Road Trips

I recently watched a Songland episode (TV Show on NBC) where they were looking for a song for a Jeep commercial and the story turned to tales of Road Trips.  As the artists talked about the feelings this would invoke in their audience, feelings of youth, adventure and freedom, I knew they were right.  I felt all those things. Memories from my youth came flooding back. Road trips around the Cabot Trail with family and road trips to no place in particular with great friends were always a beloved adventure. The joy of preparing picnic lunches and playlists accompanied by a nonexistent schedule always made for great fun.

Now, extended periods of time in a car with family was not all sunshine and roses. Deb and I had many moments of squabbling for sure but conversations, laughs, car karaoke, storytelling, and the characters in the car become the entertainment. Being stuck in a confined space with people creates a unique experience. There is something wonderful about being able to go from one place to another while experiencing all that is in between together as well.

I think back to some of the things I got as a child. Were we spoiled when it came to presents? Yes, but the best things when I was young were the times spent laughing, singing, and telling stories with family. Our trips around the Cabot trail cost a tank of gas and a grocery bill, but that feeling of being on vacation was priceless. Our Mom had this way of making the process of preparing as much fun as the event itself. She had a knack for making work fun. There was more than a little Mary Poppins in that lady.

Now family trips were not the only road trips we enjoyed. Dance and band, competitions and concerts had us on the road a fair bit when we were younger. We once drove in a bus from Nova Scotia to Ontario. What should have been a less than enjoyable trip was more like having a mobile sleepover with 20 of your closest friends.

So here, I thought I would provide some road trip tips I have learned over the years:

Music matters: You need to have music that everyone can handle. There are the classics based on the taste of the people in the car, but everyone one should have at least a few of their favorites that get played. Ask my husband about driving with three women for 7 hours while listening to Pink. If it were not for the sprinkles of Fleetwood Mac and Pearl Jam, I think he would have lost his mind.

Treats matter: A friend recently sent a picture of her and her family in the car ready to head back to the east coast. It was the classic – Looks like a kid raided a candy store scenario!! It was candy, chocolate and a whole lot of goodness. I also have friends that come with coolers of home baking – yes, I know how lucky I am!!

Decide to be Flexible or Plan: The detours, the unexpected stops are often the most fun. You can find some wonderful gems when you let yourself just explore. But if you are traveling with someone that needs to at least have a frame to follow, respect that. The important thing is to decide beforehand and be sure all parties agree. It makes for a much more pleasant drive.

Bring Entertainment: No, I am not talking about tablets, or other electronics (although they are fabulous when things get tense or people are too bored) but I am talking about old school interactive things. Checklists for different license plates/buildings/animals/street names, trivia games, name that tune knock offs, anything that helps with conversation and interaction.

The final two tips are two great treats I learned from two fabulous people, my grandmother and a dear friend from my time in Halifax. They are entertaining ideas for those traveling with little ones: Mary’s Mental Hide & Seek and The Goodie Bag.

The milk dish in this photo was given to me by my Grandmother, Mary MacAulay.

Mary’s Mental Hide & Seek is a great little game my grandmother would play when all the grandkids were at her house.  We first decide on a location. If you have been traveling over multiple days, it is good to choose a place you have just been. Everyone picks a place within that location to “mentally-hide”. You do not share your location with anyone else.

Then, in clockwise order starting with the youngest, everyone takes turns asking questions to figure out where everyone else is hiding. On your turn, you could ask anyone about where he or she is hiding but they have to be able to answer with a yes or no. Now this may sound a little funny, but when we would all start playing and laughing – it was great fun!

Now The Goodie Bag has more of a story. A dear friend of mine recounted for me a road trip she took with her daughter. They were leaving their home to move to Alberta from the East Coast. Not having much more than what was in her car, she made a choice that would lead to a better life for her and her daughter. Not wanting her daughter to be scared she decided she needed to do something to make it fun. She went to the equivalent of a dollar store and bought a variety of little treats. She could not remember all the things but said she had games, paper and pencils, puzzles, candies and little teddy bears. She wrapped them all up and divided the driving time by the number of presents she had. Then she instructed her daughter that every so many hours she could open something up. When her daughter would open up a present, it amused her for a while and by the time the present stopped entertaining her, she got excited with anticipation of the next item.

So if you are looking for something fun and exciting that will not break the bank, consider planning your own adventure. Your friends and family will thank you for the memories you will make.