes a mobile phone and car charger, a flashlight with extra batteries, a first-aid kit, drinking water, extra snacks for all travelers and pets, battery booster cables, and emergency flares or reflectors.

NOVEMBER 2016 FAMILYFUNMAG.COM

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VACATIONS!10 BEST EVER

5-MINUTE APRIL FOOL’S

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PLAYFUL WAYS TO

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2017FamilyFun

Travel Awards!

APRIL 2017 FAMILYFUNMAG.COM

About AAAAs North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 57 million members with travel, insurance, financial, and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. Motorists can map a route, identify gas prices, find discounts, book a hotel, and access AAA roadside assistance with the AAA Mobile app for iPhone and Android. Learn more at AAA.com/mobile. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com.

Let’s Take a Road Trip!We know how important it is for you to show the world to your kids, whether you’re checking out that fun indoor water park a couple hours away or packing up the car for a cross-country road trip adventure. That’s why we’re teaming up with AAA to bring you this travel guide with fresh inspiration and advice for hitting the road with your family — because we want your summer road trip to be safe — and fun!

Ready to go? Your next adventure starts now.

Editor-in-chief, FamilyFunElizabeth Anne Shaw

summer road trips

prep for your trip

from AAA

QUICK TIPVisit a AAA Approved Auto Repair Shop to take care of any necessary car maintenance and repairs before you hit the road.

summer road tripssummer road trips

NORTH CAROLINA Don’t miss the sea turtle rescue hospital on Topsail Island, where kids can view the creatures and learn about the island’s conservation efforts. topsailbeach.org

NORTH DAKOTA Top-notch, family-friendly biking and hiking trails draw visitors to the Turtle River State Park in Arvilla. ndparks.com

OHIO Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens in Akron has a children’s play area and numerous walking paths. stanhywet.org

OKLAHOMA Robbers Cave State Park in Wilburton was once the hideout for outlaws Jesse James and Belle Starr. Now families can head there for hiking and camping. stateparks.com

OREGON The World Forestry Center in Portland really speaks for the trees! Learn about sustainability and wildlife through interactive exhibits. worldforestry.org

PENNSYLVANIA Find out how old-time coal miners lived and worked at the Eckley Miners’ Village. Spoiler alert: It wasn’t easy. eckleyminersvillage.com

RHODE ISLAND How does your garden grow? The Green Animals Topiary Garden in Portsmouth sprouts elephants, bears, and even a unicorn! newportmansions.org

SOUTH CAROLINA Skip the more developed state beaches and head to Edisto Beach, where simple seaside pleasures like swimming and boating reign supreme. edistobeach.com

SOUTH DAKOTA The Children’s Museum in Brookings offers “so many things to do!” Pick corn at the toy farm, play in a sensory room, and more. prairieplay.org

TENNESSEE Fort Donelson battlefield in Dover gives kids a look at the Civil War with a log hut like the ones soldiers lived in and cannons that were used in battle. nps.gov/fodo

TEXAS Yes, there is sledding in Texas! Sand-dune sledding, that is, in the hills of Monahans Sandhills State Park. tpwd.texas.gov

UTAH Learn about space exploration at the Clark Planetarium in Salt Lake City. No time for a show? It also has free hands-on activities open to the public. clarkplanetarium.org

VERMONT Don’t miss the children’s farmyard at Shelburne Farms, a 1,400-acre nonprofit working farm focused on sustainability. shelburnefarms.org

VIRGINIA It’s all about the sea at Nauticus in Norfolk. Touch real horseshoe crabs, build a remote-controlled underwater vehicle, or tour the battleship. wisconsin.nauticus.org

WASHINGTON Little conductors will go choo choo for the exhibits at the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie. trainmuseum.org

WEST VIRGINIA Check out an art block party or the special preschooler day at The Clay Center for Arts & Sciences of West Virginia in Charleston. theclaycenter.org

WISCONSIN “We love Bay Beach Amusement Park in Green Bay,” says one mom of this classic spot that still has 25-cent rides! greenbaywi.gov/baybeach

WYOMING View hundreds of Native American petroglyphs and pictographs on the sandstone cliffs of Medicine Lodge State Archaeological Site. wyoparks.state.wy.us

we asked 2,000 parents to share their local go-tos so you can be in the know too. Answers included everything from drive-in movie theaters to Civil War sites, with lots of state parks and campgrounds in between. Check out our top pick per state—this is a list you’ll definitely want to save!

