Tips for a Fun All-Girls Road Trip

Summer is coming and we all know what that means: road trip time! There are so many places that you can go, and for so many reasons. Many of us can remember being in the car for family trips, and sometimes those were fun - and okay, sometimes those were really not fun. One of my friends, the youngest of five remembers that her father would never stop the car when she had to go to the bathroom. This has made her probably the most courteous road trip driver I've ever known. She'll stop for the bathroom, or for a photo opportunity at the blink of an eye.

It can be fun to take an all-girls road trip. Here are some tips to make your trip even more fun. So whether you are traveling cross country, or visiting Elvis, or just going up the highway a piece - you'll have a blast. Here's what you need to make your all-girls road trip one you won't want to come home from.

Tip #1: Have a plan. Plan out your trip and get directions to where you are going. Double-check the directions on the Internet at one of the popular directions websites like Mapquest or Yahoo! Maps. If you are going for several days and driving for awhile, see if you can figure out where you can stay along the way, and reserve motel/hotel rooms. Keep everything about your trip in an envelope so you've got directions, reservations etc. all in one place. There is a much different feeling when you know you've got a room for the night and it is 8:00 p.m. and you're still on the highway. A little planning won't spoil the spontaneity, it will just be a great back-up to help you enjoy your trip.

Tip # 2: Have great tunes. Make some mix CDs of music that everyone will like for your road trip. Even better, have everyone bring a mix CD for the road trip, so you'll have plenty of music.

Tip #3: Have great food. Traveling on the road often means junk food and unpredictable restaurants. Bring some snacks and food items that are non-perishable that you know that you like. Bring fruit and granola bars and other healthy food to keep your energy level high. Balance healthy food with the indulgence of good ol' fashioned junk food. As we all know, too much junk food can often make you feel kind of queasy, and you really want to enjoy your road trip.

Tip #4: Take turns and play nice. The rule of a road trip is to delegate with everything. This is not a monarchy it is a chick-ochracy. But remember to play to people's strengths. So if someone has a better sense of direction, let them play navigator. If someone else is better with math, let them figure out which entertainment/restaurant is better for the budget. Everyone should probably take turns driving, unless someone is not a great driver, in that case, this person can be a great co-pilot with the map. The best thing about a road trip is learning how to get along and having fun together. So take turns and play nice.

Tip #5: Take pictures. Remember to bring your cameras and take lots of pictures, not just of the scenery, but of each other. Fun candid shots while you are experiencing the silliness of your all-girl road trip.

Tip #6: Stay safe. Being safe is often just doing the sensible things. Letting people at home know where you'll be staying and the highways you'll be on. Checking in with people at home at a certain time each day. Get the car checked out before you leave for your trip so you know its okay. Not talking to strange people that look, uh really strange. Not taking big risks. Sticking with the rules of the road will also make your trip easier and keep you from getting a big ticket, or any other kind of "official" trouble.

Enjoy your all-girl road trip!