The winter break is the perfect time for the family to get together and go on a road trip to the picturesque mountains, forests, and other cities. When the school is off and the holiday season rolls around, it becomes more than exciting to take a break from monotonous routines. What could be better than a road trip to relax your brain and have a good time? Since road trips are meant to entertain, rejuvenate and make everyone happy, let’s explore all the things you may need for a successful road trip.
No matter what vehicle you choose for a trip, space is always an issue to accommodate everything. Your packing strategy needs to be precise to the extent that you do not over pack, nor you pack the bare minimum. It would be best if you pack everything that make your fellow passengers comfortable. All the things described in this post are specifically listed to be of your use. You’ll be glad that you read this post before leaving for the trip.
Maps, app or paper, doesn’t matter
A map is the basic essential every trip requires. You can buy the old school paper map to help you on the road. If you are a technology inclined person, you must spend a little time with a map app to plan your route, rest stops, and driver swaps. You can even engage your kids in mapping activities to avoid the backseat chaos, which the kids love to make. There is often a chance that your phone loses network or your map app fails to work. So, it is better to carry a road atlas in your car despite the availability of Google Maps and Maps.me. Choose the map that you are comfortable with, or use a mapping software software to quickly determine distances.
Power bank to the rescue
Whether you are an Instagram enthusiast who loves to dress up in a genuine leather jacket to post about your wanderlust or a parent who loves photographing their kids, your family road trip is incomplete without great pictures. Clicking multiple pictures, consuming digital content for entertainment and using the map services on your phone could kill the battery life. Packing a power bank suitable for all the smart devices that you carry is the best thing you can do for the trip. Since majority of the family members use one or the other smart device, it’s essential to carry a battery pack.
Car organizers aka lifesavers
When we buy cars, we often fail to calculate the amount of mess that a vehicle can accumulate. When you plan to take the entire family on a road trip, it is essential to install car organizers on the back of the seats. The multiple pockets make it easy for the passengers to reach for wet wipes, hand sanitizers, energy bars and any other thing that you might need. If you travel with kids, you can set up an entire organizer with toys for their entertainment. A car organizer will only do the right for your family.
Wireless speakers and headphones to listen to your favorite music
Driving long distance is unsatisfactory until you have good music playing. Carrying wireless headphones and a speaker on a family road trip comes extremely handy. If majority of the passengers plan on listening to country blues, while you want to listen to your favorite podcast, you can go ahead. Since both the devices do not take up much space, you can easily carry them together.
Books, for entertainment and enlightenment
Books are the best companion for any trip. Whether you go solo, with your siblings, or with your kids, reading on the drive is a sure shot way of spending quality time. Carrying a classic paperback book or few selected e-books on your kindle will keep you entertained and give you a little me-time on the road. You can also carry arts and activity books for your children to keep them happy. Moreover, you can listen to good audiobooks on the way if your passengers are okay with it.
Snacks that are street smart
Frequent snacking is a staple of every family road trip. However, if you continue to eat unhealthy foods, your stomach and energy levels will not let you stay with the journey. You should avoid greasy, high sugar and salty foods so that your stomach doesn’t bloat and your energy remains constant. Try carrying fruit snacks, healthy energy bars and an assortment of dry foods that keep you full and sated. Beef jerky, cheese snacks, popcorn snacks, and fresh fruits are ideal for any age group.
Emergency kit
Whether you’re going across the state or you are on a cross-country trip, carrying a fully equipped emergency kit is essential for any car. Bringing a container filled with flashlights, Swiss knife, a few screwdrivers, and a first aid kit will help you a lot on the road. You can also get the emergency road assistance kit from Amazon to help you with the trip.
Neck pillows, blankets and other things that comfort you
Being comfortable on the trip asks for a few extra things to pack. Carrying a neck pillow, a blanket, and a travel appropriate mug for each passenger will keep everyone happy, It can dispel any problem that can pop up between kids or adults with differing needs. Pack a few extra packets of gum, sunglasses, and binoculars too.
In the end, family road trips are the best memories for children and adults. So don’t forget to make sure that you stay in the moment and enjoy as much as u can!
Author Bio:
About Ashley Rosa: Ashley Rosa is a freelance writer and blogger. As writing is her passion that why she loves to write articles related to the latest trends in technology and sometimes on health-tech as well. She is crazy about chocolates. You can find her at twitter: @ashrosa2.