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(NAPSI)-Millions of American families plan to hit the road this summer. Whether it's to the amusement park, soccer camp or a visit to Grandma's, one thing's for sure: Parents dread hearing "Are we there yet?" from the backseat.
But instead of threatening to turn around and go home, many families have found a solution. It's how they get there, regardless of where "there" is. They're getting there in van conversions.
Van conversions start as shells that are originally manufactured by one of the major automakers. Specialty companies then modify the vehicles, outfitting them with amenities that transform them into living rooms on wheels. This metamorphosis results in a versatile family fun vehicle complete with plenty of cargo space; comfortable, individual seating; 22-inch flat screen TVs; surround sound stereos; PlayStation2s and DVD players.
"Over the years we've learned that the journey is as important as the destination," says Maria Zerr, a van conversion owner and mother of two children, ages six and four, from Philadelphia, Pa. "With the van conversion, my family is no longer stressed out once we get to our vacation spot. It makes all the difference in the world."
"All the electronic goodies in our van keeps the kids happier," adds Zerr, "and that's easier on us." But she's not the only one to have found the cure for the common complaint.
More than 3.5 million van conversions are driven across America's highways and byways. "Parents are discovering that they're great for driving the kids to soccer practice, going out to dinner with other couples, tailgating with friends or taking an extended family vacation," says David Humphreys, president of the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association.
Families who want to be "road warriors," not "road weary" can visit www.RVIA.org for more information about van conversions. For those re-thinking their summer road trip and are longing for a stress-free way to get there, a quick web search can reveal where van conversions can be rented for a few days, or for weeks at a time.
As parents are learning, van conversions help replace the dreaded "Are we there yet?" with a much more positive question: "We're there already?"