How We Roll

^ Most of our family day trips start by hopping on the ferry to cross over to Whidbey Island. We drive ten minutes down the hill, wait our turn in line, then sail out onto the glorious blue of Puget Sound. 

When my family goes out for an adventure, be it a multi-week cross-country road trip or a local day trip, we use a pretty tried and true methodology.  Here are our top ten techniques for the best travel days. 

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1.. We opt for an early start. Often we choose to ride at dawn, but because my daughters and I don't properly wake up until noon, my husband, a natural early bird, takes the wheel first thing.

2.. We start the day by ceremoniously fueling up the car, the cooler (with ice, drinks, and food), and ourselves with Starbucks and sometimes McDonald's. Once everyone's needed are attended to, we roll.

3. We pack a picnic and eat lunch in the out of doors: cheese and salami, crackers or baguette, and sturdy fruits, like cherries or grapes. On long road trips, we frequent interstate rest areas; locally, we just grab a picnic table wherever we can find one, or tailgate out of the back of the car. 

4. We are big on maps (the paper foldy kind), compasses, and binoculars. I love how these old school tools make the simplest outing feel like a grand adventure. And when he's really feeling it, my husband packs his Petersen Field Guides as well. 

^And it goes without saying that we take lots and lots of photos. 

5. We head toward nature. Personally, I choose water every time - give me a river, a lake, a grand salty beach - but I will also gladly accept a mountain, forest, or desert. On short trips around home, we almost always spend the day in nature and on long road trips, we plan at least one stop every day to enjoy the local scenery.

6. We also brake for engineering marvels, outdoor art installations, and historical sites. Think Michigan's Mackinac Bridge, Robert Smithson's Spiral Jetty near the Great Salt Lake, and a charming reproduction of the Little House on the Prairie in Kansas. 

7. But we never, ever stop for shopping. Not even flea markets, art gallery, or antique shops. I'm not sure why. But we just don't. 

^ I personally love nothing more than a few hours of lounging on a blanket at the beach. But several other members of the family do not care to bake in the sun as I do. A few years ago, we bought a simple beach shade (similar) and achieved a beautiful compromise. 

8. Mid afternoon ice cream breaks are nice, especially if tempers are a bit frayed. And if it's my husband's temper that's suffering, there will be an afternoon coffee stop as well. 

9. We carry a lot of drinking water and keep the water bottles topped up. And in related news, we are firm believers in unlimited bathroom stops. When nature calls, we obey. 

10. Last but most certainly not least, we bring along our big red pup. Lucky for us, she is a stellar traveler and an avid outdoor enthusiast in any setting. Sometimes we are mildly inconvenienced, as not every trail or beach is dog friendly, but we find a way to make it work.  Bringing our girl with us on our trips is definitely more fun for all of us. 

And that is how we like to roll.