Having a Back Up Plan
If you are one of my regular followers, you know how important I think having an alternate plan is; I hate surprises and always try to anticipate problems ahead of traveling with my family. As much as I try and plan when I pack a suitcase and pack the car for a trip, undoubtedly something unexpected will come up.
While there will always be some things out of my control, and some things I just won’t anticipate, knowing how I will deal with the unexpected when it inevitably comes up takes some of the pressure off of me. Here are my top tips:
My New 2018 Chevy Equinox
Over ten years. Almost 193,00 miles. All around the country. My 2007 Chevy Equinox served me well. I loved that car. I regret not taking more pictures with it at stops along our road trips. That car saw a lot of the American landscape. I wouldn’t go so far as to say the car was a member of the family, but it did protect and serve my family for a long time.
So, after lots of saving, planning for our largest (to date!) summer road trip for 2018, and seeing great incentives from Chevrolet, my husband and I decided to purchase a new car.
Holiday Gift Guide 2017
This might seem odd: a family travel blogger posting a holiday gift guide? Absolutely! I have been offering advice and my personal experiences to so many people recently, I thought I would share with everyone.
I am a huge proponent of giving experiences for the holidays instead of material possessions.
6 Ways, Besides Photographs, to Preserve Your Travel Memories
I love photos; I am convinced I am Shutterfly’s #1 customer. Not only do I print photos, but I also create lots of gifts and mementos of our travels through Shutterfly. Look for an upcoming post on using Shutterfly to create unique memories of your travels. I also scrapbook, both as a hobby and as a way to preserve our family memories for my children. I literally have dozens of scrapbooks filled with thousands of photos. But today, I want to focus on things you can collect while you’re traveling so you have tangible reminders of your travels.. Many of these items can be displayed in a variety of unique ways so that they do not turn into clutter. Here are my top 6 favorite keepsakes:
10 Items to Bring on a Road Trip
If you have not noticed by now, I like to be prepared. As much as possible. I often overplan. I’ve shared some tips for how to pack a suitcase and how to pack a car, but recently I read an article from Real Simple (Cash- Saving Hacks for Everyone Vacation, June 2017) ,one of my favorite magazines, that reminded me of some things I like to purchase ahead of time. Buying these items before I leave home helps me avoid running to a grocery store or pharmacy in the middle of an adventure, or late at night: