With 9025 logged road trip miles this year alone, we recently spent 2340 of them in a brand new 2011 Chevrolet Traverse. Farm land, traffic jams, mountain ranges, and eventually the beach, I like to think of our trip as the world’s longest test drive.

Kentucky is famous for horse racing, bourbon, and even blue grass. With art, culture, eclectic neighborhoods, and independent businesses thriving in an urban community, Louisville charmed us all.

With 101 ways to electronically entertain kids on a road trip, Road Trips for Families suggests re-introducing the window as an alternate “low tech” way to unplug, engage, and even bond.

Lake Michigan is part of what makes the Great Lakes great. In the water, on the water, or near the water, cruising the Midwest is Big Fun any way you float your boat.

Accessible only by air or water, park your vehicle, grab your bags and hop a boat or plane to one of Michigan’s most beloved summer vacation destinations: Mackinac Island. Whatever your budget or your overall mission, Mackinac Island holds a special place in people’s hearts, season after season.

Feeling more like a trip to a chalet in Switzerland, Boyne Mountain Resort in Boyne Falls, Michigan has been a popular winter and summer vacation destination in upper, lower Michigan for 60 years. With a full-service spa, championship golf course, ski area, and indoor waterpark, a trip to Boyne Mountain will have you asking, “What are you up for?”

We’re only mid-way through our quest to drive all Top 10 Scenic Drives in the Northern Rockies — in one trip. 10 drives, 10 states, 10,000 miles. Here’s our best of the best so far.

Beloved by generations of families, the Black Hills has iconic scenery and wildlife. From the buffalo and rolling plains to Mount Rushmore, there’s something for everyone – especially families.

Independence Day. Whether it means a weekend getaway to eat watermelon, watch a small town parade and wave a flag or a week-long dirt bike excursion like Sandfest, it’s all about family and making memories. Here are our picks for this year’s best hometown celebrations and trips for the 4th of July.

Whether you’re going out of state, leaving the country or just packing a picnic and watching the fireworks, the weekend revolves around founding father President John Adams’ call for ‘pomp and parade, bonfires and illuminations” in celebrating Independence Day. Here are our top picks for this year’s pyrotechnics.

What are the hallmarks of a great summer road trip? Scenic drives? Outdoor adventure for the whole family? The Ozarks region of Arkansas has them all.

It was almost impossible to narrow down our list of wish-we-were-going-this-year summer festivals to only 10 favorites. In the end we chose some iconic, famous festivals sprinkled with a few you’ve probably never heard of. We aimed for geographical diversity and road trip friendly ammenities or locations. If we didn’t include your favorite, tell us what it is and why you love it. We promise to check it out for next summer’s list.

Driving through the Arkansas countryside, passing the odd house and fields, doesn’t give any visual cue that there’s a castle nestled just into the crests of trees and hills.

The Mt. Hood Territory region of Oregon is one of the most beautiful road trips in the US. You can explore the region with less than 100 miles of actual road trip distance and it’s great for a weekend or partial-week trip. The scenery is world-class, but the region is also so flexible that each season offers different attractions and opportunities to explore the area, that you could return several times a year and take a totally different trip. We love it for families because of that flexibility and the short driving distance between each point.

Sclemeel, schlemazel, hasenfeffer incorporated! Who out there doesn’t think of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and start humming tunes from Happy Days in their heads? Happy Days was primarily filmed in a brewery and a restaurant (with the greasy hair that made The Fonz, The Fonz!), and Milwaukee is still known for it’s brew and brat. Stoop down to about three feet tall, and you’ll be amazed to find Milwaukee has oh so much more!

You’d never know that St. Patrick’s Day is technically a religious holiday. For families, it’s mostly a time to celebrate the Irish side of the family (or pretend like you have one) and enjoy the festivities. Do you go all out and dress in green from head to toe? Cook anything special? Green eggs and ham anyone? If you’re looking for the biggest family-friendly celebrations, here’s the master list.

Summer and Fall are prime festival seasons, since so many have agricultural themes and that’s harvest season. However, Spring has some fine offerings, and this year is no exception. Pack up the family and head out for a weekend of fun and even a bit of education. Insider tip: many of the festivals have Facebook and Twitter accounts where you can ask questions, get up to the minute information and connect with other fans. If you’re a newbie to a particular event, this is the best place to learn all the local secrets for parking, eating and to find lodging specials and packages.

Maple Syrup Festivals celebrate the first signs of Spring, even as the temperature can still be more reminiscent of winter. Expect all the hallmarks of a great festival: agriculture celebrations at their finest. Food, demonstrations, craft booths, farming education, entertainment and family fun.

Whether you agree or disagree with the obsession, you can’t fight it. At some point your daughter will want to take a pilgrimage to one of the American Girl Stores. And, since even the reality TV celebs are pinching their pennies, you’ll want to make the trip as cost effective as possible, but also really enjoy every minute.

Houma, Louisiana is really what Mardi Gras is all about. Not the nudity and public intoxication of modern New Orleans, although that certainly has a place in another type of vacation. Instead, it’s several generations of families enjoying the parades, food and party — together.