Fast Food

on June 1, 2010

Hello from I-95! We’re somewhere in Georgia now, and I’ve got Georgia peaches in my mind! I might have to convince the Husband to pull over at a fruit stand for an afternoon snack.

So far we’ve played “I Packed My Grandmother’s Suitcase,” which is when you try to memorize a list of alphabetical words in order. I also had a conference call, and we went through a list of potential houses to look at in Charlotte. It’s hard to decide if I’ll like the homes based on the ads, but it seems like there are lots of options!

Since we have a 7 hour drive, I packed us lunch to eat on the road. It’s so hard to find healthy fast food options on the highway! I packed us each a bag of carrots, a small PB sandwich, and leftover roasted veg and potatoes.

What road trip games did you play as a kid? The Husband and I are pretty bored. We need suggestions!

Are we there yet!? Are we there yet!?

{ 93 comments }

Sarah for Real June 1, 2010, 12:44 pm
The license plate game! I think you race eachother, A thru Z. A little disadvantage for the driver I suppose 😉
Freya @ Brit Chick Runs June 1, 2010, 12:46 pm
:O I love that Grandmother game!! I suck at it, but it’s SO fun!! Ahh I love road trips 😀 Have a great one!
Beth @ Beth's Journey to Thin June 1, 2010, 12:46 pm
play 20 questions where you think of something that you can see out of or inside the car, and then the other person can ask up to 20 yes or no questions.

good job packing your lunch. Its easier to be healthy AND cheaper when you think ahead!
Little Bookworm June 1, 2010, 1:09 pm
Hope the trip goes well! 🙂
Trish June 1, 2010, 1:14 pm
For me, when I have a long drive, audio books are the way to go. It makes the time go by faster and actually makes me look forward to the drive.
Jenny June 1, 2010, 1:21 pm
I second the audio book idea! Cracker barrell is a great place to get them:)
Jill June 1, 2010, 1:22 pm
Hurry and move to Charlotte because I want to meet you! I am excited that you’re moving here.

