6. Create the right ambience inside
your vehicle. Take along your favorite music
and audio books. If you
want to enhance the road trip mood, consider Lost
in My Own Backyard, On
the Road, or books that focus on the places you're
visiting. Christopher Buckley's Washington
Schlepped Here is a good choice for Washington,
D.C., and Mark Twain's Roughing It is great for Nevada
and California. Great road trip music abounds, and it's
a frequent topic of discussion on the RoadTrip Forum.
7. Plan to keep a journal. Most
people take pictures, but far too few keep journals. Even
if its just a few words, jot down what happened at the end
of each day along with all your trip data-mileage, stops,
weather, expenses. It will serve you well when you plan
your next trip, and the next time you visit the road trip
forum, you'll be the one with useful advice for a novice.
For a good example of an online journal, check out Travels
with Thurman.
8. Hang loose! No matter how much
you plan, there are still plenty of things you can't control.
This is why lots of people hate road trips, but it's why
we love them. You really never know what lies around the
next bend, because the moment you go there is like no other
moment in all of time. We can tell you what Old Faithful
was doing the last time we saw it, and you can look at a
Web cam image
to see it right now, but what will you see when you get
there? No one can tell you. So please go and check it out,
and when you get back, tell us about it. Road trips are
adventures into the unknown, and reliving them through sharing
makes them even more enjoyable.
We wish you all the best as you plan
your next road trip, and the Road Trip America community
is here to help. We add new features every week, and your
questions, comments,
and suggestions are always welcome.
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