I try never to leave home on a family trip without my rubber snake.

He's never let me down, not once over more miles of highways than I want to remember. "Let's figure out a way to have some fun here!" he seems to be saying.

My snake reminds me what we're doing in this crumb-laden car with squabbling kids anyway: Building memories. That's what a family trip is really about--the private jokes no one else gets, the moments that are so good they can keep us going for months. Remember, even the bad times make for good stories later.

To help get you where you're going smiling, here's my Taking the Kids Road Trip Survival Guide:

1.COOLER-Stash one in the trunk with picnic fixings. It's a lot healthier, cheaper and even more relaxing than restaurants.

2. SPORTS TO GO-Soccer ball, mitts, baseballs, Frisbee, jump rope, bubbles. -- Let the kids run off some energy while you eat.

3. JUNIOR LUGGAGE--Let each child pack their own bag (with a little parental supervision, of course. You don't have to do all the work and it makes it a lot easier to keep their "stuff" straight.

4.BEACH BAG -- Keep towels and swim suits at the ready so you've got them handy when you need them.

5.PILLOWS, BLANKETS, "LOVEYS" -- The kids can be cozy, as long as they keep their seat belts buckled.

6.MASKING TAPE AND BAND AIDS--They can mark off their back-seat space and decorate with the tape. They can play doll with the band aids.

7.CD and TAPE PLAYERS -- One per child, so you don't have to endure the squabbles over what gets played. You won't have to listen to Barney or the Spice Girls either.  (Can I read Video & TV Traveler into this?)

8.MAPS GALORE -- Laminate them and let the kids help navigate. They can mark the route.

9.GRAB BAG TIME -- A pile of inexpensive wrapped "surprises" you can dole out when the going gets rough.

10.ART BOX -- One per art-inclined child, complete with stickers, scissors, travel journal, markers, crayons and pencils.

11.WATER BOTTLE--One for each person in the family.

12. PLENTY OF HEALTHY SNACKS. The kids will be hungry and thirsty as soon as you've finished lunch and 50 miles from your next stop.

13. FAVORITE ELECTRONIC GAMES AND OLD-FASHIONED DECK OF CARDS

14.BOOKS ON TAPE -- Get them from your local library or video store. You can all listen together.

15..TUNE IN TO THE KIDS--Turn off the music for a while. Get the kids to take off their earphones. Use the time to talk. Now's the time to tell those stories about the time your dad took you on that never-ending car trip.

16. Pack your gear inside of a car top carrier to save room inside your vehicle.