Happy Trails!

Is there a vacation or trip in your future? With school out, many folks take to the roads or air for a time away from home and the daily grind.

The sirens of adventure beckons. Beware…

Airports and airplanes-People used to dress up like they were going to church. It was a big deal to fly somewhere. Nowadays, make it easy on yourself dress for your destination. Flip-flops are fine since security requires that you take your shoes off anyway. Hopping around trying to lace up shoes can be dangerous. If you’re cold in nature, avoid shorts and short sleeves as those planes can turn into refrigerators.

Car rides—Will there be children in tow? Here’s a great suggestion, tried and true. Depending on the age, offer each child a roll of dimes or quarters before leaving home with the rule that if they ask those special questions that send the grown-ups over the hill, they will lose a coin. You know the questions. Whatever coins are left at the end of the trip are theirs. Works like a charm!!! Don’t believe google, it is not going to take you four hours and three minutes to drive to Jacksonville, Fla.

Hotels—assume there is construction in or around the hotel and get a room away from the front end loaders, drills, and dump trucks (it would take more room than this to name my experiences with construction). You can also assume that hotels use trick photography in their ads and always find out about hotel taxes and extra fees.

Luggage—rule of thumb, weigh suitcase before packing, pack suitcase, carry packed suitcase to your mailbox and back and if you survive, you’re o.k. Attach something, anything that will make your luggage stand out from the hundreds of black suitcases. Make sure you put a tag with your name, address, phone number and the hotel where you are staying on the suitcase and inside as well. Return address labels work great.

Now get out there and find adventure, just driving on I-20 or I-75 ought to do it. Happy trails to you!