REPOST: 7 secrets of packing a car for holiday travel

People always worry about packing enough for when they travel. This article from Observer-reporter.com shares some simple tips to pack for a road trip.
 

When planning a holiday road trip, finding creative ways to utilize vehicle space is essential. Here are some resourceful tips for making the best use of any vehicle storage capacity. | Image Source: observer-reporter.com

When it comes to packing a vehicle for holiday travel, the guy with the red suit and the white beard is the unquestioned master. For those who don't possess a magic sack with unlimited storage capacity, packing a vehicle for a family holiday trip is a critical logistical skill. Those who master it tend to have holiday adventures that are festive and fun. Those who don't can end up frustrated and frazzled and find themselves on the naughty list.


If a holiday road trip is on your schedule, here are some tips that can help it go smoothly:


Make a list and check it twice


Prior to the trip, make a comprehensive list. Prioritize according to the things you must take and the things that might be nice to have. When packing time comes, you won't forget any essentials and you will have already decided what things you can do without if there isn't enough space.


Plan for safety


Winter travel presents hazards. Although you won't be starting from the North Pole, you still could need items like tire chains and a tow strap, depending on your destination and the areas through which you will travel. Even with limited space, it is always important to have jumper cables, flares, a flashlight, a fully charged cell phone and a car charger. If you have a roadside protection plan included with your car insurance, make sure you have that information readily available. Also, you might want to have a backup service like AAA. If you break down on a holiday or a weekend, sometimes it can be difficult to connect with actual humans when you call those 24-hour emergency numbers.


Find extra space


Almost every vehicle has nooks and crannies that are easy to overlook. Many cars have room under and behind seats. Some have a shelf behind the back window where you can stash a few items, as long as you don't obstruct the rear view. If your vehicle has a spare tire compartment in the bottom or side of the trunk, remove the cover and you will likely find enough extra space for a few small items.


Pack smart


USA Today advises, “Many travel experts … agree that rolling is superior to folding. Tightly rolled clothes take up less space than folded ones. Plus, they're less prone to getting deep wrinkles from fold creases.” Also, remember to fill hollow spaces like those in shoes and boots. Pack them with socks, personal care items, or a rolled up shirt or jacket.


Organize the trunk


Hard-sided luggage offers better protection for fragile items, but it doesn't allow much flexibility in tight spots. Two medium-size bags will likely fit better in the trunk than one large suitcase. In general, put heavier, bulky items on the bottom and toward the front of the cargo area. Keep more fragile items like electronics at the top.


Be casual

Traveling is stressful. Make it easier on yourself by resolve to have a laid-back, relaxed attitude, and leave dresses, suits, hair curlers, dress shoes and blow dryers at home. If you think something needs to be on a hanger, then reconsider taking it. It will save space in the car and help you remember that your focus is on a fun, calm, casual trip.


Take it slow


Travelsense.org notes that winter driving is much more fatiguing than summer, so plan for slower speeds and more rest stops. The human cargo you carry is far more valuable than any of the possessions you've jammed into your vehicle. As Santa has proven for hundreds of years, the key to holiday travel is to arrive safely at your destination.


Follow this Pete Scamardo Facebook page for more helpful insights on traveling.

REPOST: The Growing Use of Social Media in Travel

Social media is already an integral part of people's everyday lives. This article by Bryan Levy of Guardian Liberty Voice talks about social media's role in traveling.
 

Image Source: guardianlv.com

Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, pictures of people on vacation are all over social media. Beautiful locations, scenic beaches, and more show up in news feeds with regularity, but this is just one way to use social media when traveling. Beyond just vacationers, the travel industry has also embraced the social media sites. Some sites cater exclusively to travelers, setting up sight-seeing partners or people looking to offset costs by traveling with others, but there is also a dark side to using social media for traveling.

According to the European Travel Commission, almost 20 percent of people consult social media to decide where they want to go on vacation. Not only do they use social media for deciding on location, vacationers are also searching social media sites to see what restaurants or sightseeing destinations their friends have been to. The European Travel Commission also found that Asian users use of social media for travel is almost double that of American or European users.

The sources people are using for research are disparate. Travelers rely on professional online reviews five to eight percent more than they rely on user forums, and that number drops drastically for those who use what their friends might like on Facebook. When it comes to dedicated trip sites like TripAdvisor, people are more likely to trust that information than others. Context becomes an important part of the equation. If a site has a reputation for being knowledgeable about traveling, and its commenters are seen as credible, those sites are trusted the most. Eighty percent of travelers read many reviews, and TripAdvisor is the most respected.