BY LIZ SCHNABOLK ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY HANNAH LAVINE

MAINE Bigfoot believer? Check out the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, dedicated to the study of hidden or unknown animals. cryptozoologymuseum.com

MARYLAND To get away from it all, one mom suggests the lake town of Flintstone: “The night sky has so many stars, I could spend hours just looking at them.” visitmaryland.org

MASSACHUSETTS Head out on a free walking tour of New Bedford Whaling Historical Park to learn about legends of whalers. nps.gov/nebe

MICHIGAN At The Lumberman’s Monument in Oscoda, kids can climb through a logjam, use a peavey hook, and more. michigan.org

MINNESOTA The Whitetail Woods Camper Cabins are veritable tree houses—but with real beds. Best of both worlds! co.dakota.mn.us

KANSAS The Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead in Overland Park has 12 acres of activities for kids.

KENTUCKY Kangaroos, dingoes, and lemurs, oh my! Kids can get up-close with exotic animals at Kentucky Down Under Adventure Zoo in Horse Cave. kentuckydownunder.com

LOUISIANA Head to Camp Salmen Nature Park in Slidell to spot wildlife and enjoy the playground built to accommodate kids with special needs. campsalmennaturepark.org

state secrets50 LITTLE-KNOWN LOCAL DESTINATIONS F BROUGHT TO YOU BY FAMILY FUN

MISSISSIPPI The Gulfport-area Lynn Meadows Discovery Center’s “Kids Street” exhibit takes playing house to the extreme with an entire kid-size suburban subdivision. lmdc.org

MISSOURI Stroll through towering

statues of giant eyeballs, balloon poodles, and more at the

Laumeier Sculpture Park in St. Louis. laumeiersculp-

turepark.org

MONTANA For swimming, fishing, bird-watching, and

more, head to the gorgeous Spring Meadow Lake State Park

in Helena. stateparks.mt.gov

NEBRASKA Fontenelle Forest in Omaha recently opened the Raptor Woodland Refuge, where you can spot birds from walkways suspended high above the ground. fontenelleforest.org

NEVADA Springs Preserve nature center is one mom’s favorite spots. springspreserve.org

NEW HAMPSHIRE We may never know for sure who built America’s Stonehenge in Salem, but this mystical maze of man-made rock formations sure is cool to explore. stonehengeusa.com

NEW JERSEY Cuddle up in the car and get ready to enjoy a double feature at Vineland’s family-friendly Delsea Drive-In. delseadrive-in.com

NEW MEXICO Interactive exhibits bring hours of fun at the Explora science center in Albuquerque. explora.us

NEW YORK Sneak away to Covewood Lodge on Big Moose Lake in the Adirondacks for scavenger hunts and weekly campfires! covewoodlodge.com

FLORIDA One mom raved about the Gulf Coast’s Cape San Blas for its lack of crowds and awesome scalloping. Kids will love looking for shells—the beaches are full of ’em! capesanblas.com

GEORGIA Amicalola Falls State Park’s great hiking trails and beautiful waterfall are irresistible. gastateparks.org

HAWAII Get some island history at the Bishop Museum in Honolulu. Don’t miss the daily lava-pour demonstration. bishopmuseum.org

ALABAMA The expansive Cathedral Caverns State Park in Woodville features a stalagmite rock formation that’s 243 feet around! alapark.com

ALASKA Meet Santa and his reindeer at the real-life Christmas village in North Pole, near Fairbanks. “It’s a must-do for our family once a year,” says one mom. northpolealaska.com

