How quickly can a rocking road trip become a complete nightmare? A blink of the eye it seems. While there is no way to prepare for every situation and sometimes things are unavoidable but there are a few things you can do to keep the trek from coming to a screeching halt.

I’m no mechanic by any means and I’m not the best person to get advice from when dealing with cars (hence this is a travel blog not an auto blog) but I did live 10 hours away from my school so any journey home involved a lengthy road trip. Some of these tips are unfortunately from personal experience.

*Bring a spare car key- who hasn’t locked their key into their car at a remote rest stop in the middle of nowhere? And keep it somewhere accessible because nothing is worse than locking BOTH keys into your car.

*Get your oil changed and fluids checked before you leave- peace of mind is worth a lot.

*Make sure your tires are in good condition and have proper amounts of air- hopefully you do this anyways.

*Make sure you have a spare tire and your jack is in working condition- we found out way too late that my jack had rusted over.

*If you have an older car bring extra water and coolant- arghh can we say Las Vegas in July? Happened to me twice.

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In honor of this being unofficial Road Trip Week- I have pulled together some of the 10 best places to road trip to across this fantastic country of ours. Of course this is personal opinion and opinion gathered from others, so this is by no means a comprehensive list. Just a list of awesome locations that people from all over the world visit each year.

Grand Canyon: Of course the quintessential Grand Canyon trip that must be done in every American’s lifetime. Since the closest airport is a few hours away from this natural wonder- it must be done by car and most preferably an RV. Riding burrows down the canyon is also a long standing tradition that musn’t be missed.

Yellowstone: Who doesn’t ride in a car for hours to see Old Faithful erupt in a big mass of watery awesomeness? Yellowstone (not to be confused with Jellystone) is the perfect place to encounter wildlife, camp, hike to waterfalls, and enjoy nature at all it’s finest. Just don’t forget to stop by the stink pots.

Mount Rushmore: A big rock carved into heads of the founding fathers of our country? Who can pass on such a wonder? Located in beautiful South Dakota, Mount Rushmore stands as a tribute to Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, and T. Roosevelt, but there is much more to this park then carved mountains- there are many different species of beautiful wildflowers to look at along the path.

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In honor of the fact that Memorial Weekend is just around the corner and many people are planning their vacations- I decided to make this week unofficial Road Trip Week.  There is nothing better than packing up your car/van/RV/motorcycle hitting up the open road with your best friends/family/lover and making some memories. The best part about road trips is you never know what is going to happen. The joy is in the journey. You can be spontaneous, leave on your time table and best part of all not have to deal with TSA! Pump up the tunes, pack your favorite snacks and don’t forget your map!

Posts to look forward to this week:

10 Best Road Trips in the United States
Road Trip Must Haves and Giveaway!
Road Trip Nightmares: Avoiding Disaster

Thinking back on some of my past road trips- the best were when my friends and I just packed in our car and set off without a distinct plan. One of my particular favorites was a trip we made in the summer of 2004 driving from Rexburg, ID to Las Vegas, NV- just a bunch of college students looking for a good time. What have some of your most memorable favorite road trips been?

It’s Mother’s Day this weekend! Why not treat your mother to an all inclusive resort or spa? The great news is that she won’t have to travel far to get to one. One of the best parts of an all inclusive resort is not worrying about food, drinks, or accommodations. You can really just sit back and relax.

Here are a few great resorts that are all within driving distance of the west coast and midwest:

 Lost Creek Ranch & Spa - Jackson Hole, Wyoming
 
Guests at the Lost Creek Ranch & Spa can relax in the beauty and solitude of the Tetons in beautiful Jackson Hole. Lost Creek, celebrating 40 years of business, combines outdoor family adventures with the comforts of a world-class resort in a spectacular locale. The rustic, but well equipped, Old West luxury cabins have been featured in Architectural Digest. Extraordinary views, casual atmosphere and Rocky Mountain cuisine, served family style, are offered in the Lodge. Rejuvenating spa services are available. 
  
  Miraval Tucson - Catalina, Arizona
 
Luxurious accommodations combined with the world-renowned spa services at Miraval Tuscon, near Tucson, Arizona have led the readers of Travel & Leisure, SpaFinder and Conde Nast to vote it the No. 1 spa resort in the world, year after year. The key is to make every guest’s experience unique and truly unforgettable. Guest stays include accommodations, award-winning gourmet meals that are both satisfying and healthful, group programs and activities, one spa treatment or round of golf.   
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