Traveling

Contrary to popular belief, young children are wonderful long-distance travelers. We hardly ever make unwanted, unsolicited, ear-splitting shrieks. We often offer helpful hints on traveling within posted speed limits and upcoming turns. We're more than happy to point out the horses and cows in nearby fields. And we turn long, boring drives into exciting odysseys filled with songs about the thrilling process of making fruit salad.

The holidays, of course, offer plenty of opportunities to embark on these wonderful journeys. On previous lengthy drives we've chronicled our favorite roadside stops. Here they are, in no particular order:

• Tamarack: Mom and Dad like to eat here, but the top attractions are the wooden train and bears trying to get into the garbage. And don't miss the grilled cheese! Yummy, yummy!
  
• I-70 and state route 79: This exit in Ohio offers a Dairy Queen and a Shell gas station where Daddy once overheard the station cashier threaten to fight one of the patrons. Good times.
  
• South Hill, Virginia: Last chance for at least an hour (when going northbound) for Daddy to pull off the road and get a Mountain Dew.
  
• Ikea, Northern Virginia: Where Mom swears we can get five peices of living room furniture in the back of a car already filled with presents and luggage.
  
• Norlina, North Carolina: Never stopped here, but we think the name is funny. It's North Carolina without the t-h, and c-a-r-o. Get it?

We'll have more on our travels coming up soon.