Over the river and through the woods… it is that time of year again. Millions of Americans will hit the road this week to enjoy the holidays with friends or family. Now, more than we have seen in decades, people have begun to appreciate the beauty of the road trip. Some of that may be due to the high cost of air travel, but it might be that hard times make us look for ways to appreciate what we do have… such as family.
As a boy, we took a road trip nearly every Christmas to a very small town in Northern Michigan. The home we visited belonged to my aunt and uncle and was much too small for their family, let alone sharing it with ours. Nevertheless, we found a way to make it work and spend the most important times together.
The trip there usually took most of a day. We didn’t have any iPods or CD players or even cassette players then. My sister and I would sit in the back seat and play rummy together most of the way… that is when we weren’t fighting. The food was crappy and the ride was long, but it was some of the most memorable times of my life.
savour… roadside diners
HOLIDAY ROAD TRIP
If you are considering a road trip this holiday season, be prepared for adventure. Road trips can be a great deal of fun if you plan well. Having all of the essentials available will make the trip much more enjoyable. Be sure to bring bad snacks. This is the time to live a little. Keep your hands on the wheel and sing your heart out with the kids. They will never forget it.
Road Trip Checklist:
- First Aid Kit
- Lip Balm
- Sunglasses
- Blanket(s)
- Travel Pillow(s)
- Cash and credit cards
- Keys
- Watch
- Reading material
- Umbrellas
- Pocket knife
- Bag for trash
- Memory cards
- Camera/Video Camera
- All appropriate chargers
- Laptop
- Compact DVD player and DVDs
- CDs / iPod
- Car outlet adapter
- Maps and/or GPS
- Tissues
- Hand sanitizer
- Paper towels
- Gum
- Bottled water
- Cooler
- Snacks
- Toys/Games for kids
