4C THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
CollegeRECESS
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2005
Road trips require planning, food and headphones
Car rides don't have to be agonizing; take time to prepare and enjoy!
LINDAY REICH
editor@kansan.com
KANSAN CORRESPONDENT
Whether you know your destination or not, road trips can be a memorable experience.
agree on the temperature.
Just follow this guide for ideas on essentials you will need such as snacks, games and general tips on how to have a good road trip.
Plus, it can double as a pill low.
on the road, especially if you will be in the middle of nowhere, which can be a radio nightmare.
Magazines are entertaining
Toilet paper is always handy for blowing your nose or just in case you need to pull over.
Make a list of all the different states on license plates that you see. Mad
Libs is a word game that can be a blast with your traveling friends. Bring trivia games and brain teasers. Remember Brain Quest, the quiz cards they have for first through seventh grades?
"I love it when a great song comes on that everyone knows the words to and the whole car sings at the their lungs. It's such a natural high!" said Rebecca Baker, Lawrence senior.
Another essential is a sweatshirt in case you and your road partners do not
One essential my mom always reminds me to bring before road trips is an emergency kit. Besides first aid supplies it's good to include a blanket, water, flashlight or matches and jumper cables. Hopefully the vehicle you take will already have a spare tire and a jack.
A few other items that come in handy
Photo Illustration by Sara Garlick
and can start good conversations.
are sunglasses, a map, hand sanitizer and lip balm.
College students need to eat, so food is a great thing to have with you on your road trip.
Some ideas for road trip snacks are beef jerky, candy and chips, but any snacks that are packaged, easy to store and not too messy will work.
Also, you should plan to eat fast food because it is
quick and convenient. What you eat on the road is not always the healthiest, but you are on vacation, after all!
Road trips need entertainment, which is why games can be fun. Play the original road trip guessing games I Spy and 20 Questions.
But besides those, there are other things you can do for fun.
Make a list of all the different states on license plates that you see. Mad Libs is a word game that can be a blast with your traveling friends.
Bring trivia games and brain teasers. Remember Brain Quest, the quiz cards for first through seventh grades?
"It's surprising, but hilarious, how many 6th — and 7th — grade Brain Quest answers that college students can miss!" Brandon Shirley, Lawrence resident said.
Most students have either been on a road trip before or plan to take one in the near future.
These tips should come in handy to almost all of you on your next road tip.
Try to estimate how much money everyone will need to pitch in on gas before you leave. Put it in a bag and store it somewhere like the glove compartment.
That way, no matter how much money you spend on the trip,you are guaranteed to get back home.
Take a lot of pictures to capture memories.
even if you don't have to go — at least try," said Leslie Harpold,contributing writer for Morning News.
My last tip on how to have a good road trip is to sit back, relax and enjoy the time with your friends, because you never know, your next road trip could be to Disneyland with your kids, and that requires a whole other survival guide.
"Every time you stop —
— Edited by Jayme Wiley
DAN PETERS
editor@kansan.com
KANSAN CORRESPONDENT
Destinations known: Take a drive this time for fall break
With fall break just a few weeks away, Tamera Parman plans to hit the road.
Parman, Derby senior, said she often spent long weekends taking road trips.
"Being with friends and just hanging out in the car is part of the fun, but car games, scenic views and iPods always add to it," Parman said. "And you get to see all the quirky stuff that you don't get to see when you're flying somewhere."
Parman plans to drive to the Black Hills — in South Dakota — for this year's break.
Gas prices may be high, but October is a great month to travel, said Shanan Kingsbury, a Lawrence-based travel consultant.
"It's a perfect time in the Midwest to travel," Kingsbury said. "It's not too terribly cold out there yet."
Kingsbury said many fall travelers sought destinations with outdoor recreational opportunities and scenic foliage.
National parks are popular fall destinations because accessibility is restricted in the winter, Kingsbury said.
From Lawrence, an ambitious traveler could reach the Great Lakes, Rocky Mountains or other Big 12 college towns within half of a day.
Karlsson Banks, Topeka senior said deciding on the best road trip destination required some thought.
"It definitely has to have something that everyone wants to do," Banks said. "You just need to sit down and discuss and compromise."
Banks said he had taken road trips to Nashville, Tenn., Austin, Texas, and Fargo, N.D.
If the car and pocketbook can handle it, consider these destinations:
Denver, Colo.
If the daily hike up and down M. Great doesn't satisfy your need to climb, consider travelling west to Denver. "
Located at the base of the Rocky Mountains, the Mile High City has beautiful surroundings, bountiful sunshine and a giant selection of brew.
Denver's historic Lower Downtown (LoDo) district offers a multitude of outdoor cafes, art galleries and brew pubs. The light rail system provides transportation around the downtown area and to the 16th Street Mall, a pedestrian-only strip mall lined with shops and restaurants.
Just 20 minutes west of Denver is the Coors Brewery, where visitors can learn about the beer-making process and enjoy a complimentary beverage afterward.
Nature buffs can visit nearby Red Rocks Park, home to hiking trails that wind through huge sandstone rock formations.
★ Distance: 567 miles
Austin, Texas
For those wanting to get away but still be surrounded by students, try Austin, Texas.
More than 50,000 students attend Austin's University of Texas, making it one of the largest universities in the country.
Austin's famous live music scene ensures you will find something every night. Most of the entertainment is centered on Sixth Street.
Anyone without a phobia of bats may enjoy the show under the Congress Avenue Bridge just before sunset. People gather nightly to watch thousands of Mexican free-tailed bats descend from under the bridge.
The famous district offers a diverse array of music venues, restaurants and shops.
The lakes, wilderness preserves and limestone hills in the surrounding hill country provide many other recreational opportunities.
★ Distance: 702 miles
Minneapolis-St. Paul
Seven-and-a-half hours north in the land of lakes and loons is Minneapolis-St. Paul, boasting a chain of urban lakes surrounded by walking and biking trails.
Nearby skyscrapers and shopping fill the busy downtown area and clubs and theatres line the bright Hennepin Avenue. A few miles south, the trendy Uptown district caters to a hip, younger crowd.
St. Paul features the state capital and a historic cathedral, Ethnic restaurants abound throughout the city and local students frequent the food and drink establishments on Grand Avenue.
The country's largest shopping mall lies in the nearby suburb of Bloomington. The Mall of America includes an indoor amusement park, aquarium and more than 520 stores. Across the street is the Swedish home furnishings superstore Ikea, offering stylish items at student-friendly prices.
★ Distance: 476 miles
South Dakota
There's no big city, but southwestern South Dakota is full of places to visit.
Badlands National Park has thousands of acres of rock formations and prairie mammals. Along the way is Wall Drug, a knick-knack shop that still advertises free ice water for visitors.
The Black Hills, just an hour farther west, encompasses several state parks full of granite cliffs and pine forests.
The area is full of history, including attractions like Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial.
Scenic routes and overlooks abound, but don't expect many options for restaurants and nightlife. The best bet is Rapid City, population 59,607, which serves as gateway to the parks.
★ Distance (to Rapid City): 730 miles
*Distances provided are approximate figures from mapquest.com