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You need this list of road trip must haves, because whether you’re headed camping in a national park or to your favorite summer destination, you’re going to wish you had packed these items!
When I was growing up, we went on a lot of family vacations. We started off with camping in tents, because when you have a family of five, your money is better spent on a campsite than hotel rooms. As I reached my teens, my parents purchased a travel trailer that slept eight people.
I can remember trips to the Grand Canyon, Pismo Beach, & San Luis Obispo. Although the destinations were different, the protocol was the same. My sisters and I loaded up the trailer/car while my dad supervised. He had this way about making sure everything fit in a nice, neat, (and tightly fit) package. We used to joke that he could make room for anything, and, well, he could.
My dad always had a cooler in the car, no matter where we went. He would pack it with all kinds of goodies- soda, bags of candy, chips, crackers, you name it, and he had it. Now that I’m older, I’ve come to realize that, while I don’t need to pack as much as my dad did, there are some road trip essentials that everyone needs.
I’m headed to Palm Springs on a girls’ trip with my two sisters, a couple of our cousins and some friends. I’ve simplified this list and tailored it for such trips.
5 road trip must haves for a girls’ trip:
Snacks – You’re bound to get hungry on the road, so packing a few snacks is a must. You don’t want to over-do it, because most likely you’ll either stop half way for lunch or eat dinner once you reach your destination. Nuts are a great source of protein and chocolate because, well, chocolate.
Book on CD – I’ve been traveling to California quite a bit lately for family celebrations, and it’s a full day’s drive. You need some entertainment if you’re going to be in the car that long A romance/mystery/paranormal book is perfect for a girls’ trip. My sister and I like to check them out from the library. It’s free, and they have a wide variety of genres.
A Playlist of Favorite Songs – We love music. Not only does it entertain us, but many of the songs bring back memories that spark conversation between the two of us. Most of these songs remind us of a specific event, such as a movie it was featured in, dancing to it at a school dance, or the crush we had on the artist that sang it. We know all the words, so we have fun singing along.
Soda – Soda and road trips just seem to go together, so when I saw the 28-can family pack of Share a Coke and a Song Coca-Cola campaign sodas at Sam’s Club, I knew we had to have them. Each can has a song lyric on them, making them perfect for sharing and playing a guessing game with my sister on the drive. I can already name several of the artists {no, I didn’t cheat} and I’m sure she can, too. Plus, with a 28-pack, there will be plenty of Coca-Cola to share once we reach Palm Springs. {I found them on the back wall between the bakery and the health & beauty}
Magazines or Games – You never know if the book on CD you checked out from the library will be a good one or a dud. Packing a magazine or a puzzle book, like a word search, {my personal favorite}, is a great plan B. Plus, there’ll be something for me to do poolside, although, I have a feeling I’ll be having too much fun chatting with the girls.
I don’t get to spend a ton of time with my sister, so I’m really looking forward to this trip. And, even though it’s a full day of traveling, I know I’ll be able to say “I’m on top of the world” being able to share a Coca-Cola and “A moment like this” with her.
What are your road trip must haves?
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