Life's Sweet Journey: #TravelTuesday 18// 5 Ways to Enjoy a Road Trip

Tuesday, July 11, 2017

#TravelTuesday 18// 5 Ways to Enjoy a Road Trip

Happy #TravelTuesday fellow adventure lovers!! 
It's time for another link up (join at the bottom of the post)!!

I have been all over the road lately, so I figured I would take today to share some of my favorite items for passing the time on a road trip! 

Ways to Have Fun on a Road Trip

This post comes at a perfectly fitting time too, because I have been road trip crazy lately! First, we are trying to plan (and then fully execute) our big getaway, in which life will become one never-ending road trip, but secondly, we have been road tripping from Florida to North Carolina- and then between NC and Tennessee- for the last three weeks. On Sunday we will be loading up again and heading back to Orlando. I would like to think I have this road trip thing down pretty well! Maybe it was because my parents started us out with time on the road from a young age, but I LOVE a good day in the car and have found many ways to make the time more fun! 

Here are some of my favorite ideas for enjoying a road trip to the fullest... 
1.) A Whole Heap of Great Books! 
This is first and foremost my ultimate happiness on the road; give me a good book and endless hours to read and I will be in absolute bliss-mode! Here are my top 10 favorite road trip titles: 


10 Great Book Titles

- The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern- My number 1 recommended book, no matter what list it is! Such beautiful imagery and imagination!  
- Unwritten by Charles Martin- Really anything by Charles Martin, but this one- a story all about redemption and finding a way back to yourself- is my favorite of his.
- The Winter People- I actually haven't read this one yet, but I LOVE Jennifer McMahon for when I am in the mood for anything spooky! Bonus: It's currently on sale for less than $6!
- The Nightingale- For if you are in need of a good cry! Kristin Hannah is another favorite author of mine and, while I don't usually like historically based novels, this one was drew me in from minute one. I read it on one of our very first RV road trips and Babe literally had to pull off at the nearest rest area, because I was just sobbing like a baby by the end of the book and he wasn't sure what to do with me! 
- The School for Good and Evil series by Soman Chainani- A fairy tale series for younger readers, these books are filled with so much fun and adventure that even older readers stay hooked! This is a series all about friendship and finding out who you truly are. Also, I thought it was just a three book series, but when looking it up to add here I found out there is now a 4th. I guess I know what I will be reading on my next road trip!!
- The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd- Combining my love for honey and bees with a beautiful story of the things that bring people together, this is a definite must read!
- Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen- Another favorite author, I love the touch of magical realism she throws in her books. They are easy reads, and sweet stories, perfect for finishing in just a day's drive!
- The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls- While I am not usually a memoir reader, this one was chosen for book club and had me hooked from start to finish. It's also set to be a movie, released in theaters soon, so if you are a "must read the book first" type of person it would be the perfect time to read it.
- The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood- I haven't read this one yet either (or watched it), but I am super intrigued.
- The Harry Potter series by JK Rowling- I would be remiss if I didn't include my favorite of all time favorites ever! While I know the entire world knows of Harry Potter and has either chosen to read it or not, if you are the latter, I just have to say "please give it a try!" I swore up and down I wasn't jumping on the bandwagon, but now, 10 years after I first did, I have read the series multiple times and am now currently listening to it on audio book!!

**Audio books are another great  road trip go to, especially for when you are driving it solo! While Babe usually listens to music while I read we sometimes like to listen to a book on tape (dating myself haha) together. Right now, anyone who signs up for a free Audible trial for the first time, can get two free books instead of one! 

2.) Fun Road Games!
We play these, especially when we take my nieces and nephews with us (once a year, 10 hours, 4 kids!); our go-tos are...
* The Grocery Store game- one person starts as "it" and they say "I'm going to the grocery store and I am going to buy something that starts with the letter ____". The rest of the car plays against each other to figure out what the person is buying. For example, it could be something easy like carrots, in which case that usually just gets guessed without any clues and the first person to say it gets to be "it". Usually though we try harder things (anchovies is a good one) and then people ask yes or no questions to get clues ("is it a meat?" "Do you find it in the produce section?"). If no one can guess it and everyone gives up the person who was it wins and gets to go again.
* 21 Questions- Someone picks a category (Person, place or thing) and something that falls into that category, without telling anyone what it is, and then the rest of the car works together to figure out what that person is thinking of by asking 21 yes or no questions. If the car figures it out within the 21 questions they win, if they don't the person wins and gets to go again. (A really great option for trying to stump the car- Rubber Cement)
* The Movie Game- Everyone goes around saying titles to movies, but they have to use the last letter of whatever movie was said prior as the first letter of their movie. For example, if the last movie said was Jaws then the next movie has to start with letter S. Movie titles can not be repeated and if someone gets stumped and can't think of a movie (or repeats one) then they are out. This continues until only one person remains and they win! To make it easier, if you have little kids, you can also include books and TV show titles.
* The Question Game- This is perfect for a car trip for two; you basically just go back and forth asking fun questions that you both have to answer. It's a great "get-to-know-you-better" or "what-if-daydreaming" option. Babe and I also play this on long hikes and ask things like:
- Would you rather live on the beach or in the mountains?
- If you could go anywhere in the world right now, where would you go?
- If all jobs paid the same, what would you most want to do?
Most of our questions somehow circle around to being about travel, but hey, can you blame us?! Each person answers the questions, even their own. If you have a hard time thinking of new things to ask we love Table Topics card sets! They even have a Table Topics: Road Trip edition!

