Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in portland, OR

I am an only child, so long road trips usually meant that I would be engrossed in a book, listening to AM talk radio with my dad, or crashed out trying to sleep away the endless hours of traveling. I loved hearing the stories of my aunt and uncle, traveling with their vagabond bunch of four children from Oregon to see us in California. Each kiddo would get to choose some horrifyingly sweet treat for the road (an entire box of Poptarts, or a Sara Lee frozen cheesecake) and then they would get to paint with and consume gobs of Cool Whip. Ok, so this was the 1970s and my relatives usually travelled in an old school bus, but this idea could be adaptable for your next travel venture with the fam. When my daughter was really small, we packed up pasta in ziploc bags so she could smoosh it around without making a total mess and then later, eat it. Instead, of shaving cream, why not pack along a book of 200 stickers, and let your little go crazy covering themselves (but not the car windows!). Here are ten other ideas for your next trip to Grandma's house:

1. Post-its (I can't think of Post-Its without thinking of pronouncing it like Romy in Romy and Michele's High School Reunion) can save your life. Kids can draw on them, practice writing letters on them, make flip-books with them, and then proceed to stick them willy-nilly all over your car. For an added fun bonus, look for them in fun shapes or with your child's favorite animal on them. 

2.  Be a shutter-bug! My daughter loves to take photos to remember places she has been. Give your child a hand-me-down digital camera or a disposable one to capture the sights of the road. (they make tough and kid-friendly digital cameras too if you are hesitant to entrust your kids with a breakable camera) Your child can take pictures of roadside attractions, all the meals they eat on the way, or interesting signs/buildings you pass. When you get to your destination, a fun project might be making a book of all their snapsnots (hello easy photo printer!)

3.  Audiobooks, and more audiobooks Check out a pile of books on cd from your local library to help pass the time, or hook up your iPod to the car stereo and make a mix of your child's favorite stories and songs. Also check out Storynory for an awesome assortment of stories (podcast available from iTunes. 

4.  Wrap it up! Make a personalized travel bag for each child. It doesn't have to be anything fancy, hit the dollar store for bubbles, chalk, stickers, and add gum, snacks, and trinkets you find on sale after the holidays. Have specified "opening times" for your child to look forward to. 

5. One word: Bendaroos. These waxy building sticks kept my daughter occupied for hours. Craft creatures, cupcakes, or crazy aliens and then start all over again. A hint: they are much more affordable on eBay than buying directly. Not for children under three years old. 

6. Stop! Use rest-stops or plan out a good diversion every few hours. Use the internet to locate public parks, playgrounds, or even a science museum (you may have privileges from your home museum) to take a break from the hum of the road. Tiring them out =sleeping in the car. 

7. Work it out! Before you leave, make a packet of mazes, coloring sheets, word searches, mad libs, or dot to dots for your little one to do. Having "important work" may buy Mom and Dad a few minutes of quiet in the car. 

8. Where in the world is.....? Laminate a map of your route and let your kids keep track of your travels. Use stickers to mark important memories. 

9. TV Party! When we're traveling, I say most anything goes. Save movies for meltdown times in the car, when you fear you may walk off into the desert never to be seen again if the kids don't stop whining and fighting over who has more Goldfish crackers. If you don't own a portable DVD player, you can rent one easily from an airport if you're flying and driving.  

10. Keep them comfy! Make sure to pack extra clothes, especially emergency shirts because you never know when a puke fest might arise. Consider starting your road trip with your child in pajamas to help them sleep a bit longer. Don't forgot swimsuits in case you're going to stay in motels with pools along the way.