Tips for Traveling by Car

Summer is upon us, and with that vacation time.  People will be hoping in their cars and taking off to explore the country.  I wrote this last year and it has some good travel tips for those making car trips.  I thought I would re-post it.

“Thanks to the Interstate Hwy System, it is now possible to travel across the country, from coast to coast, without seeing anything.” Charles Kuralt

 

Driving near Sedona, Arizona

Since I retired from my job as a travel agent, we have had the time to take more road trips. As much as I love seeing other countries, I realize that our country also has a lot to see. And I don't want to miss all the wonderful things there are to see here. Traveling by car does allow you to see things that you miss while on a plane or a train. But it can also be tiring. Long hours of sitting in a car can take a toll on you as much as a long plane trip can. But if you take your time, it can be very rewarding.

Driving near Stowe, Vermont

I remember a group of Japanese tourists that came to see me when I was working at AAA. They asked me to map out a trip for them and to book hotels. They wanted to see some of our national parks and some of our more famous sights. They had 2 weeks, and they planned to go over to the Grand Canyon, then to the Black Hills and Mt. Rushmore, then across to Yellowstone, and then back to California and down through Yosemite and Sequoia. 

A stream in Sequoia NP

I told them that the trip was impossible in that short of a time. They didn't understand how big our country is, and how much distance would be between those locations, they would be in the car all day, every day. They said that they knew, and it wasn't a problem. They just wanted to see those things, and take pictures, they didn't need to spend any time there. I guess, if that is how they wanted to travel, who was I to talk them out of it. But that is not my idea of a good trip.

We all want to cram too much into vacations some times. You think, “when will I ever get back here, I need to see it while I'm here.” But no matter what the urge, we need to plan road trips out so that we have time to see what we are going to see. And as the quote at the beginning points out, that means getting off the interstate and seeing the actual county.

Yosemite National Park

TIP: If going to see several National Parks, consider purchasing the Annual pass at the entrance to the first park. The cost of the annual pass is $80 and will give you and the passengers of your car, entrance to any National Park in the USA, for one year. Since most National Parks charge an entrance fee of $20 per car to enter, if you are traveling to several parks on one trip, it would pay for itself at the 4^th park, and you would still have the pass for the rest of the year, to use for future adventures.

The Senior Pass is an even better bargain. Once you turn 62 you can purchase a Senior Pass for $10. This will get you and any passengers in your car into all the National Parks, and the pass is for the lifetime of the person who purchases it. You must be a citizen of the USA to purchase this pass.

Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

Consider becoming a member of AAA. They will plan your trip out for you on a TripTix. You tell them where you want to go, what stops you would like to make, and they will map it out for you, and give you books on the areas where you are going. I know that with todays GPS systems and the internet, you may not feel this is necessary, but for a long trip, the TripTix is a great tool. And if you have children traveling with you, it gives them something to follow along on. They can flip the pages as you go, and they can see how close they are getting to their destination.

Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada

Here are some other travel tips that we have come up with during our years of traveling by car:

• Don't wait until your gas gauge says empty, especially when traveling in rural areas. Fill up when you see a gas station available, you may get into an area where there are no open stations.
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• Take snacks with you from home, or stop at grocery stores for snacks. Gas stations and convenience stores are more expensive, and have less healthy choices.
• Know the driving laws for the states you are going through. Laws vary from state to state. For example - not every state allows for a free right hand turn.

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  New Hampshire

  Do not drive while talking on a cell phone. It is against the law in most states, unless using a hands-free device.
• Consider joining AAA, they will provide towing and emergency road service in all 50 states and Canada.
• Keep your suitcases and camera equipment, and any valuables locked in the trunk and out of sight when you are parked. 
• Take your own music with you for entertainment. You will not have to keep finding new radio stations every few miles. We travel with our IPOD and CD's.
• If you have kids or dogs traveling with you, make sure you stop often for potty breaks and to stretch their legs.
• Take turns driving if there are several drivers on the trip.
• Make sure you have a good co-pilot to follow a map and get you to your destination, but don't be afraid to wander off the path and see something that wasn't in your schedule.

