Recently our family took a trip to Red River, New Mexico. Though I was looking forward to the destination: a lovely log cabin in the middle of the national forest, I was not looking forward to the 12-hour drive with my three children.

I feared the worst. I prepared for the whining, the fighting, the formation of unholy alliances and ultimately a complete melt-down, usually my own. Luckily, almost ten years of playing mommy has taught me a few car survival tricks. This year's trip was by far the smoothest, thanks to these few activities and tips:

* Stock up on snacks - there's nothing more volatile than a thirsty child trapped in a car on a lonely stretch of Texas road. It's downright miserable, for the child and the parent. Be sure to pack plenty of water bottles and light snacks.

* Color me happy - trek on over to the local dollar stores before your trip and pick up a few new coloring books and crayons. Let your child pick out their own special coloring book for the family trip.

* Grab a few new toys - while you're picking up coloring books, get a few new puzzles and action figures. Keep these emergency delights stashed away. When the whining and shouts of "I'm bored," start to kick in, bust out the new toys and buy yourself another hour of peace.

* Map out the good spots - no matter how many snacks and new toys you dish out, eventually you'll need to stop. Be sure to plot out some good rest areas and places of interest along your route. Create a fun list with your children of all the places you'd each like to see along the way. Your kids will be much more excited about the journey if they know what to expect.

* Eye Spy never gets old - when you're desperate, you'll do anything. Dust off your Eye Spy skills and get the kids going for a fun family game. If the kids focus on things outside the car, they just might forget how long they've been trapped in the family wagon.

* Make journals - give each child a travel log of their own. Let them write - or draw - about some interesting sights and discoveries. When they begin to complain about the trip, tell them to express those feelings in their journals. It never hurts to have an outlet.

With these few activities and tricks, a few thousand sing-alongs, a well-worn Beatles CD and a whole lot of patience I managed to survive and even have a few laughs along the way. The most important thing is to enjoy the time you have together. Even if you're trapped in the car.

Learn more about this author, Amanda Coers.
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