Women's Interests

O kay, so it may not be as adventurous as Thelma and Louise, but a summer road trip across the country could be an adventure of a lifetime. Your next road trip could be a easy as packing the car and heading for destination unknown with family or a friend - spending a few days at campsites, lodging in cheap motels and eating cheap, tasty foods that's so not good for you. Of course, only those who don’t mind surprises or a few bumps in the road should attempt this fly by the seat of your pants kind of travel. But if you like to plan your trips, down to when you will be arriving at each destination, a road trip can still be a fun adventure. It's all in the getting there.

Common Sense For The Road

Although road trips are supposed to be spontaneous, common sense planning before your trip will go a long way in making the trip is a joyous one. There are no rules for the road, but here are a few things you should follow before setting out.

The small Details - When you are holed up together for days on end, even the best of friends can start to get on your nerves - especially if you don't see eye to eye on certain things. You may want to bed down in the car, while she may want to stay in a hotel. Sharing and splitting of accommodations, driving and money matters need to be discussed before hand as bickering can get in the way as your personal space diminishes to within an arm's length.

Road Trip Worthy. It's also common sense to make sure that your car is road trip worthy. Have everything checked by a mechanic before you leave for your trip. Make sure you have car essentials listed and checked off: registration and insurance are in order; extra set of car keys; blankets; first aid kit. Emergency kit: Flashlight. Jumper cables. Tools. Tire iron. Jack. Spare tire. Maps.

Safety on the road is possibly the most important aspect of your trip. Travel with a cell phone if you can. Let someone know where you are going and possibly when you will be arriving. Try to keep in touch with a quick phone call. Use your judgment and go with your gut feeling when you're out on the road.

Add a little or a lot of comfort, it's up to you. Take along lots of bottled water, snacks such as fruit bars, game boy. Your favorite pillow from home in case you want to curl up in the back seat. And of course, a variety of good music for those long empty stretches of road. The ultimate road trip must have music you can sing along to at the top of your lungs.

Accommodations

If you are a true road aficionado and you'll pull off somewhere to pitch a tent, accommodations won't be a problem. Still want that road feel, but need to feel safe? You can spend a few days at a campground and meet other like-minded folks. And if roughing it is just not for you, then try to vary your stay at different kinds of places - motels, lodging in people's home and if you have the budget, maybe a nice bread and breakfast in a small town somewhere.

Part of the road experience is the people you meet along the way. If you are out for the human experience, and crashing a small town isn't enough for you, how about couch surfing? It is hooking up with strangers and spending a few days with them. It's cultural exchange for the traveler that extends over 204 countries.

Couch Surfing.com is a website where registered users can host travelers or find places to stay. These hookups can be as short as dropping in on your way through, pitching a tent or staying on a few months. The website has testimonials and even stay safe tips for couch surfers.

Food and Culture

As for food, yes, we know the golden arches or Burger King are landmark comforts from home, but occasionally, venture off into the small towns and sample their little restaurants or cafe's. Life is an experience and eating is no different. Give your taste buds an experience to remember. Long after the trip is over, you'll remember the taste of that scrumptious onion soup from that dinner in "whatchamacallit."

And while you're there, in these small towns, soak up the culture. Most places are having their summer celebrations this time of year and small towns are notorious for fairs and festivals. Join the locals and soak up the small town charm in their pubs or outdoor concerts before moving forward. It's a guaranteed good time if you open yourself up to the experience.

Memorialize Your Trip

Like most travelers, you'll want to record your experience. Start a travel journal- jotting things down as you go. A great idea is to take along a bunch of stamps and grab a few post cards and mail them from the town you're in. Mail them to yourself or let somebody know that you're having the time of your life. Take lots of pictures. The disposable cameras are wonderful for road trips because you don't have to worry about losing something expensive, plus if you are living out the back of a car or a backpack, you won't be afraid to bang it around.

The Road is Your Oyster

Once you're on the road, you'll feel like the world is yours to do whatever you choose to do. That is the beauty of the road trip; it's all up to you. You control the schedule and how long you want to spend each time you stop. You'll feel liberated, and hopefully, your bond or friendship with the person beside you will strengthen as you crisscross the country.

Be prepared to have the time of your life. Be open-minded. Be adventurous. A road trip may not be a life changing experience for you, but it's a way of experiencing life from a different perspective. Maybe you'll learn something or two about yourself. While there is a Chinese proverb that says it's better to have read a thousand books than travel a thousand miles, there's a lot to be said for life experience.

Copyright ©2007 Sure Woman.com/Dawn G. Prince

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