Check out these unconventional Labor Day road trip destinations!

Joshua Tree, California

Loxahatchee, Florida

Hot Springs, North Carolina

Lopez Island, Washington

Monroe, Utah

Greenough, Montana

McKinley, New Mexico

Key West, Florida

Bisbee, Arizona

Ready to retire your road rage?

Sometimes when you’re out on the road it’s easy to lose one’s temper. We’ve all experienced the horn blaring, cursing, aggressive driving road rage beast before, whether it was ourselves or someone else with the bad attitude. You can avoid submitting to a cranky temper with these tips:
Sleep. Seriously, sleep. A full night. No excuses. Everyone is a grouch when they don’t get enough sleep, this is just a given.
Plan ahead! It’s okay to leave early. This gives you time to be able to conquer unforeseen road difficulties without the stress.
Treat rude behavior the same way you would in a restaurant. Would you lose your cool over someone cutting you off in line at a bodega?
Probably not – it would be embarrassing. We are isolated in our cars, and feel a false sense of privacy and security while there. The truth is, everyone can see you flipping the bird and just a head’s up – nobody needs to be a lip reader to know what words you’re using.

Are you going accessory crazy on your Kia?

1. Antenna toppers: The Jack in the Box one comes to mind.
2. Car lashes: As if fake lashes on chicks weren't bad enough.
3. The bra: the car equivalent of wearing socks with saddles.
4. Spinning rims: We're still dizzy trying to figure this one out.
5. Curb feelers: sort of like keeping training wheels on a BMX bike. You do know how to park, right?
6. Swangas: Surely inspired by Madonna's cone bra circa 1990.

What would you add to this list?

Got Game?

Road trips – it is all about family togetherness, right? While technology is great, sometimes it is nice to play an old fashioned game on the road. These games increase situational awareness, keep the focus on the road, and are great for bonding.

The Alphabet Game: There are two ways to play this game. In the first version of the game, try to find all the letters of the alphabet in alphabetical order on license plates of other cars. In the second version of the game, you can find the letters in anything so long as it is outside of the car and on your side of the road. You can play this individually or as a team.

Out of State Game: Try to find all the out of state license plates. If you want you can create a point system. It is unlikely that you will see all of the states so you should try to see who gets the most points.

20 Questions: This game is perfect for when it is dark outside or when it is light. Try to guess what your companion is thinking about by asking 20 yes or no questions. By the end, you should be able to figure it out.

We Have the 411 on Car Air Fresheners!

These days there are so many little pine trees in plastic sleeves when you walk into an auto store, it is seriously hard to pick one! Well here is the 411 on Car-Freshener scents and a surefire guide to pick the one that is best for you.

Royal Pine – If you have only seen one little green tree in your life, it was probably this one. It is the classic choice and that says something. It is sort of hard to find fault with this scent and its long history proves that it is a crowd favorite. It is pretty rich and basically smells like Christmas in July. 

New Car: This is always a good scent as it is a compelling mix of many things that are calming and subtle. That being said, it definitely does not smell like a new car. 

Black Ice: This is the overwhelming favorite of the bunch! Look on Amazon to see the top car freshener products – this will definitely be near the top of the list. It smells strong like a man’s cologne.

Leather – This should smell like leather…but it doesn’t. If you want something leathery smelling, New Car is a far better choice.

Blackberry Clove: If you like fruity scents, than this one is the one for you. It smells nice, but it is very strong.

Musical Mood Makeover

It is pretty safe to say that how we feel affects our perception of the world. Fortunately, your car stereo is on your side! Listening to the right music is like getting a chiropractic adjustment for your mood. 

Sad: While you could wallow in your sadness, it makes much more sense to turn the frown upside down. While it might seem like really happy songs would be the ‘go-to’ for this situation, they might highlight the disparity between how you feel and how you really want to feel. Why not go straight for your favorites? No matter what the genre, play a song that you could listen to on repeat! This should definitely change your focus.

Happy: If you are already happy, amp it up to the next level with something super upbeat! Techno and pop songs have light lyrics and a good beat. Listen to these to make a bright mood even brighter!

Angry: Man, don’t you just hate it when the day doesn’t go your way? When you feel frustrated, annoyed, or angry you need to breathe deep and relax. Even if you HATE classical music, its complexity and lack of lyrics will require that you do some active listening. Switching your focus through concentrating on an intricately orchestrated song will help you to take a break from what is bugging you so you can later revisit the situation with a new perspective.

Sleepy: Sleepy is a great way to feel…except for when you are driving! Stay away from techno and classical music! These music genres are like kryptonite for the sleepy driver. Instead, keep an eye out for the nearest exit or rest area and in the meantime throw on some metal or heavy rock – loud and invigorating music is an absolute must have at this point!

Relaxed – Nothing is better than relaxing music on a relaxing ride! Throw on some oldies, smooth jazz, or R&B. Any of these will enhance your already magnificent driving experience.

Unexplainable/undefined: Not sure how you feel? Neither are most Indy rockers. That is your ticket to exploring your thoughts and emotions.

Have any other mood music suggestions? Feel free to leave them in a comment!

Help your car beat the heat!

Summer is here in full swing and so is everything we associate with these temperate days – ice cream, boardwalks, sunblock, and tacky souvenirs. Unfortunately, the summer wreaks havoc on your car as it must endure hours upon hours in the heat. So here are some things you can do to protect your car while you are having fun in the sun.

Park in the shade – most of us pay for the privilege of walking on a treadmill at the gym. Why not park in the shade and walk a few extra steps?

Buy a car sun visor – either wild or mild in design, this cheap accessory will definitely keep your car cool in the summer.

Tint your windows – while this is a little more costly, you will reap the benefits of tinted windows year-round. 

Get your car waxed – not only will you protect your car’s paint by waxing it – but your car will also look super sleek and shiny. Now that is a double win!