Summer is in full swing and if you and your family are planning on hitting the road sooner than later we have a couple of games to keep the ride moving along! If you’re traveling with little ones, the thought of hitting the road might be daunting. Let’s face it, kids get bored easily, and when that happens your trip can go from smooth sailing to rough waters real quick! So whether you’re getting ready to take a trip across the country or just a couple of hours, we have an impressive list of games to keep the good times rolling! If you have some spare time before hitting the road, we want to suggest planning out your games so you don’t play them too quickly. The worst is when kids want to play the next game and the next and before you know it you’re out of games to play! To avoid this issue, planning out when to play each game will help ensure your passengers are entertained the whole way! We also suggest bringing along other favorites like movies, books, electronics, etc to be fillers during each game! It might also be a good idea to bring small prizes for the winner of the game to keep your kiddos focused the whole time! I Spy: This is a car ride classic! It will keep the kids guessing and entertain for a good amount of time, plus it so much for them to feel like they have fooled you so don’t guess correct too quickly! Road Trip Bingo: This fun game combines bingo with a scavenger hunt. Give each child a flat surface, like a clipboard or a notebook, and have them place it in their lap. each player gets a free printable bingo card and a ziplock bag with 16 pennies. When a player spies an item on his card, he covers the picture with a penny. Just like in regular bingo, the first player to cover all the squares in a straight line, wins. License Plate Game: Make sure everyone has a piece of paper or come prepared and print out maps. Then write down or cross out each state you see, once someone has crossed out all 50 (or whoever has the most) they win! 20 Questions. This easy-peasy game is great for young kids, thanks to its straightforward rules. Player One thinks of a person, place or thing. Everyone else takes turns asking questions that can be answered with a simple yes or no. After each answer, the questioner gets one guess. Play continues until a player guesses correctly. I’m Going on a Picnic. This alphabet-based memory game is great for kids 5 and up. You don’t need a game board or any materials. The game can be played with as few as two players, but it’s more fun when the whole family joins in. The first player says “I’m going on a picnic and I’m bringing...” followed by something that begins with A, such as apples. The second player repeats what the first person said, but adds something that begins with B. And so on. If someone forgets an item, she is out. To be fair, feel free to be lenient and give hints to younger players. The last player to be able to recite all the items on the list wins.

This week is the official start of summer and that means you’re probably wondering where you are headed for the first road trip of the summer! If you’re not sure where to go, not to worry! This week’s blog is for you. We have listed out five special spots that are not too far from Albany that will be a fun-filled day with friends, family or even if you just want to take your pet! So, take a look at that list and be sure to stop in to see our team for a service appointment or test drive if your ride isn’t going to make it through the summer. Plus, check out our specials that will help you save a little bit of money. Alright, enough talk about service, let’s talk about your travels! Five Spots To Hit This Summer: Kaaterskill Falls - Cascade down two terrace-like tiers and take in the beautiful scenery that the falls have to offer. Standing at 200 feet tall, the Kaaterskill Falls is taller than Niagra Falls. The picturesque trail is easily accessible by road and other trails are available if you’re up to the challenge! Adirondack Park Region - Escape city life for a while and enjoy glacial lakes, waterfalls, mountains, and the beautiful wilderness that the ADKs has to offer. Just a little over two hours from Albany, the Adirondack Park offers hiking, canoeing, and more! The perfect camping place for a summer weekend road trip is waiting for you here! Pottersville Caves and Park - Most famous for their size, Pottersville features Stone Bridge, the largest marble cave in the entire country. Explore a billion-year-old formation on a guided tour or explore by yourself. Choose to rock climb or visit the area’s geological history museum. Ausable Chasm - From beautiful scenery on the hiking trail to white water rafting, the Ausable Chasm is known as the Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks. With gorgeous waterfalls that run into Lake Champlain, the Chasm is a majestic sandstone gorge with beautiful views when the sun goes down and you’ll be able to see the natural formations by moonlight! Catskill Scenic Trail - Less than 2 hours from the Capital, the Catskills offer a 100 mile-wide mountain region. Ideal for overnight camping trips, this area offers beautiful scenery and plenty of activities for the family! Choose to take on the 26-mile route of this trail and enjoy a hike, bike ride or even a horseback ride through the trail! Venture In A Brand New Kia!

From the Kia Rio subcompact to the Kia Sedona minivan, there’s always room for your dog if you’d like to have your pet come along. Here at Destination Kia, you know how we feel about our puppies and babies. We want to be able to take them with us everywhere. Fortunately getting your vehicle and your pup ready for a road trip is a fairly simple process. First, you need to get your pup ready, then make the necessary adjustments to your vehicle. We’ll walk you through the whole process, so don’t worry about it. Preparing Your Pup If someone just threw you into the back of some foreign vehicle you’d never seen before, you’d verily likely freak out a bit, right? I mean, that’s basically the plot of every alien abduction movie. No way you could get me to be calm. Similarly, your pup needs time to get used to your car and all the sounds and smells that go along with it. It’s all very new to your pup, so give them a little time to adjust. While your car is not running, we recommend you let your pet get inside and walk around for a while. We also recommend shorter trips at first with dogs that aren’t used to car travel until they get used to it and show they can handle it. No matter the size of your dog, you want to make sure they are comfortable. It works both ways, too: They’re happy and cozy, and you don’t have to worry about them fidgeting in the seat. You can keep them comfortable by: Providing a blanket or comforter, along with pillows, for their seating area. Not feeding them right before you leave. Eating a large meal right before leaving might make them carsick, just like it does for humans. Providing a crate with a blanket and pillows.  Please note that before asking your furry buddy to get into the crate that you should make it look like a positive thing and allow your dog time to smell it and get used to it before departing. Bringing chew toys and other supplies. Prep to Dispose of Messes and Waste Even if you have the BEST, most well-behaved dog ever, accidents happen - especially on longer trips where you can’t stop as often for potty breaks. Make sure you have paper towels and plastic baggies for the accidents that do happen. A clean car isn’t only a benefit for the people to ride in, it also provides a calming and pleasant space for your dog to luxuriate in while you’re en route to your Destination in your Kia. So, to find the perfect Kia for your next puptastic adventure, stop by Destination Kia today! Check Out Our Selection Of Dog-Friendly Vehicles Today