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Oddly enough, Winter Travel is a good time to learn how to "go with the flow" because even though you have to do additional ROAD TRIP PLANNING to have the extras on hand before you embark on the trip, traffic delays may require you to "stop and smell the roses" even when those roses have you stalled in bumper-to-bumper traffic waiting for the road to clear up ahead.
This is where your ROAD TRIP PLAN B comes into play. If you're a couple, this is a nice time to pull out a CD, kick back and rest your eyes while enjoying the music. If you're a family, pull out those car games, watch a DVD together, or simply start a round robin conversation (What I'm most looking forward to on this trip is...?). Keeping everyone comfortable and in good spirits will be the order of the day, and if you've planned for such things, it can actually be a fun time, albeit cramped.
While you're planning your itinerary, pay extra attention to towns or cities near roads you think may pose traffic delays or closures. Add activities to your itinerary that could keep you and your passengers occupied if delayed for more than four hours. That way, you can pull off and go shopping, take in a movie, enjoy a long lunch or early dinner, or stroll through a museum. Add a couple of nearby hotels to the unscheduled section of your trip planner just so you'll have the information on hand should the traffic delay be more than 8 hours.
ROAD TRIP PLANNING SAFETY TIPS
* If you are traveling with your family by car, get your vehicle inspected and check the weather conditions immediately before the trip.
* Cancel the trip if you are traveling to winter destinations and the weather forecast predicts a snowstorm.
* Some roads are not recommended unless you have a 4x4 vehicle.
* Carry snow chains
* Include a Delay of Game kit filled with snacks, car games, energy drinks, portable DVDs, portable games, blankets.
* Stow an emergency kit in your trunk holding batteries, blankets, flashlights, food, water, and more for those times when you may be stuck in your car for 8 hours or more.
* ALWAYS keep your gas tank topped off. Do not drive that last quarter tank assuming you will get to the next service station.
The above precautions aside, WINTER ROAD TRIPS ARE FUN! Just getting to your destination is more exciting because snow transforms the landscape from the ordinary to the extraordinary. And once you get to your destination, there's toasty fireplaces, snow boots creating puddles by the front door, and steaming mugs of hot chocolate. Not to mention activities you can only do during Winter like sledding, skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, and sleigh rides!
So what are some PRIME WINTER DESTINATIONS? Here are some to get you started on your Road Trip Planning.
FOR THE WHITE WINTER WONDERLAND EXPERIENCE:
* Alaska Experience with All Alaska Tours (this Road Trip can give you the Winter touch even in the Spring)
* Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario
* Banff & Jasper National Parks in Canada
* Lake Tahoe in California & on the Nevada side
* Mount Rainier in Washington
* Pigeon Forge Winterfest in Tennessee
* Salt Lake City in Utah
However, Winter does not always mean knee-deep in Snow: Here are some grand Winter Road Trips where you'll be hard-put to find snow (other than possibly some frosting atop distant mountains).
* Sedona Arizona - Red rocks, jeep tours, hot air balloon tours, shopping, spas, dining, festivals...great for a couple needing some time away from the kids.
* Las Vegas , Nevada - Vegas isn't just about gambling & night-life, though it certainly carries both in abundance. Vegas offers winter visitors a plethora of daytime activities to enjoy.
* Virginia Beach, Virginia - Go whale watching.
Winter getaways offer activities you won't get to experience any other time of the year so maximize your fun by planning a winter road trip now!
To plan your next road trip, please use the Tripwiser ultimate road trip planner, which leverages the collective wisdom of thousands of users worldwide, and makes road trip planning interactive and fun. Check out our Road Tripper Blog for more great places to explore.
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