April 2026 — Somewhere between the third rest stop and the inevitable are we there yet, many parents face the same question: hand over a screen, or let their child experience the journey?

 Award-winning travel journalist Kristy Alpert believes the trip itself is where some of childhood's best memories are made.After reporting for Travel + Leisure, AFAR, TIME, Parents,and more, Alpert brings that expertise home in her new book, Getting There: Travel Activities for Kids (Happy Fox Books, Spring 2026)—dozens of screen-free games,scavenger hunts, conversation starters, and mindfulness prompts for car trips, plane rides, trains, and more,designed for travelers ages 7 to 12.

Drawing on her experience as a travel journalist, certified yoga instructor, and parent, Alpert reframes boredom not as something to avoid but as an invitation to imagine,observe, and connect."Kids do not need to be entertained every second to have a great trip," says Alpert. "Some of the best travel memories begin when children look out the window, ask questions, invent games, or simply notice the world around them."Alpert brought this message to Washington, D.C. earlier this year as a featured speaker at the DC Travel &Adventure Show, joining Rick Steves and Samantha Brown on the seminar stage at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Her session on traveling with children drew families eager for practical guidance on making the journey count.