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