Road Trip Essentials: How to Stay Stress Free on the Road

Hi guys!

This is the last post in a series on essentials for traveling.

As I started writing my book on how to road trip in style, I really did my research. I decided to study my most stylish bohemian friends that live their lives traveling and somehow do it with that je ne sais quoi ease to figure out the kind of things real girls need for the perfect stylish road trips.

I set out and made a few of my wanderful friends the subjects of an in-depth anthropological study. I excavated the beauty products at the bottoms of their makeup bags. I deconstructed their closets to analyze their aesthetic. I watched them pack up art supplies, photo equipment, and musical instruments. And at the end, I discovered essentials for perfect travels.

I've shared what to pack, glamping essentials, desert necessities, beauty must haves, and how to stay healthy while traveling. And now, this post is about the fun things when you'll be spending a day in the car! 

Here's my necessities for stress free and enjoyable travel:

1. The Music

I feel like it's such a given but truly, it's the first thing I think about when preparing for a road trip. What's the soundtrack going to be? The playlist is so important to creating a memorable trip! If I'm traveling with Ben we typically chose something that's a bit more rock 'n' roll, when traveling with my girlfriends we go for melodic indie tracks and sing-a-long female anthems!

2. The Stops

One of my favorite things to do when planning for a long day on the road is to pre-determine a roadside stop or two. Maybe there's a little museum that could be fun to tour or a roadside nature attraction. Is there a farm or a place to see a garden? It doesn't have to be a lengthy stop, but getting out of the car to stretch your legs will rejuvenate you for the rest of the ride.

My friend Keiko and I traveled through Maine by car earlier this year. We stopped to pick strawberries which made for a lovely little treat once we finally arrived at our destination.

3. The Decor

I know this sounds kind of crazy...what decor, you ask, we're in a car?! But seriously, I find it's more fun to travel when you're surrounded by things that make you happy: a little charm hanging on the rear-view mirror... flowers on the dashboard... it doesn't have to be complicated, just bring a few things that feel special along for the ride. 

On a trip through Montana with Ben and my friend Allister we hung dream catchers and beads on the rearview mirror and added little things we collected along the road.

Most importantly, for your travels to go smoothly from point A to B, be sure your car is in tip top shape, get an oil change, check your tires, and be sure to pack your car care kit. 

Here's the kit I never travel without:

1. Jumper cables

2. Tire patch kit

3. Flash lights and batteries

4. First aid kit

5. Gallons of water

6. Washer fluid

7. Trash bags

8. Hand sanitizer

9. Paper towels and wipes

Have so much fun traveling you guys! I hope this series has been so helpful in getting you ready for the roads!

Wanderfully yours,

Andi

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