ARIZONA Dramatic pinnacles and spires, formed from eroded volcanic rocks, create an other-worldly landscape at Chiricahua National Monument in southeast AZ. nps.gov/chir

ARKANSAS The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville has fun activities for kids, including a gallery scavenger hunt. crystalbridges.org

CALIFORNIA The so-called “Ellis Island of the West,” Angel Island, in the San Francisco Bay, gives kids a look at the country’s immigration history. angelisland.org

COLORADO “It’s fascinating to [learn] how coins are made.” Find out how it happens on a free tour for kids 7 and up at The Denver Mint. (Make a reservation!) usmint.gov

CONNECTICUT A perfect spot for make-believe play! Tour the medieval-style Gillette Castle in East Haddam. ct.gov

DELAWARE Get your beach and woods fix at Holly Lake Campsites. Near Rehoboth Beach, it also has an on-site swimming pool and mini-golf course. hollylakecampsites.com

IDAHO The Wild West is alive and well in Idaho City! Tour this old mining town’s original buildings, including a post office, prison, and blacksmith’s. idahocityhf.org

ILLINOIS Check out 18 gorgeous canyons from the hiking trails in Starved Rock State Park in Oglesby. starvedrockstatepark.org

INDIANA The Conner Prairie living history park teaches kids about life in 19th-century Indiana. connerprairie.org

IOWA Baseball fan in tow? You can tour the real Field of Dreams in Dyersville. fodmoviesite.com

summer road tripssummer road trips

AAA Mobile App — Use your smartphone to request roadside assistance, find nearby discounts and hotels, and locate the lowest gas prices near you.

AAA’s TripTik Travel Planner — Create a custom itinerary featuring unique points of interest, AAA Diamond Rated hotels and restaurants, and special discounts for members on AAA.com.

Wondering how much to budget for gas? Visit GasPrices.AAA.com for a customized estimate of fuel costs based on your vehicle type, destination and current gas prices.

Car Troubles? Pull off to the far right shoulder of the road. To alert other motorists, turn on the emergency flashers, raise the car hood, tie a brightly colored handkerchief to the antenna, or set out flares or warning triangles.

AAA roadside assistance: 1-800-AAA-HELP

Get the kids excited: Bring along destination information and track your road trip progress together on a map.

Build in time: Make frequent pit stops and plan fun activities to make breaks fun and engaging for the whole family.

Entertain the kids: Bring soft toys, books, and games to keep children occupied while traveling.

Pack snacks: Healthy snacks for kids (and adults!) are essential when you can’t stop for a full meal while traveling.

Safety first: Ensure you have the proper car seat correctly installed, and make sure everyone is buckled up before leaving.

Need some vacation inspiration? Visit AAA.com/travel

Play Tubular Telephone

The Overingtons of Germantown, New York, thread snap-together tubes between the back seats, then send secret songs, whispered messages, and playful puffs of air through them.

1

Mark the Miles3

Before starting out on their first major expedition, the Larsons hung little numbered tickets above each boy’s car seat, one for every hour of the trip. “They were redeemed for wrapped treats they could play with or eat along the journey,” says mom, Therese.

Get Moving & Hopping2

Quick challenges, such as a jumping jacks face-off or a hopping contest, help the Pittmans of Miami, Florida, get moving during rest stops. Mom Angel lists the activities on index cards stashed in the glove compartment. The day’s winner chooses a treat for the family to share.

Follow the Trail4

Before departing, Margaret Hammond of Colorado Springs, Colorado, writes the names of cities along their route on strips of masking tape and sticks them to the car ceiling. This simple trick not only eliminates the “How much longer?” question—it also provides a fun geography lesson.

tips for traveling with kids from AAA

travel planning tools

MAKE CAR TRIPS MORE FUN WITH THESE FAVORITES FROM OUR READERS

BROUGHT TO YOU BY FAMILY FUN

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