On The Road Again: Planning Your Summer Adventure

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By Rachel Derry
Staff Writer LIFamilies

Warm weather and plentiful sunshine will usually do the trick for curing the winter and spring time blues. As energy swells and spirits are lifted (and not to mention children are out of school) now is the time of the year when you may start thinking it's time for an adventure. It's time to get out and see the world/country and really see what the summer time has to offer.

To start planning your ideal summer adventure you need to start by setting up your own boundaries and expectations of what you can and want to do. You need to decide what you can comfortably budget, the amount of time you have to spend, and the level of physical exertion you want to push while away.

When you decide on an amount you can allot to your trip, you will then want to figure out how much can be fit within that amount. Yes, you may be able to hold up in a swanky villa on the beach for a couple days, but you won't be eating, drinking, or shopping while you're there. Include all of your spending costs when you're tinkering with your budget: make sure to include cost of food, travel, and additional activities.

Speaking of travel, when you figure out the amount of time you have to allocate for this summer's adventure, think long and hard about how much of that time you are willing to use for travel. If you only have a week's time you probably won't want to drive cross country and be left with only a day at your destination.

Figure out how physical you want to or are willing to be on your adventure. Maybe you just want to lay out on a beautiful, sunny beach somewhere, or maybe you want to climb mountains and tame white water rapids. Decide what activities you are truly hankering for, and then narrow down your options to see where your desires will best be fulfilled.
Once all of your planning is said and done, you need to make sure that you pack properly for the occasion. You'll want to pack not just your cloths, but also safety and emergency supplies.

-Practice your packing ahead of time. That way you will know what you already have and what you are going to need. This will minimize the stress of last minute packing, and elevate the need to buy new or forgotten necessities along the way.

-Only take as many clothes as you actually need. Some experts even say to put out all of the clothes that you want to bring and then put half away. By consolidating your clothing, you'll make a lighter load for yourself to carry, as well as reduce your post adventure laundering.

-Remember to bring more than bandages for a first aid kit. In case of a real emergency, you will want to bulk up your kit to cover more than just bumps and bruises. Include emergency, over the counter medications. You never know when you'll get hit with a stomach bug or find out about a new allergy. Keep Imodium and Benadryl capsules in your first aid kit, along with antacids and pain relievers. Keeping water purifying tabs on hand will also go a long way if you need to bottle some of your own water. Make sure to also pack extra alcohol wipes; not only do they disinfect minor wounds, but they also act as fire kindlers.

-Pack an extra energy snack or two. In the worst case scenarios, you'll be very happy to have a little food to help build up your strength and keep your mind clear.

Long Island Travel & Leisure Articles > On The Road Again: Planning Your Summer Adventure