Other sites are closer to the more traditional social media models. These sites do different things to facilitate the travel process. Airbnb allows people to rent out their personal homes to travelers, though users should always be careful. There are increasing reports of people renting through Airbnb who end up squatting in rented places, making life difficult from the rightful owners of a house or apartment for months on end. Some sites connect travelers to one another. These sites allow for users to connect with people already living in the city. They can connect for meals or sightseeing or for a person who knows their way around a city. Users should be aware, though, that some of these people may not be exactly above-board. Jezebel has reported that some of the profile on these kinds of sites may be used for prostitution.

There are other things that individuals are advised to remember when using social media while traveling. While on vacation, holiday makers should never be too open on Facebook or Twitter. There have been police reports of criminals monitoring these social networks to see when people are away and breaking into their homes. While using social media for research could be beneficial, too much openness may lead to other problems.

The world continues to move online, and the travel industry is no different. While people still need to leave their houses to do the actual traveling, it has never been easier to plan a trip from the comfort of one’s own home.


Pete Scamardo is an avid traveler. Follow him on Twitter for more travel tips and trivia.

REPOST: 10 Tech Tips For The Ultimate Outdoor Adventure

Kristin Scheel of Sfist.com shares 10 useful apps for nature-loving travelers in this article below.

Get outside using your smartphone or laptop (Photo by Kristin Scheel). | Image Source: sfist.com

 Earlier this summer, my friend and I started something we call Uber hikes, which is exactly what it sounds like: We drive to a trailhead, walk as far as we like, and then call an Uber back to our car. We felt slightly ashamed the first time, but for less than a minute. And then we enjoyed the complimentary mini bottle of water provided by our driver.

Here are 10 other ways that technology can lead you back to nature.

Transit And Trails

Stop, right now, wherever you are, and download the Transit and Trails app. Plug in your address and find your nearest exit into the wild. Co- Founder Ryan Branciforte says one goal of T&T is to get people to use existing public transportation to get away, not just around. Unfortunately, there are zero trailheads found near my apartment in the Mission, but the Transit feature shows how easy it is to hop a bus to the nearest one. The Trips feature will lead you from the Caltrain station to the top of Mt. Tam!

Tahoe Beaches App

Headed to the Lake? Looking for some shade? Check out the Lake Tahoe Beaches app. Using feature filters, you can search for a beach that is wheelchair accessible, allows barbecues, overnight parking, and dogs, shows you where to rent a kayak or a tube, find nets for your volleyball team, and the nearest place to buy ice. If you haven't been to Tahoe in the summer, what are you waiting for? Summer is all about The Lake.

Take Your Phone Underwater

For anyone who has accidentally laundered their phone or dropped it in the lake while documenting a rowboat picnic date, you might consider one of these waterproof smartphone cases. Not just for accident proofing, the cases will allow you to take crazy underwater videos of yourself while scuba diving.

Weekend Sherpa

Weekend Sherpa is an email list started in 2006, which is so long ago that most of the people I talked to could not remember that far back and how they first learned of it — they just know they get it! Weekend Sherpa sends you weekly posts full of excellent things to do in the outdoors in Northern or Southern California. A typical post, dated July 24 includes a list of Mt. Tam picnic sites, including the West Point Inn, which makes this the third time I’ve heard “West Point Inn” in one week, so either everyone I know is a Weekend Sherpa, or the Weekend Sherpa is just that tuned into the seasonal zeitgeist.

Project NOAH

A great app that doesn't require building an ark or extracting promises from God, Project NOAH lets you share and compare wildlife sightings as you roam the earth. It's a new way of saying, “I tagged my first elk.” Or, oh look, a double rainbow!”

Turn Your Camping Stove Into A Charging Station

When I was married, I went camping exactly one time because my partner did not enjoy being so far from outlets. On the second night, when I found him glumly poking the campfire, after everyone else had fallen asleep, I had to admit that his camping experience would only be improved by a good game of World of Warcraft. We might still be married if only we had had this BioLite CampStove, a campstove that converts wood fire into electricity to charge your portable devices.

Warm Showers

What if at the end of Burning Man you said fuck it and just kept going, Thelma and Louise style. Except on a bike. But maybe you don't want to go it alone. Well, say no more: Warm Showersis a social network for touring cyclists. Register to receive or provide a place to shower, a couch, or a room. If you can't spare the time for a bike tour, no matter, this is a great way to live vicariously through your guests and their travels. 

