Road Tripping 101: How To Survive Holiday Car Rides Without Punching Your Significant Other In The Face

Is the title of this blog post a mouthful or what? It's a bit overboard, but the concept is as real as it gets. Parker and I had done our fair share of long drives prior to this year. We moved from Florida to Texas and drove back to Texas a couple of times during our time in Florida. We thought that was bad, but it was nothing compared to what we've done this past year. Moving from Florida to South Texas has been such a blessing. We are just 4 hours away from my parents, 4 hours away from our alma mater, and a few hours away from Austin, San Antonio, and Fredericksburg. We are so close to so many places and people that we love, but yall, that means countless hours spent in the car trying to get to these places. We had an amazing summer, but I look back on those few months and feel like we spent most of them in the car. It seemed like every weekend we were driving somewhere new.

Road trips became the norm, so we had to figure out how to make it through them without wanting to strangle the other one. Don't get me wrong, Parker and I love each other and appreciate the quality time long drives provides, but road trips can just be draining. If you're on the road for 8 hours, you are going to run out of things to talk about. You are going to get hungry, and you are likely going to get a little cranky. If you're like me, the hungry will cause the cranky, but I digress.

At this point, we feel like pros when it comes to road tripping. We drove 17 hours over Thanksgiving and didn't think anything of it. How did we master the art of road tripping while still maintaining some level of sanity and fondness for each other? Let's break it down:

ROAD TRIPPING 101

How to Survive Holiday Car Rides Without Punching Your Significant Other in the Face:

1. 20 Questions: This is a game we recently thought up to play, and it is such a great way to pass the time. One person thinks of someone you both know/know of (family, friend, acquaintance, celebrity, etc). The other asks yes or no questions to try to figure it out. We enjoy trying to stump each other by picking out of the box people. I thought I was so clever using Jenny as one of mine, but Parker guessed her after like four questions! That was a disappointment, but 20 Questions is perfect for that long car ride.

2. Audio Books: This is a fairly recent discovery as well, but it really helps pass the time. The first audio book we listened to was Lone Survivor, and we were hooked! It was a great story and kept us engaged and interested the whole time. We also listened to The Hatchet by Gary Paulson, a nice easy listen that's perfect for road trips. When you run out of things to talk about after 6 hours in the car, pop on the audio book. If you are still having quality conversation after 6 hours, I salute you. 

3. Stump the Chump: This is a game Parker and I invented this summer. I ask him a question that he should know the answer to if he has listened throughout our years together, and he tries to answer it. Then he does the same for me. These questions can be as hard or as easy as you want. Some sample questions:

• I had 6 cats growing up. What are the names of 3 of them?
• What are my sister's middle names?
• What sports do my younger cousins play?
• What were the names of my high school tennis coaches?
• I was on the chapter management team of my sorority in college. Name 3 other people who were on it with me?

Note: Do not play Stump the Chump if it will cause one of you to get upset because the other doesn't listen or doesn't know the answers. Parker missed most of the questions listed above, and I missed a lot of his questions. The rule of Stump the Chump is these questions are supposed to be difficult, so no hard feelings allowed!

4. Creative Questions: This is another questions game, but the great thing about this one is it sparks up some interesting conversation. I would ask Parker a creative question, and we would both have to answer. Then he would ask me a question for both of us to answer. Some sample questions:

• If you could change your name, what would it be and why?
• If we had a baby right now and the name was solely up to you, what would you name the baby?
• Our future son wants to play football, baseball, and tennis equally and asks your advice. Which sport do you push for?
• Would you rather win a million dollars or have the opportunity to give away a million dollars?

5.  Make It Fun: A road trip is as enjoyable or as miserable as you make it. Use this time to engage with your significant other. Plan fun stops along the way to restaurants or cafes you've never been to. You may be stuck in the car, but that doesn't mean you can't have fun! We were in the car for 8+ hours straight last month. We were only an hour or two away from arriving to our destination, but we decided to stop at the famous Czech Bakery in West, Texas to pick up some kolaches. It added time onto our drive, but who cares? Life's about the journey, not the destination.

What are your tips for staying sane during road trips?