Traveling presents the opportunity to visit other locales, take in the culture or just relax. From planning the trip to actually boarding the plane, train or bus (depending on how adventurous you are), travelers can engage with other worlds. However, the tedious part of travel is the here-to-there part that might take days and run through several time zones. Nevertheless, the best way to get through dull, uncomfortable travel, especially over very long distances, is to get the party started on the way.
Play mind games
Use this time to get to know one another by engaging in the types of games that elicit interesting answers and start conversations. Going on a picnic, 20 questions, and Begins with Ends with are all fun and cheap games that can be played in the car while on a road trip. If those types of conversation games are not interesting, the old favorite Truth or Dare is one of the best ways to occupy hours at a time.
Go online
Perusing the internet via tablets and cell phones is another way to consume a lot of time while journeying. FreeCell, Bejeweled, Mahjong and Sudoku have online communities where players try their hand against some of the best players. If feeling particularly lucky, travelers can up the stakes a notch and participate in any number of online casinos that offer sports betting. Online casinos allow players to place wagers on sports such as soccer, tennis, basketball, baseball and almost any other sport imaginable. Gambling sites, in addition to the numerous gaming sites, can help bored travelers eat up a lot of travel time.
Listen to a podcast
Talk radio can be traveler’s best friend on a long trip. NPR and other stations have a wide array of programming for listeners. In addition to regular news programming, Ask Me Another is a trivia podcast that focuses on cover songs. If not really into talk radio, Maximum Fun, Doug Loves the Movies, and American Life are all comical podcasts that can be enjoyed. If traveling alone in the car, listening to that audiobook your relative gave you can help pass time. Whether listening to a novel or catching up on current events, podcasts can distract travelers en route to any destination.
Take the time to smell the roses
If time permits, check out every oddball dive littered along that expansive highway. Not only is this proof to everyone in your social network that you are indeed the bravest, most adventurous soul on the planet, but it also presents you with the opportunity to visit the quirkiest tourist traps. Afterward, if traveling with companions, raise the stakes by having a wackiest souvenir competition, where those who win the pot are treated to a delight of their own choosing. Also, lovers traveling can stop and star gaze at night, and those with a passion for the stars can use the Star Chart app to discover what lies in the heavens above. Whether visiting a cacti museum in the middle of the Mojave Desert or taking in the roadside diner experience, while the trip takes a little longer, the experience is so much more enriching.
Get lost
No really; ignore that GPS and place that map in the glove compartment for a couple of hours. Getting lost makes the trip that much more exciting. Not only does detouring make for interesting sightseeing, but it also is the opportunity to get to know the ins and outs of locales, in addition to the fascinating stories you get to tell friends. Use that inner guide to get you to your destination safely, as you might find a trendy bed and breakfast to settle down in for the night, or better yet, a comfy restaurant that sells down-home food.
Document, document, document
The great part of traveling today is that technology allows travelers not only to take great pictures, but through the many social media sites, travelers can document every part of the trip for their friends. Take the time to create a real-time online album that lets friends and family know how the trip is coming along. Later on, use these pictures to create a hardcopy photo album.
Sometimes the journey to the destination is the best part of the trip. Coming or going can be the opportunity for travelers to see new sites along the way, learn new things about their companions, or be taken in by a new hobby. In this day and age, the journey can be as exciting as the trip itself. Just make sure you are comfortable while travelling, take time to check out your surroundings, and bring a device to play games on to keep yourself occupied during those slower times of travel. You’ll be happy you did!
