Petrified Forest National Park

I have taken a rather long break from blogging because Christopher and I just went on our third road trip. We visited a lot of amazing places so be prepared for quite a few posts about our latest adventure.

Christopher and I decided to explore a more southern route this time around. Our first night was spent in Holbrook, Arizona, right outside of the Petrified Forest National Park. Neither of us are desert people, but we enjoyed taking pictures of the “Painted Desert” and hiking through the petrified forests.

I would probably never go out of my way to visit the park, but it was an interesting stop.

How To Plan a Road Trip-Part 1

In a little over two weeks Christopher and I will cram in my little car for our third road trip in one year. Since I have become somewhat knowledgeable in the art of planning and executing road trips, I thought it would be fun to do a three part series on how you can plot your own adventure. Here are a few steps to aid in your initial planning:

1. Determine your destination and your route. Note that from the Pacific and Atlantic and back will take about three weeks if you drive roughly six hours a day. Is there a certain place you really want to visit? Google Maps is an excellent resource to show you what destinations are achievable in your time-frame.

2. Set a budget. Will you be spending your nights in five-star hotels or roughing it in a tent? How much money does it take to fill up your tank with gas? Will you be packing sandwiches every day or running through drive-thrus or dining in only the very best restaurants? How much will you put aside for souvenirs? These are all incredibly important questions to consider before you starting booking.

3. Check out guide books and websites for interesting places to visit during your trip. Websites such as Yelp and AAA have been invaluable.  

I hope this will help you to begin the initial planning of your own road trip. Next time, we’ll discuss where Christopher and I stay.