by Mel Bergen

Created on: July 03, 2007

Being spontaneous is a great way to create a strong bond with your family. The sense of adventure always present in a road trip is heightened by dropping everything and just going.

Our family's favorite way to do this is simply to call the children's attention to a sign or an ad for an event happening that day in another town and ask, "Want to go on a road trip?" It's a little bit of instant gratification for everyone to jump in the car and go without packing snacks and planning routes.

Unplanned road trips also make an excellent reward for good behavior in a tough situation, like Aunt Jen's wedding yesterday or a great report card from school. A sudden inspiration to, say, drive to a nearby state park for a little exploration, can be prefaced with, "Since you did so well, I thought we could all..."

Unplanned road trips don't have to take days. You can spend two hours driving somewhere your family has never been. Watch for local festivals and outdoor events. Often these are not only within a day's travel but free as well.

Don't be afraid to just head out of town and cruise around the back roads. It can even be fun to just get lost. Try asking the kids whether you should turn right or left as you drive. Keep a map and a cell phone in the glove compartment, just in case, and look for signs so that you know what road your road trip is traveling.

Involving your family in choices, especially ones that result in adventures and new experiences, is a great way to strengthen your relationship. If the children are old enough, let them have the map and navigate. You never know where they'll send you. It's certain that you'll find a variety of unexpected things outside of your usual rounds.

We've ended up visiting giant wildlife in tiny towns because that was where we ended up. We also found a lovely lake with a park so that we can fish and play. Anything could be waiting at the other end of the road. You just need to get away from your daily routines and go see.

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