Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Keeping the kids happy on your family road trip

Via MattarMedia - Do you have a family road trip planned and wonder how you are going to keep the kids entertained in the car? Sitting idle for long periods is not easy for children of any age. A little advance planning may help to limit their boredom - and the inevitable bickering that is sure to happen.

First, let each kid to fill a backpack with activities that they enjoy. Allowing them to fill their own bag is the best way to select items they will actually use. Storybooks, coloring books, crayons, drawing paper and small electronic toys are a great start for younger children. Older kids may prefer books, hand-held gaming devices or MP3 players to keep busy.

Second, try to plan a couple of stops along the way. If you have packed a lunch, take a little time to stop at a nice park or picnic area to enjoy it. Everyone needs a chance to stretch and the kids will be able to run off some of their pent up energy. This simple 30 minute lunch break can re-energize everyone for the next leg of the trip.

When the kids have reached their limit and the packed activities have run their course, play some car games. Travel games require no extra packing and can be fun for everyone. Here are a few great sites which offer game ideas for people of all ages:
Top 10 Road Trip Games

21 Games Sorted by Age

Classic Road Trip Games

Printable Car Games
With good planning and preparation, family road trips can be so much fun. Drive safe and enjoy the great memories you are making!

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

How to save money on your next road trip

Via MattarMedia - If you think you can't afford your vacation this year, think again. With the current state of the economy, high-end luxury vacations have taken the back burner to low-cost weekend getaways. Road trips can be a cost effective alternative with the proper planning. Here are some budget friendly tips to help you save money on your next road trip.

FOOD
Eating out for three meals a day can add up fast. Consider making sandwiches or bringing the bread and fixings with you to make them along the way. When you do want to mix it up by eating out, look for local diners and early bird specials.

You can also save a lot of money by packing a bag of snacks from home and a cooler of drinks for the road. Grabbing a 16 oz. bottle of water and a granola bar can cost you close to $5 at a gas station. For that price, you can buy an entire case of water bottles!

LODGING
We all love those 5 star resorts, but when you are cutting costs, they don't fit the bill. What are some inexpensive options? Camping, motels, and some Bed & Breakfast Inns can help you save big bucks. There are also a lot of accommodations that offer discounts with certain memberships, like AAA.

GAS
The first way to save money on gas is to travel using the most fuel-efficient car in your household. You may get a little more cargo space with a SUV, but you will pay for it at the gas pump.

Next, try to drive your car at a constant speed. Repeatedly speeding up and slowing down just wastes gas. If you are on the highway, set your cruise control to maintain a steady speed and good fuel efficiency.

An additional way to save money on gas for long road trips is to plot your course in advance and see who has the best gas prices before even leaving home.

One last money saving tip (which is good year round) - DON'T SPEED! Even if you don't get in a car accident from speeding, a ticket can cost hundreds of dollars and can put a big dent in your budget.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Close to home: Great ideas for your next road trip

Via MattarMedia - Whether you are planning to camp out for the weekend or stay at a luxury resort for the week, there are many great spots near Western New York to consider for your next road trip. We have gathered some of our favorite places and categorized them for you below.
Our top 5 family destinations:
1. Darien Lake
2. Adirondack Mountains
3. Cooperstown, NY (Home of the Baseball Hall of Fame)
4. Gettysburg, PA
5. Splash Lagoon in Erie, PA

Our top 5 romantic getaways:
1. Niagara-on-the-Lake
2. Finger Lakes Wine Trail
3. Alexandria Bay, NY
4. Toronto, Canada
5. Saratoga Springs, NY

Our top 5 day trips:
1. Goat Island (in Niagara Falls)
2. Lewiston, NY
3. Letchworth State Park
4. Tift Nature Preserve (in Buffalo)
5. Gorge trails (in Niagara Falls)
Between sight seeing, hiking, boating and camping, there are plenty of ways to keep busy this summer and enjoy the outdoors.

Feel free to comment - we would love to hear what your favorite close to home spots are. Check back for some more road trip fun next week!

Monday, July 12, 2010

10 tips to get your car ready for a road trip

Via MattarMedia - You've packed your favorite Hawaiian shirt, flip flops, sunscreen, snacks, and have your itinerary planned, but are you really ready for that road trip? Run through this checklist to see if you have missed anything...
1) Check your tire pressure.
You can usually find the recommended PSI pressure on the tire itself.
2) Align and rotate your tires.
Having your tires aligned and rotated will reduce uneven wear and make your tires last longer.
3) Check your brakes.
If your rotors or brake pads need replacing, now’s a better time to do it than in the middle of your road trip.
4) Check coolant levels.
Repairs for an overheated car can be expensive, but is easily avoidable with regular maintenance.
5) Change engine oil.
Even if you had your oil changed recently, it’s smart to check your oil level before you leave on a road trip.
6) Check windshield wipers & fluid.
Replace old wiper blades and fill up the windshield wiper fluid so you can keep you windshield clear in summer rain storms.
7) Check the levels of your power steering, brake and transmission fluids.
If they are not full, you will want to fill them before getting on the road.
8) Keep an emergency kit in your car.
If you don't know what you need, read our blog post from June for a detailed list.
9) Check your car for a spare tire and jack.
If your tire blows out on a deserted road, you want to be equipped to handle it.
10) Bring road maps for the areas you are traveling through.
A GPS is a handy device, but technology can be unpredictable.
Our Road Trip Series continues all week, so come back to find out more helpful hints.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Anyone up for a summer road trip?

Via MattarMedia - Summer is here and the kids are out of school. So, what does this mean for a lot of people this summer? Road trip!

Whether you're planning a one day trip or a cross country trek, it's best to plan ahead. To help you stay prepared and safely enjoy your getaway, we introduce our Road Trip Series. For the next couple of weeks, we will be blogging about various topics, including:
*Preparing Your Car
*WNY Road Trips
*Road Safety
*Games to Play in the Car
Check back for some useful travel information as we revv up our July Road Trip Series.
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