| Ah, the Road Trip, we've all done it. In a | | | | alleviate the discomfort. Propping a pillow |
| tribute to Jack Kerouac, we've all piled six | | | | up against the window will be much more |
| people in a five seater in an attempt to see | | | | comfortable than sleeping against the window |
| the country. As the lyrics to Willie | | | | itself. Of course, pillows and sleeping |
| Nelson's City of New Orleans blare on the | | | | should both be avoided altogether for the |
| stereo and old Willie asks, "Good Morning | | | | person actually doing the driving. |
| America, How are you?" we've all restrained | | | | |
| ourselves from answering. With the smell of | | | | Go on Walks |
| spearmint gum and cigarettes masking the | | | | |
| aroma of the pine tree air-freshener and the | | | | Road trips are a breeding ground for leg |
| fast food wrapper that - before the trip is | | | | cramps, a place where aches and pains get |
| over - will serve as toilet paper resting | | | | together to attack joints and muscles. |
| against a pair of Birkenstocks, we've all | | | | Because you're stuffed in a car for hours at |
| embarked on a road trip, a rite of passage, a | | | | a time, leg cramps have no problem |
| tribute to freedom, and perhaps one of the | | | | developing. The best way to avert their |
| most uncomfortable journeys ever invented. | | | | development is to stop every couple of hours. |
| | | | Whether you stop at a rest stop, or simply |
| Cars, as a mode of transportation, aren't | | | | pull over on the side of the road, get out of |
| meant to be comfortable. They are typically | | | | the car, stretch your legs, and walk around. |
| compact, stuffy, and a meeting place for body | | | | Even do jumping jacks and calisthenics, we |
| odor. Yet, road trips are still a favorite | | | | promise the cars passing on the highway won't |
| pastime of the American culture. For those | | | | stare. |
| of us who can't afford to road trip in a | | | | |
| limo, or an RV, there are a few tricks of the | | | | Bring Your Own Music |
| trade to make road tripping more comfortable. | | | | |
| | | | We all remember being children and road |
| Know Your Rest Stops | | | | tripping with our parents. As we were stuffed |
| | | | into the back seat among our brothers and |
| There are stretches of the American highway | | | | sisters, forced to listen to our parents sing |
| system where not a single toilet exists. | | | | a duet to Sonny and Cher's I Got You Babe, |
| While some people may see a tree and think, | | | | we longed to change the radio station to |
| "toilet," most others see a tree and think, | | | | something we wanted, something like totally |
| "tree." Because of this, it's important to | | | | cool. Good music is the key to a good road |
| know where rest stops are located and, more | | | | trip. But, keep in mind, even if you are |
| importantly, know where they aren't located. | | | | traveling with people your own age, there may |
| If you're about to embark on a road trip, map | | | | still be some discrepancy of what constitutes |
| out rest stop locations beforehand. This way | | | | good music. Instead of fighting over the |
| you will know if you can drink a liter of | | | | stereo, simply bring a Discman and listen to |
| coffee, or if that liter, should be more like | | | | whatever you want. Yes, even Bette Midler. |
| a cup. | | | | |
| | | | Road trips are fun. But, they aren't always |
| Bring a Pillow | | | | the most comfortable thing in the world. They |
| | | | get long, they grow boring, and there's only |
| We've all gotten one: a window print on our | | | | so many times you can play rounds of travel |
| forehead. This ultimately results from | | | | games before you start to annoy even |
| sleeping with your head against the window, | | | | yourself. But, with these few tips, road |
| getting a neck cramp and letting passengers | | | | tripping can be a little easier, a little |
| in passing cars look up your nostrils. Though | | | | more comfortable, and a little less likely to |
| a car isn't exactly the best place in the | | | | make you want to stick your head through the |
| world to sleep, it's certainly not a latex or | | | | windshield. |
| memory foam mattress, bringing a pillow can | | | | |