There are four elements to a perfect road trip: the company you keep, the snacks you eat, the playlists you listen to, and the sites you see along the way. While those are essential to enjoying your time on the long and winding road, you also have to keep in mind that there are travel necessities that could be crucial to your safety and security while on your trip.
In my humble, road trip amateur opinion, these are the things that I think you absolutely need to make the most of your time in the car and to stay safe on the road.
PACK THE TRUNK
Your mom and dad warned you when you first started driving to always keep an emergency kit in your trunk. That doesn't change when you leave for a trip by car or truck no matter what you need to pack. I recommend keeping your emergency kit as compact as possible in order to have optimal packing space. Mine currently includes jumper cables, two $2 fleece blankets from Wal-Mart, a flashlight with extra batteries, a candle, a rain poncho, a first aid kit, an LED light to flag someone down in the dark, and winter weather preventatives (ice scraper, de-icer, etc.
For those of you who wish to purchase an emergency kit, check out this amazon link!
https://www.amazon.com/Blikzone-Roadside-Assistance-Emergency-Essentials/dp/B072F28HHK/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1540486824&sr=8-15&keywords=car+emergency+kit
Also, make sure you have a spare tire, jack, and other equipment necessary for changing a flat!
THE BACK SEAT
The back seat of your car should be reserved to passengers who think they might fall asleep, essential snacks- duh. However, if you're traveling as a duo or a trio, the back seat can prove itself the best location for things you might "need" as you drive. I recommend a soft sided cooler (space optimization) with water or your drink of choice, a jacket or sweatshirt for chilly climates, a bag with gum, Tylenol or Ibuprofen, seasonal items (gloves, sunscreen, chap-stick, etc.), and a blanket for napping.
YOUR SNACKS
Piggybacking on the back seat situation, snacks are the most critical part of your road trip. Because you want to keep stops to a minimum, choose snacks based on you and your preferences. Personally, when I shop for road trip snacks, it looks like a 4th grader was given $100 and left unsupervised. Typically you want to stick with easy snacks that won't spoil or make a mess. Below are my personal preferences, healthy or otherwise.
Snacks: White Cheddar Popcorn, beef jerky, fruit snacks of any variety, trail mix, kettle cooked jalapeno chips of any variety, Lara Bars, bananas
Drinks: Water & Diet Coke
YOUR PLAYLIST
I have a unique taste in music, but thankfully everyone I have ever been in a car with for more than 2 hours also share my musical preferences. From 2000's throwbacks to Broadway show tunes, I have a personal playlist for everything. Indie music tops the list of things to listen to in the car, but for every road trip there's a soundtrack and it's up to you to decide how to set the tone of the trip.
Embedded are my absolute favorite playlists. I'm an avid Apple Music stan, but I've provided the Spotify lists for user friendliness.
YOUR SIGHTS TO SEE
Some parting thoughts... always make sure the person you're traveling with is someone you are comfortable spending long periods of time in small spaces with. You want to be able to be comfortable in silence or casual conversation. Don't drink too much! You don't want to pee 12 times on the road, and the people with you don't want to stop unless it's necessary or convenient. And always, always stop and change drivers if you're getting tired. Safety comes first for all involved. Get out, walk around, and stretch.
Roll your windows down, put on your sunglasses and go.
Ciao,
Courtney
Comentarios