There’s more road trip news than we can fit into our regular features. The Friday News Roundup gives families the stories we think are the most important every week, all in one place. Your family road trip just got a little bit easier, week-by-week.

Free Admission to Museums for Military Families
Memorial Day is a great time to enjoy one of the more than 600 museums offering free admission to military families this summer. A partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts is making the program, known as Blue Star Museums, possible. The list of museums includes science centers, children’s museums and even New York’s Museum of Modern Art. There are free admission sites in all 50 states.

More Free Family Tours
The Marine Mammal Center (just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco) is expanding its popular low-cost guided tours to every day of the week (except Mondays and national holidays) during the summer. Self-guided tours of this working marine mammal hospital, research and education center are still free. Visitors who want to make a day of it can hike the miles of park trails around the facility and picnic along the beach. Other attractions in the park include the Nike Missile Site and Cold War Museum, Point Bonita Lighthouse, Fort Cronkhite, Headlands Center for the Arts, and the Headlands Visitors Center. Visitors to the park can stay at the Youth Hostel or the new Cavallo Point hotel and spa at Fort Baker.

Highway Stripes Paint Shortage?
Apparently, the paint used to paint highway stripes is in short supply. Two ingredients, methyl methacrylate and titanium dioxide, are not being produced as fast as demand for them in products like paint, sunscreen and LCD screens. Roads with faded stripes are significantly less safe. More than 60% of all traffic fatalities are caused by straying drivers, according to a 2008 study by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Everyone hopes the issue is resolved by the end of the summer, but in the meantime, pay extra attention on your family road trip.

Planning Goes Mobile
Just in time for the summer vacation season, the Kansas City Convention & Visitors Association (KCCVA) has launched a mobile version of its award-winning website. Now accessible via mobile device at VisitKC.com, the industry-leading mobile site features traveler discounts, top events and all the necessary tools for planning a trip to Kansas City. (To preview the mobile site on your personal computer, go to http://m.VisitKC.com).

Tots Travel Too
Quick. What’s the one thing families can’t get at a hotel? If you guessed a crib or a portable crib,you’re right. Most hotels do not offer them because of the problem of sanitizing them between guests. But Marriott hotel brands Courtyard, Fairfield Inn & Suites, Springhill Suites, Residence Inn and Townplace Suites now offer a travel crib and laundered COVERPLAY removable crib slipcover to families upon request. You can also ask the front desk for childproofing supplies such as outlet covers, nightlights, baby shampoo, and baby lotion, plus disposable bibs will be available in the breakfast areas. One less thing to pack for a road trip!

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