Remote cultural and historic sites are more accessible than ever before, from little-visited ghost towns to ancient Native American rock art that is reached via roads that are unkind, if not impassable, to passenger cars. Hannah is a cranky 14 now. Trying to keep kids, especially teen-agers, happy on road trips has always been tough. But there are things one can do to make touring the backcountry as fun and interesting for them as it is for you. Probably the best piece of advice is to stop often.
Children love water.
Bring rain boots or sandals. Let them play for a few minutes now and then at the little streams and ponds you'll see along the way. In the northern Sierras, pick up a gold pan at a souvenir store and do a little streamside panning. On springtime forays into the desert, bring a wildflower identification book and a magnifying glass. Along the coast, bring binoculars for viewing seals and whales.