My husband and I always play the game where you pick a number and then a side of the street….count the number of houses on whatever side of the street you picked and stop on the number that you picked. That will be “your house” and do the same with cars that you pass. It’s a really stupid game, but helps pass the time. It’s funny when it lands on a complete dump for a house and a beat up car. haha Drive safe! 🙂
- caitlin June 1, 2010, 9:58 pm
  hehe yay friends!
Jessica @ How Sweet June 1, 2010, 1:22 pm
You could play ‘I spy’ with stuff that is in the car? I am bad at games. You are a nice wife staying awake. I’d be zonked out in 15 minutes.
Bethany @ More Fruit Please June 1, 2010, 1:23 pm
The license plate game is a classic. I think there’s also one with billboards where you try to spot items in alphabetic order… something like that! You HAVE to get peaches while you’re in Georgia!
Lindsay @ Summit Sandwiches June 1, 2010, 1:25 pm
I echo the license plate game! Try to find all 50 states license plates on the rood. It will keep you occupied for hours as you scour the roads for that damn Alaska license plate! Lol. I swear, it’s a tough one to find. Ditto with Hawaii.
Kirsten June 1, 2010, 1:26 pm
I like 2 truth’s and a lie, where you say 3 facts, 2 of which are true and one is made up and the other person has to pick which one they think is fake.
- caitlin June 1, 2010, 9:59 pm
  oh thats a good one!
Erica June 1, 2010, 1:27 pm
We just played the Supermarket Game this weekend. One person thinks of an item in a grocery store and the other person asks yes or no questions until they figured it out. If you play with more than one person, the one who guesses gets to choose the item. Sounds sort of weird but we had a fun time playing 🙂
- Paige June 1, 2010, 1:28 pm
  Love this game! It can go on foreverrrrr.
Lee June 1, 2010, 1:27 pm
My mom and I used to play GHOST. You say a letter and the next person says a letter and you’re trying to spell a word but not being the person who finishes the word. If finish the word, you get a G and then an H and so on. The last person to spell GHOST loses. IF you have no clue what the other person is trying to spell, you can challenge them but if they have a real word in mind, they get the letter (of ghost) but if they are bluffing, you do.
Catherine June 1, 2010, 1:27 pm
We used to play the game where you name a city/town and the next person has to name a different city/town that starts with the last letter of the one you just said… ie. New York – Youngstown, Nantucket… etc.
- Jessica June 1, 2010, 1:36 pm
  We play a game that is similar but instead of city/towns we do celebrity names so you say a famous name like Kate Hudson so then the other person has to say a name that starts with an H, the first letter of the last name you just said and then you just keep going.
  - Corinne (breathe and savor) June 1, 2010, 2:55 pm
    YES that is such a fun game to play. I have played with celebs and ppl I know, never with towns though! Interesting!
Katherine June 1, 2010, 1:27 pm
somewhere in GA!? blogger meet up? haha good luck navigating the state (watch out for crazy drivers)
- Katherine June 1, 2010, 1:33 pm
  oh! and games for the car: look at someone in a car next to you and make up a story about where they are going or what they are talking about on their cell or whatever… takes creativity
Heather (Heather's Dish) June 1, 2010, 1:28 pm
it’s so funny y’all are playing games! something my sister and i used to do was see who could get the most out-of-state license plates…kinda boring after a while, but still fun 🙂
Julie @ Peanut Butter Fingers June 1, 2010, 1:29 pm
the spelling game!!! build a word one letter at a time, however on each playerâ€™s turn the goal is to try to end the word so that the other player is unable to add to it, resulting in a loss. SO fun!
Elizabeth June 1, 2010, 1:30 pm
We always played the license plate game as kids. I remember the first (and possibly only) time I spotted Hawaii. Exhilarating! We also played bingo (roadkill-so gross, various traffic signs, landmarks, etc.), but me thinks that might be unsafe for the person driving. Trivia books are a great way to pass the time, as well. 🙂 Safe travels and best of luck with the house hunt.
Miranda @ Mirandasjeans June 1, 2010, 1:30 pm
This road trip game is around music. Chose the radio station that you like to listen to. Then you name an artist or band that that radio station plays. Then your husband has to name an artist or band that is played on the same raio station that starts with the letter that yours ended with. I.E. Pop music You say – Lady Gaga, he says Alicia Keys, etc.
Help Meghan Run June 1, 2010, 1:30 pm
Definitely play the sign game! You race from A-Z, finding words that start with that letter on billboards, stores, etc. That’s how we used to pass the time on road trips.
- Kelly June 1, 2010, 1:53 pm
  This is my favorite! X is always impossible! 🙂
  - Britt June 1, 2010, 8:33 pm
    Q is worse!
Paige June 1, 2010, 1:32 pm
A really good one to play is the celebrity game – one person starts out by saying a celeb’s first and last name so: Tom Jones. Then the other player has to think of a celeb’s name that starts with the first letter of the celeb’s last name (J in this case). It reverses the order (clockwise or counter-clockwise) if a player says an alliterative name: Janet Jackson. And if someone does a one-word name (Cher) then the next person just has to do another name of the same letter. It’s fun and addictive!
Amanda @ Eat to Live, Live to Run June 1, 2010, 1:32 pm
Ugh traveling, thats when you definitely need an audiobook. Its the only way I can make it through long drives. I’ll be finding one for our drive to Disney in October for sure. Hope you find something to help pass the time.
Alexe June 1, 2010, 1:34 pm
Do you know the famous name game? Very simple, yet (kind of) fun. Start by naming a famous person â€“ e.g. Gerard Butler. The next player have to name a famous person whose first name starts with the letter that begins the prior famous person’s last name – in this instance, B. So the person might say Brad Pitt. And so on with Pâ€¦ The first person who cannot think of a famous person whose first name begins with the first letter of the prior person’s last name or who repeats a name already mentioned loses the game. Have fun on your road trip ! 🙂
Tracey June 1, 2010, 1:36 pm
We used to play the license plate game. Trying to find plates from all the states.

