  When we travel, we’ve found for the best time, we have to start with travel preparations. For instance, we have a check list to make certain that everything we need is in the vehicle. We’ve developed a way to make certain its optimum space and ready to go.
Those who follow us know we always are in search of maximum fun.
There is nothing more frustrating than getting on the road and realizing we have left something of importance at the house. That means we either have to turn around and go back, get a replacement along the way or simply work around it.
Our Navigation
We don’t know what your needs are, but through a process of trial and error we have developed a system to prepare for much of what we need and how to stage it for our particular vehicle.
First, travel preparations mean we know where we’re going. We have our maps and cheat sheet ready. My wife is the navagatrix for the trip. She generally is well equipped. There’s a road map, a Mapquest print out of a route, sticky notes to mark the map. Plus she has a pencil and notebook to keep tabs on things we need to know and remember.
Our routes do not always reflect what either our GPS or Mapquest have planned for us. On more than one occasion, we have deviated from our appointed route to stop in a town, go to a restaurant, get gasoline or take some other diversion.
Naturally this causes the GPS gal to have apoplexy. She then tells us repeatedly to “make a legal U-turn” until A) she figures out where we are going or B) we get back on the correct road.
But having the combination of the map and print out can keep us confident of where we are going.
This is complimented by my wife’s ability to use a smart phone to call ahead and make reservations, check on operating hours for attractions and to obtain street addresses for the places we want to stop along the way.
Other Tools
Secondly, we are equipped with magnification devices. She has a magnifying glass with a built-in light for map reading at night so she can see well (while not having to turn on a light inside the car). We also carry a small set of binoculars to spot street names – which is particularly helpful in residential area.
Additionally, we carry a multi-port charge plug. One for the car cigarette lighter port in our car and one for the wall outlet in the hotel room. Our device has four USB outlets. That means we can effectively charge both our phones as well as my bluetooth. In fact, we have a spare port left over in case there is some other device – such as a light or fan – needs to run.
To be honest, we have never filled the whole thing up – but it does give us a level of comfort knowing we have it if we need it.
Snacks
    When it comes to snacking in the car or for foodstuffs at our room, we have a number of options. Our travel preparations include a traveling picnic basket. It is cloth lined and that is where we keep a lot of foods that do not need refrigeration. Those include our snacks and provisions that we might use at the breakfast bar at the motel.
 We generally also carry a large insulated bag that holds some of the things that need to be kept cool (if not cold) – using re-freezable-style blocks. Those are less messy and can be re-frozen in a motel fridge overnight.
  Finally, we have an electric cooler that runs off our cigarette lighter. This was a garage sale find and has come in very handy. We even have gone ahead and purchased an adapter that runs it off the wall socket to get it ready and to use it in hotel rooms that do not have refrigerators.
For wrappers and other packaging, we carry a trash bag, so that things aren’t rattling around in the car. It also is handy to dump while we are getting gas, wiping down the windows and otherwise servicing the vehicle when we have to make a gas/pit stop.
Emergency Supplies
Regular travel preparations mean to expect the unexpected. Just in case, we carry a first aid kit. Originally housed in an Altoids tin, we have moved to a for-purpose bag. It has with most of the things that we should need for minor cuts, bruises, abrasions or other physical problems.
This includes our supply of bandages, Neosporin cream and other such supplies.
We also carry a tool box Just as we need first aid, there may come a time that the car also might need a bit of roadside attention. We have an Emergency Road Side assistance but many time we can take care of small things long before assistance can arrive.
Our kit is a collection of basic tools in a box under the driver’s seat. It has a set of screwdrivers, pliers, wrench, channel locks, a toothbrush and some appropriate sockets as well as clean up tools.
Natural Hacks
Again, all of this has been learned by our own trial and error. We urge you to visit this page often, as well as our Gadgets &c page, as we break out some of these items individually and learn more about the best way to travel.
Of course, you may have different needs and a different vehicle. We would like to hear from you. .Visit our Florida Fun Travel Facebook page or drop us a line at floridafuntravel@yahoo.com.