Reserve Campsites Online

Did you know that you can reserve a campsite on Angel Island, the second largest island in the Bay, which is a state park and historic landmark and accessible only by boat or ferry. The island is supremely quiet at night with uninterrupted views of the city and surrounding islands. Reserve a spot at the state park reservation system, but warning it fills up fast. If you're a hiker and biker, there is an amazing loophole in the campsite reservations system just for you. Last minute space is often available at campgrounds for hikers and bikers. Check out the list here. It's first come, first served and you do actually have to hike or bike — fakers will be easily found out! When they ask you where you came in from, don't say "the parking lot."

Golden Gate Park Field Guide

Stuck in the City? This Academy of Sciences app tell you what the Bison are doing in the Buffalo Paddock, when the California Lilac will be blooming, and the fastest way from the Angling Pools to the lawn bowling greens. Or for more whimsical park experience, try the “adventures” feature, for recommended walks and destinations within the park. The interactive site invites sharing. If you were to notice a raccoon mother defending her den on the trail by the Chain of Lakes, you can upload photos and leave character notes and observations.

Use Your iPhone As A Compass 

Isabel Jagoe, formerly of Traction advertising agency in the Tenderloin and now a certified forest schools teacher in Yorkshire, aka Downton Abbey, England, recommends the basic compass tool installed on every phone for losing yourself in the moors. The iPhone compass, for example, operates using a magnetometer inside the phone and still works when you're off the grid. Within range, the compass grabs location data from the maps app and will note latitude and longitude. Other compass apps include: Orienteering Compass and Smart Compass from Google Play.

For more tips and tricks to make traveling fun and easy, follow this Pete Scamardo Twitter account.

REPOST: 10 best bucket-list road trips

 A good way to relieve stress is to get up and leave it behind on a long, scenic road trip. Larry Bleiberg from USA Today shares this bucket list of road trips you shouldn't miss!

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The Great American Road Trip is a national rite of passage, says Jamie Jensen, author of Road Trip USA (Avalon, $29.99), a comprehensive guide in its sixth edition. "Before you vote, you should be required to drive across the country and see the variety of people and places," he declares. The key, he says, is to take the journey slowly, stopping to talk to people, to take detours, and to get lost. "It's a different mode of traveling. It's not a to-do list. It's kind of refreshing." He shares some favorite routes with Larry Bleiberg for USA TODAY.

Columbia River Scenic Highway, Ore.

Unlike most highways, this nearly century-old route was built purely for scenery, and it truly delivers big time. "It's just a fantastic drive and the landscape is breathtaking," Jensen says. The 75-mile winding ride from The Dalles to Troutdale starts east of Portland, taking in the sights of the Columbia Gorge. Along the way, passengers are treated to waterfalls, mountain views and plenty of pull-offs, so the driver can enjoy it too. traveloregon.com

Road trip tip: Make an easy detour on the Mount Hood Scenic Loop to Timberline Lodge, a classic mountain park hotel. "It's one of those see-it-before-you-die destinations," he says. timberlinelodge.com

Route 66, Illinois to California

From the Grapes of Wrath to pop music to the early days of television, the Mother Road is linked to the American psyche. "It touches on some of the greatest mythology in American," Jensen says. "It's Manifest Destiny." While much of the Midwest-to-Pacific route has been swallowed up by interstates, many places still preserve the original two-lane highway. "The scenery is inspiring," Jensen says, particularly the portion across the Southwest. "Every other street scene reminds you of Rain Man or some other movie." historic66.com

Road trip tip: While the Southwest offers the most famous scenery, don't neglect the start of the route in Illinois. Jensen recommends the town of Pontiac, home to two great stops, the Route 66 Association Hall of Fame & Museum and the Pontiac Oakland Auto Museum, a memorable tribute to the car brands. pontiac.org

Hill Country Hideaways, Texas

This central region of the Lone Star State provides the Texas the world knows from the movies, with deep canyons, swift rivers and undulating sagebrush plains. "It's wonderfully winding roads and proper two-lane highways," says Jensen, who recommends making a loop of state highways 335, 336 and 337. "It's the middle of nowhere. It's an elemental landscape." Traveltex.com

Road trip tip: Make sure to visit Utopia, Texas, if only for the name itself, Jensen says. "It's tiny and very pretty, lakes and rivers and trees and paradise. There are bed and breakfasts to stay in, so you can stay and enjoy the Sabinal River."utopiatexas.com

Great River Road, Minnesota to Louisiana

(Photo: experiencemississippiriver.org) | Image Source:

There's no better way to appreciate the power of the mighty Mississippi River than driving its length from north to south. "From Mark Twain to Bob Dylan to Muddy Waters, it has a place in the national psyche. It's where the West begins," Jensen says. He suggests breaking up the trip into pieces, from the unexpected hilly terrain in Wisconsin and Iowa, to the Delta region from Memphis to New Orleans.experiencemississippiriver.com

Road trip tip: Stop for a St. Louis Cardinals baseball game at Busch Stadium, located within sight of the river and the Gateway Arch. "It ties everything together in a nice way." cardinals.com

Pacific Coast Highway, San Luis Obispo to Monterey, Calif.