*When we take the kids we also grab some board games that are easily played in the car, to keep them occupied so that we can enjoy some quiet time while he drives and I read (we love TroubleGuess Who, and Connect 4 because of the minimal amount of pieces that could get lost)

3.) Yummy Snacks!
We typically load up a cooler for the car; it saves us stopping more often, as well as spending too much at the gas station when we do stop! I have been loving Amazon lately for stocking up on snack items. It beats grocery store prices and saves me a trip to the store. You can typically find my Amazon guy delivering boxes of Vita Coco coconut water and KIND Bars (less than $1 each?! Yes, please!)!

4.) Pretty Places to Stretch your Legs!!
5 Ways to Enjoy a Road Trip
Some days we are really just having to book it but, when we can make it happen, finding a nice place to stretch your legs, even for just 5 minutes can make a huge difference! Usually before a road trip I will try to research road side attractions that are a quick in-and-out or look for any outside areas that might be nearby. Keep an eye peeled for signs too and then use your phone to see how far off the exit they might be. On this most recent trip we saw a sign for High Falls State Park and lucked out with it being not even a 5 minute drive off the highway!! We were there just long enough to get in a bathroom break and then walk around admiring the falls for a few minutes, but it gave us a chance to get out of the car and get the blood pumping again!

5.) Good Jams!
I am all about a good road trip sing along!! Babe may roll his eyes to most of my singing, but I think he secretly loves it!! I'm usually jamming to country, but sometimes we like to mix it up a little. What is are your go to tunes on the road?!


And those are 5 of the ways we pass our road trip time! 
Any tips from any other road warriors out there? 
Share them or any other fun travel posts in this month's link up! 

Link up below and let's travel together!! 
A Travel Blogger Link Up from Life's Sweet Words
~On the 2nd Tuesday of every month I will be sharing a new travel post and would love to see where you have been exploring!
~Any linked posts will be pinned under Travel Tuesday on my Pinterest account. 
~Please leave a little love on the post directly before yours and then anywhere else you like! That way we can all grow this community together :) 
~Not many other rules, as I am not a huge fan of those sorts of things! Just add any travel related link and I encourage you to peek around and see where everyone else has been. 
~Feel free to grab the image from the sidebar and add it to your post so others know where to link up. 
~I will also be sharing my favorite post from the month before. June's fave was from The Urben Life, because I am all kinds of itching to get to Yosemite NP and Jenna's pictures from her First Timer's Guide to Yosemite just spurred on my desire to get there ASAP! 


31 comments:

  1. I don't enjoy being in the car much, so thanks for these tips. will try them out

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    1. You bet! Some people hate it, but I just say find something you love to do when you have down time and bring it along for the ride :)

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  2. Road trips are my fav! The memories are the best!

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  3. I've read the Harry Potter series probably about 5 or 6 times in my life and I'm constantly watching the movies haha addicted!

    Beauty & Colour | Vegan Lifestyle Blog

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  4. I get car sick super easily when I'm in the car, so I'm all about a great audio book! I swear by tips 2-5 too! Always makes it more fun when you've got great snacks, good music, beautiful views, and fun company!

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    1. Couldn't agree more! Bummer on the car sickness :( I understand that! I get carsick too, but as long as I am sitting in the front seat and we are on a straight, no-traffic highway I can read. Once we hit the mountains though I have to switch seats and drive, because I just can't hang!

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  5. This is great! I'm soon going on a roadtrip in Sweden and this reminds me I need to make a playlist. Also love the sound of those games to keep the little ones entertained
    - Cydney

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  6. My boyfriend and I like to play the license plate game while driving. I even have an app on my phone that helps keep track of the plates we've seen. We usually make bets on how many different plates we each think we'll see (I always guess too low). When we road tripped to Montana last year we listened to a lot of podcasts. We got really into the Presidential podcast, which sounded boring at first, but ended up being really interesting.

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    1. I have really wanted to start getting into podcasts, just haven't made the leap yet! I have heard so many recommendations and I think my husband would really love them. Will have to look into that one. Thanks!

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  7. these are great tips! thanks for hosting!

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  8. Road trips and books? Why will I lug them when the whole world is in front of me to read? )))

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    1. Very true! I usually only read on the highways where there isn't much to see. But I always have an eye peeled :)

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  9. Oh I WISH I could read in the car. It makes me nauseas, but good call on audio books (and Harry Potter!!!!) I also love listening to Podcasts in the car.

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    1. I really need to jump on the Podcast train!! Any you would recommend?!

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  10. I love road trips! I usually read a book or listen to music and admire the scenery. And the tip to play games?! This is genius, never thought of doing that <3.

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  11. Snacks are SO IMPORTANT hahaha. I couldn't do road trips without snacks! Love your book recommendations, too, I need to get back into reading in general.

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    1. It's so hard to be able to fit in time to read; I barely read anything during the beginning of the year. That's why I love road trips so much! So much time to read!

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  12. Love roadtrips! Unfortunately, I can't read in a car without getting sick. But, I live gor the snacks, detours and music. Really nice list and I'll check out the books to read at the hotel!

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    1. Car sickness is definitely no fun! I am lucky I can read in the car at all, the conditions have to be just right.

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  13. The writings are so mesmerizing, you can’t spend a minute without them.
    Resumeyard

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  14. I read The Night Circus and LOVED it! Such a perfect road trip read.

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    1. Right?! Such an amazing book! Actually one of my highest recommended books. I always share that when anyone asks for a new book to read :)

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  15. Such GREAT tips, friend. I especially love the books and stretching in pretty places. Brilliant!

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    1. Thanks Shan! While I love to break it up, I could honestly do a good 12-14 hour trip with just a book if needed. Love long stretches of time to read!!

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  16. I am SO with you on audio books for car trips! I can't read in the car anymore, but having an audio book to listen to helps the miles go by faster and gives you something fun to listen to. (Also, the HP audio books are AWESOME! I just finished listening to the entire series!!)

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  17. The most important tip to me is to travel with the right person or group of people!

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