Although it has been more than thirteen years since the release of the award-winning comedy-drama, Little Miss Sunshine, the antics of the Hoover family continues to inspire countless individuals to embark on their own adventure-filled road trips. In fact, road trips have continued to skyrocket in popularity so much that nearly 39% of all vacationers opt to take a road trip instead of jetting off to an exotic location. Even if you don’t live in Albuquerque like the Hoovers, you can still undertake a road trip to Redondo Beach, California when you’re in the USA by following a few basic guidelines that will make your trip more enjoyable and significantly less stressful.
PICK THE RIGHT VEHICLE
If you want to travel in comfort and ensure that you reach your destination without having to attend to any breakdowns along the way, you need to make sure that you make use of a suitable vehicle. The type of car you ultimately pick depends on how far you are driving, how many people are going along for the ride, and the size of your budget. While you may just get away with road tripping in a convertible if you’re undertaking a solo journey, you will definitely need a larger sedan or SUV if you’re planning a trip with family or friends. If you really want to channel the Hoover family, you can consider renting a canary yellow Volkswagen T2 to make your trip even more memorable.
PACK SNACKS FOR THE ROAD
Road tripping is definitely not enjoyable if you’re hungry. While there are bound to be countless roadside stops where you can grab a bite to eat on your way to California, packing a variety of snacks and drinks will definitely come in handy. While a few sugary treats such as chocolate, candy, or cookies won’t do any harm, you might also want to have healthier alternatives on-hand as well. Vitamin-packed energy-boosting snacks such as protein bars, pretzels, nuts, dried fruit, and freshly-baked muffins will keep everyone happy and alert, while bottled water will prevent dehydration from setting in.
EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED
Regardless of how well you plan your Californian road trip, chances are things will not go according to plan. Even if you don’t have a dysfunctional family in tow, you should prepare yourself for anything from a flat tyre to a double-booked hotel room. When planning your road trip, make sure you leave enough ‘free time’ in your itinerary to deal with any unforeseen events. Keep the numbers of backup accommodations on your phone, and always pack a first aid kit and an extra set of clothing or two – just in case.
Taking a Little Miss Sunshine-inspired road trip of your own is bound to be a memorable experience. If you plan well in advance and follow all the guidelines, there is no reason why you can’t pull off a fun-filled and stress-free road trip of your very own.