Road trip: To grandmother's house we go

Thanksgiving is almost here which means family, food, football, and for many of us, long road trips.

While family travel can give us the chance to bond, the long car-time can also create lots of inactive time and boredom for our kids.

Here are a few tips to make that venture over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house a walk in the park.

1. Stop at quirky and fun roadside attractions, like the Peachoid water tower in Gaffney, South Carolina; the world's tallest thermometer in Baker, California; or "Carhenge" near Alliance, Nebraska.

A 15-minute stop is often enough time to see these and other mini-wonders, and it allows little bodies to move around and burn off some energy. Find places to enjoy family fun at www.ActiveFamilyProject.com.

2. Turn "rest stops" into energy stops. Every few hours, get the kids out of the car and engaged in a physical activity. Bring along a ball, and toss it around on the lawn at the rest stop. Or, exit at a local park, and take a brisk walk.

3.Road trip games are timeless. Encourage your kids to turn off the electronics and engage in a good, old-fashioned license plate game with an educational twist choose a magic number and ask kids to spot license plates that get them to that number by adding or subtracting the numbers on the tag.

4. Reward kids with fun, hourly treats. It's not easy for children to sit for long stretches of time, so reward their patience and good humor with small toys, puzzles and games.

5. Play their favorite music. Help kids put together a playlist of their favorite songs to keep them bopping in the backseat. Plus, the front-seat passengers won't have to worry about changing radio stations every few minutes to find a new song to make everyone happy.

6. Pack healthy snacks. Make sure your snacks won't make kids hyper or weigh them down. Opt for healthy favorites like a handful of plain popcorn, low-fat cheese sticks and fresh fruit. When you stop for lunch, try to find a healthy spot or swing by a local grocery store and make a picnic so the kids can run around and burn off energy.

Information courtesy of the ActiveFamilyProject.com