Grownups Guide

TripFLIX was inspired by a long car ride to the beach.

Parents Dave and Ilana Bittner and their toddler, Scotty, packed up the car for a trip from their suburban Maryland home to Ocean City, MD for a weekend getaway. Crossing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, the toll booth operator handed them a printed pamphlet called The Bay Game, which featured trivia and games for kids to help make the drive more interesting.

It was nicely done, but Dave and Ilana couldn't help wondering if there was a way to make an engaging, interactive educational media piece for kids that let them choose their own adventure, from coast to coast. In-car DVD systems were just starting  to become essential equipment for family vehicles, and the interactive capabilities and quality of the DVD format made it the perfect medium for their dream.

They spent the rest of the car ride puzzling through the possibilities, and by the end of the weekend TripFLIX had been born. “We need to do this,” Ilana concluded. “Parents want fun, educational alternatives for their kids.”

After two years of development, a year of shooting some of the most interesting and quirky locations in the continental USA, and hundreds of hours of editing and programming, TripFLIX has premiered to rave reviews from kids and parents alike. Kids love the fun locations and the hilarious presentations by Alex and Emily, TripFLIX's teen hosts, and parents appreciate the quality, educational content, knowing their children are having fun while learning, reenforcing good educational habits.

As parents themselves, Dave and Ilana Bittner are proud to have produced a family-friendly product that everyone can enjoy.