What''s a road trip without music? Music, in many ways, makes the road trip. At the very least, it''s a big part of the entire experience.
Today, more options are available when it comes to enjoying music in your car, but like all other aspects of road trip organization, you have to decide with your road trip companions who, how, what, and when you''ll listen. Consider the following suggestions as a starting point for planning your road trip music.
Thanks to car CD and cassette players, you can listen to your own music without interruption every few miles along the way. But don''t ignore the fun of tuning in to local radio stations in the area you''re driving through. A road trip is all about savoring that which you can''t have at home, so check out the airwaves and listen to the locals.
Another great option these days is satellite radio. For a fixed monthly subscription fee and the purchase of a special in-car tuner/receiver, you can enjoy over a hundred options in music, talk, news, sports and much more. The digital audio is crisp and commercial-free!
On a road trip, ground rules are vital, and your choice of music and how you''ll listen to them is no exception. Make sure that everyone has a chance to listen to his or her favorite music. Let each traveler bring his or her own CDs or tapes and rotate them in a way that''s agreeable and fair for all. Be sure to arrange for some "quiet time" as well - for naps, for introspection, for talk and for appreciating the music when it starts up again.
If you have the time and the inclination, make your own "special issue road trip CD." You can have fun recording your favorite music based on a theme, such as your destination ("New York, New York," "California Dreamin''" etc.) or travel in general ("On the Road Again").
Nothing gets you into the spirit of your trip like music and nothing gets you more psyched to hit the road than road trip music of your choice.