Get the Most Out of Family Road Trips

02:23PM / Friday, June 20, 2008

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The summer travel season is here and you’re wondering where to go and what to do. Photo Courtesy of ARA

The summer travel season is here and you’re wondering where to go and what to do. But visions of summer vacations may change this year due to sky-high airline fares and the weakened U.S. dollar. How can you still plan the perfect family getaway? The answer is simple. It’s time for Americans to hop in the car and get creative with their vacation plans.

The majority of Americans are realizing that domestic road trip travel is easier on the wallet than expensive airline tickets and overseas accommodations – even with high gas prices - and are opting for driving-distance destinations. According to the Travel Industry Association, 59 percent of Americans who are currently planning a road trip will not change their travel plans despite rising gas prices. So consider exploring the surrounding museums, amusement parks and state parks that tourists from all over world come to see but you haven’t taken the time to visit.

Here are some tips to help make your next road trip memorable, easy and cost effective:

Car Time is Quality Family Time

Everyone needs a little relaxation and fun with family and friends, as well as entertainment to get away from the everyday hustle and bustle of life. Road trips are a great way to spend quality time with those you care about -- sing your favorite songs, share stories and play your favorite road trip games like I-Spy, 20 Questions or Name that Tune.

Whatever entertainment your family shares – traditional road trip games, watching videos, browsing photo albums – you’ll want to schedule taking turns. Not only will this keep the peace between siblings, but it will help everyone pass the time by having fun together. Also, make sure to keep a cooler stocked with favorite beverages and snacks to keep the whole family happy and full along the way.

GPS with Media Entertainment is Fun for Everyone

Now imagine being able to finally throw away all of those cumbersome maps, shushing the opinionated back-seat driver who is always telling you where to go, and just being able to enjoy the open road chatting about the fun places and things you’re going to see. With the latest combined portable GPS and media entertainment devices, such as the 605 WiFi GPS from ARCHOS, you truly get the ultimate road trip companion that not only guides your vacation while on the way, but gives you and the kids instant entertainment when you arrive. Enjoy reaching your destination with ease with turn by turn directions, listening to music, watching movies on a 4.3-inch touch screen, browsing the Web, looking through your photos and more -- all with one pocket-sized device.

Get the Most out of Every Tank of Gas

Few things have the potential to derail your road trip enjoyment like high gas prices. To ensure the adults relish their road trip, it’s more important than ever to improve gas mileage and reduce pain at the pump. Here are a few simple, helpful tips to help you get the biggest bang out of each gas dollar:

* Avoid jack-rabbit starting on acceleration. Stomping on the gas pedal uses about twice as much gas as a modest, gradual start - so leave the lead foot at home.

* Use cruise control whenever possible. This is particularly great for long distance drives, because consistent speeds and less fluctuation in acceleration really help stretch your gas dollar further.

* If you have removable roof racks on your car and you aren’t using them for your vacation, then be sure to take them off. Roof racks affect your car’s aerodynamics, dramatically decreasing your mileage.

* Use your air conditioning as needed – turn it on and off throughout the drive so that it’s not constantly running and sucking the horsepower and gas that your engine needs to run efficiently.

* Finally, make sure to plan ahead and know where you’re going. With GPS devices, such as the ARCHOS 605 WiFi, you will be sure to save gas because you won’t be dealing with getting lost and driving around in circles.

So take some time to brush up on your Name that Tune skills and get ready for some fun, stress-free road trips this travel season, because great times are just a drive away.

For more information about ARCHOS and its products, visit www.archos.com.

Courtesy of ARA content

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