Hit the Road

My family loves car trips. Sure, we're trapped in a moving box, but we see it as a chance to be alone together. I take along more food, toys, and tapes than we could ever need -- and we use them all. By the end of the vacation, the car looks like a New Year's Eve party the morning after, but I feel that getting there and back has to be as much fun as the destination.

To make road trips come together, you've got to plan well and keep your expectations in check. One rule always holds true: Be realistic about how much ground you can comfortably cover. In my experience, children do best when you don't disturb their sleep schedules and you limit each day's driving time to four hours for babies and no more than eight -- or better, six -- for older kids.

Aside from that, the best way to structure your journey depends on several things, including your kids' ages and personalities and your past road-trip experiences. So where do you start? Right here: Our guide will help you plan your best, most stress-free excursion ever.