In early December 2016, as snow blanketed the world outside of Arizona, Lyle was dreaming up ways to make Christmas special for his wife, Melissa. He wanted to capture the essence of their unforgettable 5,000-mile road trip with their six kids. The trip was a whirlwind of adventure and chaos. What better way to commemorate it than with a board game that would bring everyone to the dining room table to relive memories from the trip again, and again.

Lyle spent weeks designing the game, meticulously crafting every detail. The game board was a colorful map tracing their route through Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and New Mexico. Each state was represented by photos of destinations from the journey: the jagged peaks of the Badlands, the majestic faces of Mount Rushmore, and the serene expanses of Rocky Mountain National Park.

The game is more than just a photo filled board; it is a living record of their trip. Players move game pieces across the board starting with their first stop on the trip, Monument Valley. As players move across the board, they may land on a Pick a Memory card space, reliving a specific memory. Each card advances the player in the game or sends them backwards depending on the memory. All 108 cards recount a funny moment from the Family Lake Camp, fact about the wedding in Wisconsin, or why one of the kids thought the van’s ceiling was leaking. Some spaces lead directly to “grandma and grandpa’s house,” while others represent the Wisconsin Dells or a stop on the roller coaster in Green Bay, WI. The memory cards are the heart of the game, each one a snapshot of the trip.

The game was a hit. It wasn’t just about winning or losing; it was about celebrating their shared experience. Each round brought back memories of the places they’d visited, the people they’d met, and the bond that had grown stronger with each mile. And as they played, Lyle and Melissa knew they had created something far more valuable than a simple board game. They had crafted a lasting tribute to an extraordinary journey—a game that would keep their adventure alive for years to come.

A custom board game is also a unique way to capture your family vacation, a milestone, birthday, or anniversary. Friends and family can all contribute their memories to be included in the production of the game, creating a keepsake to be enjoyed by generations. Want to showcase something else...call us. Let’s talk about your idea.