BY AMANDA BLOYE, FW Writer

Whether it’s your first trip or your one
hundredth, the prospect of hitting the road
holds promise, excitement and the possibility of
stories guaranteed to make you laugh for years
to come. Regardless of whom you’re going with,
your reason for leaving or where your travels
are taking you, Fashion Weekly is here armed
and ready with tips to help you achieve road trip
success.

Know your route
Perhaps the greatest piece of advice I can offer on
becoming road trip-ready is to plan your route in
advance. If you have an exact destination you’re
headed to and you know the time you would
like to arrive, it’s a smart idea to plan your stops
ahead of time. Knowing where you can stop for
food and arranging any accommodations before
hand can be lighter on your waistline, wallet
and eliminate any anxiety that is caused by not
knowing your next move.

If you know your destination but aren’t
worried about when to arrive or the route you
take why not add some spontaneity to your drive.
Research the routes you can take and the sights along each one. This will allow you see a little
bit of everywhere and will help you to make the
most out of your road trip. Should you choose
to throw caution to the wind prepare yourself by
signing up for CAA or AAA before hand.

Another necessity? Always make sure you
have at least a half of a tank of gas. That way
if you get lost you’ll have enough fuel in your
engine to make a u-turn and head back to more
familiar territory.

Hunger Pains
Something happens to people on the road where
even the healthiest of eaters can break down from
famine and dine on the greasiest foods known to
man. Whether it is the distant shine of those all
too familiar golden arches or the girl with the red
pigtails telling us to dine at Wendy’s that suckers
you in, rest assured that there are ways to save
your piggy bank from these roadside binges.

A great way to curb this kind of eating is
to pack a cooler with as many of your favourite
(healthy) snacks as possible. Make sure to
include plenty of fluids to keep everyone hydrated
while using caution when handing them out,
as even the strongest bladders can’t hold it in
forever.

Something else to consider is snacks that can
last outside of the refrigerator. Treats such as
seasoned rice cakes, granola bars and fruits like
oranges, grapes and apples is can all remain fresh
with minimal to no cold.

That’s Entertainment
One of the worst things to plague any journey is
boredom. Nowhere is this more plausible than
on the road. Great ways to distract you from
losing your mind are great music or audio books.
No one should leave their driveway without being
armed and ready to sing their hearts out.

Another great way to combat boredom is
with the company you keep. If you are planning
on hitting the road for longer than three hours I
would suggest bringing a friend along with you.
Not only is this great for safety reasons but withboth of you chatting as you drive the hours will
virtually fly by.

Great websites to check out before leaving are
www.mapquest.com or www.maps.yahoo.com
for directions, maps and different ways to plan your route. Another great one to check out is
www.roadtripamerica.com, a website that offers
a forum for individuals to discuss any questions
drivers might have.