"Are we there yet?" These four words can turn a road trip into road kill. That said, come summer, many families will be taking road trips as a means of cutting the high cost of air travel. Fortunately, author Trefoni Michael Rizzi can show you that getting there really can be half the fun. He's driven across the United States on numerous occasions, and suggests that parents make each stop along the way an exciting destination.

Rizzi recommends checking maps or GPS units for National Parks, monuments and historic sites along the route. To keep costs down, purchase the America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass

Here are some other suggestions:

Family Car Games. Put away the video games and DVDs and play family games like "collecting" license plates from different states and counting how many different animals you can see from the car. These games help build family memories, engage your children with the landscape and turn the drive into an on-the-road contest.

· Fill A Scrapbook. Give each child a disposable film or small digital camera. It will help them connect with what they are seeing and at the same time, they are building a scrapbook to remember their adventure.

· Bring A Friend. Bring along your child's favorite teddy bear or stuffed animal. Traveling with a long-time friend is a comfort on a trip to new places, they make great pillows for naps in the car and they (the teddy bear) love having their picture taken wherever they travel!

Learn more by purchasing a copy of Rizzi's book Teddy's Travels