While California's Route 1 runs most the length of the state, Jensen calls this middle section the sweet spot, featuring the stunning scenery of Big Sur, where it twists through seaside cliffs. The stretch also passes near the wine country of Paso Robles, and the arty town of Carmel. "There are mountains, oceans and thin strip of asphalt in between, that's it. You feel like you have the whole continent at your back when you watch the sunset over the Pacific." The trip works either way, but the driver will have the best view if you head south to north. visitcalifornia.com

Road trip tip: Don't miss Hearst Castle in San Simeon. "It's kind of surreal to see this Spanish cathedral dropped down in the ranchland of Southern California."hearstcastle.org

Overseas Highway, Miami to Key West, Fla.

(Photo: Andy Newman/Florida Keys News Bureau) | Image Source:

Driving this 120-mile route connecting the Florida Keys with bridges and causeways is like piloting a hovercraft across the ocean, Jensen says. Originally developed for the Florida East Coast Railway, the route was wiped out by a hurricane in 1935 and converted to a highway. "It's you and the water half the time. You feel like you're floating. It's a wonderful sensory experience." Although it can be driven in just a few hours, take your time to stop at seafood dives and tourist traps along the way. "There are fish and chips and cold beer and that's always a pleasure." fla-keys.com

Road trip tip: Take a driving break and swim with dolphins at the Theater of the Sea in Islamorada, a nearly 70-year-old roadside attraction located in a former quarry.theaterofthesea.com

Million Dollar Highway, Silverton to Ouray, Colo.

(Photo: Mark Johnson, Boxcanyonblog.com) | Image Source:

This section of U.S. Highway 550 climbs more than two miles above sea level as it twists its way between two historic gold-mining towns. Some say the route's nickname comes from the road's fill dirt, which came from mine waste later discovered to contain gold ore. , while others insist it cost a million dollars a mile to build. "It's literally breath-taking because of the attitude, but it's a beautiful part of the world, an amazing drive with a great name and it deserves it," Jensen says. The road is part of the San Juan Skyway Scenic Byway, offering the chance for more exploration. colorado.com

Road trip tip: You can get another view of the scenery from the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, which passes along the Animas River Gorge, far above rushing waters and feels like an old west adventure.durangotrain.com

Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia and North Carolina

(Photo: Shenandoah National Park) | Image Source:

This Appalachian beautyfest starts just two hours west of Washington, D.C., and slowly winds its way along ridge lines and near historic towns as it traces the mountain range. With low speed limits, you have time to soak in the scenery along the 105-mile drive in Shenandoah National Park. Then connect with the parkway, which continues for another 469 miles on the way to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The highlight for many is the famed Linn Cove Viaduct, an engineering marvel that winds through the treetops along the road's highest section.visitskylinedrive.org and blueridgeparkway.org

Road trip tip: Time your drive to spend time in Charlottesville, site of Thomas Jefferson's home, Monticello, and the University of Virginia. It will be a sure hit with lovers of history, shopping, food and college towns, Jensen says.visitcharlottesville.org

Black River Scenic Byway, Mich.

Often overlooked by road trippers, Michigan's Upper Peninsula offers road trip magic, with thick forests and waterfalls, and expansive Lake Superior vistas. "People who know ocean coasts think that's the only way to go, but lake views can be just as beautiful," Jensen says. While State Highway 513 is labeled a scenic byway, drivers should venture off the route. "There are old roads that don't really go anywhere but get you deep in the woods. 888-784-7328; michigan.org

Road trip tip: Wrap up your automobile adventure with a visit to auto-free Mackinac Island's Grand Hotel. "It has the world's largest front porch and they have rocking chairs." grandhotel.com

The Loneliest Road, Nevada

(Photo: TravelNevada.com) | Image Source:

The section of U.S. Highway 50 earned its name because it passes through a largely barren uninhabited region. However, the road offers plenty of distractions as it follows the Pony Express route, skirting mining camps and crossing mountain ranges covered with juniper and pine forests. "The actual driving surface is excellent. And there are gas stations and cafes along the way." Jensen says. travelnevada.com

Road trip tip: Stop at Great Basin National Park, which Jensen calls an under appreciated gem with forests of bristlecone pines, the oldest living thing on Earth. "The stars at night are phenomenal. "Lying on your back watching the shooting stars is something you'll never forget." nps.gov/grba

For more beautiful travel destinations, go to this Pete Scamardo Facebook page.