When I was growing up, my dad used to drive the whole family to their hometown every summer as it was the cheaper option compared to flying. Although we only had this road trip once a year, it took about ten hours to get there and since it was so boring, I was always a grumpy cat. However, looking back, our road trips were some of the best moments of my childhood as the whole family was gathered together — something that doesn’t happen often now.
I’d definitely take my family out for a road trip in the future — if I happen to have my own family, especially if we don’t have enough cash to travel somewhere far and expensive. However, I’d surely up my road trip game and do a few things differently.
Pack the essentials
As road trips can become quite boring and treacherous, it’s important to pack the essentials to keep things fun. Don’t forget your AUX cable and phone charger as it can turn the most mundane moments into gold. Make sure to put the right person in charge as the DJ of the car and the whole car can have a fun journey ahead. Another essential items include your favorite snacks and wet wipes to clean up after your mess. Most importantly, don’t forget your to have your navigation system ready — or a map, just so that you don’t get lost. And for emergencies, bring your first aid kit and a spare tire as you have to be prepared with the lemons that life throws at you.
Prepare some games
Nowadays, there are a lot of fun mobile games that the whole car can play together, from Mobile Online Battle Arenas to the more traditional game like Scrabble. Another fun game is for each of the passengers to create a playlist and have the other passengers guess the singer and artists, then have everyone sing along. It brings up the fun karaoke feel and certainly makes the road trip a lot more pleasant. If your phone is running out of battery and no one has a charger, an oldie but still a goodie is I, Spy. It requires no device and also helps everyone to really focus and appreciate the nature of their surroundings during the road trip.
Stop and take a break
If the games and music don’t help in toning down the dullness of the road, it’s best for everyone to break the monotony of sitting down in the car and pull up to a rest stop or a restaurant. Not only everyone can get some fresh air and stretch their legs, if you stop by at a restaurant, everybody can be happy with a happy tummy after a good warm meal. On top of that, you can even incorporate some sightseeing action, if you are going to pass by a certain tourist attraction that you want to see. That way, you can kill two birds with one stone!
Now, you’re ready for the best road trip of your life. So, what are you waiting for? Gather up some friends and start driving!
