Road trips are a really exciting way to travel. You don’t always need to have wireless internet or a computer to have fun. Road trips will have you bond with your companions, see parts of the country you’ve never seen before, relax, and travel on your own schedule. Let’s face it: there’s no way for your flight to get delayed or cancelled when you’re driving to your destination! You also won’t have to worry about cramming all of your stuff into a tiny carry-on bag or worrying if your luggage landed in Atlanta while you were landing in Boston. Even with all these benefits, road trips definitely require a certain amount of time-killing activities. Here are some ways to keep your road trips fun.
- Make a mixed CD, tape, or playlist on your MP3 player. Nothing goes with cruising better than music, so make a collection of driving CDs. Be kind to your companions and include songs they’ll want to listen to as well. Be careful of too much mellow music, however: low-key music can increase tiredness.
- Pack a cooler full of snacks. Sodas, sandwiches, chips, hummus, veggies– it’s up to you for what you want to take, but it’ll make the road trip more fun AND economical. You’ll feel less like you’re trapped in a car with a cooler full of goodies to take with you. If you’re a serious road-tripper, check out the coolers that plug directly into your car’s cigarette lighter. It’ll relieve the need for frequent ice stops.
- Download a bunch of podcasts. If you’re one of those people who think that podcasts couldn’t be more boring, think again. Podcasts keep your mind more active than music, but they don’t require as much concentration as a book on tape. If you’ve got an interest, someone has made a podcast about it. You can find podcasts about anything from pop culture to microbrews, from books to music.
- Take a book of riddles or trivia. The passengers can read the book aloud so everyone in the car can play. It’s a great way to stay active and engaged with each other after the conversation has run dry. “Would You Rather” books are also great.
