Whether you are heading across the state or just across town to a special restaurant here are some fun road trip tips to keep your travels heading in the right direction.
Have Keys, Time To Travel!
Wow, so
you are ready to take a road trip? Sound
daunting? Well, short or long you never forget a road trip experience.
My
favorite road trip of all time was a rather long journey that my son, Blake and
I took the summer after he turned 16. We
mapped out a series of national parks and hopped in the SUV while pulling a pop
up camper over a 5700 mile course. Camping behind redwoods in Northern
California where the trees were wider than our vehicle was a highlight. My
favorite part was the hours of time that Blake and I spent talking. We covered
most every topic a mom and son can find and pulled into the driveway three
weeks later closer than ever.
On the
much shorter side of road trips, one of the quickest and easiest trips is a
journey across town. When I first moved to Texas it amazed me that “a piece
down the road” meant anywhere from 10 to 50 miles. The fact is that driving for
“a piece” is pretty easy here in Texas and a couple hours to find a unique or
tasty treat is well worth the effort. Not sure where to go? Pick a
recommendation that is featured in the newspaper or be more adventurous and
pick out a new type of food from a directory site such as B4UEat.com, read a
review or two and head out. Houston is
rich in selections and you can find something new and intriguing with a pretty
short drive.
Planning
will help you on any road trip, short or long. Think about these simple items
to keep you rolling smoothly to your destination:
Change
your oil and handle other basic maintenance before you leave. It is not any fun
to spend part of your trip at a repair shop and preventive maintenance really
does make a difference.
Research
the roads you will be travelling. You can search out hotels and attractions
before you leave and remember to check for traffic concerns too, especially in
Houston.
Buy
tickets for special attractions before you leave. There are often discounted
rates and coupons for everything from museums to restaurants and hotels.
Invite
your friends. Trips can be a lot more
fun in groups, and you may find you have different friends for different types
of trips. For example: I am a really good person to call when you want to
search out food! Hint, hint!
Get your music ready! Don’t wait
until the night before to pick your tunes. Remember your car charger for all of
those handy accessories too.
Most important, fill up the tank and go have fun!
Happy Driving,
Lynn Beckwith
That Car Lady