It may be an ordeal now with kids but it didn't used to be. When my family went on vacation the kids sat in the back seat and the worst thing we ever did was to ask "Are we almost there yet?" No coloring books, no computers, no video. We were told to look out the window and learn something. They did't have to tell us to be quiet.
I remember playing "Car Bingo" on our long trips, or be the first one to call out seeing a license plate from a certain state.
On long trips we kids played "Cow Poker", counting the cows we saw on "our side" as opposed to the other kids counting them on the other side. Winning the cow count was enough...no prizes at the end of the trip.........cheapo and non-"feeling" parents in the front seat. LOL