Road Trip!

As the temperature rises, we are swiftly approaching the road trip season. And like most 20-somethings, I find the thought of jumping into a car with a bunch of friends and driving aimlessly across the country to be quite appealing. And yet with gas prices as they are, I think it is safe to say that fewer and fewer people will be taking very many road trips this summer. However, if you are like me and still wish to spend at least some time on the open road, then read on as I share some of my favorite road trip tips.

• The first rule of road tripping is – no drinking and driving, no texting and driving, no eating and driving, no nothing and driving. I don't mean to sound like your mother here, but when you do that stuff, you endanger everyone on the road.
  
  
• Second, always pack a hibachi grill. Let's face it, the best part of road tripping is tailgating! (“Tailgating” as in cooking out of the back of your vehicle, and not as in driving so close to the point of rear-ending someone). So pack that grill in there with everything else and fire her up every chance you get. Well... ok... perhaps not every chance you get. Somehow I don't think it would be a wise idea to barbeque a couple racks of ribs while tearing down the highway at 90 miles an hour...
  
  
• If one of your road trip mates happens to be a bit on the flatulent side of things (be it proudly or otherwise), insist that that person sit in the back seat. This will prevent the driver from becoming distracted by the foul stench of fermenting pizza and tacos. Plus, if you have electric windows, the driver will easily be able to open the rear windows to air the place out, whether the farter likes it or not.
  
  
• Bring along a map. Eventually, you are going to have to turn around and go back home. So be certain that someone is recording your route on a map. This will enable you to easily find your way back when your vacation ends. (Or when you get so sick of your road trip mates that you can't take it anymore and head back home in silence – which is probably the more likely scenario...)
  
  
• And lastly, enjoy the ride. The goal of road tripping is not the destination, but rather the journey. So take your time, stop off to see that World's Biggest (insert silly object here), take lots of photos, and have some fun.

I hope you find these tips helpful as you head out onto the open road. Oh, and one last thing to keep in mind as you're road tripping across the country – never EVER sit down on a truck stop toilet seat!