Road trips are a great way to get out of town and spend time with the people you love. However, they can also be very stressful and uncomfortable for some people, as they do not travel well by car. This is especially true when you are traveling with kids. Use the following guidelines to prepare for the next road trip you take with your family.
One of the most important things you can do prior to leaving home is to have your car serviced. Include an oil change and fluid and have filter checks performed. You want your car running its best while you make your way from your home to your destination.
Check the air in all of your tires. Be sure to check the air and the condition of your spare tire as well as the tires that are on your car. You do not want to have a blow out on the highway and not have a spare tire that is in good enough condition to use to get to a repair shop.
As you are checking the condition of your spare tire, make sure that all of the equipment that you need to change a tire are in your car. This includes a jack, tire iron and maybe a bag to keep your lug-nuts in as you do the change.
Either purchase or pack a first aid kit. Include things like Tylenol or Aspirin, band-aids, peroxide, Neosporin, etc. in the kit.
If your travel takes you through extreme terrain or climates, be sure to pack an emergency kit for the chance that you could end up stranded along the road. Include a shovel, rock salt, blankets, water and protein bars.
Include several stops along the way. You will want to give anyone that you are traveling with the chance to get out of the car and stretch their legs. Map out the rest areas along the way or some restaurants where you can stop, eat and relax for a bit before continuing your journey.
If you are traveling with children or restless adults, bring some sort of entertainment along. Portable DVD players, handheld video games, laptop computers or travel games should do the trick.
Pack small snack bags so you can easily distribute snacks to everyone that might get hungry or bored while you are traveling. Also, pack a small cooler with refreshing drinks that are not caffeinated. You want to be able to quench thirst without making anyone hyper from additional caffeine.
Inform someone that you trust where you are going, the route you are taking and where you will stay once you get there. Also, set a check-in time that you will use to contact this person to make them aware that all is well. It is best to have at least one person at home know where to look for your car if you do not contact them at that certain check-in time.
Have your camera handy. You need to be able to take pictures of an accident scene as soon as it happens. It is also nice to be able to get pictures of the scenery as you make your way to your destination.
Preparing for anything will make your road trip much more enjoyable. Use the tips above to plan for your next road trip and you will have a great time seeing the country on your way to your destination.
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