Things We Love

Travel Books

Roadfood – by Michael Stern.  For road warriors and armchair epicures alike, the seventh edition of Roadfood is the key to finding some of the tastiest treasures in the United States. The indispensable companion for savvy travelers nationwide, Roadfood is now bigger and better than ever. Totally revised and updated, the seventh edition covers over 700 of the country’s best local eateries, including more than 200 brand new listings along with up-to-date descriptions of old favorites.

We rely on this book to give us interesting food ideas wherever we travel, and sometimes have been known to adjust our route by quite an hour or two just to make a better lunch stop.

National Geographic Road Atlas – Adventure Edition.  This National Geographic Road Atlas – Adventure Edition includes detailed maps of all 50 states plus Canada and Mexico. The outstanding collection of road maps includes scenic routes, historic sites, recreation information, and thousands of points of interest.  This unique Adventure Edition features America’s top 100 adventure destinations chosen by the editors of National Geographic Adventure Magazine.

Audio Books

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Tom Sawyer remains one of the most beloved characters in the history of fiction, and this best-selling reading gives Tom and his adventures new life. All the memorable characters and scenes are here in this unabridged version: Aunt Polly with her Bible-based morality, independent Huck Finn, the famous fence-painting scene, the night on Jackson’s Island. The book is no saccharine tale of childhood; Tom and Huck also witness grave-robbing and murder one night at the graveyard where they’ve gone seeking adventure and a cure for warts. Twain’s themes of adult hypocrisy and the importance of character remain resonant with today’s readers – and now, listeners in this virtuoso performance of one of the greatest American classics.

We purchased our copy at the Mark Twain Caverns in Hannibal, MO, and then listened to the story while we drove from there to Hilton Head Island.

The Chronicles of Narnia Complete 7 Volume CD Box Set (Unabridged) This timeless boxed set includes all seven unabridged recordings: The Magician’s Nephew; The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; The Horse and His Boy; Prince Caspian; The Voyage of the Dawn Treader; The Silver Chair; The Last Battle. Performed by series of luminaries including Kenneth Branagh, Lynn Redgrave and Derek Jacobi, each stands alone as a work of genius. But together they are the history of a fantastic world that becomes as real as our own.

Music

The Lion Sleeps Tonight – The Tokens.  This is our official road trip music, to be played at the start of every adventure.

Riders In the Sky – Cowboy Songs. I don’t think that we could go on a road trip without this music. We bought our first Riders album (this one) at the Lodge gift shop up at the head of Bright Angel Trail. By the time we got back to Minnesota, we were singing the songs in three-part harmony.

Video Games

Nintendo DS Lite is a fantastic portable gaming platform – our kids have had a lot of cooperative game time together with games like Mario Kart and Mario Party.  For quiet time, titles like Scribblenauts and Brain Age keep the kids busy without excessive mindlessness.