Road trip ahead

We are taking a road trip this coming summer to Scott's parent's house in Missouri. I really don't mind this drive. Going through the mountains of Colorado is just breathtaking and then you get to the other side of Denver and it's like Ugly-ville. Seriously, can we just get rid of Kansas and Nebraska cuz they are hands down the most boring states to drive through. But in all seriousness, I really like the time spent in the car with Scott. We've had so many good conversations over that 17 hour drive. And it's just a chance to get to know each other even better and spend some time with just us.

Well, in reality, there is only so much talking you can do in 17 hours (not to mention that any time I'm driving, Scott is snoozing) and so we generally will bring things to entertain ourselves. Scott's parents lent us some books on CD, so that will help the drive, we bring some trivia games and we always pack the iPod with good tunes. But each time I go on a road trip there are certain songs I have to have on my iPod or it wouldn't feel like a road trip. When I was growing up, we went on road trips most summers. Mainly to California in the station wagon (with vinyl seats that burnt your legs). But there were times that we would pack up Grandma and Grandpa's Winnebego and drive cross country, visiting family along the way, until we hit the east coast.

My dad would always have the same music to play on trips. The cassette tapes consisted of Neil Diamond, Kenny Rogers, the "Top Gun" soundtrack, and occasionally the "Footloose" soundtrack. As I get ready for trips, the nostalgic part of me always makes sure I have this music on my iPod.

So, what do you do to make the time go faster on road trips? 17 hours is a lot to fill and we'll be going through Colorado in the dark and Kansas in the light. Ideas appreciated...