Planning the perfect road trip - Part 1- Why Road Trips?
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Sometimes we are so focused on BIG trips to faraway places that we forget there are some pretty amazing things right here in the USA. I’m not just talking about Lucy the Elephant in NJ, I mean some absolutely amazing places, attractions and incredible nature.
The idea of a road trip might conjure up thoughts of hours upon hours sitting in a car, dirty rest stop bathrooms and fighting. Lots and lots of fighting. You may have some of that! But road trips are also an economical way to see amazing places and go on unforgettable trips. So let's bust up those old attitudes towards road trips and talk about ways to make them some of the most memorable trips of your life!
First and most important: time in the car can be some of the best time. It doesn’t have to be a nightmare. Get everyone in on the hunt for license plates from every state. Print up a sheet of street signs to look for, or different types of cars. Want to take it to the next level? Create a road trip scavenger hunt! You can create your own, or the team at PlanItForU can take care of it. Pack lots of snacks, and break out the movies if you need some time for everyone to zone out. And don’t worry about clean toilets! Believe it or not, there’s an app for that. Download Sit or Squat, an app from Charmin that rates nearby restrooms.
What do you want to see? Notice how the first question is not “where do you want to go?” That’s because road trips are not always about the destination, they are about the journey. Do you want to check out national forests? You may want to see amazing historical sites, or maybe you need to find the best outlet malls the country has to offer. I once knew someone who wanted to go around the midwest visiting used book stores. If there is no particular place you HAVE to go, jump to the next step and then go back to a map to see what there is to do and see in your travel radius.
How many hours do you want to be in a car at a time? Some people are fine with long stretches to get from point a to point b. Others really need no more than 2-4 hours of driving a day. This will determine the structure of your days.
Don’t overplan. Yes, you heard me right. Planning is literally what I do and I am telling you not to do it! Well, no, I’m not telling you to not plan AT ALL, but I am saying to give yourself space. I recommend that before you set off, arrange all of your overnight locations (some might be two nights depending on what interesting stuff is in the area) but make sure to set up refundable reservations so you can change your plans if the mood hits. You can’t control the weather, so it’s wise to scout both indoor and outdoor activities for any area you’ll visit. That way, you’ll never get rained out of your plans. Flexibility is key. Plan maybe ONE daily destination but leave time open to stop randomly along the way. See something that looks interesting along the way? Stop. See a sign for a cool roadside activity or attraction? Do it.
A road trip might not be a week at a resort with drinks with tiny umbrellas (for those not new here, you know I have a thing with these drinks) but if you set up the structure of the trip and know your personal limitations going in, you can have a laid back journey in your own backyard.
Next up: What to pack in your road trip Go Bag.