Car Games

• As stressful as sightseeing can be, being cooped up in the car with children can be the most trying part of vacation. Be armed with plenty of games to play in the car. Write out a list of the the states, then have children look out for license plates from different states. Mark them off on the list and see how many you can find. You can also play "I Spy" or word games. Choose any word to start, then have each person add a word until you've formed a sentence. The sillier the sentence, the better.
  
  

Scavenger Hunt

• Scavenger hunts help children explore a new place while pretending to be detectives. Before you arrive in a new place, use guidebooks or the city's tourism website to make a list of monuments or notable places in town. Write a clue about each place. For instance, if you want them to find an art museum, write a clue such as "this is where artists want to be." Give children the clues. Let them use guidebooks and maps to figure out what each clue is about, then visit each location.
  
  

Making Memories

• Before beginning the trip, put children in charge of being the "memory keepers." If your children are old enough, put them in charge of using a digital camera or video camera to document the trip. You can also put your children in charge of collecting maps, tickets or any other memorabilia throughout the trip. Once you're home, your children can help you put together an album about the trip. They'll be busy doing their "job" during the trip, and you'll be able to see the trip through their eyes by looking at their photos.
  
  

Listen

• Children may be less fidgety if they have something to listen to during "boring" parts of the trip, such as during walking tours or long car rides. Load an mp3 player with children's music or audio recordings of their favorite books. Older children may also find local attractions more interesting if they can listen to audio guides. At the information desk at local museums or tourist boards, find out if they offer any audio guides to local attractions. You may be able to rent headsets or download these guides from the Internet.