Give Your Kids a ’90s Summer: Road Trip Edition

How do I give my kids the kind of 1980’s and 90’s childhood I had? That seems to be the question on every parent’s mind right now.

Everybody is wanting to give their kids a 90’s summer, and as someone who lived through the 1990’s I feel I have some authority on this subject.

Today, let’s talk specifically about 1990’s road trips. Summer is going by fast, which means you better hit the road quick if you want to avoid those unexcused absences.

That means you need to make a plan and be prepared. Here are my suggestions for 20(ish) road trip essentials that will totally give your kids a TRUE 1990’s summer experience.

So, let’s start with games, games and more games.

Here are four classic roadtrip games to get you started.

Mad Libs on the Road (always a good way to sneak in some summertime learning)

Family Scavenger Hunt (because Eye Spy gets boring after 25 rounds)

Travel Yahtzee (this was my FAVORITE for long road trips)

Travel Bingo (second runner up)

The Original Tamagotchi (the quintessential 90’s toy)

License Plate Game Printable (how many can you find?)

Ok, now, let’s move on to other road trip necessities with true 1990’s vibes.

National Geographic Kids Ultimate U.S. Road Trip Atlas: Maps, Games, Activities, and More for Hours of Backseat Fun
Another old-school accessory you might want to consider?  An atlas. My mama always made me the “Navigator” on road trips. She would hand me an atlas and say “Find where we’re going and tell us how to get there.” I LOVED being the Navigator, and now that I’m an old lady I’ve got an amazing sense of direction! We are so reliant on GPS these days, and this is the perfect opportunity to teach your kids how to navigate using a map.  Get them to figure out your best routes to get to your destination.  You might be changing their names to Siri when you see how efficient they can be.

Fun window clings
If all the games get boring, whip a pack of window clings out of your purse and let the kids go wild sticking them all over the windows and their foreheads.  This will provide minutes (ok, seconds?) of entertainment.

Don’t forget the Road Trip Snacks

No road trip is complete without snacks, amiright? And since fast food is so expensive, you’re gonna want to pack a picnic lunch for the road. That means you’re gonna need a few extras.

Travel-Size Igloo Cooler
Don’t let the dog pee on the sandwiches, Clark!!  Protect them inside this sturdy Igloo cooler. My family never left home without an Igloo Cooler filled with sandwiches and cans of Fantas. This is a must-have for a nostalgic 90’s style road trip.

Reusable Ice Packs
Toss these in the freezer a few days before your trip and they will keep your refreshments chilled along the way.

But listen.

If you are gonna make your kids relive the 90’s, you BETTER not bring any bottled water, protein bars or seaweed snacks along for the ride. Like, gag me with a spoon. Those did not exist in the 90’s. Or at least not in the 90’s I grew up in. I only want to see 100% genuine 1990’s approved SNACK FOODS in that car. Nothing healthy. Nothing ORGANIC. Leave all that stuff at home. Your kids better be pumped full of white sugar and red-40 before you even hit the outskirts of town.

You definitely need a Stanley Thermos filled with Tropical Punch KoolAid (my fave!)
But for a true 90’s experience, make sure to get the old-school green Thermos kind of Stanley that your grandpa carried into the coal mines every day, not the fancy ones we know and love today.

My sister never left home on a road trip without a spray can of EZCheese, because nothing says 1990’s ‘MURICA like squirting cheese from a can onto a sleeve of Ritz crackers.

My favorite road trip food was a Little Debbie Star Crunch. They may have left that slick film coating on the roof of your mouth, but they held up beautifully on the bottom of a paper grocery sack filled with snacks.

My mama was a Diet Coke and Golden Flake Cheese Curl kinda woman, and if you topped it off with some Whoppers she was set for the whole trip.

Before there was Buccee’s, there was Stuckey’s, and no road trip was complete without a Stuckey’s Pecan Log. My dad LOVED these things, so they were a must-have for every trip. We were guaranteed one every single trip to Kentucky to see my grandparents.

Ok, now that you’ve got snacks… onto the final must-haves for a safe summer road trip.

Travel First Aid Kit
Boo-boos happen. Better safe than sorry!

Roadside Emergency Kit
Your inner boy-scout will thank you for always being prepared for roadside emergencies.

Window Breaker/Seatbelt Cutter You never know when you might need this tool.  Let’s hope it’s NEVER, but just in case….

Baby Wipes
Just take the whole case. You’re gonna need ’em.

Car Seat Organizer & Game/Activity Holder
What kid would not love to turn their backseat area into an airplane? This folding tray table holds all sorts of stuff- tablets, sippy cups, tiny toys…   Just make sure they are locked in their full upright position before takeoffs and landings.

And finally… the Ultimate 1990’s Road Trip Must-Have:

A Nintendo Gameboy
You knew this was coming, right? You might think you want a technology-free road trip a la Greg Heffley’s mom, but you would be wrong.  Everyone needs some kind of electronic distraction to pull out in the 11th hour when the whole backseat is whining and sad. 

Plus, every Millennial/ Xennial spent their entire summer trying to save that princess, so don’t pretend like 90’s kids weren’t addicted to gaming, too. This is your Ace-in-the-Hole. Use it wisely.

Have a safe trip!

See you next Fall! (sorry I had to say it…)