Hot Stuff

Travel Fun for Kids

Hitting the road (or skies) this summer? Make the trip extra fun with this collection of travel games and activities to keep the kids happy and entertained.

Bananagrams

Bananagrams is a portable Scrabble-like word game that comes in a banana-shaped pouch for easy transport. This game works best for two players, but you can play as a family as well. It can also be played alone, making it really versatile for traveling. Fun to play and educational too. For local retailers, visit bananagrams.com/store-locator.

Ages: 7 & up
Price: $15

Flip to Win Travel Memory Game

Choose from among 14 fun themes, slide a card into the gameboard and start looking for matches. This handy memory game includes one game board, seven double-sided game cards and a two-player scoreboard. There are no loose pieces and everything conveniently stores in the board. Great for travel! Available locally at Juneau's Imagination Station, Kaleidoscape, Busy Bee and Silly Munchkins, or visit melissaanddoug.com.

Ages: 5 & up
Price: $13

Mad Libs Junior

Mad Libs Junior introduces the younger crowd to the hilarious world of Mad Libs. This 48-page book is fun for kids and a great way to kill time while sitting on a plane, waiting for food in a restaurant, and in many more travel scenarios. Available locally at Target, Barnes & Noble and Walmart, or visit madlibs.com.

Ages: 5-8
Price: $4

Spot It!

Spot It! comes in various themes and its 55 cards store well in a small circular tin. It’s best for hotels and airplane lounges as the cards would be easy to lose in between airplane or car seats. It’s a memory game with a race aspect to it that is a great motor skill builder. Between any two cards there is always one and only one matching symbol. Spot it fast to win. Available locally at Over the Rainbow, Classic Toys or visit blueorangegames.com.

Ages: 7 & up
Price: $10-$15

Iota the Great Big Game in a Teeny Weeny Tin

Add cards to a grid, making sure that color, shape and number are either all the same or all different across the line. Sounds easy but as the grid expands, so do the possibilities. Whoever sees the opportunities will seize the win. Available locally at Classic Toys, Over the Rainbow Toys and Learning Essentials, or visit iotathegame.com.

Ages: 8+
Price: $7.90

Scribble n' Play Colorburst eWriter

Colorful and cool, the Scribble n' Play Colorburst eWriter is designed with a multicolor LCD screen on which kids can write, scribble, draw, erase, and begin again – with no mess! The sturdy, integrated case and stylus system keeps kids organized and prevents the board from slipping around making it great for use at home, on the go and even outside. For local retailers, visit myboogieboard.com/shop/retailers.

Ages: 4 & up
Price: $35

Travel Blurt

Travel Blurt is so fun that the kids will never know they’re learning. This handy, portable version of best-selling Blurt includes definition cards (450 clues), cardholder, scoreboard and magnetic pieces. Take turns passing the cards, reading the definitions and blurting out the answers. For a list of local retailers, visit educationalinsights.com/store-locator/landing.do.

Ages: 10 & up
Price: $8

Travel Spirograph

Oh yes! The classic Spirograph design toy is now in travel form! Now you can create countless amazing designs on the go. Comes with six wheels, a design guide, two pens, and 24-page pad. Available locally at Target, Walmart and Toys "R" Us.

Ages: 5 & up
Price: $8

Take N Play Bingo (and Other Games)

Take ‘N’ Play Anywhere Bingo game features big magnetic playing pieces that are easy for kids to use and hard for kids to lose! This two-player game comes in a small tin so it can easily slip into a handbag. Visit playmonster.com.

Ages: 4-8
Price: $7

Color Wonder Stow & Go Studio

Markers? In the car? Sure! The markers in the Crayola Color Wonder Stow & Go Studio work only on the notebook pages for mess-free fun at home or on the go. Comes with a travel tote, 12-page activity pad and four color mini markers. For local retailers, visit shop.crayola.com.

Ages: 3 & up
Price: $12

Story Cubes

Rory's Story Cubes is a pocket-sized creative story generator, providing hours of imaginative play for all ages. Easy to travel with, the cubes fit neatly into a small pouch. Roll the dice and tell a story based on the pictures that are facing upward. There are no wrong answers, so it gets the creative juices flowing and different stories are told every time. Available locally at Over the Rainbow Toys and Learning Essentials, or visit storycubes.com.

Ages: 8 & up
Price: $12

Travel Scavenger Hunt

Travel Scavenger Hunt is the ultimate boredom beater for long road trips. To play, each player takes five cards and tries to locate various roadside objects; some are as easy to spot as a “stop sign” and some, like “bald man,” are slightly more challenging. Great fun for even the most restless traveler. Available at areyougame.com.

Ages: 7 & up
Price: $9