It’s back to the future with the License Plate Game, one of our favorite car games — in printable form — to make road time and the long miles fly by. We’ve also got game suggestions in app form that your kids will love.
Families know that FTF has reviewed and recommended numerous handy travel games, electronic devices and books to keep traveling children content during a long family road trip. Whether it was a cool car game and audio book that relied on pop music, or a hot car game that needed Hot Wheels to make it work, many of these time-passing activities required accessories or electronics.
Our forefathers, however, had to rely on unplugged fun to keep the backseat quiet. That’s why we think none of these new-fangled distractions compare with having an old-fashioned car game on hand.
So for your next road trip, don’t bother packing the toys and games that the kids request. Instead, surf to this printable brochure of the License Plate Car Game — a portable version of the game described below.
License Plate Game – Printable Car Game
The great thing about the open road is that everyone is from somewhere different and the best way to keep track of each car’s origins is through its license plate. Here are the rules to a simple, classic game.
• Before departure, go to the printable brochure of the License Plate Car Game and print out a color PDF brochure. You’ll have the rules and a scorecard with pictures of America’s 50 license plates.
• At the start of your road trip, put one child in charge of this master list that includes all the states’ license plates. Keep in mind that some states have more than one style of plate, and some use a variety of colors and images.
• Then as you travel to your destination, make sure the entire family screams out the various license plates they see along the way.
• The goal is to cross off each state/territory/province off the list. Remember it will be easy to spot the plates from the area you are traveling, but good luck finding Puerto Rico or Hawaii!
• Once, while traveling from New York City to Montreal, Canada, my family managed to see a plate for Guam!
• To make the game more competitive for older kids, give them each a printout and let them race each other to see who spots the largest number of license plates each day.
Don’t forget to print out several copies of the brochure so your family can play multiple times.
More Car Games for the Backseat
For a variation on this theme, download a printable brochure of the ABC’s Car Game and print out several copies. It has all the letters of the alphabet, so all ages — even early readers — can play over and over again throughout your trip.
For a guide to several more of my favorite car games, download a printable brochure of FTF’s Most Popular Backseat Car Games… and keep it in the glove compartment at all times.
Need a discount car rental for your next road trip?
There’s an App for That
Got gadget junkies in the backseat? Or maybe you ran out of printables? Download the license plate game for free in app form from iTunes.
For little ones learning their ABCs, try the the free Endless Alaphabet app, with a variety of sounds, definitions and word games to keep the kids busy in between rest stops.
Safe there and safe home!
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This place is awesome. We have delivered baby equipment rentals there a couple times and love it. It seems to work great for families traveling with young kids because the age range is usually between 2-8 years old when we deliver. Great beach and location. Thumbs up!
I am planning for a visit of Columbia …. Lets see When i wills be able to visit the same scene..
Orlando, is a perfect place for the kids to explore about Disneyland. A good feature post.
Love your brother in law! Would love to drive cross country with him and his brood!
Another great travel search engine is http://www.travelmarket.com/ it gives you a list of the cheapest flights and hotels. Try it and see what you think.
Good tips all – they sure beat my brother-in-laws advice for dealing with kids on long haul drives, which was, "Tie em to the roof!"
I too would be interested in viewing a list of apartments for the budget traveler.
Great article. I always, and still believe, if you feed a cold you will starve the fever.
I through my own experience, would advise against air travel with any ear, throat or nose infections. It is difficult to move through the change of air pressure, without adding a cold to it.
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It's a shame more airports don't take steps to make travel for families more convenient and fun. I'm sure they are focused on the core income stream of business travelers, which makes sense. Still, why not try and appeal to both?
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You are so right Banfos, thanks for the heads up. Mystic CT is quite remarkable and has much to see besides the aquarium. We have made the change.
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Mystic Seaport is a world-renowned maritime history museum. It is not an aquarium as stated in your article.
Jennifer:
There are enough fun activities for the whole family to spend either as a day trip or overnight.
I wish I could have went to the play lab – sounds like Fisher Price is really doing a great job of keeping up with today's trends – and of course smart kids! Great update!
Wow…cannot wait to have a visit there!
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How long would you allow for this excursion? It sounds like a fun side trip while visiting San Diego.
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Wow..I really cannot wait to make a trip to Italy…sounds very great!
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When you mentioned "flashes" that people were starting to see, I first thought that you were gonna say that you were experiencing the northern lights! But what amazing "flashes" you did see! The whales are one of my favorite parts of Alaska.
Nice points but my baby is too much stubborn.
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Holidays are managed mostly for kids. They get know new places with different weather and cultural attractions. It is good.
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It is admirable that this hotel employs locals and also promoting the local culture. This is something that is lacking in many big name hotels today.
Sounds very romantic. I was thinking about a trip with family for a long time but when I landed here my problem is solved.