Near Sedona, Arizona

And the most important rule is to enjoy the scenery, stop and smell the roses, see the sights, and have fun!

Does anyone remember the old Burma Shave signs along the highway? They used to be everywhere, for those of you old enough to remember. They were amusing, and gave us something to look for while traveling. Recently, while driving in Arizona, we came across a couple. They brought back some nostalgia. Here are the 2 we saw:

You can drive -  A mile a minute - But there is no -  Future in it -  Burma Shave

Big mistake -  Many make -  Rely on horn - Instead of brake - Burma Shave

Have Kids, Will Travel?

"There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million. "

Walt Streightiff

 

 
This posting is about traveling with children.  Now, those who know me will say - "Really?"  They know that I don't travel with children.  I'm 65 and our daughter has been a grown up for a long time.  And we have no grandchildren.  So, no - we don't travel with children.  We do travel with dogs, and in many ways it is similiar, but I think they might be easier.

However, when our daughter was a child, we did do some traveling with her, so we do have some experience.  And as a travel agent I certainly had clients with young children, and arranged travel for them.  So I decided it was time to write about this.  When I talk about traveling with children, I am talking about ones that are past the toddler stage.  I would suggest that traveling with babies and toddlers is not going to be a lot of fun, and if you can avoid it, then do.  Either stay home, or get a sitter. 

Books are quite often
good things to pack to keep
a child entertained

When our daughter Kim was very young, the travel that we did with her was mostly by car.  She and I did take one long train trip also, where we had to overnight on the train.  It was to visit my family in Washington and we were traveling from Southern California.  Whether it is a trip by car or by train, or even by plane, when traveling with kids the main thing is to keep them occupied.  They get bored fairly easy.  If you are in a car, then their boredom is only going to bother you, but on public transportation you don't want them to get disruptive, so keeping them busy and entertained is important.  No one wants to see your children running up and down the aisle of the airplane, or listen to them crying from boredom.

We were lucky in that respect, as our daughter was always an avid reader.  Give her a book and she is entertained for hours.  That doesn't work with every child.  Today there are things available that we didn't have.  You can always take a computer and some child friendly movies along, and that will usually keep them entertained for quite awhile.  There are different kinds of games you can take along also.  What ever your child is interested in, take things along that they will enjoy doing, and will keep them busy till you get to your destination.

Most Children love the beach

As for destinations, that should also be taken into consideration when traveling with children.  There are places that are much more child-friendly than other places.  And places that children will enjoy more than others.  For instances, a young child will probably not enjoy a trip to Europe where you are exploring historical sights or shopping.  They will get bored quite quickly.  But on the other hand, going to a beach is always fun for children.  A week on the beach in Hawaii can be quite a nice family vacation.  So plan a vacation that all will enjoy, and hold off on those other types of trips until the children are old enough to enjoy it.

Children at a Museum for children
Interactive exhibits

Even if you are going to a city, there are things you can plan around the children.  Most large cities have museums that are geared towards children.  They are usually interactive and educational, but also fun.  You might also find a play that would be fun for the children - such as The Lion King.   Most large cities also have a zoo, which can be a fun thing to do one day.  Find things that relate to your childs interest.

A cruise can be a great way to travel with children.  Especially if you choose a cruise line that caters to children, such as Carnival or Disney.  Both these ships have kids programs onboard, which will keep the kids entertained, while you have some free time to relax and enjoy yourselves.  And if you choose a destination that has shore excursions that they will also  enjoy, then you are set.  The Caribbean is always good, because kids love the beach.  Alaska can also be good with kids, there are things to see along the way from the deck of the ship.   You can sometimes see whales even.  And the shore excursions can be fun for kids.  There are train rides and you can spot moose and other wildlife.

