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Road trip adventures can be so much fun. Especially when you are prepared for the unexpected! Being prepared with some healthy snacks and easy meals while on the road sure helped a lot! We got caught in a hail storm, on the side of the road, and in some questionable restaurants; but I will get to all that!
About a year ago, Mike and I sat down separately and wrote a “bucket list” of three places we wanted to go. Surprisingly, Mount Rushmore was at the top of both our lists. It was then that we decided to make it happen for our 25th wedding anniversary. We really have only been on a few trips since we got married. This was like a second honeymoon for us, and it was so amazing that we were able to do this.
Being prepared for almost anything is my comfort zone. Some would say I have a back-up for the back-up. Not having to worry about where every meal is coming from helped out a lot. We really wanted to have back-ups to our back-ups, especially since this was such a big road trip. We brought a single burner camp-stove with us, a pan, and a few things that were easy to make, just in case we needed it. You just never know!
This blog will talk about snack and meal planning for a road trip and being prepared for the unexpected as well. Oh boy, did we have some unexpected events!
Road Trip Snacks and Meals
Having a stocked freezer and pantry really helped while planning for what was going to go in our cooler for the trip.
https://youtu.be/lQX4HIjB7mEhttps://youtu.be/nz7nAWV-LzUhttps://youtu.be/wR0LzNtJT80
I shopped my fridge, freezer, and pantry before hitting the grocery store. For instance, we had bagels and bread in the freezer that I threw in the cooler. They defrosted and were ready to eat by the second day. I was able to fill the cooler with fruits and vegetables stored in airtight glass containers that I use at home. They were perfect for storing food in the cooler, since they wouldn’t retain any water or condensation. Plus, it helped out on the budget because we already had them!
With the items packed we were able to snack healthy on the road, make some easy sandwich wraps, and simple breakfasts and lunches while in our Airbnb’s. As always, take what you and your family would eat. Here is a list of some of the items I brought.
- Hard boiled eggs
- Grapes
- Peppers
- Cheese
- Lunch Meat
- Oatmeal
- Berries
- Carrots
- Celery
- Lettuce
- Tomatoes
- Bagels
- Tortillas (for wraps)
Going to restaurants is definitely something we love to do while we are traveling, it really adds to the experience of getting to know about the town you are visiting. But sometimes you want to plan an outing and not have to worry about what you are going to eat, especially if you are worried about allergies or special diets. While we were visiting the Badlands, we had planned to stay for the sunset and full moon. We ended up packing sandwiches with us for a picnic and it was just perfect.
Preparing for the Unexpected
Trip planning is one of my favorite things to do. It really helps my stress level when we are actually on the trip, knowing that we are prepared gives me peace of mind. We always say that we research to find the best place to stay that's within our budget. I love to stay in places with a kitchen since it will help with our food budget and allow us to spend a little more on new experiences. I also research what type of activities that we might be doing. This way I can pack the right types of jackets for any weather we might experience and different types of shoes for any adventure. I was so worried that I wouldn't be able to go into these beautiful caves because I didn't have the right shoes with me.
In the beginning of the trip, we had our first little hiccup. We were ready to go but the car had some mechanical issues and we were stuck on the side of the road. Luckily, we had cell service and were able to call for help. However, I do want to point out that a new AAA membership does not activate immediately. In fact, in Washington, it takes five business days. Keep this in mind if you are planning to add this to your “preparedness plan.” We found a mechanic, Top Tech West, that was absolutely wonderful. They stayed open a few hours late on the weekend specifically waiting for us and our car, and we know that he charged us very generously. Healthy snacks were helpful while we were on the side of the road for a few hours.
Holy Hail! Hail the size of baseballs came down on us. We ended up being so grateful that we were prepared. The weather gave us an unexpected turn and we had food in the car to eat when we were stuck on the side of the road and dinner to make at the Airbnb.
By having some fast meals on hand, we were able to navigate through some interesting times!
Mike and I recorded a video about preparing for our trip. Take a look, I'm sure you'll find it helpful for your next trip.
https://youtu.be/rllPUD3xMuc
Are you planning any road trip adventures this summer? Where are you going? Are you rethinking what you will bring with you in the car? Leave a comment below and let me know.
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