So in a weeks time my mother and I are loading up our cat and a few things to head all the way from Ontario to BC, moving back to BC after a stint out East. It's a long grueling drive. We did it from BC to here last year and while we're preparing a lot better than we did then (thought we had it all figured out, ha ha, not at all) I'm wondering if anyone can come up with some tips or suggestions based on personal experience?

My two problems are this: riding in the car makes me drowsy, and I can never sleep in a car.

Sounds insane I know. The best I can do is nod off and immediately jump awake.

So any tips to stay awake, alert, and aware? Nibbling on snacks is good I know (any good foods?) but I can't watch videos, play games, anything like that. CDs we have covered, though we're not big on listening.

And any tips on falling asleep in a car? I hate, hate, hate sleeping out in the open. Sometimes we're going to have to park and nap and my mother can do it fine, but I can't at all. I end up more exhausted because of it.

I always take a pillow and put up against the window and wear my sunglasses that way it's darkish and I can block stuff out pretty well.

Take night-time cold medicine? Knocks me out. :D

you might consider putting a towel in the window for a bit while you drive. it would help you subliminally consider the seat a closed environment (from onlookers) and it should help you snooze. i also agree with getting a nice neck pillow or standard pillow.

heck, i personally use both a neck pillow around my neck, a standard pillow up against the window AND another standard pillow under my arms. i'm terrible :P

:) Thank you for the tips everyone.

- I can't read in a car because I get sick, so I often get "books on tape." It might help to keep you awake if its an interesting story, or put you to sleep if its boring.

EDIT: and something my boyfriend and I used to do a lot was play games. Trivia games work best because you don't need the whole game to enjoy it and keep awake. The passenger reads the questions to the driver and both can try to figure out the answer. Another car game, if there are plenty of other cars around, is to make words out the letters on plates. Use the letters in order, and the fewest amount of other letters to make a word.

Ha ha, we aren't much of game people but I will give it a go. The trivia sounds fun! :D Thanks for the suggestions.