Forget the Plane. Travel by Car.

November 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Grand Canyon, Arizona. The canyon, created by ...
Image via Wikipedia
If you are the type of person who enjoys traveling by car then it is important to have a reliable car like a sedan.  Road trips are exciting.  There are so many things to see as you ride down the road in a car.  This is unlike flying where you do not have the advantage to stop and enjoy sights along the way. On a road trip, you can stop and see things like South of the Border off Interstate 95 or the Grand Canyon out West.  Being able to stop at places like these can give you memories to last a lifetime.
Simply flying over the Grand Canyon just is not the same as stopping and experiencing it.  That is why I recommend driving and enjoying a trip on the road.  And if you are going to enjoy a drive down the highway, make sure you pick a safe, dependable and affordable car with you.  And if the car you drive is old, not maintained, and a bit on the small side; maybe it is time to look into buying a new vehicle.
Getting a spacious, mini-van or suv would suit a small family well when journeying across the country.  One thing to remember is to not let car prices stand in the way of purchasing the car that is right for your family.  Do your research and finding the right price on your next new car will not be as hard as you think.  And buying a new car should be looked at over a used car because of the long trip ahead of you.  When you are out on the road, having that new car and new car warranty could be a bonus if you have a problem on your family road trip.  So think long and hard about how you will reach your vacation destination.  Remember half the fun is in the journey and a taking the family on a road trip might be your best choice.
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3 Rules for Road Tripping

August 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment
WHISTLER, BC - FEBRUARY 25: (L-R) Miriam Goss...
Image by Getty Images via @daylife
Perhaps you have made the smart move to do something different with your vacation this year. Maybe you have decided to go against the usual place and ideas and have decided to get back to the time honored tradition of the cross country road trip. If you have then good for you. You should be excited about making the choice to enjoy the journey. There are more than a lot of places you can go by car but for you it’s about doing the trip right and enjoying every minute of the experience. If you are dedicated to doing the trip the right way and having the best memories of a vacation you have ever had then you need to follow a few road trip rules.
1. Stay off the highway – This is obviously just a title but it’s true to a lesser degree. Anytime you can take a back road you should. America is about more than the interstates, it’s the long roads that run alongside the interstate that have that personal flavor and flare that stretch through the mountains and down into the valleys and across the great planes of a great nation. Taking these really takes you through the heart of America. Use them when you can.
2. Stay Away From Chains – Every city has the usual big name places to eat. Avoid these places. This trip is about getting to know the flavor of your country and each part of the country and each city is uniquely different so take the time to enjoy the cuisine of each city. If the place has a specialty and it is something you think you would like, try it. But make sure to enjoy the food that is different than what you can get anywhere.
3. Stop When You Want – Don’t make the trip about a place to be but rather the things to see. Stop when you can and check out anything that suits your fancy. Road trips are made up of little moments and small memories that can last a lifetime.

Perhaps you have made the smart move to do something different with your vacation this year. Maybe you have decided to go against the usual place and ideas and have decided to get back to the time honored tradition of the cross country road trip. If you have then good for you. You should be excited about making the choice to enjoy the journey. There are more than a lot of places you can go by car but for you it’s about doing the trip right and enjoying every minute of the experience. If you are dedicated to doing the trip the right way and having the best memories of a vacation you have ever had then you need to follow a few road trip rules.
1. Stay off the highway – This is obviously just a title but it’s true to a lesser degree. Anytime you can take a back road you should. America is about more than the interstates, it’s the long roads that run alongside the interstate that have that personal flavor and flare that stretch through the mountains and down into the valleys and across the great planes of a great nation. Taking these really takes you through the heart of America. Use them when you can.
2. Stay Away From Chains – Every city has the usual big name places to eat. Avoid these places. This trip is about getting to know the flavor of your country and each part of the country and each city is uniquely different so take the time to enjoy the cuisine of each city. If the place has a specialty and it is something you think you would like, try it. But make sure to enjoy the food that is different than what you can get anywhere.
3. Stop When You Want – Don’t make the trip about a place to be but rather the things to see. Stop when you can and check out anything that suits your fancy. Road trips are made up of little moments and small memories that can last a lifetime.

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Road Tripping With Friends

August 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment
College Road Trip
Image via Wikipedia

The idea of taking a road trip evokes a romantic feeling. It’s you in your car, with your tunes and the open road. It’s you exploring the vast landscape of the country and taking on the sights and sounds and people that come along. It’s diners with worn down booths and countryside that holds more promise than you ever thought possible. It’s can be the best time of your life so you think “why not share this amazing experience with my friends?” Doing a road trip with your friends could be one of the best and worst ideas of your life depending on what ground rules you put in place. If you play your cards right you’ll be waxing romantic about this for year. If you do not you could end up never wanting to take a road trip again.

Gas – Don’t make the mistake of letting gas be paid for in turns. This causes all kinds of problems with who filled up when it was at empty and who filled up when it was at a quarter tank, plus each state has differing rates for gas and it could end up giving one of your passengers the short end of the stick. Do it this way: everyone put in 100 dollars  for gas. At the end of the trip if there is any left every can split and if you need to re up then everyone should put in the same amount.
Food – Decide as a group when you are stopping for big meals. If someone needs food in the meantime you can hit a gas station but it’s best to stop as a group or you’ll spend your trip looking for food. Also, do not make a collective fund for food. Everyone eats different portions. It’s only bound to work out unevenly.
Silence – There are lulls in the trip and there will be times when you just need quiet. Don’t force a conversation if it isn’t there. There will be plenty of time to talk. Just sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.
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Summer Road Trip Ideas

August 11, 2010 By Leave a Comment
A Disney bus in Walt Disney World, Florida
Image via Wikipedia

Road trips can be an exciting way to experience your vacation and there are more ways than one to explore this type of vacation.

One exciting road trip is to revisit a childhood journey. Perhaps your family drove to upstate New York one summer and you can recall some of the places you stopped at. Reliving that journey can be self fulfilling as well as fun for the entire family. Map out where you and your family would like to visit, eat and stay and try to have an end result in mind such as visiting the grandparents or stopping at a theme park once you arrive.

Speaking of theme parks, how about a theme park trip? Take the number of days you are traveling and try to visit a theme park or attraction every day or every other day. A good place to take this type of trip is in Central Florida where you can find Disney World, Busch Gardens, Sea World, Universal Studios and a host of other attractions that can only be found in that area.

Plan a staycation near to home. If you’re on a budget or don’t have enough days off from work to take a long trip, you can plan things to do near home. Find attractions, places to eat and places to visit within a 100-200 mile radius. Not only will you save on money by being able to come home each night but you can invest your money into your own local economy and enjoy adventures you may not have considered before. You can always rent a motel or hotel room if you want but have the option of driving home as well.

No matter what type of road trip you want to take, treat it just like you would a four star vacation. It doesn’t have to be complicated to have one of the best trips of your life.

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