Traveling provides you with a great opportunity to break out the maps, especially if you are traveling with children. Prior to leaving, get a small map. Draw a dotted line from your home to the destination point. Make most of the dots blue; color a few dots red. Each player rolls the dice and moves forward the number of dots indicated by the dice. If the player lands on a red dot, he must move backwards on his next turn. The first player to arrive exactly at the destination wins.
Word games are easy to play, don't involve any equipment, and can be challenging. Play the Alphabet Game by yourself or with others. Start by thinking of a word that is connected to your trip. If you're in route to a relaxing vacation at a mountain spa, for example, you could think of a word that starts with "a" and relates to a spa. Perhaps you choose "aromatic." The next word should start with the last letter of the first word, "c." "Calm" is a good choice. The third word would start with an "m." Continue for as long as you can. Your chain might look like this: aromatic-calm-mountain-nice-evening-getaway.
If you're a busy business traveler, card games may be the best bet for you. Don't play the same solitaire game you've played a thousand times before, though. You're a busy person. If you're trapped in a seat for a few hours, take the opportunity to learn something new. Pagat.com lists the rules for hundreds of card games and includes an entire section of newly-invented games. Find a few games that look fun, print out the rules, and learn a new game while you're in route.
There's always the old standby, the computer game. Don't download the typical games to your iPhone. Look for destination games. If you're taking the kids to see Boston's Freedom Trail, get them excited about the history by downloading "Musket & Artillery: American Revolutionary War." If you're headed for a fishing vacation on the Eastern Seaboard, download "Flick Fishing" or "Pro Fishing." You'll be ready for the water the minute your airplane lands.
