Reds, yellows, greens, and all shades between blur past the tempered glass windows by the backseat of the Chevy passenger van. I keep dodging a swinging sock wielded by a nearly-six-year-old who answers most questions with a raised-eyebrow “tchya”, and continue to hunt in vain for a comfortable position for my cramped legs.

Nine bodies and their luggage (and an extra for a few days the first weekend) were crammed into a 12-passenger van for a 9+ day road trip tour of New England. Things we learned:

• Potty stops take exponentially longer with preschoolers.
• Potty stops are exponentially more frequent with preschoolers.
• Potty stops are significantly extended by adults who realllly don’t want to fold back into van seats.
• Pennsylvania is a really funny name to a five-year-old.
• Boston is a city of rain and people and tired feet.
• Massachusetts is really wet. But Cape Cod is a redeeming point, especially with whale-watching opportunities.
• Maine is a gem.
• Acadia National Park beckons return visits.
• Maine is lovely.
• Sunshine exists in New Hampshire. As do LOTS of rocks.
• Cog railway rides up the side of Mt Washington are worth early morning camp breakdowns and breakneck drives across the state of Maine.
• The Kancamagus Highway lives up to its fall foliage hype. I’d reckon it’s even more beautiful to view than it is difficult to pronounce.
• Playing peekaboo with an 11-month-old from the backseat never gets old.
• Vermont is a fine state to celebrate 50!
• Snacks in a bag are helpful to stave off hanger in kids and adults alike.
• Niagara Falls is big and wet and wonderful, and evokes both giggles and exhausted slug-on-the-ground displays.
• Ohio is not afforded an opportunity to shine when van inhabitants sense Wisconsin is nearing.

13 states, 3000+ miles, and countless smiles later? A road trip for the books.