Harry Potter Theme Park
at Universal Studios, Florida

And of course the ultimate vacation for any child is to go to any of the theme parks.  Disneyland, Disney World, Universal Studios with the Harry Potter area, Six Flags Magic Mountain or Sea World.   You can build your trip around one of these parks, and take in other things in the area while you are there. 

A word on taking your children to Disneyland or Disney World, or for that matter - any type of theme park.  These are always fun places for kids, and they will love going there, but if your child is under the age of 4, there is not a lot for them to do in these parks.  Most rides have an age or height requirement.  And a long day at the park is going to make even older children grumpy.  Small children need naps and have short attention spans.  If you wait until the child is older, then their first experience with the Disney parks will probably be more fun - for everyone involved.  I have seen people with babies at the parks, and I have to wonder what they are thinking.  It doesn't make any sense to me.  The baby certainly is not getting anything from the experience, and everyone else is limited as to what they can do.  Do yourself and the baby a favor, get a sitter and leave the baby at home!

Here are a few suggestions of things to keep kids busy while traveling:

Today many cars have DVD players built in.  These are great for keeping kids entertained if you are traveling by car.  On public transportation you could put the DVD on a small computer for them. There are also hand-held electronic games and you can also load and ipod up with each childs favorite music and they can listen to that while traveling.

Let the kids choose a few things they want to bring. Give each child there own “suitcase”—a laptop-sized bag—that he can fill with whatever toys or books they want to bring on the trip.

Make a "Vacation Book" which will tell them about where they are going and activities that they might be interested in when they get there.  It can be adapted for non-readers by adding lots of coloring pages relating to your destination.

Consider buying your kids their own digital cameras. You can get some inexpensive ones.  They can take pictures along the way and document their trip.  And with digital you don't have the expense of printing up a bunch of pictures that don't turn out.  You can only print up the special ones, and they can have their own photo album of their trip.

 If driving, stop every couple of hours so they can take a bathroom break, stretch their legs and let off steam.  If you can find some fun places to stop, so much the better.  In Arizona there is a stop where you can see Dinosour footprints, and there are things like the "World's Largest Twine Ball.

Take tasty, but nutritious snacks along.  Avoid items with lots of surgar or caffiene since the last thing you want is for your kids to get overactive or hyper.

Enjoy your travels with your children, they do grow up fast, and before you know they are off on their own.  Those family vacations will be great memories for you and for them.

10 Tips for Getting Through Airport Security

"Most travel is best of all in the anticipation or the remembering. The reality has more to do with  losing your luggage."

Regin Naelson

Going through security at the airport can be a dignity stripping experience. With the holidays coming and more people traveling right now I thought I would post some pointers to make it faster, and easier:

• Pack your laptop or any other electronic devices so that they can be easily removed to place in the bin. All electronic devices must go through the Xray machine out of their cases
• Knives, scissors and other sharp instruments cannot be carried in your carry-on.  Either leave them at home or pack them in your checked luggage.
• If you are carrying liquids, they must be under 3oz. and be in a plastic bag. Have that bag ready to take out of your carry-on and place in the bin.
• If you are carrying gifts, do not wrap them until you arrive at your destination. Wrapped gifts may have to be opened for inspection.
• Have your ID ready for security personnel, including boarding pass and government issued ID (passport - if traveling out of the country).
• Have any watches, pocket change, jewelery, ready to place in bin. Any metal items can set off the alarm.
• Do not take drinks with you through the security area. They will be confiscated. You can purchase drinks once you clear securty.
• Be ready to remove your coat, belt and shoes. These will need to go in a bin to go through the Xray machine.
• Avoid over packing items in your carry-on to avoid spilling if your bag needs to be opened for inspection.
• Be patient and keep your sense of humor. Do as the TSA request and don't argue or make jokes, they don't necessarily have a sense of humor and people have been arrested for joking about hijacking planes.