Travel Board Games

1. Boggle Carabiner Mini Travel Game Keychain

A miniature version of this class word scramble game; it even has a tiny timer.

2. Settlers of Catan - Travel Version

Settlers of Catan is hugely popular, and probably the best-known of the "German-style board games", which aren't necessarily German (though they usually are), and which are aka "Designer" or "Euro" games: they're challenging and can be played in an hour or two. (And they have a very cool style of cards and "board".)

3. Travel Scrabble

Scrabble of course is a classic, and fun to play with older kids; buy yourself a travel version to take on trips.