We tested these screen free road trip ideas on our last vacation to Arches National Park in Moab Utah and they were so wonderful! Believe it or not, we didn't have complaining kids along the way and we felt better not having our kids glued to a screen for hours. Thank you AutoSource for letting us take this beautiful car to Moab! You get more safety and luxury at a lower price when you buy from AutoSource.

The key screen free travel is to keep their hands busy, which in turn keeps their minds busy.

1. Cross stitch for kids. We found some cute patterns on amazon here and here.

2. Drawing Class Books: We found this great book on amazon. Boogie boards are great to keep supplies down.

3. Lego Suitcase: These contained all the pieces along the bumpy roads. These lego kits kept the boys happily entertained for hours!

We brought Lego Brickheadz along too!

4. Physical Group Games: I Spy Vehicles, Bingo On The Road, Scavenger Hunt for Kids,

5. Bracelet making

6. Verbal Group Games for the car: I Spy, 2 Truths and a Lie, License Plate Game, Alphabet Game, 20 Questions.

7. Audio Books: We love using Audible and they even have a list of books specifically for road trips with kids. Our favorite kids books that are also good for parents are Harry Potter, Charlotte's Web, Lion Witch and the Wardrobe, The Giver, Wonder.

I hear Spotify has a kids story section too which is pretty cool.

8. Podcasts: We would occasionally stop the podcasts and ask the kids questions about what they learned. We had some great conversations on our journey. Be sure to download them in case you loose reception like we did!

Don't forget the Dr. Pepper. It's our family's drink of choice!

The kids like to pick out their favorite pieces, but I go all in!


Party Snacks Recipe:

Rice Chex - 1 box
Wheat Chex - 1 box
Corn Chex - 1 box
Pretzels - 1 bag
Cheerios - 1 box
Cashews - 1 small container
Bacon - 1 pkg
Bacon Grease - 1/2 C
Butter - 1 C
Salt - 1.5 T
Season All - 1.5 T
Tabasco Sauce - 1.5 T
Hot Sauce - 1/2 bottle
Liquid Smoke - 1 bottle

Cook the bacon and keep the grease. Heat together in a saucepan bacon grease, butter, salt, season all, tabasco sauce, hot sauce, and liquid smoke. In a very large oven safe bowl (I often divide this into two bowls because there's so much) combine chex, pretzels, cheerios, cashews, and bacon bits. Pour sauce mixture over the dry ingredients. Bake at 200 for 1 hr. and 40 minutes. Stir every 20 minutes. Let the party begin!

2. Dear sweet children, there is a pixie dust shortage. I have enough to get me back to the North Pole tonight, but I will be unable to return. I have loved being your elf with all my heart. Remember, be kind to others. 

 Have you seen THIS tutorial for the most amazing Christmas bulb Wreath tutorial ever?  You should check it out.  I got my inspiration there for my pinecone wreath.


For this practically free wreath you will need:
Supplies Needed:




My sister-in-law and brother-in-law just chopped down a few HUGE pine trees in there yard.  As soon as I heard the news I sent my husband over to their house to collect bags of pinecones with a pinecone wreath in mind.

In the Christmas bulb wreath tutorial you attach the bulbs using the wire topper to the hanger.  Obviously pinecones have no wire toppers, so after a lot of thinking and walking up and down the isles of my local craft store, I decided to hot glue beads to the bottom of each pinecone.



Pony beads worked like magic.


After I hot glued the beads I simply strung the wire hanger through each bead and arranged the pinecones how I thought they looked best.


Try to make the beads almost touch one another so that there are no gaps between each pinecone.  This may take a little wiggling and adjusting but it will turn out beautiful.


Once all the pinecones make a lovely wreath you can be done, or like I did, lightly spray paint them with white spray paint.  This will give the snow-kissed effects, if you will.




Finally attach a big bow and hang her up.






-Megan