With summer winding down, school is just around the corner. All those things you wanted to and places you wanted to see but were put off because of work that remained undone and unseen. It might be too late to road trip to Seattle, but it's definitely not too late to make the most of a last minute summer road trip. So here are some tips to help you fully enjoy the sun in your face, the wind in your hair and the last few weeks before homework.
1. Company
Sometimes road trips alone can be therapeutic and necessary, but that doesn't mean you should spend the whole trip alone. If you're driving without friends, choose to stay with one; drive out to see someone you haven't in a while (see if you can stay with them, then you don't have to pay for a hotel). If you are traveling with friends (three to four, five's one too many in a car), pick friends that are fun, but can be quiet. Someone you won't want to leave on the side of the road after an hour trapped in the car.
2. Music
Music is a crucial factor for any road trip. Since you're spending so much time in the car, shot gun should be rotated, but everyone should update their music and make a playlist before you all leave. I recommend starting with some light old school Jonas Brothers/Jesse McCartney and then moving your way into some Adele. If you pick songs that everyone knows and can sing along to so no one feels left out. You don't want to begin your trip with someone feeling isolated and hostile.
3. Clothes
Pack some cute clothes because you deserve to feel cute, but mostly pack comfy ones you can spend the day driving in. The key here is to pack just enough, if you over pack then you take up more space. Pro Tip: Don't be more focused on what you're wearing than what you're seeing.
4. Place
Pick somewhere to go that's got things you've never seen before. You can pick somewhere that's close to where you've got friends so you can sleep on their couch or you can split a hotel room with your fellow road trip members. But here's the thing, don't go to Mount Rushmore or the St. Louis Arch for the billionth time. Try and pick somewhere that everyone can get on board with.
5. The Road
My next little tip is going to sound crazy, but you have to trust me...Take the highway. I know, I know, why take the highway when you can get there twice as fast on the interstate? But the highway is full of little towns, attractions and sights that you can't see on the interstate. Carhenge? Seen it. Huge Paul Bunion and Babe the Blue Ox? Seen it. And I didn't see any of them on the Interstate. You might make good time there and back, but you'll miss out on a ton of new experiences.
6. Relax
The most important thing hands down on any road trip is to be relaxed and willing to roll with the punches. You will probably get a flat tire, you might forget someone at a rest stop, your mom might text you seven billion times a day, but you need to be calm. The point of getting out there for one last adventure before school is that you get to have some freedom before you have more responsibilities. So don't worry about making it to all of your stops on time, or if you look cute even though you totally crashed on someone's floor last night. Relax, and give into the magic of driving on the open road with the windows down, music blasting on the radio and some friends in the back seat.
7. Musical Progression Suggestion
Guys, I'm serious about that whole music being crucial thing. Here's a few starter song suggestions to get everyone in the mood...
"Year 3000" - Jonas Brothers
"S.O.S" - Jonas Brothers
"Beautiful Soul" - Jesse McCartney
"Sorry" - Justin Bieber
"Love Yourself" - Justin Bieber
"Hello" - Adele
"Someone Like You" - Adele
"My House" - Flo Rida
"My Church" - Maren Morris
