Card Games Provide Fun on the Go

By Nicola Bridges

No matter how much you like to travel, there are times when boredom kicks in and you need to keep your children -- or your adult traveling companions -- entertained. Some of my best memories from childhood travels are the card game sessions of Old Maid, Go Fish and Kings in the Corner. Cards are such a compact game to pack for playing on a plane, while camping, in a hotel room or a cafe. That being the case, I went on a hunt for unique decks. Some are travel-themed, others just fun and cool to play and some are updates on classics.

Uno Show 'Em No Mercy: If you're a fan of Uno, this newest update on the classic will entertain for hours and make you cringe, cuss, cry and laugh in disbelief. That's because it lives up to its description: brutal, ruthless and unapologetic. Makers Mattel have added a bunch of extra cards with ruthlessly tough action cards and penalties that'll have you tearing your hair out (draw 10 cards, anyone?). Warning: You'll need to put on your big-boy pants to handle the merciless new penalties.

Destination Anywhere: Who's the most interesting person you've met on your travels? Which band would you like to tour with for a month? How has travel made you a better person? Table Topics' Destination Anywhere deck has 168 cards with questions to start great (and memorable) conversations and comes in a compact Perspex cube that's easy to tuck into your travel bag.

Mount Cleverest: Do you know if the following are true or false? More people visit France than any other country. The National Museum of China is the world's most visited museum. The world's first drive-thru restaurant was in Melbourne, Australia. If you do, then you'll be a winner at this true-false general knowledge travel trivia game. If you don't, you'll learn a lot. Craving the answers? According to Mount Cleverest: True, more than 89 million people visit France every year. False, the Louvre in Paris is visited by more people at 9.6 million each year. False, the world's first drive-thru was in Missouri in 1947.

GO Deck Games to Play on the Go: This portable card deck on a key ring from Urban Outings clips to a backpack, carry-on bag, stroller, purse or belt and is perfect to help beat youngsters' cries of "I'm bored!" It's waterproof and weather-friendly and features 40 games you can play on the spur of the moment -- around a campfire, in the car, by the pool, on a plane, practically anywhere. The card collection includes guessing, music, travel and word games, from tongue-twisters and Miles or Minutes to Traveler's Alphabet.

Iconic Cats Heads & Tails: Be prepared for some feline fun with this adorable take on the favorite classic memory game Pairs or Memory matching up the heads and tails of 30 beautifully illustrated cat breeds by Spain-based artist Marta Zafra. Revealing pairs of mismatched cat and head tail cards from the spread-out, face-down deck, you'll memory-match breeds you may know, such as Bengals, Domestic Shorthair, Maine Coon and Manx, and get familiar with felines you may have never seen before, such as Korat, Lykoi and Japanese Bobtails.

Po' Up! This oversized card deck for adults 18-plus celebrates Black excellence in a nostalgic homecoming game for Black college students and grads to play anywhere, whether fresh out of college or traveling to a 10-year reunion. It's a fun way to share hilarious moments and embarrassing memories from college past or present.

Double 12 Travel Dominoes: This compact pack of hand-drawn domino-size cards -- just a quarter the size of a regular card deck -- is perfect to slip into your pocket and play dominoes or Mexican Train anywhere you go. Just lay down and shuffle as you would regular domino tiles and let the fun begin.

One More Story: Capture memories from your loved ones about their lives before they're lost to time with this card game deck of 126 thought-provoking questions answering the plea to "tell me one more story about..." Created after the founder's conversations with his father days before his passing, the card prompts categories such as Family & Traditions, Milestones & Achievements, All About Me, Love & Relationships, Life's Challenges and The Future.

Smart Cards Countries: This pocket-size deck showcases seven facts per card, each featuring a country on the continents of Africa, South America, Europe, Asia and North America. It educates at the same time it entertains and offers seven card games in one: Snatch, Happy Families, Pairs, Rummy, Guess in 1, Snap, Trump. You'll learn the tallest mountains of each country, its coastline mileage, population, percentage of green energy and ranking on the global happiness index.

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WHEN YOU GO

Uno Show 'Em No Mercy: www.mattel.com, $14.99

Table Topics' Destination Anywhere: www.tabletopics, $25

Mount Cleverest: www.amazon.com, $14.99

GO Deck Games to Play on the Go: www.etsy.com, $10.95

Iconic Cats Heads & Tails: www.amazon.com, $12.31

Po' Up! www.poup.com, $19.99

Double 12 Travel Dominoes: www.walnutstudiolo.com, $19.99

One More Story: www.buriedinwork.com, $24.99

Smart Cards Countries: www.amazon.com, $9.99

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Nicola Bridges is a freelance writer. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.