Driving long distances requires stamina, especially if you’re going it solo. Mentally breaking up the trip into three or four “legs” can help you feel accomplished and less despondent along the way.
Whether you stop at the beginning of each leg or push through, the feeling of a “new beginning” is a refreshing way to look at the next 200 miles.
Wearing sunglasses and a cowboy hat helps too.
[Image credit: Luke Robinson]
Road trips all over America can be made into fun family adventures by simply investing in a few Frisbee golf discs. Disc golf courses can be found all over the country, from urban, technical courses to woodsy, hilly courses that offer beautiful views; the best part about this game is that it is free and fun for all ages!
Before your trip, map out a few Frisbee golf — or “frolf” courses — and any time your muscles start aching and you want to get out and stretch, detour a bit to a “frolf” course and start throwing.
Rules of play and a course locator can be found at www.pdga.com.
Bonus: while frolfing, you may meet some locals who can provide tips for dining out on the road or other fun detours.
Boarding pets while you’re on vacation can be costly. So why not take them? After all… they love a change of scenery, too!
If you can take your pet with you, avoid letting him or her “over drink” on the trip, as a result of stress. This can lead to vomit spells. (Of course, be sure to let your pet get enough liquids during the ride!)
One way to prevent your pet from over drinking is to get a kid’s sand pail; fill it with ice; and let the ice melt. As it melts, the pet can drink from the pail — but because the ice melts slowly, your pet can’t over drink!
When going on a road trip, you often have no idea which stops you’ll make along the way. You may have a planned destination, but not every stop will be outlined in advance. When I think of road trips, I think of long distance and this is a reason you should bring a bathing suit: You may decide to stay all night at a hotel — or you may find a great view by a lake.
Although the ideal decision may be to go skinny dipping in the lake, it may not be legal to do so in some of the states you’ll pass through. That’s why it’s always a great idea to bring a bathing suit — just in case.
(And who knows? You can always ditch the suit at the shoreline, if you want to!)
For a longer road trip, renting an RV can be a great way to make your experience memorable. These homes-on-wheels come in a wide range of sizes and prices, so there’s something for just about everyone.
The big advantage of traveling in an RV is the flexibility it offers. With a kitchen, bathroom and beds in the vehicle, you can decide where and when you stop — which means you won’t be tied to an itinerary. And when you’re in an RV, the road can be just as fun as the places it takes you.
Bonus: the money you save on lodging and food should cover most or all of the cost of the rental and fuel.