In April, Calvin's mom tells him that they're going to drive out west this summer, and they're thinking about going to the Grand Canyon. Calvin ignores her, as he's watching television. In May, Mom comments that it's just a couple months until the drive west. Calvin is eating cookies and reading comic books, and once more ignores it. In June, Mom shows Calvin the suitcase she picked out for him. Calvin is preparing for a game of Calvinball, and barely even looks at it.
Cut to the present, where Calvin's parents rouse him up for the trip, which takes him by surprise. Calvin packs his inventions in the Hypercube, and Hobbes uses the MTM to call Calvin's friends, who later enter by the window. Calvin asks them to do chores while he's away. They're a bit put out by not getting to go with him, though they calm down when Sherman comments that not going with Calvin will mean not getting involved with the big and dangerous thing that's likely to happen on the trip. After giving them a brief rundown on what they are and are not to do, Calvin leaves. He promptly falls asleep in the car.
Meanwhile, back at the house, Andy, Socrates, and Sherman hear rumbling from underground. They rush to the living room to find it what it is. Turns out, it's Dr. Brainstorm, who tunneled through the floor to attack Calvin once again. Brainstorm, of course, fails to intimidate them in the slightest. Brainstorm produces his new invention, the Zapper-Dapper-Mocha-Frapper. Andy thinks that this will take one and a half minutes. Socrates tells him to make it two, since he (Socrates) needs the exercise. Jack watches, eating a bag of popcorn.
On the way to the Grand Canyon, Calvin is still bored. His mom tells him that it's a family vacation, not a prison sentence, and Calvin then points out that being stuck in the car really does resemble a prison sentence. Mom's response is "Okay, maybe it is a prison sentence, but doggone it! It's a family prison sentence!"
Calvin remains bored as they go to several tourist attractions: Mt. Rushmore, a museum, Stonehenge, a place with trees so giant they had tunnels cut in them for the cars, and then finally the Grand Canyon. While Dad considers hiking around it, Calvin meets Klein the Guide. Calvin decides to go with Klein instead of hiking with his parents.
Back at the house, a beat-up Brainstorm retreats. The gang think that they should probably fix the hole in the floor, but not right now. They're interrupted by Dave, Lenny, and Biff (Rupert and Earl are on vacation). They ask Socrates (who went out to deal with them) to give up the earth, but are stymied by Socrates refusing.
At the Grand Canyon, Mom and Dad are going hiking while Klein is taking Calvin to his office. There's a security camera room that can get views from all over the Grand Canyon, and an endless supply of doughnuts and hot dogs, as well as soda. Calvin, of course, thinks that this is awesome. He gets into a belching contest with Klein. Meanwhile, Calvin's mom is getting tired with hiking and decides to go back. Calvin's Dad, being the nature-loving lunatic that he is, wants to go on.
Calvin wins his contest by belching into a megaphone, transmitting the sound all over the canyon. Even Mom and Dad hear it. Unfortunately, it causes a small landslide, and traps them both on a small ledge. Calvin is oblivious to this, and goes to watch a movie with Klein.
At the house, Socrates gets the Zokians to leave by giving them milkshakes- one chocolate, one strawberry, and one peanut butter. He then tells the rest that they have to handle whatever comes up next.
Tropes
- Artistic License – Geology: There's no way they could have passed Stonehenge on their way to the Grand Canyon, as Stonehenge is in England.
- Easily Thwarted Alien Invasion: Dave, Lenny, and Biff are thwarted by their requests being refused, and leave the Earth in exchange for milkshakes.
- Genre Savvy: Sherman points out that if they stay behind for the road trip, they'll probably be spared the episode's problem.
- Wrong Genre Savvy: He turns out to be only half-right; they're spared the main conflict, but have to deal with all of Calvin's reoccurring villains.
- Harmless Villain: These two quotes pretty much sum Dr. Brainstorm up:Sherman: Pal, the hole you just came out of is deadlier than you.Socrates: The wood you just tripped over is more threatening you.
- Pass the Popcorn: Jack does this when Andy and Socrates are getting ready to beat up Dr. Brainstorm.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: Klein the Guide.