We also played eye spy and the bill board game!
Deirdre June 1, 2010, 1:36 pm
License plate game, name that tune (you change the station on the radio and see who can name the song first), six degrees of separation but with more than kevin bacon (try to tie two actors together through as few movies as possible)
Rachel June 1, 2010, 1:41 pm
My boyfriend and I always play the game where you have to find words in alphabetical order in your surroundings (on billboards, on cars, on signs, etc).
Amy June 1, 2010, 1:49 pm
We also play the alaphabet game, using billboards and signs along the way. You can’t use the same billboard or sign for more than one letter. Q is always a tough one.

Road Trips are fun, but you definitely have to keep them filled up. If my fiance is driving, we have to keep “his music” playing or he gets super sleepy. So its a lot of REO speedwagon, Jouney and Air Supply.
Katie @ LifeDiscombobulated June 1, 2010, 1:54 pm
When I road trip, I have a dance party in the car (upper body only, of course!). It’s lots o’ fun and makes the time pass by quickly. I also eat lots of Twizzlers. That makes time pass, too. 🙂
Lauren (Clean Eats in the Dirty South) June 1, 2010, 2:12 pm
Well… I like to play Jeep Mustang. It’s addictive… kind of like Punch Buggy.
When you see a Jeep or a Mustang, you have to say it outloud and then when the other player sees it, you get a point.
I play it subconsciously whenever I drive.
Mary June 1, 2010, 2:13 pm
We always played the alphabet game! you know… like my name is mary, I have a cousin named margot, I love mangos and I live in mississippi 😀 safe travels!
Camille June 1, 2010, 2:13 pm
Now I have “Georgia On My Mind” stuck in my head 🙂
We always played the license plate game! Work your way from A-Z, it’s way fun!
Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg June 1, 2010, 2:18 pm
We always play a celebrity game. Someone will name a celebrity– so, Tom Cruise. Then, the other person has to name a movie that Tom Cruise was in, plus another person from that movie. So, Tom Cruise was in Jerry Maguire with Renee Zellwegger. THEN, it goes back to the first person to name a Renee Zellwegger movie and costar. So, Renee Zellwegger was in Bridget Jones’ Diary with Colin Firth.

It goes back and forth like that until someone is stumped. 🙂

Glad your trip is going well!
- Corinne (breathe and savor) June 1, 2010, 2:58 pm
  ooooo this sounds fun! def. going to play next car trip. thanks!
Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg June 1, 2010, 2:18 pm
Oh, we also discuss baby names. 🙂
Kelly June 1, 2010, 2:18 pm
My fiance and I play a couple of games- 1 is naming all the places we want to go in alphabetical order- so first Australia, Brazil, Canada etc- we switch cities and countries, no real rules haha.

We also play this game where someone thinks of a word and the other has to sing a song with that word in the lyrics haha.
Amanda June 1, 2010, 2:21 pm
A fun game is someone names a movie. The other person names an actor/actress in that movie. Then the other person names a different movie that actor/actress was in …

i.e: Titanic. Kate Winslet. The Holiday. Cameron Diaz. There’s Something about Mary. Ben Stiller …
Tracey @ I'm Not Superhuman June 1, 2010, 2:29 pm
I feel ya. The drive to my parents is 12 hours and I get so bored by hour 4. We usually flip Sirius stations and see who can sing along to whatever song is on. Or I fall asleep.
Brie (The Fit Bride) June 1, 2010, 2:31 pm
MARRY BOFF KILL!

