Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition

Ideas for surviving the family road trip

- — Williamhag­eman, Tribunenew­spapers

A cross-country drive with the kids can be a great family experience. Or it can be hell. “When you go on these trips, it’s very character-building,” Eric Litt said. “So you have to make it as creative as possible and get through it.”

Last summer, Litt, his wife, Alice, and their three children drove from suburban Chicago to Los Angeles. That’s 10 states, 12 days, 5,000 miles. What kept them sane?

“NationalLa­mpoon’sVacation,” themovie.

The 1983 film was the inspiratio­n for the trip. They didn’t retrace the Griswolds’ exact route, but they kept the spirit of the odyssey.

“Wewatched it ahead of time and tried to incorporat­e it. The meltdowns, the song, as many silly roadside attraction­s aswe could,” Litt said.

Where the Griswolds visited Dodge City, Kan., the Grand Canyon and the fictional Wally World, the Litts traveled to Stonehenge Jr. in Wichita, Kan., Yosemite National Park and Disneyland.

“No onewanted to see theworld’s largest house of mud,” Litt said. “I didn’t want to pick up Aunt Edna and have her die in the back seat, or kill off a dog. There’s only so muchyou can incorporat­e. Sowe tried to go to many of the same states.” Litt suggests visiting

for ideas as you plan a trip. The song he referred to was “Holiday Road,” which got endless airplay in the family’s minivan.

“Every time we did anything on the trip, we played it,” Litt said.

“We started out, we played it. We got gas, we played it. Every time we stopped for anything, we played it. By Nebraska, we were pretty sick of it.”

 ??  ?? Eric and Alice Litt took their three children on a road trip. It included a stop at the Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas.
Eric and Alice Litt took their three children on a road trip. It included a stop at the Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas.

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