The other thing you should do before you depart is to get your car thoroughly inspected by a mechanic you trust. Far better to find (and fix) any issues with it while you're still at home rather than getting stranded on the road and at the mercy of whoever comes out to tow you in.
Honda makes excellent cars. I will add something to what AZBuck suggested above. If you don't already have a AAA membership, this would be a great time to get one. Get the best membership so it has a little more towing, if you possibly can. (Or if you already have AAA, consider upgrading if you haven't already.) The other nice thing about AAA is that you can get maps and tour books for your trip.

Your older child can be taught to be a great navigator. I learned to read a road map when I was about that age, and often insisted on having a map of my own. (My parents would give me the one they got from the state tourism department and use the AAA map for themselves.)

Is your 9 year old a 4th grader (or about to be)? You can get a free national park pass - here's the link.


Donna