Everyone loves a road trip. You roll down the window to feel the breeze in your hair, turn up the radio to your favorite song and sing every word. Then it starts to rain and up go the windows. Your station has lost signal and now you have just been detoured to who knows where. Here are a few tips to help make your road trip something to remember, instead of something you want to forget.
Listen to the radio. Satellite radio is excellent for long road trips because you won't lose signal as you move from territory to territory and it offers a huge variety of music and talk.
Bring your favorite CDs, maybe even some of your not-so-favorite CDs, depending on how long the car ride is going to be.
Read a book or magazine. Make sure you are able to tolerate reading and riding in a moving vehicle at the same time. You might even want to bring a book or brochure about your destination and read aloud to the driver. A long car ride also provides an opportunity to work on crossword puzzles, word searches or Sudoku.
Watch a DVD. Whether you have a DVD player built right into your vehicle, or you bring a portable player with you, movies definitely help to pass the time. If you have a good battery, you can also watch movies on a laptop computer.
Take naps. You don't want to sleep the entire trip because after all getting there is half the fun. Plus, if you're sleeping the whole time the poor driver is bored out of his mind and could even fall asleep himself.
Snack on foods that don't make a big mess. Chips or other dry foods are your best bet. You don't want to eat anything that can stain the upholstery or anything with a foul odor. Be sure to limit your drink intake otherwise you will be stopping for a restroom break every few miles, making your trip even longer.
Play games. "I Spy" is an old classic that just about everyone knows how to play.
Switch drivers every couple of hours. This way everybody can get a chance to take a nap, watch a movie or read. Keeping one driver the entire trip is great for the passenger, but think of that poor soul behind the wheel for hours upon end, not able to put up their feet or rest their eyes.
