Now, I’ve worked for years in New York City and as such it’s nearly impossible to walk down any street at any time of the day without a cabbie or driver laying on the horn at another driver.

However, New York City residents move out of the city for the promise of a better environment to raise children: a yard with grass and trees, good schools, Costco – you know, the essentials.

It’s with that where I struggle to understand the mindset of people that come out to the ‘burbs for peace and quiet and instead can’t help themselves but to beep at everything. Didn’t make a turn fast enough? Honk. Didn’t accelerate fast enough when the light turned green? Honk. Didn’t let someone complete a “Jersey left”, whereby as soon as the light turns green the person across from you in the left turn lane guns it to cut off traffic? Honk. Honk. And honk.

Seriously, help me readers – is this just Jersey people being assholes or does this happen by you? And when it is acceptable to use the horn?

We did not plan on any family vacation of note this year. Just wasn’t in the budget. However, when Ford Motor Co. presented me with an opportunity to test drive a Flex recently, my wife and I thought, “Well, if opportunity is knocking, we might as well open the door and let her come on in.”

So, we turned the opportunity to test drive a Ford Flex to New York City into a mini-vacation for the family. (For my take on the Ford Flex, see this blog post.) I’ve been to NYC several times for business, but no one else in the family had.

Ford was going to take care of the gas on the way there, and reimburse part of the expense for a return trip (had to leave the Flex in the city). Thankfully, we were able to stay with family for the first night of the drive, and a friend of a friend who lives a block and a half from Times Square let us — a family of six — use her apartment. WOW! Talk about friendly New Yorkers (though she is originally from Michigan).

Overall, the time in NYC was great, with several highlights. See below for one, and chalk up actually meeting fellow EOT’er Dave and his wife Audrey Binkowski as another. It was a time we won’t forget.

But, remember, this post is about the great American road trip. What to do to help keeps kids entertained for a 11 or so hour drive? Here are some games that have become some of our favorites — no matter how long the drive is.

Eye spy alphabet: It’s kind of tough to play regular eye spy traveling 65+MPH, so you look for things in alphabetical order. Of course, you have to get creative at times — like the Air (okay, you can’t really spy it but creativity is required at times) or an eXit sign, etc. Of course, items in the vehicle can count.

Find three things: Similar to eye spy but one person chooses three different things and the rest of those playing try to be the first to find all three. Common things we use include an American flag, a red barn (hey, we live in the Midwest), and a _____ color car.

Who’s line / improvised story-telling: Everyone takes turns adding a new line (or two or three) to a story that often begins something like, “Jeffery was walking down the street and then….” It’s really neat to hear where the kids’ imaginations take the story.

Oh yeah. One of the highlights (video below) was when a very talented saxophonist in NYC’s Central Park played happy birthday to my youngest daughter on the day she turned 3 .

What about you?

What are your favorite long-drive, family-time games to play? Or, add a comment about a highlight from a recent family vacation and let us know why.

1. The Honker

Typically raised in the tri-state New York area, the Honker can’t help but let you know you didn’t pull off the line fast enough, you’re stupidly pausing to let the old lady cross the street or that you didn’t turn fast enough out of a parking lot into oncoming traffic. Yes, the Honker’s patience are thin because he’s in a hurry and can’t be bothered with common decency or respect for the neighborhood’s noise level.

2. Quick Draw McGraw

I never experienced this until moving to New Jersey, but apparently it’s OK to cut off all oncoming traffic on a left hand turn – but only as soon as the light turns green. This was a revelation to me as I normally would wait until a car wasn’t 20 feet in front of me before turning, but apparently if you don’t cut someone off as soon as the light turns green you’re an asshole for not turning. Huh.

3. Jerry, The Race Car Driver

Maybe it’s because I grew up in the Motor City but it seems like every moron with a Hemi or import sports car that pulls up next to me wants to drag race. I’m not sure if it’s the greased-back hair, the hand rolled cigarette behind my ear or the leather jacket and white t-shirt, but for some reason me in a Honda Pilot full of kids makes the jerk next to me think I’m up for a race. I’m not. I’m just trying to get to the Whole Foods to buy some organic milk, dick.

4. My Right Hand Man

Yet another Jersey phenomenon, but there’s no need to pull up right next to me in the parking lane to try and get ahead. Sit back, stay in line and we’ll all make it through. You cutting ahead in line doesn’t make things go faster, it just creates a traffic jam in the intersection.

5. The Moving Coffin

This one might upset a few people, but I’ll disclose that this one isn’t mine, which thereby relieves me of all legal and “OMFG I’M OFFENDED AND I REALIZE THAT THE F IN OMFG COULD OFFEND SOMEONE ELSE” hissy fits. I’m not here to advocate for death planning, but putting Grandpa in his Sunday best, strapping him in with a seatbelt in the DeSoto and sending him off on the road to die isn’t exactly helpful to those of us trying to get somewhere. Here’s how you know it’s time to get off the road: You can no longer drive and hold your jaw shut at the same time.

Any others I missed?