List three people you both know (friends, acquaintances, neighbors, whatever) and you have to pick which one you’d marry, which one you’d have brainless one-time sex with, and which one you’d kill. We have had some awesome good times playing this one!
- caitlin June 1, 2010, 10:00 pm
  hahah oh man. that game sounds dangerous!
Kati June 1, 2010, 2:37 pm
My boyfriend and I love car games. We play the name game a lot. You say any person’s first and last name (actress, fictional character, etc) and then he would have to say someone whose first name starts with the letter of the previous person’s last name. An example–Tom Cruise, Cindy Crawford, Clive Owen.

We also do the favorites game which always teaches us knew things about each other. Favorite winter olympic sport, favorite commercial, etc. Would You Rather is also a good one!

Enjoy the trip!
Michelle @ Give Me the Almond Butter June 1, 2010, 2:40 pm
We would definitely do the alphabet. Find a sign that has the letter in it.
Juli D. June 1, 2010, 2:46 pm
We played the game where you try and spot all the letters of the alphabet in order on license plates, billboards, road signs, etc. We also would see who could spot the most out of state license plates.

Nowadays, my husband who grew up raising dairy goats likes to teach and quiz me about the 7 different types of dairy goats, but I’m pretty sure that’s game is unique to us. 😉

We take lots of road trips and I would also suggest listening to NPR! Hopefully a good story/report is on but usually it’s interesting and helps pass the time.
Corinne (breathe and savor) June 1, 2010, 2:57 pm
Besides the name game or the alphabet game on rd signs, I like to play ditch, friend (could also be the dirtier f word), marry. name three ppl … one to ditch, one to marry and one to friend. since u are with your hubby play with celebs and not “real” ppl 🙂 ha
Cynthia June 1, 2010, 2:59 pm
The alphabet game with whatever you can see to see who can get to z first was a classic (and already mentioned here). Also, my mom started this game when my sister and I were little called “I see horses, I win!” Basically you look for certain animals and whoever sees those animals first and shouts it out “wins”. We never won anything, but my mom won peace and quiet because it kept us busy and not fighting. Not sure if that would work on the interstate.

Hope you have fun looking at the houses!
Cynthia (It All Changes) June 1, 2010, 3:01 pm
The license plate game is fun. So is 20 questions.
Rae June 1, 2010, 3:07 pm
The grocery game! You pick a letter of the alphabet and take turns saying things you would find in a grocery store (like Publix) with the letter. So if you picked “A”, it could be apple, anise, almonds, etc….the first person who cant think of something in the store with that first letter, loses!

I bet you would rock that game out!
Heather @ Side of Sneakers June 1, 2010, 3:07 pm
We always played the license plate game, which is great until you get to H and have to find Hawaii 😉
McKella June 1, 2010, 3:10 pm
I used to play a game like the license plate game, only you do it with the name’s of businesses you pass. A for Albertson’s, B for Boondock’s, stuff like that.
Rachel June 1, 2010, 3:15 pm
“Cows on my side” – Itâ€™s actually a made up game from some tv show (the Adventure Brothers, I think, but Iâ€™m not sure). My boyfriend used to joke about it, and now I play it! lol

Basically, if you see cows you say â€œCows on my sideâ€ (obviously the cows have to be on your side) and you get a point. If you pass a cemetery (on your side) you lose all your points. I’d imagine it’s the responsibility of the other person playing to point out the cemetery. But, again, it’s a made up game, so the rules are a little iffy. End of the trip, end of the game, tally up the points. 🙂
Cristin June 1, 2010, 3:19 pm
Download a This American Life podcast from NPR on itunes. They always make the time go fast and are so interesting! They have fabulous topics.
Or the Celebrity game is fun-I think someone mentions it above.
Good luck finding a place!
Amber K @ sparkpeople June 1, 2010, 3:22 pm
I had to pack a lunch to take on the road yesterday. There is absolutely nothing that makes me feel good about eating on the road! Even “healthy” fast food makes me wonder what chemicals are hiding in it.

