Beanies & Bikinis

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So, you’ve decided to hit the road… YAY! But, are you prepared? From making an tentative itinerary to packing the necessities, a lot goes into preparing for an adventure. I’m here to help make sure you’re ready for your next road trip, whether it be a for a week or a month.

Car Checklist
  • Inspection
  • Registration
  • Check-Up
    • Check Fluid Levels
    • Tires
  • Preparing for an Emergency
    • Most Fiats don’t come with a spare tire so I ordered one and had it installed
    • I also signed up for AAA in addition to the roadside assistance I already have for double coverage
Making an Itinerary

I like to call it a “funtinerary“, because it should be flexible. I have an idea of the cities I’m traveling to and where I’ll be sleeping each night, but I don’t have the days planned out in detail. That’s the fun of the journey… I have the freedom of doing what I want, when I want.

Big Bend was cut from my trip because I felt rushed and wanted to enjoy the adventure rather than hurry through it. My friend in El Paso informed me that I would be in town the same day as Pope Francis. THE POPE… What are the odds? “Pope Day” didn’t affect my trip and I was able to hit the road for Scottsdale before things got too crazy.

  • Apps/Sites I like to use:
  • Ask Around
    • You’d be surprised by the awesome tips your friends would love to share.
    • A locals perspective is always better than a tourists 🙂
  • Buy a Map
    • In a perfect world, GPS would work anywhere, anytime. An atlas will come in handy for those times you’re stuck with no service in the middle of nowhere.
    • LESSON LEARNED: Bringing a map does you no good if you don’t know how to read it 🙂 Practice beforehand!
  • Share Your Itinerary
    • It’s smart for someone to have a general idea of where you’ll be each night.
Packing

This is where things start to get tough. I’m more high-maintenance than I like to admit and I’m an expert at over packing. If I could easily bring my entire closet, I would. Unfortunately, that’s not the case so I’ve put together a few tips for fellow wanderers.

  • Make a List
    • Make sure you have the right attire for your destination(s) and it’s weather.
    • I traveled through warm parts of Cali and skied Mount Hood. Both, Beanies and Bikinis, were needed for this adventure.
  • Organization Helps!
    • Ziploc bags are my new best friend when packing. Cheaper than packing cubes, they make it easy to separate different clothing items and outfits.
  • Pack… then take at least 25% of what you packed out.
    • Do you really need five pairs of shoes and four dresses? If you’re anything like me, you’ve over-packed. I’d like to be able to carry my luggage without having to stop for a break every 10 seconds.
  • Bring snacks and always have water!
    • It’s much cheaper to buy in bulk and load up a cooler than to buy drinks and snacks at random gas stations.
Know the Law
  • Drive now, Text Later
    • Driving laws vary between cities and states. Texas has pretty lax laws but most West Coast states are very strict about phone use.
  • Understanding Kilometers
    • I have to admit… I never knew if I was driving the right speed in Canada. I had no idea how to convert km to miles so when I saw 100 km/hr I just thought… “eh, that’s probably about 80”. I’m lucky I didn’t get pulled over.
    • Apparently, my car is capable of converting the digital speedometer to kilometers…but I didn’t know this until after my Canadian adventure.
    • Understanding Conversions
      • 1 mile = 1.6093440 km
      • 1 km = .6214 miles
Safety Check

When it comes to traveling and your safety, it’s really about personal preference. One person may feel the need to carry a gun while someone else may feel fine with some pepper spray/mace. It’s important that you feel safe when traveling alone so you’re able to enjoy the experience!

Enjoy Every Minute!

It’s easy to get overwhelmed when preparing for a vacation. I would spend hours each day researching cities and routes. My advice is try not to overly research/prepare for the trip. Begin your journey with an open mind and you’ll have the trip of a lifetime.

STAY TUNED: Many more exciting posts to come. I can’t wait to share all of the juicy and fun details from my recent adventures!

Questions, comments, suggestions? Comment below… I’d love to hear from you!

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