My husband and I never play road games, so I can’t help! Sorry.
Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin June 1, 2010, 3:23 pm
20 questions is always really fun!
jenny in new york June 1, 2010, 3:30 pm
I like 21 questions as well… usually just talking and music sing alongs get me through long trips though!

or maybe you can find a trivia game on your phone??
Ellen June 1, 2010, 3:31 pm
I did a road trip to Southampton over the long weekend and we stopped at a grocery store for healthier options. I got a bag of carrots and hummus–aren’t you proud of me? 😉

Ohh and I love playing the celebrity name game. Like, if I said Jennifer Aniston, then the next person needs to say a name that starts with an “A” and so on…it’s pretty straightforward, but fun! Good drinking game too!

http://www.firednfabulous.blogspot.com/
Nicole, RD June 1, 2010, 3:32 pm
We play I-Spy!
Helen June 1, 2010, 3:38 pm
Good Luck on your trip. I hope you find some great places to live. It is all so exciting setting up a new life!!
My brother and sister and I used to play the name game when one of us said a name, then the other said another name beginning with the letter the first name ended with and so on. If you repeated a name you lost. Whoever got ‘Y’ was in trouble!
Or you could play the sentence game – you say a word, your husband says a word and you have to continue the sentence on word by word. If you end the sentence you lose. Hope the road trip gets better!
Emily @ The Front Burner Blog June 1, 2010, 3:57 pm
Are you here yet, are you here yet?? 🙂

Drive safely! It is sunny and HOT in Charlotte!
Sammi June 1, 2010, 3:57 pm
I’m sure a TON of people have written this already; however, the alphabet game is the BEST!! 🙂
Katie June 1, 2010, 4:03 pm
Good luck in Charlotte! When I lived there, I lived in the Myers Park/Southpark area. It’s an expensive area to live in (I have no idea how my rent was only $600/month), but in my opinion, one of the prettiest!

On long drives, I always keep crosswords and sudoku on hand.
Tina June 1, 2010, 4:07 pm
Georgia peaches are so good! Were you able to convince the hubs to stop for some? Pick up some boiled peanuts too. 😀

I have actually never heard of the “Grandmother’s Suitcase” game. I will have to remember that for the four 8-10 hour road trips I have coming up over the course of this month. Our favorite is always the license plate game…where you try to find a license plate from every state. We always keep a written list of which states we have found. One time we found 49 – including Hawaii and Alaska! But we were missing a local one. I want to find 50 in one trip before I die. A worthy goal don’t you think? LOL
- caitlin June 1, 2010, 10:00 pm
  no peaches but i got a blizzard!! fair trade.
ShutupandRun June 1, 2010, 4:09 pm
5 in 5. You have to name 5 things in a certain category in fives seconds. So, for example, you would tell your husband: brands of beer and he would have to name five in five seconds. Just a thought.
Sarah June 1, 2010, 4:10 pm
Sing-a-longs!!!
Sarah June 1, 2010, 4:12 pm
also the Harry Potter books on tape are amazing for long car rides. Jim Dale’s voice is wonderful. I guess if you’ve already got a Brit in the car though the British accent wow factor may have wore off.
kristina@goodnweird.com June 1, 2010, 4:32 pm
Well this isn’t for the car so I can’t help but I’m starting a 30 Hard CORE challenge today. come over and check it out 🙂
Kelly @ Healthy Living With Kelly June 1, 2010, 4:35 pm
We always play the alphabet game…where you go down the alphabet finding words on signs that start with that letter!
Jessica @ The Process of Healing June 1, 2010, 4:36 pm
Oh I used to haaaaate road trips when I was younger, I would get so bored!!! We used to play the license plate game where you try to see how many states you can spot.
Ashley June 1, 2010, 4:44 pm
We used to drive from NH to FL every year and always played the sign game (find A-Z first)…now the husband and I will play Name that Tune…either by flipping through our ipods or on the radio! Love this game!
amanda June 1, 2010, 5:37 pm
You can play “Fortunately, Unfortunately.” It’s a little more fun with more people, but the first person starts by saying, “Unfortunately, (something something),” and the next person has to continue the story with, “Fortunately, (blah blah blah).” And it goes back and forth, building a story by alternating the fortunate with the unfortunate. Depending on who you play with, it can get pretty silly.

An alphabet game that we played was something like, “A my name is Abby and I’m going to Alabama to buy artichokes.” And we would just work our way through the alphabet. We always did a name, a place, and a thing, but it can be varied in many, many ways. When I nanny kids now, they LOVE this game.
amanda June 1, 2010, 5:39 pm
Also, when I’m on long drives by myself, I try to spell things with the letters on other cars’ license plates. For example, if one reads, “QMALL,” I’d come up with Quilt Makers Are Lovely Ladies, or Quail Males Are Lucky Lads, or something like that. It’s silly, but it passes the time on long, boring stretches of road!
Paige (Running Around Normal) June 1, 2010, 5:41 pm
I love road games!! LOL
Safe travels 🙂
Amber from Girl with the Red Hair June 1, 2010, 5:46 pm
Me and my boyfriend play a game where we say an actor or actress and then go back and forth trying to name all the movies that actor or actress has been in. If you get stumped, you get an H, we go until someone spells HORSE and then that person loses!
Jo June 1, 2010, 5:49 pm
kiss, sh*g, marry? Or I recently heard about a game called Beatle Bump where whoever sees a beatle first hits the other person. I didn’t like hearing about it as I have a beatle and hate the idea of people beating each other up because I drove past! I don’t usually play car games as I tend to be screaming along with rock ballads 🙂 Hope you get there soon!
Cindi June 1, 2010, 5:54 pm
I don’t know if someone already said this – but we always try to name every state and it’s capitol!
Heather (runningwithsass.com) June 1, 2010, 6:05 pm
20 questions is always a good one. I spy, liscense plate game (I am sure these were already mentioned!) good luck!
Lisa (bakebikeblog) June 1, 2010, 6:09 pm
Argh car trips can be monotonous at times can’t they! WE try to bring along some great music or an audio book 🙂
Elise June 1, 2010, 6:11 pm
The cow game for sure! Though, it might be more fun on bus trips–oh college orchestra tours!
Kellie June 1, 2010, 6:32 pm
I used to love the Mad Libs book as a kid.
Samantha @ Mama Notes June 1, 2010, 8:24 pm
I can’t believe you are blogging from your iphone!! That is impressive! 🙂
Marissa June 1, 2010, 8:38 pm
I just had my first peach of the season this morning at breakfast! It was good–but I can’t wait until a month or so when they’re literally as big as my HEAD but still so deliciously sweet! They have to be my favorite fruit in the world.
Lindsay June 1, 2010, 9:32 pm
If you have a pad of paper… try to write down the license plates from all fifty states. That used to get my brother and I through 14 hours of driving to get out to the mountains in the winter!! 🙂
k June 1, 2010, 9:45 pm
congratulations to your husband on becoming a doctor! I recently started going to acupuncture and was wondering if he/you had any book recommendations to learn more about it? Just for a normal person with no real background in it…but now I’m really interested in it after two sessions!
- caitlin June 1, 2010, 10:01 pm
  husband says check out ‘THE WEB THAT HAS NO WEAVER’ 🙂
- caitlin June 1, 2010, 10:02 pm
  the husband says check out ‘THE WEB THAT HAS NO WEAVER’ 🙂
Emily Eats and Exercises June 2, 2010, 7:20 am
For the drive home:

Try to think of 3 foods where every combination is gross. (Not foods you personally don’t like, but really generally accepted as gross.)

For example: pickles and ice cream. Plus a 3rd food which is disgusting with pickles and with ice cream.

Harder than you might think…

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